Tanya Mowbray works for Peacechild International, an organisation which promotes and aides youth-led development around the world.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

What is Peacechild International?

Peacechild International is a youth-run organisation, which empowers young people to take responsibility for peace, human rights and the environment. It does this through education, leadership development and direct participation with the events that shape our world community. With a network of over 500 youth groups in 150 countries, it works closely with the United Nations and its agencies to empower young people to support its member states to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, educate about sustainable development, and promote Youth-led Development.

What do you do?

I’m co-ordinator of the Be the Change! challenge project, which is an educa-tional programme sponsered by DEFRA. The key aim is to promote behavioural change and encourage children in the UK to lead sustainable lifestyles. We go into schools and to give assembly presentations and workshops on subjects like energy, waste, fairtrade, ecological footprints and global warming. We pro-mote behavioural change through our lifestyle contract’, where we challenge the children to keep five pledges for four weeks. For example: I will turn off the lights when I leave the room, and I will always turn off the tap when I’m brushing my teeth.

What advice can you give to anyone who wants to be more eco friendly?

There are lots of small changes we can make in our lives, to help the planet! My top tips would be: say no to plastic bags in shops and take your own bags from home! Use energy saving light bulbs ñ if everybody in the UK had at least one energy saving bulb in their house, we could close a whole power station! Do not leave your appliances on standby. Try to think of all the ways you can cut down on your energy con-sumption and use of natural resources on a daily basis.