A State-funded guide has urged Irish teachers to encourage their students to “eat less meat” and dairy in pursuit of climate goals, and show Junior Infants children illustrated picture books about Greta Thunberg to promote climate activism.
The recommendation comes from the Green Schools programme, which offers its Green Flag award to hundreds of schools in Ireland annually. The programme is run by the State-funded NGO An Taisce.
@GreenSchools are celebrating #TreeWeek from 20-24 March with lots of great activities to engage with throughout the week, with something to Learn and Get out and do each day. Are you curious to find out more about the activities? Check out @GreenSchools page for more details! pic.twitter.com/My7SWBnOpC
— An Taisce (@AnTaisce) March 23, 2023
Notably, An Taisce receives €3.5 million in annual taxpayer funding, and has done so for years. This money comes from various government departments and State agencies, such as the Department of Transport, the Department of Education, the Department of Climate, the Department of Housing, the Department of Tourism, various local authorities, Irish Aid, Uisce Éireann, the National Transport Authority, and more.
“HOW CAN WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EAT LESS MEAT AND DAIRY?”
For years, the Green Schools programme has promoted reducing dairy and meat consumption, asking in one 2018 article: “How can we encourage everyone to eat less meat and dairy?”
“The total carbon footprint of plant protein is significantly lower than meat per kg of consumed food – so let’s give it a go in every Green School in Ireland!” the article reads, going on to promote a “Meatless Monday” policy at schools.
“MEATLESS MONDAY”
“Run a campaign in school that asks people to go without meat or dairy for one day a week!” it says.
“Let people know what healthy alternatives they can use by sending a letter home to parents with new recipe ideas. Create an online presence with a hashtag such as #MeatlessMonday #GanFeoilFriday or #MeatlessMáirt. Persuade people to join your campaign by sharing well-known celebrity, blogger and roll-models [sic] that also support #MeatlessMonday.”
TRY VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN EATING
The article also encourages teachers to introduce students to vegan and vegetarian eating.
“Hold a vegetarian or vegan taste testing or competition in your school!” the programme says.
“Make your own school meat and/or dairy-free cookbook with the best recipes from your students and send an e-copy to every family.”
The programme encourages school staff to “have fun with it” and make this promotion “light-hearted.”
“Educate people on the physical and environmental health benefits of reducing their meat or dairy intake in a light-hearted or humorous manner,” they say, adding that teachers should “create a video, sketch or intercom announcement explaining the benefits of a plant-based diet.”
“Have a pun or poster competition in your school to raise awareness of the vegetarian/vegan diet,” they add.
“REDUCE THE VOLUME OF MEAT AND DAIRY CONSUMED IN SCHOOL”
The group also includes a “Climate Action Teacher Resource,” which advises teachers “to reduce the volume of meat and dairy consumed in school.”
“Research and create an engaging presentation (or write a speech) to inform your peers of the carbon footprint and environmental impact of the meat and/or dairy industry in Ireland,” the document says.
“Deliver your presentation in classes or at school assemblies. Hold a vegetarian or vegan pot luck taster where everyone brings in one dish to share and swaps recipes.”
It even encourages students to make a “Climate Pledge,” urging them to say: “My #ClimatePledge is to eat less meat and dairy.”
PICTURE BOOK ABOUT GRETA THUNBERG’S ACTIVISM
In addition to this, Green Schools lists a number of books that they say students should read about “climate action,” including an illustrated picture book about climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The book – “Greta and The Giants” by Zoe Tucker and Zoe Persico – is listed as being for the age group of “Junior Infants to 4th class.”
The book is “inspired by Greta Thunberg’s stand to save the world,” according to its authors, and the cover features an image of Thunberg holding a placard that reads “Strike For Climate.”
The reading list features other books in the same vein, such as “Save the Arctic” by Bethany Stahl – a book urging students to “take climate action and save the arctic.”
CLIMATE ANXIETY
A 2021 study published in The Lancet previously found that children and young people are “vulnerable to climate anxiety.”
The study, which surveyed 10,000 children and young people between the ages of 16 and 25 across ten countries, found that “respondents across all countries were worried about climate change.” Specifically, it found that 59% were “very or extremely worried,” and 84% were “at least moderately worried.”
“More than 50% reported each of the following emotions: sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty,” the study reads.
“More than 45% of respondents said their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning, and many reported a high number of negative thoughts about climate change (eg, 75% said that they think the future is frightening and 83% said that they think people have failed to take care of the planet).”
UK SCHOOL TOOK MEAT OFF SCHOOL MENU
Last year in Lancashire, in North West England, it was reported that a primary school had begun to only offer vegetarian lunches at the school canteen in an effort to save the planet.
While the decision to go “meat free” was made in 2021, parents were only informed of the policy change by letter in February of 2022, leading to significant controversy.