LITTLE eco-warriors from St Luke s Primary School added their voice to a children s statement taken to the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen by the Prime Minister. The pupils presented the statement, called Please Listen, to the Minister of State fo

LITTLE eco-warriors from St Luke's Primary School added their voice to a children's statement taken to the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen by the Prime Minister.

The pupils presented the statement, called Please Listen, to the Minister of State for Education Ed Balls during a visit to the Canning Town school, ahead of the Copenhagen conference.

He toured the school, which was specifically chosen because of its long-established commitment to sustainability, accompanied by its Eco Group. The group included Ethan Okyne, Toba Oladipupo, Nicholas Barrett, and Jazmae Caprice-Cole.

The Minister helped pupils dig up potatoes and looked at curriculum work and projects which illustrated how sustainability is woven into teaching and learning. Toba said: "He was really impressed by our work and all the ways we get people to think about the steps we can all take to protect our planet."

Ethan said: "He liked playing with the models we had made to show alternative energy sources. He asked us lots of questions about what we do and complemented us on our work."

Jazame said: "We told him about our Eco Group, the annual review and our policy. It was important that he found out a lot about us for himself because he had read about us but this was his first visit to St. Luke's."

The Minister told the children he liked their allotments and that strawberries tasted better if you picked them yourself.

Each class has an allotment and is responsible for planting and caring for their annual crop. Produce is either eaten as part of healthy school lunches or sold to raise money.

The pupils presented the Children's statement on climate change to Mr Balls telling him 'Listen now, to save tomorrow.'

The statement is the result of a nationwide survey asking children and young people what worries them about climate change and how they want the government to tackle it.

Following the presentation Ed joined the children in a Question and Answer session.

Theresa Aanonson, head teacher said: "It was a real accolade for the school that we were selected to host this presentation.

"We are custodians of our school site and it is important that we use it to teach best sustainable practice to our pupils now so that they can enjoy the planet in the future.