Running Out of Time was the world’s longest non-stop relay in support of climate action! The request for mandated, high-quality climate change education to be included in all national education curricula is at the center of this movement. This message will be conveyed by runners in the relay baton from Glasgow (host of COP26) to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and presented to decision-makers at COP27. This Baton Relay was a global movement in which 1 million people from 68 different nations took part to raise awareness about the effects of climate change on youth and the environment. My service organization, the Eco-schools service group, coordinated with the housing and habitats service group to create a baton relay at OSC to take part in this incredible opportunity. This prompted OSC to contribute and participate in the worldwide schools’ action day to demonstrate our support for environmental protection and to raise awareness of the significance of global action to avert the negative effects of climate change.
The Baton relay was held on November 2nd, and the entire school came together to run a total distance of roughly 30 kilometers during the advisory block. I attended the weekly meetings to have everything properly organized and structured, and this was the main topic of discussion during our most recent eco-school service sessions. During these discussions, we discussed how the event would be carried out and documented, as well as how sustainable batons would be utilized for the relay. Each baton carried a message that will be delivered to world leaders during the COP27 meeting in Egypt. The message carried by the baton was as follows:
We are Running Out of Time.
Climate education is important if we are to give people of all ages and in all places the knowledge and skills necessary to build a future in which all can thrive.
Young people need to be recognised as leaders, placed at the forefront of the conversation about climate change and empowered through education.
We are calling on the world’s leaders to provide us with the skills and training to build a sustainable world.
Our world is warming and to keep the increase to 1.5 degrees we need forward thinking, consistent policies and funding to help us reach Net Zero Emissions. (simply said stop the worlds temperature rising, and have no pollution)
We are committed to help build a future that is inclusive and sustainable for all.
Show by your actions, not just words, that you are too.
I know how daunting this can sound but we must remember that we are not alone and are all together in this time of need.
Look around you at the trees, the flowers, listen to the birds, the monkeys and think of how much beauty they bring. Let them be a reminder to what we are fighting for.
Look at the people beside you and see how they are with you in this moment.
Like they will be in this fight for the earth.
Together we can bring great change and ensure that our voices are heard and be the change that this world needs.
Help us get there!
We were able to go around the soccer field with the youngsters in the primary section while keeping this message in mind. The DP2 pupils ran alongside the kindergarten students while carrying the bamboo baton (promoted reusability and sustainability). The above message was printed on the batons we carried about. Overall, the event was a success, and I was grateful to have been a member of the committee that made the baton relay possible.
