Students from all over the country battle to give Thailand a breathing space from the heat of global warming

Thai school students have been developing a better understanding of global warming and climate change in a campaign called "Stop Global Warming", organised by Toyota Motor Thailand and the Thailand Environment Institute.

After attending seminars and youth camps run by the campaign, kids have returned to their hometowns to put some of the lessons into practice.

Students of Tessaban 1 (Sangkavit) School in Trang launched a "Green Markets in Trang" project, persuading many shop vendors to use biodegradable bags and energy-efficient light bulbs, and to stop using styrofoam food packages.

In Udon Thani, kids from Tessaban 3 Banloa School initiated a project to encourage the use of samlor tricycles, bringing the historic and eco-friendly means of transport back to their city streets. Also in Udon Thani, students from Sri That Pittayakom School conducted a tree-planting project that resulted in more than 25,000 new trees for the city.

In Lamphun, youngsters from Umong Wittayakom School launched an "Energy-Conserving Community" project, with local residents participating in a competition to lower energy bills.

Last month, eight student leaders from the four schools were taken on a five-day environmental study trip to Japan.

The highlight was a visit to the Toyota Shirakawa-go Environment Institute, where they learned about Japan's traditional culture of natural harmony as well as the latest innovations in "green" technology.

The Thai youngsters were fascinated by the extraction of hydrogen from ordinary water to run a small car, and the fact that trees actually had to be chopped down in a natural forest to allow the majority to reach their full potential.

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Changing the climate

>> The students' projects will be displayed at a "Stop Global Warming" exhibition on Saturday and Sunday at CentralWorld.

>> On Sunday evening, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya will preside over an award-presentation ceremony. The event will kick off the project's fourth year.

>> For more information, visit www.Toyota-Sgw.net.