Discover Kvarner

ECO SCHOOLS

The aim of the Foundation for Environmental Education - FEE is to promote, though eco-schools international programmes, education and training in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development. The accent is on the training of decision-makers at all ages, starting from primary care of the environment to the establishment of a sustainable development training programme. On the Kvarner area 16 schools acquired the status of "Eco schools", 15 elementary and 1 secondary school and one “Eco kinder garten” – the kinder garten “Klana” in Klana.

www.eco-schools.org
www.lijepa-nasa.hr

Ecological manual
Every one of us collects from 200 to 300 kg of rubbish on a yearly basis. Given such quantity we can no longer say: "The garbage men will take care of it." We all have to take care and try to reduce this huge pile of garbage. While doing this we have to direct our attention to the ecological aspect of waste disposal in which separate garbage collection is extremely important.
 

Do you know?

• That pouring out waste oil is equal to its direct pouring into rivers, lakes or sea, and that only half a litre of waste oil can form a poisonous stain on almost half a hectare of water surface. 
• That one litre of spilt used motor oil pollutes as much as 1.000.000 litres of drinking water, and one litre of gasoline about 750.000 litres. This happens also when we empty them in the toilet. 
• That styrofoam never dissolves biologically – it never disappears, therefore never leave it in the nature. 
• That styrofoams has a lethal effect on life in the sea, lakes and rivers because it floats on the surface, crumples in crumbs resembling food and animals, eating it, die. 
• That an abandoned glass bottle can pollute the environment for more than 1.000 years. 
• That a rejected aluminum tin, beer or juice can will pollute the environment for the next 500 years. 
• That plastic shopping bags, though often more convenient than the paper ones, do not decompose in nature, and the colours used for inscriptions on them contain cadmium – a toxic heavy metal. Therefore, if we use plastic bags, let’s use at least those with no inscription and let’s use them more than once. 
• That the batteries we use at home: in watches, remote controls, toys, … contain heavy metals – mercury and cadmium, the prolonged exposure to which can cause serious physical and psychic diseases in people. For this reason always deposit them in special containers or hand them over to waste disposing firms.
• That it is a pity to throw old paper and newspapers in the garbage. If we discard them in the appropriate containers, books, newspapers, copybooks and shopping bags can be recycled out of them. For paper production, for the production of 700 shopping bags only, a 15 to 20 year old, entire tree is required.
• That each ton of recycled office paper means a saving of 1.436 litres of oil.
• That separate waste collection (glass, old paper, biological waste, special and dangerous waste) helps the environment because 2/3 of our waste, if collected separately, can be reused.
   

In shopping...

• Bring you bag along, do not use PVC bags.
• If possible, buy bigger quantities, not individually packed products.
• Leave unnecessary packing in the store.
• Buy products whose packing may be recycled.
• Avoid products in spray-cans that are harmful for the environment.
• Buy fresh fruit, vegetables, cold meats and meat not requiring vacuum packing in its packing and preservation procedures.
   

Household jobs...

• When cleaning use nonpoisonous substances, instead of dangerous chemical substances.
• For washing laundry and dishes, use detergents without phosphates.
• Switch on the washing machine and the dish-washer when the energy tariff is low.
• While washing the dishes by hand, do not leave the water running all the time.
• Do not use disposable products, such as cigarette lighters, ball point pens...
• Use water based colours.
• Make the best use of food remnants; fruit and vegetable peels, coffee leaves, waste from the garden and grassland produce compost for your flowers and plants.
   

In the bathroom - use water sparingly

• Instead of taking a bath, take a shower.
• While shaving or washing yourself, do not leave the water running all the time
• If taps or valves leak, repair them immediately.
   

Value and separate the waste

• Waste paper, glass, batteries, tins, are to be disposed of in special containers, marked for the purpose.
• Talk to children and friends about waste and environmental protection issues.
• Join the work of tourist boards, schools and nongovernmental associations for nature and environmental protection.
• Repair all that can be repaired and use it.
• Do not throw bulky waste anytime and anywhere, but deposit it at the set time and in the place of organized waste removal.
• If you notice any waste deposited in an inappropriate place, fulfill your civic duty and report the fact to inspection services.
   

We are guests in nature – let's take care of the environment

• Do not leave waste in the nature – on the beach, in the park, in the forest and if you come across it, pick it up and throw it into the first container.
• Never discard and leave waste behind, but take it along if there is no specifically marked place for its disposal.
• Let’s behave as protectors and custodians of nature – treat water, earth, air, plants and animals as if they were our brothers and sisters.
• Let the “traces” of our stay in nature remain imperceptible, if possible, or as less visible as possible.
• On occasion of each visit to nature, let’s remember that "Nature is not a gift we received from our ancestors, but rather the heritage we are going to leave to our descendants" (Russel).
• Let’s do to nature what we do to ourselves, our friends and the persons we love.
• Let’s be nature friends and daily environment protectors.
• When you take your pet out, clean up after it.
   

In the garden…

• Use natural devices and substances for the care and protection of your plants.
• To prevent the growth of weeds, do not use herbicides, but pull them up and use a protective cover of damp straw, fertilizer, leaves etc.
• Let the cut grass decompose thereby supplying your garden with nutrient substances instead of other fertilizers.
• Put a sprayer on the watering hose, since this is a way for saving water.
   

Car…

• Try to use water sparingly when washing you car.
• If motor oil or transmission-system oil leaks, repair the damage immediately.
• Check regularly the pressure of your car tires, since low-pressure tires cause higher fuel consumption.
• Do not park in front of waste containers, because in this way you thwart waste disposal.
• Walk, use your bike and public transport whenever you can.

Ten commandments for nature lovers

1. Clean in front of your own threshold, first.
2. What you cleaned today, preserve tomorrow, too.
3. Protect nature, do not destroy it.
4. Do not pollute the air, since clean air means long life.
5. Instill love for nature in your heart and in the heart of your fellow men.
6. Do not steal from the future.
7. Make what you have last as long as possible.
8. Think today for a better tomorrow.
9. Dispose waste in a controlled manner and do not create illegal waste damps.
10. Remember that you are not the owner of the Earth, but its protector and custodian.