In a bid to raise the environmental awareness of young Bermudians two Government Ministries have joined together in a "fresh" initiative.

In a Press conference yesterday afternoon with the deputy Governor Nick Carter, Minister of the Environment Neletha Butterfield launched the 'A Breath of Fresh Air' programme by handing over environmental issues education packs to the Minister of Education and Development Paula Cox.

"The aim of this initiative is to assist the overseas territories promote the importance and value of the environment among our young people," said Ms Cox.

"These education packs are a direct outcome of an initiative that originated within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and their subsequent collaboration with the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum, who are the direct sponsors of the Breath of Fresh Air conference."

Mrs. Cox said the pack contains an audio tape, a video, CD, work sheets on topics such as tourism and coral.

"At each grade level there is tremendous scope to use the materials contained in the pack; from subjects such as social geography, environmental science and Bermuda marine science courses," said Mrs. Cox.

"The project ideas fit the desirable model of varied and interesting assessment activities that promote critical thinking about real science or social studies issues.

"The data ideas in the information section can be a springboard for data analysis and research."

Ms Butterfield said it was a first class package of material that she was confident would work well in raising levels of environmental awareness in the Island's schools.

She said: "Twenty packs have been delivered to the Ministry of Education and more are on their way from London.

She added that the initiative was as a result of an environmental conference held on the Island in the spring of this year.

"The first conference was held in London in 1999 under the title A Breath of Fresh Air," said Ms Butterfield.

At the conference, delegates identified environmental education as a key need and this audio visual resource is a direct response to that."