MEDIA RELEASE

Source: Future Centre Trust (FCT)

Contact: Ms Lani Edghill

Bridgetown, Barbados (Sept 27th, 2010)

The British High Commission was the First Green Business in Barbados

In December 2009 the British High Commission (BHC) recruited a Green Operations Officer for a temporary position charged with greening the mission. This new shift to hiring an officer specifically focused on greening was a new initiative from the UK government to invest in reducing carbon emissions. The major focus of the BHC was to comply with the 10:10 Initiative’s overall carbon emissions reduction plan by monitoring energy consumption in order to reduce overall energy consumption by 10% in 2010.

As the first Green Business in Barbados the British High Commission set a high standard in the industry by focusing on some major components. One of these was monitoring energy consumption in order to set a baseline for usage that would allow targeted reductions to be calculated and reduced. Another focus was reduction in water consumption with the installation of a 8,000 gallon rain water harvesting project at the High Commissioners house at Ben Mar. In addition to these initiatives the BHC improved their recycling system to allow for employee recycling inside and outside the facility for all recyclables such as paper, glass, plastics, metals, e-waste and cardboard.

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On behalf of the Board and Executive Committee of the Future Centre Trust, we would like to thank all of the volunteers who chose to spend part of their Saturday with us today on September 18, to collect over 8 tonnes of waste this morning, with another 27 tonnes or so to come out from Malvern in St John!

This was a mammoth effort by all included. I have learned my lesson to not name individuals at this point, but I will say thank you to EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO CAME OUT TODAY!! It was a tremendous effort and we thank you.

CHECK THE NATION NEWSPAPER TOMORROW FOR MORE INFORMATION!! More over the coming days – THREE CHEERS TO CLEAN UP BARBADOS 2010!!

Thanks to John King – hold it in ya hand till ya find a trash can!!!!

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With only 2 days to go until Clean Up Barbados 2010, the Future Centre Trust is reporting a record 750 participants to the event! This number being drawn from some 40 Community groups who will be cleaning up 36 different sites across the island shown on this listing: Registration Sheet 2010 @ 16 September 2010- Press

“This years numbers are fantastic!” says Nicole Garofano, Project Coordinator. “We started off slowly this year and again I had envisaged possibly 400 from the interest level we have been receiving. The numbers were bolstered in the last few days and particularly with the confirmation of participation from the Barbados Defence Force who are assisting the event again this year”, she added.

Clean Up Barbados is the nationwide clean up day which is chosen for its links to the Clean Up The World initiative which takes place on the third weekend of every year. Clean Up The World has been operating for over fifteen years and encourages communities around the world to have a clean up day, or engage in other worthwhile environmentally focused initiatives.

Team registrations are still being accepted for Clean Up Barbados, however teams are required to come with their own suggestions of areas to clean as all of the beach areas have already been allocated. Interior locations are still needing attention, with many people knowing of a dump site in their area which can become part of the initiative.

Sponsorship contributions are also required for additional trucks to assist in the haulage and for video production of the day’s event which will form part of a public awareness campaign once the event is complete.

Interested persons can contact The Future Centre Trust on 625 2020 or by emailing info@cleanupbarbados.org for more information.

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Thanks to a collaborative effort from FCT supporters, we will be holding the first Green Flash Lime on Saturday October 9, 2010 from 5pm at the Barbados Cruising Club at Aquatic Gap, St Michael (next to Pebbles Beach).

Many hands have been drawn together from friends of the FCT and partner organisations to develop this unique lime as a fundraiser for the Future Centre Trust.

Guests will be treated to fun games, trivia competitions and a few short videos playing throughout the night. Musically speaking, we have the contribution of DJ OO Scientist along with local artists lending their time and talents to the event including the ever talented Tamara Marshall.

Entry to the event will be $20 a person including one green cocktail, with a free entry to the raffle if you wear something green!

Food and drinks will be on sale from The Cruising Club and we look forward to lots of fun from 5 until 11:30pm.

Contact The Future Centre Trust on 625 2020 or email us at info@futurecentretrust.org for pre purchased tickets or to your have your questions answered.

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Thanks to the magnificently talented Joanne Bigham of Open Door Designs Puppets in Toronto, Canada, the ever helpful and supportive Vicky Merrick and the Merrick Family and the funding of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office managed locally by the British High Commission for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, we now have our nine little animal and human character puppets ready to be unveiled for the Bri and Luk Eco Puppet training taking place from October 1 through 3.

Joanne is a talented puppet maker, and stage maker in fact, and has been very patient in her dealings with Vicky and Nicole Garofano of The Future Centre Trust as they suggest the transformation of the illustrations of Mr Jason Waithe (local Barbadian – equally talented graphic designer and illustrator) into life like personalities which will help tell the story of climate change to the primary school children of Barbados.

Joanne has also been instrumental in suggesting the services of Ms Kelly Kirkham, another Canadian puppeteer who is preparing to come to Barbados and deliver the training session for Bri and Luk in a couple of weeks. Joanne can be found at her website here: Open Door Designs.

If you need puppets in Canada, or anywhere in fact, call or email Joanne. She made it happen for the FCT, and thanks again to Vicky, the show will shortly be on the road!

Funding for the Bri and Luk Puppet Show development is being provided by The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, managed locally by the British High Commission for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Additionally, funding for the the implementation of the Bri and Luk Training Workshop for Puppeteers is being provided by Air Canada, Shell Western Supply and Trading, The Canadian High Commission and The Barbados Light and Power Company Ltd.

Watch here for more information on puppets – especially once we have Clean Up Barbados all done for another year!! Check that event out at www.cleanupbarbados.org or visit our Future Centre Trust Facebook page for much more information on this weekend’s event.

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Just a quick update that our phones and fax are working again at the Future Centre Trust Resource Centre so feel free to send through your Clean Up Barbados Registration Sheets asap! Of course scanning is great too – less paper!

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