On an Island surrounded by beauty we can be very careless of it; but young people on the Island really do care and want to tell us about it.With the goal of preserving and protecting the natural and cultural heritage, the Bermuda National Trust came together with Greenrock to work towards changing the mindset and protecting our environment. Seeking input from Bermuda’s young people the two charities launched the Earth Day video competition inviting discussion on what Bermuda’s students are concerned about and what they want action on.Students were invited to make a two to five minute video telling a story about what they see, and how they feel we should look after the Island.In this age of YouTube and Facebook, video is a medium that comes naturally to young people and powerfully communicates a message to their peers. And those messages came through loud and clear.Nearly 60 students from a range of schools submitted videos, using methods that varied from cartoons to documentaries to live action Lara Hetzel of Bermuda High School (BHS) filmed her entire poetic video from inside a plastic bag.Each video conveyed the message that we need to celebrate and appreciate our Island and our earth, and we need to protect them by changing our behaviour.Some clear themes emerged. Some students highlighted the contrast between Bermuda’s unique and picturesque beauty and its ugly areas of neglect. Conor Outerbridge of Warwick Academy paired images of pristine mangroves with dump sites, asking “how do you want our Island to look?”Several of the videos went further in their concern about trash on the Island with students directly challenging the viewer to “Do the Right Thing” and pick up trash.Ideas for saving electricity were particularly creatively expressed. Chrisophe Boisson of Mount Saint Agnes hosted his classmates Caleb Roberts and Sadiq Nurse in a game show where they offered answers to energy saving questions, and Tia Froud and India Wilson of Warwick Academy documented their sprint around their school on the last day of term as they turned off 120 computers and 35 lights, adding a spark of fun as they danced in between.Once finished, the girls announced “We’ve done our part, now you do yours!”Students highlighted both their knowledge and their concern across a wide range of environmental issues. Dellwood students Amelia Hayward, Khalycah Thomas, Tianna Ible and Hannah Smith recorded their tour of the recycling centre.Phaedra Dill of BHS explained how composting works and the benefits she and her family have seen.Josh Snelling, Jacques de Verteuil and Ferdinand Arnold of Warwick Academy encouraged consumers to buy in bulk as less packaging means less waste. Cedarbridge students Autumn Pimental and Germaine Darrell, made a powerful case for supporting kids in their enjoyment of the outdoors through skateboarding.The students said that they had learned a lot from making the videos. Apryl Jackson of Bermuda College’s Eco Club said she learned the value of collaborating on ideas, and increased her respect for teamwork. Others said they gained new skills that they hope they will be able to use again. Some were a bit shy once they saw their work on the big screen during school assemblies but enjoyed their peers approaching them saying “I recognise you from your video.”The Argo Foundation and Montpelier Re Foundation sponsored the competition, and all participants, to celebrate their effort, were invited aboard the Endurance for a natural history tour and cruise around Castle Harbour. This acknowledged that every voice is important and valued in our community’s effort to protect our natural and cultural heritage and change the mindset of how we treat our environment.The difficult job of judging the videos was given to Environment Minister Walter Roban; Andrew Stevenson, well-known local author and film-maker, best known for his film, “Where the Whales Sing”; and Jean Pierre Rouja, highly regarded documentary film-maker and managing director of Look TV.All the videos will be shown, and the top entries will be announced and awarded their prizes at a public screening on Tuesday, May 15 from 6 7.30pm at Bermuda College and members of the community are encouraged to attend and show their support.The Marine Locker has generously donated a GoPro camera to the winner, and other prizes include memberships to The Bermuda National Trust and other local environmental attractions.