You are the generation of hope for our future.  Many teenagers have an environmental awareness that is superior to many adults.  We want to learn from you how to effect change. 

Background

For generations the behavior and choices of people have been significant contributors to global warming.  We have reached a tipping point, and must make choices that will change our way of life.

Many people want to drive their cars of choice and drive for pleasure without thinking about the energy used or waste created.  Virtually all of us make numerous choices every day that increase our carbon footprint and contribute to global warming.  Even though it is a change in our lifestyle, we must each begin to make choices that are more carbon friendly and better for the environment. 

To address global warming, we will all need to look at our personal choices and objectively evaluate them.  The seventies environmental mantra of “Think Globally, Act Locally” can, if practiced, begin to turn the tide on global warming. 

Essay Subject

Tell us a story about you and a choice you make every day that contributes to global warming.  It can be anything, such as the car you drive, the twenty minute hot showers you might take, the energy you may waste, the waste you generate for our landfills, the foods you eat that have to be transported long distances, etc.

Be very specific.  Tell us how you feel as you engage in this activity.  Are you thinking purely of pleasure or comfort?  Are you conscious of doing something that damages the environment, even incrementally?  If so, how did you justify it?  Now, tell us what could move you to make a more environmentally friendly choice.  Describe where the influence would come from--peers, popular culture, laws, government policies--and exactly how it would lead you to change your behavior.  In short, tell us how we as a society can move teenagers, beginning with you, to live environmentally-conscious lives.

Essay Rules

The maximum length of the essay is 750 words.  Essays must be submitted by April 22, 2008.  Submit your essay as a Microsoft Word file attachment by E-Mail to nwbiodiesel@live.com.  Each student may submit only one essay.  This essay contest is open only to sixth – twelfth grade students who are residents of the city of Seattle.  Updates on the contest can be found at http://nwbiodiesel.org/neighborhood.htm.

Essays must be written in 12-point type, double-spaced, numbered on every page, and contain a separate title page listing these items:

• Essay title
• Student’s name
• School name
• Student’s grade level
• Student’s e-mail address
• Home address
• Home telephone number (include area code)
• Supervising teacher’s name
• Teacher’s e-mail address

Participants must agree to the following submission agreement:

“Content” is any material, including but not limited to writings, artwork, photographs, designs, plans, information, suggestions, ideas, data, questions or comments, submitted by you to the Northwest Biodiesel Network.

You may only submit Content that you created.  You may not submit Content that plagiarizes the work of others, violates, or infringes the rights of others including, without limitation, patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, publicity or other proprietary rights.  You may not submit Content that violates any laws or that would place the Northwest Biodiesel Network in breach of any applicable laws.

Any Content you submit becomes the property of the Northwest Biodiesel Network and will be considered to be non-proprietary and non-confidential.  The Northwest Biodiesel Network will have no obligations of any kind with respect to any Content you submit and will be free to edit, reproduce, use, disclose, publish and/or distribute any Content for any purpose whatsoever, without limitation.

Judging Criteria

Essays that meet the criteria above will be accepted and judged equally by the Northwest Biodiesel Network judges in their sole discretion, on the basis of originality, writing ability, style and creativity. The decision of The Northwest Biodiesel Network is final. If appropriate, a reference page should be included as a separate page. All sources must be properly acknowledged and correctly noted in the essay. Wikipedia is not a legitimate source.  

Prizes

First Prize:

$200 gift certificate to Patagonia

Winning essay will be read at the Northwest Biodiesel Network’s “Biodiesel in Your Neighborhood” Forum. This Forum will be held on March 15, 2008 at the Rainier Community Center

Winning essay distributed at the NW Biodiesel Network’s 6th Annual Northwest Biodiesel Forum on May 4, 2008. 

Winner can read his or her essay at the Annual Forum. 

The winning essay will be submitted by the NW Biodiesel Network to the Seattle Post Intelligencer or the Seattle Times as an Op-Ed piece, asking that they publish it. Full credit will be given to the student.

Second Prize:

A 3-month subscription to Rhapsody To Go