Voices That Create Ripples

Saira Thomas

Assistant Editor

I march to the rhythm of my pulse, 

A steady thump that should not stop. 

When you’re in fear, I stumble a little faster, 

But not convulse, as we’d all just drop. 

In the darkest night, I do not sleep; 

I drum and drum while you snooze and drool. 

I pump the blood that your body needs; 

My blood is infinite — there’s no need to worry 

When you run, I sprint ahead; 

When you rest, I hum instead. 

I speak in “badums”, “beeps”, and spikes;  

I determine whether you rest or sit upright. 

Although you can’t hear me, 

I’m as silent as a mouse. 

Even when you listen closely, 

I’m the quiet of the house. 

Imagine this: loads of bottles in the ocean. Turtles eating them and falling sick. Kids drinking toxic water and getting cancer! Doesn’t this sound horrible? My law aims to solve these problems. 

My law comprises two parts: first, kids should not bring disposable plastic bottles to school; second, schools should not store water in plastic containers. Science has proven that there are several disadvantages to using single-use plastics. Plastic bottles and bags end up in the ocean and cause trouble for sea organisms. These bottles can break into microplastics, which are ingested by sea animals and poison them. They block the sunlight and oxygen for sea plants, disrupting their life processes. Plastics including water bottles account for about 60-90% of water pollution alone! On land, they break into microplastics and reduce the fertility of the soil. Chlorinated plastic leaches chemicals into the soil, affecting the ecosystem. The first part of my law works against this. 

Now I will explain my second part. The reason I say that schools should not store water in plastic bottles is that bottles can release dangerous chemicals into the water. Plastic bottles can contain phthalates, which can cause cancer. They may have heavy metals like antimony and lead, with disastrous effects on health. Plastic bottles used for storage of water are finally disposed, leading to the problems which I discussed in the previous paragraph. This is why the second part of my law is useful. 

This law makes schools safer, in terms of water quality, and more environmentally sustainable. It may sound trivial, but adresses an important issue. 

This law can be linked to SDG 6 and SDG 14, relating to the issues I discussed. To conclude, banning the usage of plastic to store water will benefit all students and marine life globally.

Citations:

The lake sparkled with beauty, once welcoming families to come enjoy its view and spend time together. People drank from it, washed in it, played by it, and lived with it. They loved the lake as much as it loved them. There was no trash, no oil, nothing to eliminate its glow. It was home to hundreds of fish and water creatures, living peacefully beneath its surface. 

But then—wake up to reality. 

The lake used to be a paradise, but now it was nothing more than a rubbish bin full of water. Where fish once dwelled gracefully, there was now an abyss of darkness. Where seahorses curled around reeds, only plastic bottles clung to fish. The town’s only source of water had turned into a curse. 

“The lake is cursed,” whispered the elders. 

“Bad spirits have taken over it,” muttered the women. 

“It’s poisoned,” declared the men. 

“It’s deadly,” cried the youngsters. 

“It’s our fault,” said Arman quietly, as he watched oil and trash drift across the surface. 

Arman was wise. He didn’t blame spirits or curses. He blamed the people. He believed the lake could heal—if only they stopped feeding it poison. But the elders thought differently. To them, lakes decayed like an apple, and this one had now rotted. 

Meanwhile, sickness spread through the town. Children grew weak, their lips cracked, their bodies shivering with fever. People still drank from the lake because they had no choice. 

One night, as Arman collected a bottle of water to study, the sample of water didn’t need a microscope to detect its bacteria and amoeba, they was visible by the naked eye. He froze. The water stilled, and in its reflection, he saw not his own face, but a stranger’s—eyes hollow, lips moving soundlessly. 

Then came a whisper: 

“Leave now… before it takes you too.”

Who was it?

The book Why Should I Save Energy? is about why it is important not to waste energy. It tells the story of some children who use too much energy without thinking because they think that energy is infinite. One day, a girl’s friend Robert is playing at her house when suddenly, there is a power cut, and they learn how hard it is to live without lights, heating, or other items that need electricity. After that, they start learning how to save energy and take better care of the world. 

The book has fun and colorful pictures that make it easy to understand. It also shows simple ways through which we can all help, like turning off lights when we leave a room, unplugging things we are not using, avoiding wasting too much water or heat, carpooling, and many other ways! The story teaches a very important lesson in a fun and easy way. 

I liked this book because it helps us learn how to take care of the Earth. I think all kids should read this book so they can learn how to save energy too as in this day and time, especially since nowadays we don’t really pay attention to how our actions affect the planet. I believe this book is perfect for teaching kids how they can save energy even by doing little tasks and still make a big difference!

- Al Ain British Academy

At the start of the school year, Katherine Rich, a UK-born author and illustrator, began working at our school as the secondary school art teacher. Mrs Rich has lived in the UAE for some time, and I was delighted to interview her about the book that she wrote and illustrated, titled: Nature Walks: Wildlife Encounters in Ras Al Khaimah. Her work combines storytelling with vibrant illustrations, making complex environmental and climate action themes accessible and enjoyable for young readers. 

Amir: What inspired you to write this book? 

Mrs Rich: I was inspired to get young people to look at nature and think about their role in protecting it – especially as we face climate change. I wanted to show them that even small actions like learning about local wild life can make a real difference in preserving out planet for future generations. This book is a way to spark curiosity and responsibility towards the natural world around us. 

Amir: Why did you decide to include the message about plastic pollution in your story? 

Mrs Rich: Sadly, coming across plastic pollution and trash is quite common when you are on nature walks. It was very important to get across to young people how small actions affect the environment and how their habits can have a negative impact on the wildlife. It is young people that can promote change for a whole generation of society when they are educated. 

Amir: How could rising sea levels and rising sea temperatures affect the wildlife mentioned in this book? 

Mrs Rich: Rising sea levels and sea water temperatures could affect some of the wildlife mentioned in the book because they would change the shape of coastal areas and the water temperature. Mangroves are a very delicate habitat and rely on balance in the environment. Mangroves protect the coast and harbor many nursery species. Additionally, coral reefs, which are also sensitive to temperature changes, can suffer from coral bleaching when the water gets too warm. This not only affects the corals themselves but also the many marine species that depend on coral reefs for food and shelter. Both mangroves and corals play crucial roles in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems. 

Amir: Do you have a message for young people who want to help stop climate change and pollution? 

Mrs Rich: Young people who want to help stop climate change and pollution can make a difference by learning about wildlife and by observing and appreciating the wildlife around them. They can participate in sustainable activities and pass on valuable information to their families and other students about responsible practices.