EkoSkola schoolchildren have proposed that political parties take a number of environment-friendly measures during the forthcoming election campaign.

The proposals were yesterday presented to the Nationalist Party, the Labour Party, Alternattiva Demokratika and to EkoSkola partners.

The children are recommending that MPs do not use disposable bottles, plates and cups during their meetings; that persons attending mass meetings be encouraged not to leave any waste behind; and that bins for waste separation are used during such meetings.

Another recommendation is for no more political leaflets and brochures to be mailed to households.

In a survey about such printed material, the majority of respondents said they prefer not to get such mail, the students say.

The EkoSkola programme is an international environmental education programme. Around five million children from over 17,000 schools in 37 countries participate in the programme.

Through EkoSkola, children take an active part in the decisions, planning and implementation of environmental activities.

The programme was introduced in Malta in 2002 by Nature Trust, as the representative of the Federation of Environmental Education (FEE), in collaboration with the government.

The number of participating schools is 60.

Four schools have achieved the Green Flag status - an internationally recognised eco label certification that shows a school's serious commitment towards environmental improvement.