June 8, 2018 -- Students at East Lake Middle School in Yiling, Yichang, ferment food waste to mate detergent. [Whang Zhuangfei/China Daily]

 

June 8, 2018 -- When the new academic year begins, every student in Yichang city, Hubei province, from preschool to high school, will receive a special textbook about ecological issues.

 

The initiative is part of the city government's moves to promote awareness of environmental protection among young people.

 

The city has about 300,000 students - roughly the population of Iceland - and draft copies of the textbook were distributed to 45 schools on June 1 to mark International Children's Day. The city's Party chief and mayor handed out the books to students.

 

Pan Lianwei, deputy head of the basic education department at the city's education commission, said the authorities hope the books will have a positive effect on the children.

 

"Environmental education aims to guide students to respect and protect nature, and comply with regulations governing its protection. We hope the books will help to promote a healthy lifestyle, such as saving energy and living in a green way. The move will also promote the city's green development," he said.