People & Planet Staff Profile - Graham Craig
Every month we will profile a different member of staff to give you a flavour of the work they are doing and what motivated them to work for People & Planet. This month we have Graham Craig, our communications intern.
Graham has been our communications intern since August 2007. He works on our termly newsletter and on email communications with P&P supporters and with China Dialogue. He also helps to support our media and communications volunteers and does Sixth Form outreach.
Graham meets the network at Summer Gathering 07
What made you want to work for P&P?
My studies at university focused on Politics and International Relations and I participated in building an education centre in Tanzania in 2005 with other students from Nottingham University. This got me interested in global issues and student-led development. People & Planet’s work in that area seemed so vibrant that I decided to apply for the internship.
What exactly does your job involve?
One or two days a week I visit sixth form schools and colleges to run workshops on climate change, Fairtrade or HIV/AIDS, getting new groups started and supporting existing groups in their campaigns. At the office, I coordinate the Action Update Newsletter and am in charge of e-communications (e-supporter & e-active). I also support media volunteers from the network, as we are looking to increase student participation in communications, for example with China Dialogue.
What is your best P&P experience?
The Summer Gathering this year, it made me wish I had joined People & Planet as a student.
What do you think is the most pressing issue in the UK?
Climate change in general, and more specifically the danger of people overestimating what small things like recycling can do. Bigger compromises in lifesyle like flying less or not at all are needed.
On a lighter note, the “ten items or less” queues in supermarkets. Firstly, it should be “ten items or fewer” and, secondly, people take more than ten items through - cretins.
How do you see People & Planet in five years time?
With a stronger presence in sixth form, more groups in more schools. With a more integrated network, sixth form and university groups working together in a more self-sustaining way, requiring less support from the office.