After their graduation ceremony last Wednesday, eighth graders at the American School in Guadalajara naturally were jumping for joy and taking photos.
But because of developments in their project to ban plastic bags in stores, which recently received encouragement from Jalisco Congressman Pedro Kumamoto, some of the students seem surprisingly eager for the summer vacation that just started to be finished.
“The kids will spend the summer researching, making plans about how to get more signatures on their petition drive and preparing the presentation they’re going to take to other schools,” said Norma Guinto, director of the Mexico Program at the American School and the contact between the eighth graders and Kumamoto.
Just last week, the congressman came to the school for a meeting with the young people about their crusade, dubbed “No Mas Bolsas” (No More Bags). The students report that he enthusiastically exchanged ideas with them about how to implement the scheme.
“The kids came up with the idea of banning bags,” Guinto continued. “But when I contacted Mr. Kumamoto and he immediately responded, it was very inspiring to them.”
“I’m really excited about this,” said student Ángel Sanchez, noting his strong interest in Mexican politics and in making Mexico a better country.
“It’s great that a leader in this city is interested in what 14- and 15-year-olds are doing,” said eighth grader Carlie McGrath. “It’s probably because he is independent, like us,” she added, reflecting on the fact that Kumamoto is not from an established political party.
Without doubt, the fact that Kumamoto is “a young delegate in Congress — 26 years old!” also spurred his support of the young people’s project, added student Miranda Cuevas.
The American School is no stranger to ecological initiatives, noted Guinto. It has received recognition for its other “green” initiatives, such as a recycling center that is open to the public and avoiding plastic food and drink containers. Adding to the impetus of the ’No Mas Bolsas’ campaign, the eighth-graders’ social studies teacher, Tom South, had successfully initiated a similar project at a “‘green school” in Bali, Guinto noted.
As for the next steps on ‘No Mas Bolsas,’ students say Kumamoto steered them in the right direction.
“Now we know that what we want to do is achievable and the steps you have to take,” Carlie said.
“He said we have two options,” added Miranda. “One is getting the Congress to pass a law, and the other is more independent.”
“We have to present it to Congress either way,” noted Carlie. “But with the more independent option, we have to start our petition drive again, and this time get 7,000 signatures from voters with an IFE [voting credential] number.”
“That was how Kumamoto got elected,” Guinto noted. “It was a nice campaign by him and his friends getting signatures from voters at traffic lights.”
She added that Kumamoto encouraged the students to also include education among their strategies.
“We’re going to public and private schools with a presentation,” said Miranda Cuevas. “Many people don’t know the dangers of plastic bags. We have to explain this.”
“Even when you get tacos from a stand, you shouldn’t get a bag. We’re going to educate kids about this,” added Ángel.
“It’s hard to break old habits like this,” Guinto noted, “but it can be easier with young people.”
But being young can be both a help and a hindrance in such a campaign.
“Getting signatures from adults when you are only 14 or 15 can be tough,” said Miranda. “People think you have to be older to take on such a big challenge. Kumamoto said we’ll need a lot of courage.”