Students 4 Change - Carrotmob Style

ISB students have made many eco changes over the past 6+ years. Last year we came together to form a mob... a Carrotmob in fact. That group was open to anyone in Thailand & grew to 8000+ members wanting to ban plastic bags. 1397 members showed up to at Villa supermarket to support their move to ban plastic bags!

From that success, we want to spread the Carrotmob concept to other schools. This group is specifically designed for students in Thailand (International and Thai) to create change in their community. We also welcome teachers, school staff, parents and/or community member who want to make positive changes towards a more sustainable and/or socially responsible world.

The Carrotmob concept is awesome and it works! In short, you build a crowd; that's the mob. We build the mob using Facebook and Twitter. Together the mob has consumer power and we help support businesses to make eco friendly changes; this is using the carrot instead of the stick. No protests, boycotts or negative behavior; it's win - win for everyone. At Villa we banned plastic bags, but we could also help restaurants support organic farmers, or help a store use energy saving devices, or biodegradable containers. The opportunities are endless. Usually the businesses are put into a competition (but not always), and the winner gets the mob. By that, I mean the mob shows up on a chosen day to support the winner simply by shopping there.

What do you have to do to help?
The beauty of the Carrotmob is you don't do much to be effective.

• 1st - Join "Students 4 Change"
• 2nd - Use FB, Twitter, and your voice to spread the message to your friends and family in Thailand. The more members we have the more effective it is.
• 3rd - When a winner is chosen and a day is set, just show up and shop!

That's it! There are a lot of International & Thai Schools in Thailand. Imagine if we are all connected for common causes. Together we can make a lot happen.

Our next event is called "ISB EARTH WEEK CARROTMOB" and it is happening on April 29, 2011. If you live near ISB we would love for you to attend. Unfortunately, you cannot see the event on FB unless you join the group. Then the event 'should' be on the right side of the page.

Are you confused?

• Students 4 Change - is the 'mother' group and can be used for all kinds of events to create changes for sustainability. Any school or group can use this audience to announce their event. It might be a big event in Bangkok that we want all members to attend.
  
• ISB Earth Week Carrotmob - is a sub group of people in the ISB area ready to support the first event. Once this event is over, this group will also be over, but not the 'mother' group.
  

Help Local Businesses near ISB

Let's help local businesses become more eco friendly & sustainable. For Earth Week we have invited businesses just outside Nichada to our Carrotmob competition. Que Pasa, Slider Shack, New York Diner, Subway, and Twist have all accepted the offer.

They were asked to do what they can to be more eco friendly and sustainable.
For example:

• Que Pasa might put more organic items on their menu.
• Slider Shack might use only free range meat.
• New York Diner might decide to retrofit their restaurant to be more energy efficient.
• Subway may reduce packaging.
• Twist has already done a lot, but there’s always room for more.

Student teams have already visited each business to analyze their operation and look for areas to improve. We will offer suggestions and resources, but the final decision to make any change is totally up to the owner. During Earth week, the Green Panthers will determine a winner and the winner will receive the support of the mob to show up and shop after school on Friday, April 29th. If more than one business makes significant changes, we will most likely support them as well.

When we did this for Villa a year ago, our goal was 500 supporters. 1397 supporters showed up to make a big statement! Let's do it again.

Please sign up for "ISB Earth Week Carrotmob" by clicking the link.

What do you have to do to help?

The beauty of the Carrotmob is you don't do much to be effective.

• 1st - Become a member of this group.
• 2nd - Use FB, Twitter, and your voice to spread the message to your friends and family in the ISB area.
• 3rd - 2:15 pm Friday, April 29th join us to go shopping to support the winner!
  

What are you waiting for... let's make our community more sustainable!

More Eco Changes leading up to Earth Week

• You may have noticed the juice dispensers and new paper cups in the cafeteria. This was to reduce our dependence on plastic bottles for juice. However, now paper cups are used a lot. The cafeteria welcomes the idea of customers bringing their own cup. In the future, we may have more eco friendly disposable cups and maybe a discount for those bringing their own cup.
  

