ECOLOGY
How do you handle with ecological matters and what do you usually do on this day?
We have not heard about "The Earth Day", neither pupils nor teachers.
Our nearest environment is quite clean though we live beside a very big paper mill. We nowadays have strict laws and orders concerning effluents from the factories. Ecological matters are taught in biology lessons. TV and newspapers tell us a lot about these kinds of things.		 The ecological issue is really of great importance to us since our school is participating in an ecological program. We have arranged a variety of activities for the implementation of the program: (a) visits at recycling units (b) essay competitions about the pollution and the lack of drinking water, (c) the writing of an ecological fairy tale (d) the organizing of a feast dedicated to ecology where parents will informed and watch their children talk about ecology and perform theatrical plays and dances (e) the invitation of the chief of the ecological department of our district who informed the children on ecological issues such as littering, garbage and recycling (f) the organizing of research by children dealing with the way people are consuming products and the re-use of garbage (e) the creating of an ecological little xmas tree -trees made out of garbage, tins etc. We discuss pollution in our classes. It is not difficult for us as we live in the most industrialised region in Poland. Everyday we can see how heavy industry destroys the environment.
We also talk about how we can affect our nearest surrounding by throwing the rubbish to the dustbins and segregating it. We prepare projects on how to take care of the environment. Very often we try to foresee what the Earth will look like in 50 or 100 years if we do not stop polluting it. Some students write poems on ecology and sometimes we organise competitions where our friends build monuments from plastic bottles, boxes, cans, etc.
Do you segregate rubbish at your homes and at schools?
We collect waste and separate them prescribed by law, - or at least we should do it: biodegradable-, incinerated-, refuse dump- and hazardous wastes, metal and batteries, papers and glass bottles for recycling. There are different dustbins for them. Every household has to take part in refuse collection and pay for it. Not very much because people are not so aware. But during the recent years more and more schools are involved in the ecology program. For instance, in our school we have special boxes were we put used paper and we shall take them afterwards at the recycling units. Not very often. There are special dustbins for different types of rubbish, but they are not so common and people - unfortunately - sometimes do not care about that. Majority of us are aware of this problem, but our parents are not used to it.
Are there any national parks in your country?
We have got national parks as well, more than 30 all around Finland. The primary purpose is to safeguard the diversity of Finnish nature. Each park's regulations are adapted to its special circumstances. You may visit them whenever you want, but you must keep the rules. (Everyone in Finland has free access to forests and other nature areas, no matter who owns the land; so called everyman's right.) Yes, we have got many parks. The most well known national park is Akamas. People are not allowed to build or hunt in there. They are not allowed to cut trees or pick flowers. Akamas has got a variety of flora and fauna. Yes, we have got 14 national parks. You may visit them whenever you want to, but you must be quiet and you mustn't drop litter, pick flowers or plants. Sometimes a guide's assistance is required.
Are there any species under protection in your country?
In Finland there are lots of animals and plants under protection. There are no special areas for them because Finland is so sparsely populated except the southern part of the country. Even bears, lynxes and wolves live in the forests. You cannot pick plants or hunt/kill animals which are under protection. In Cyprus there are animals and plants which are under protection. The most famous animal under protection is the mufflon. It's a mixture of a wild goat and deer that is only to be found in Cyprus. 4. In Poland there are animals and plants which are under protection. They usually or almost always live in the specially selected areas where people cannot get to.
Do you keep any animals at home?
Finnish people have numerous pets, too. For example cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, mice, lizards, fish, parrots, budgies and gastropods. Of course we have pets! Almost every one has got a pet at home. We have dogs, cats, fish, birds, hamsters, mice, rabbits and turtles. We have pets. Almost every one has got an animal at home. We usually have dogs, cats, fish, birds, hamsters, mice, rabbits and turtles.