Br Lukasz SDB of the Chaplaincy at Savio Salesian College, Bootle, writes about students who used their creativity to show their care for God's creation.

"To change the world I refuse to believe that we are trying hard enough. It would be wrong to say: don't try." These were the lyrics of the reversible poem which students of Savio Salesian College presented in Hope University's chapel at the end of June.

Representatives of many Catholic Schools in the Liverpool Diocese met there to come forth with all the pieces of art they had prepared for the final of the Regional Archdiocesan Media Competition. This Year the main topic was ecology. We saw beautiful performances and pieces of art. Members of staff from all the schools participating were sharing their interest on how good, creative and caring young people can be.

As the ambassadors of our school, pupils from Year 7 collaboratively created a reversible poem (mentioned above) on the topic of sustainability. The poem's meaning changes, dependent on whether it is read forwards or backwards, just as the impact of our behaviour towards the earth changes, depending on the steps we take and choices we make.

Simple changes make a difference to the footprints we leave behindâ

Apart from the poem, among all the winning pieces of art, we could admire two beautiful paintings and a collage, prepared by our students. This success was possible because of the effort made by an English teacher, Ms Greenwood, supported by the Chaplaincy Team. The whole event was finished with a short moment of reflection and prayer, provided by a representative of our group. Thanksgiving to God for such an amazing world he has created was the best thing we could do. Looking at the potential hidden in these creative and gifted young people, who are aware of the responsibility God has given us together with his gifts, one could feel hope.

This was the winning poem, please read it.

THE EARTH IS BEAUTIFUL
1. The earth is beautiful, we must love our home
2. You can't say
3. It is a big job to keep it clean and sustain life for every living thing so this may be a shock, but
4. Really everyone knows
5. We should tidy the land to keep it tidy, the ocean to keep it clear, the air to keep oxygen in our lungs.
6. To change the world I refuse to believe that
7. We are trying hard enough.
8. It would be wrong to say
9. Don't try.
10. It would be fair to say
11. The land is covered with too much litter, ocean is filled with too much plastic, the air is too polluted so
12. Do something about it and help solve the earth's problem but
13. It's our problem, if you care enough
14. It is ignorant to think that
15. The earth is disgraceful, the world is broken and it's too late.
16. Put your actions in reverse?
.

- And now backwards:

17. Put your actions in reverse?
18. The earth is disgraceful, the world is broken and it's too late.
19. It is ignorant to think that
20. It's our problem, if you care enough
21. Do something about it and help solve the earth's problem but
22. The land is covered with too much litter, ocean is filled with too much plastic, the air is too polluted so
23. It would be fair to say
24. Don't try.
25. It would be wrong to say
26. We are trying hard enough.
27. To change the world I refuse to believe that
28. We should tidy the land to keep it tidy, the ocean to keep it clear, the air to keep oxygen in our lungs.
29. Really everyone knows
30. It is a big job to keep it clean and sustain life for every living thing so this may be a shock, but
31. You can't say
32. The earth is beautiful, we must love our home.