• Since the bottled water campaign took place back in October, bottled water usage has dropped of by 66%. Before sales ranged between 1500-1800 bottles a week. Now it is about 500-600/week.
  

• Due to success of Meatless Monday and proactive management in the cafeteria, we will hopefully welcome a new vegetarian section to open up during Earth Week which plans to remain at ISB afterwards. It is also likely to offer organic, but that isn’t confirmed yet.
  

• “Follow-me Printing”, you print as normal from your computer, then go to a printer, and tap your ID card, the job will automatically come out. With our trial in the Middle School there was a significant reduction in uncollected paper.

Bio Bus comes to ISB

Andy Pag is traveling around the world and giving an environmental message on the way. However, he is not just saying it; he's living it. He built a bus out of scrap material in a junkyard. If that wasn't enough, the bus runs on bio fuel. However, bio fuel can be very controversial and in many cases, it is worse for the planet and the habitat it destroys for many animals. However Andy isn't supporting the deforestation of rain forest, the oil palm plantations or even fuel made from corn or any other food crop. However, his message is all about using waste. His fuel is actually from waste cooking oil from restaurants.

Off course the bus itself is equipped with other eco products. Most things on the bus are again from waste materials, with a few exceptions such as the solar panel on the roof and the led lights.

Andy left England 14 months ago and has slowly made his way around the world, with one adventure after another. Not all has been positive, the bus has broken down several times due to its age, and the fuel has frozen in cold countries, Andy has been falsely suspected of terrorism in a ridiculous charge and spend some time in jail in India.

However, overall the journey has been worth it and Andy is in no hurry to finish it anytime soon.

Andy spoke with ISB students in 3 presentations held throughout the day and had an audience ranging from grades 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, and various HS classes.

Some 6th graders even made a video about the Bio Bus.


To see more go to http://www.biotruckexpedition.com/

Compass of Sustainability

A few months back, I attended a workshop at NIST and it was about the COMPASS OF SUSTAINABILITY.

When we think of a regular compass, we think of a guiding tool that helps us find our way and give us direction. The Compass of Sustainability has the same goal, but in a different way. Instead of North, South, East, West, the Compass of Sustainability has:

N = Nature
E = Economy
S = Society
W = Wellbeing

The Compass of Sustainability is a reflective, decision-making tool that incorporates sustainability. It was designed to help businesses become sustainable, but is now being used more and more by schools to guide decisions and also used in the curriculum for all ages and subjects.

Currently, it has been experimented with grade 5, 8, Environmental Stewardship class, Global Issues, and some HS classes. Keep your eye on this one as it may grow to something quite important at ISB.

Eco Trip 3 - Elephants and Rivers!!

March 11-13 ISB will head out for the 3rd eco trip of the year. It promises to be an exciting one whereby we stay on a raft boat in Sai Yok national park on Friday and then work with elephants on Saturday and Sunday at Elephant's World in Kanchanaburi.

Permission forms can be picked up on Mr. Dyke's desk in the Community Service Office (next to nurse office and book store).

There is only room for 25 and it will fill up fast. HS and MS students are welcome, but swimming ability is a must as we will stay on a river.

See Eco Trip Itinerary and camping checklist here

Eco Survey (Attitude and Behavior)

Thank you for helping me with this survey.

I need people to take my behavioral survey and attitude survey. I just need synergy students to answer the questions honestly (don't say what you think I want to hear; just be honest). This will be the pre-test and in about 3-4 months I will ask you to take it again for the post-test.

Now it is time for part 2: Post Test

Please do both by clicking on the link.

• Behavioral survey (Eco Footprint). Please copy and paste the survey in a word document, complete the survey, and email it back to kerryd@isb.ac.th.
  

• Attitudinal survey. There are 3 groups. Please read to make sure you chose the correct group depending on your experience.
  

Group 1: Those who have never taken the Environmental Stewardship class before.
Group 2: I have taken the Environmental Stewardship class in the last year or less.
Group 3: I have taken the Environmental Stewardship class more than 1 year ago.

Thank you for your help.