Have a (green) heart for climate change

They have been knitted, crocheted and embroidered by members and supporters of the local Women’s Institute, under leadership from the Community Affairs Committee, and hope to spark more climate change discussions in the island community.

The hearts come in varying sizes and can be worn or displayed in cars and homes. They are how the Women’s Institute is supporting the Climate Coalition’s Show the Love campaign which raises awareness of climate change. This is the third successive year Guernsey’s local Women’s Institute is supporting the annual campaign.

Chairman of the Women’s Institute Community Affairs committee Sharon Williams said that many of the 370 members of the local organisation had been involved and more than 500 hearts had been made.

‘Some of the groups have done knit and natter meet-ups to make them. We’ve also had people who aren’t members helping,’ she said.

‘We hope that they will start discussions about climate change and its impacts.’

Among the effects of climate change are rising sea levels, changes to bird migration routes and declines in insect species – including pollinators who save farming industries billions of dollars a year according to research.

The island’s deputies received green hearts to wear for the event which began on Valentine’s Day.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez and Deputy Barry Brehaut were among those to receive a heart and are supporting the campaign through the Environment & Infrastructure committee, of which Deputy Brehaut is president and Deputy de Sausmarez a member.

Deputy Brehaut said that in the past climate change was taught to be a thing of the future: ‘Now the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] reports that we have 12 years to make a difference. Now it’s absolutely imperative that we help and there are so many thing we can do’ he said.

Deputy Brehaut said it was nice to see the Women’s Institute getting involved: ‘I know it’s a generalisation but often women are the educators in the home,’ he said.

The Climate Change Coalition is the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action on climate change and the Show the Love campaign runs from 5 to 24 February this year.

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes is a founding member of the coalition and hopes to share green hearts with as many people as possible.

n Hearts can be picked up from the Guille-Alles Library in St Peter Port, the Post Office in St Peter’s, the Grande Marche Co-op on the Bridge and the Grande Marches Co-op in St Martin’s until the end of tomorrow.

n For more information about the Show the Love campaign visit www.showthelove.org.uk.