Green Diary for Erasmus+ VET Schools Doing Green project 

Tiia Jõgi, English teacher 

Kuressaare Ametikool 

Estonia 

SDG 13 – Climate Action 

What is a Sustainable Lifestyle? Do we think about it, or do we follow it? 

Many questions, but not always good answers.  

In our school we discuss these themes with the 3rd year students and try to find some answers and solutions.  

Every student had to create his/her poster on topic that the most interested him/her. So, they could not only talk but also show their ideas and after everyone’s presentation we discussed it in more detail. It was really educating and fun.  

The main thing for Estonians is our nature: forests, seas, fresh air. Students also brought up the ideas of birds and animals.  

Recycling is very popular, empty plastic bottles will usually be returned to the shops. Kätriin talked about trash what we can find practically everywhere and what are mainly non degradable packages.  

Jarmo and Raul think that our forests should be free from garbage, but still there are a lot of people who just bring their old furniture, electronics etc. and try to hide it somewhere in the forest. Recycling centres take money and people do not want to pay. A big problem again and we cannot solve it. 

Sergei told us about living creatures in our forests: bears, wolves, deer, elks etc. We have them all now. But maybe not in the future. We cut down our forests and animals come to towns and cities to find food, looking for better life. People are afraid of them, but this is what we have done ourselves. 

The campaign “Let’s Do It” has started in Estonia. It is a clean-up action and worldwide for now.  

There is another campaign in Estonia called “The Sea Starts Here”. These words are written in the streets at sewage wells and mean that everything you throw there will later be in the sea.  

Reiko introduced us endangered animals and ideas how to protect them. Hunting? Yes, or no? 

The students came up with ideas how to use old clothes and recycle them.

"We are lazy"

Transportation is also a big problem. “We are lazy,” my students said. We do not want to walk. We just take a car and drive. This is much more comfortable and quicker. Accelerating and showing how powerful car I have!  

On the other hand, private cars are very needed in smaller towns and villages where public transport does not exist or is very poor. 

At the end we found some solutions: do not burn oily or painted wooden planks, do not litter, use reusable bags. Use your clothes as long as possible and if they are good enough, give them to your siblings. Switch off electricity if not needed. Do not let water to run while brushing your teeth.  

Try to walk if the distance is not so long and it is also good for your health!  

Nature thanks you! 

So many good thoughts from young people and hopefully they will follow their own ideas on how to be a sustainable person.