Wales goes green to help save rainforests
IT MAY look like St Patrick’s Day has come early, but parts of South Wales were turning green for a very different reason.
Schools and businesses are donning green clothes, wigs and face paints in support of Go Green Day – a day dedicated to raising awareness and funds for environmental issues.
The national day of action is organised by climate change charity Size of Wales, and its director, Claire Raisin, is thrilled by what has been planned.
She said: “We’re really impressed with the amazing ideas people are coming up with to go green in their own way for Go Green Day.
“We’re excited that so many schools and businesses are on board, and hope others will join in today. And what’s great is that every penny donated during today will be doubled.”
Scores of businesses and organisations have also signed up to run a green day in their workplace.
Minuteman Press has designed and printed a special colouring book to sell, with proceeds going to the charity, while Cardiff Metropolitan University will hold a day of environ- mentally-themed activities including two special lectures. A launch event at the Principality Stadium attended by Paralympics gold medallist Aled Davies, campaigners and politicians, will officially kick off proceedings.
The charity’s aim is to raise funds to protect an area of rainforest twice the size of our nation.
Money raised for Size of Wales will be spent on a range of projects that will help preserve tropical forests, from supporting communities to gain land rights, to buying tree seedlings and funding rangers.
Pupils at Thornhill Primary and Rumney Primary, in Cardiff, will dress head-to-toe in green and play green-themed games, joining dozens of other schools across the country also taking part.
Rainforests absorb around a fifth of the world’s man-made carbon dioxide emissions and Size of Wales aims to raise awareness of the importance of rainforest protection, as part of Wales’ national response to climate change.
Having reached its initial £2m target, and already successfully protected an area of rainforest the size of Wales, the project now hopes Go Green Day 2016 will have a significant impact in helping towards its new target to support an area of rainforest twice the size of Wales.