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Neston Students Shortlisted for WWF Youth Poetry Competition

Tess Clegg and Amelia Johnston, who attend Neston High School, have been shortlisted for WWF's youth poetry competition, The Future We Want.

Tess Clegg pictured with MPs Andrew Miller and Caroline Spelman. Photo © Richard Stonehouse - WWF-UK

Tess, along with the other three finalists was met today by Secretary of State for the Environment, Caroline Spelman, at an event in the House of Commons. Unfortunately Amelia was unable to attend the event. Tess and Amelia's poems were two of over 300 submitted as part of the competition.

Both of their poems can be viewed at the end of this article.

Local MP Andrew Miller, who attended the event and gave his support to Tess and her school, said: "I was delighted to hear young people from across the country, but especially from my own constituency, showing their concern for our world in such a beautiful way. It was moving to hear Tess read her poem and that of Amelia who sadly could not be with us; congratulations to them both on their achievements.

"I hope negotiators in Rio listen to the voices of the young as it is our responsibility to leave the planet in good shape for their generation."

The competition, launched by WWF in May, invited students aged 11-14 to submit a poem that reflected their hopes for the future of the planet, ahead of the Rio + 20 Earth Summit. This month, twenty years after the first United Nations Earth Summit, world leaders will gather again to examine the progress made and to decide what steps must be taken to protect the future of the planet. The Future We Want competition allowed young people around the UK an opportunity to voice their own thoughts and feelings on the importance of protecting the environment for future generations.

WWF supporter Graeme Le Saux, who helped shortlist the entries, said: "I was delighted to help judge the finalists in this competition. The quality of entries was high: it was a pleasure as well as a privilege to hear what young people want for the future of our world, expressed so thoughtfully and creatively."

Glyn Davies, Director of Programmes at WWF said, "Decisions made in Rio next week can shape the global environment agenda for the next decade and beyond. Today's young people will live with the impacts of these decisions so it's important to listen to what they have to say about the future they want."

The Future We Want
By Tess Clegg, Neston High School, Neston, Cheshire

We want a future where we breathe clean, unpolluted air,
Where we don't have to worry about global warming and everyone is aware.
Where we are free to be ourselves,
Where no one is forgotten and left to collect dust on the shelves.

We want a future where there's never any violence or war,
Where everyone is peaceful, loving and never in uproar.
Where children are happy, free and love to play outdoors,
Where everyone is respectful and abides by the law.

We want a future where we know our neighbours and they know us,
Where everyone makes an effort to avoid the car and instead walk, cycle or take the bus.
Where there's more ‘Made in Britain', and less ‘Made in China', Where people live life to the full in major instead of minor.

We want a future where animals are free from hunters and extinction,
Where animals living in cages will be the work of fiction.
Where everyone is equal and the world's wealth is evenly dispensed,
Where everyone has enough money and isn't living off a few pence.

We want a future where the truth is spoken when it's at need,
Where nobody is discriminated against and has the opportunity to succeed.
Where different cultures and religions are appreciated and respected, Where we get a voice instead of our ideas being rejected.

We want a future where we share with others, take less and give more,
Where we use sustainable energy and show damaging fossil fuels the door.
Where we live in harmony with a world filled with green,
Where bullying, negative thoughts, injustice and cruelty are nowhere to be seen.

The Future We Want
By Amelia Johnston, Neston High School, Neston, Cheshire

The future we want is peaceful,
The future we want is where...

We can leave war and crime behind,
Everybody is respectful and kind.
People will live in harmony with one another,
We threat everyone as a sister or brother.

The future we want is clean,
The future we want is where...

Global warming does not threaten us all,
No animals are in decline or fall.
Every person saves and recycles,
Instead of cars we use our bicycles.

The future we want is healthy,
The future we want is where...

All humans have shelter and clean water,
We all get free healthcare so our lives aren't shorter.
There is no climate change or pollution,
Solar panels and wind turbines are the solution.

Everyone's equal,
Everyone shares.
Everyone's green,
And everybody cares.

This is the future we want!

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