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| Colchester Zoo keeper to go to Arctic - 30-Nov-05 |
Press Release
November 29 2005
Colchester Zoo keeper to go to
the Arctic to become a UK ambassador
for climate change.
Hayley Potter (24) a Keeper at Colchester Zoo, UK is facing a two week trip to one of the most inhospitable places on the planet, the Arctic, as part of her role as one of only six Ben & Jerry’s Climate Change Ambassadors.
The Climate Change College is a unique partnership between polar explorer Marc Cornelissen, Ben & Jerry’s and WWF, based on their shared values to fight Global Climate Change. The project aims to give young people aged 18-25 the necessary tools to teach global warming issues to their peers, and lobby for climate change through witnessing first-hand the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on an eco-system as fragile as the Arctic. Ambassadors will take part in scientific research on the melting ice cap in Greenland, which will in turn provide them with the experience and knowledge to campaign for change.
Hayley said:
“I’ve always known there was more that I could do to help the environment, after all, my job involves the captive breeding of endangered species to ensure their future survival. However, without ensuring the future survivial of our planet and natural habitats, all my hard work would be in vain”.
Over 1500 young people from the UK and The Netherlands applied to the College which culminated in twelve individuals participating in a final selection event at an outdoor pursuits centre in Rotterdam. Candidates were judged by an international panel on their responses to a range of challenges including outdoor physical logic tests, media interviews, writing, presentation and group tipi-camping in freezing conditions!
Hayley completes a team of six talented, committed young individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds from film-making to environmental engineering. Each ambassador will bring their own experience, and skills to creating innovative campaigns and will receive full support from both Ben & Jerry’s and WWF. The college will be recruiting every year until 2008. More information is available at www.climatechangecollege.org.
Jerry Greenfield from Ben & Jerry’s said:
‘Take it from two ice cream guys, when it’s melted it’s ruined. This issue is too important to be left with politicians and scientists alone. And that’s why we’ve selected Hayley for her passion and determination to influence her peers, the government and commercial industry to take action now!”
Colchester Zoo’s Conservation Officer, Rebecca Perry said:
“Hayley has worked incredibly hard for this honour and we’re delighted that she is to be involved in campaigning for climate change. We hope that the breadth of experience that she will receive from going on this amazing trip will enable her to spread awareness amongst the community as well as to our visitors.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Alex Burr, Colchester Zoo, Telephone 01206 331292 ext 226, email marketing@colchester-zoo.co.uk
Colchester Zoo is a member of BIAZA; a conservation education and scientific wildlife charity, which acts as the principal professional zoo body representing the responsible zoo community in the UK.
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