Winning videos in 'Throwaway Culture' Columban Competition

Chloe Laberinto

In their recent competition, 'Tackling our Throwaway Culture', the Columbans invited students to produce a short video on a topic relevant to Catholic Social Teaching and Columban mission in 16 countries around the world. Around 100 young people entered between Britain and Ireland, and in England more than 20 schools were involved.

The winning video was produced by Chloe Laberinto from St Paul's School in Milton Keynes. Judges applauded the link made in the video between recycling and action urged by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si'. They said, "she echoes his call to undergo ecological conversion". Chloe pointed out that "almost every piece of plastic ever made is still on this planet in some form or another". Judges felt it was a well-constructed video with good use of images and video and augmented with graphics, text and well-researched facts.

Second place video winner was Evie McCann, from St Bede's Catholic School, Lytham St Annes, who produced "an exceptional contribution", according to judges. The video opens with beautiful images of a turtle and dolphin swimming in the ocean, contrasted with plastic pollution in waterways. She quotes from Pope Francis: "As stewards of God's creation, we are called to make the Earth a beautiful garden for the human family."

The joint third place winners, were Maureen Unwunali from St Paul's, Milton Keynes, and Benjamin Cooper from Bishop Ullathorne, Coventry. Maureen showcased her talented creativity with a poetic statement on our society's throwaway culture. Benjamin's dramatic video was thought to contain "a powerful and compelling message, reference to social teaching and a call to action". He hoped Pope Francis would one day be able to take back his words in Laudato Si' that, "the Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth".

The winning British videos can be accessed at:

1st - Chloe Labertino

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lh7DIq4UPU

2nd - Evie McCann

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBDcu3m5v6A

Joint 3rd - Maureen Onwunali

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl-Evx3sqLI

and

Benjamin Cooper

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr9lQreiPUE