Primary school children in Chorley are growing trees in cans as part of a nationwide recycling initiative which converts recycled aluminium cans and foil into fruit trees in Malawi.
A fruit tree is being grown for every tonne of aluminium recycled, so the more we recycle, the more trees will be grown.
Not for profit organisation Alupro is supporting a special project in Malawi which aims to plant 85,000 fruit trees in local community nurseries.
Around half the trees such as guava and pawpaw will be grown from seed and the remainder will be introduced orange, avocado and mango, which will be grafted on to wild rootstock at a new purpose built greenhouse at charity Ripple Africa's Malawian base.
St Marys CE and Withnell Fold primary schools are taking part in the scheme.
They were invited by Alupro to receive the tree growing kit which contains everything needed to grow silver birch saplings to plant at school, along with educational materials linked to recycling, lifecycles and the African project.
Participating schools are also being offered the chance to make a DVD/Video about how they look after their environment' to exchange with a Malawian school.
The first prize for the best film is a trip for the class teacher to visit the project in Malawi.
Every school that enters the competition will win a £20 National Garden voucher to spend making improvements to their school environments.
Recycling aluminium is 20 times more efficient than making it from the raw material bauxite.
And all aluminium recycled through kerbside collections and bring banks in Chorley will be counted towards the project total.
Sunday, 3 February 2008
G4S Workers Renew Strike Threat in Malawi Against Largest Employer on London Stock Exchange
LONDON, Feb 01, 2008 (PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX) -- Security guards for G4S in Malawi, struggling to survive on poverty pay, today renewed their threat to strike unless Africa's biggest multinational employer agrees to meet their demand for a 30% rise. The guards, paid on average only 15 pounds Sterling ($30 USD) per month - a quarter of a living wage - turned down the company's 12% offer, which doesn't even keep up with inflation in Malawi. Last July, G4S recognized the Textile, Garment, Leather and Security Services Workers Union in Malawi. Past wage increases have been near 20% in order to keep pace with the inflation generated by chronic currency devaluation.
Many of the 13,000 members of the G4S workforce must walk ninety minutes each way to and from work, live in homes without electricity or running water and cannot afford to meet their children's school or medical fees. A G4S guard in Malawi would need to work for 7,583 years to obtain the annual pay given to the firm's chief executive, UK-based Nick Buckles, whose latest salary exceeds 1.1 million pounds Sterling (2.19 million USD).
The company won a court injunction against a strike that was set to begin on Wednesday, January 30th. The union aims to overturn the ban and call a stoppage on Monday, February 4th if G4S continues to reject their claim.
"Our workers simply want justice. G4S, as the largest multinational in Africa, has a responsibility to work with us to achieve this," said Grace Nyirenda, General Secretary of the union.
"When I met with G4S workers from Malawi several months ago, I was moved by their determination to provide for their families. The nearly 2 million members of SEIU stand with them. We will assist their efforts to live in dignity," said Gerald Hudson, international executive vice president of SEIU.
War on Want trade unions officer Jackie Simpkins said: "G4S workers have the right to a living wage and decent conditions. We call on the company to do the right thing and heed this call from its Malawian staff."
G4S represents 68% of the security business in Malawi. The workers guard big corporations, government offices, and NGOs. G4S is the largest employer trading on the London Stock Exchange and the largest multinational in Africa.
Many of the 13,000 members of the G4S workforce must walk ninety minutes each way to and from work, live in homes without electricity or running water and cannot afford to meet their children's school or medical fees. A G4S guard in Malawi would need to work for 7,583 years to obtain the annual pay given to the firm's chief executive, UK-based Nick Buckles, whose latest salary exceeds 1.1 million pounds Sterling (2.19 million USD).
The company won a court injunction against a strike that was set to begin on Wednesday, January 30th. The union aims to overturn the ban and call a stoppage on Monday, February 4th if G4S continues to reject their claim.
"Our workers simply want justice. G4S, as the largest multinational in Africa, has a responsibility to work with us to achieve this," said Grace Nyirenda, General Secretary of the union.
"When I met with G4S workers from Malawi several months ago, I was moved by their determination to provide for their families. The nearly 2 million members of SEIU stand with them. We will assist their efforts to live in dignity," said Gerald Hudson, international executive vice president of SEIU.
War on Want trade unions officer Jackie Simpkins said: "G4S workers have the right to a living wage and decent conditions. We call on the company to do the right thing and heed this call from its Malawian staff."
G4S represents 68% of the security business in Malawi. The workers guard big corporations, government offices, and NGOs. G4S is the largest employer trading on the London Stock Exchange and the largest multinational in Africa.
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