Karlino is located in the northeast part of West Pomerania in Poland. Its historical origin back in XIII-th c. Nowodays, there are for about 6000 inhabitants living in Karlino. Has anything changed here since 1385?

KARLINO yesterday nowadays

In 1980, the town of Karlino became a symbol of Polish hopes for a "new Kuwait" because of the discovery of oil deposits here. At that time Poland was in an economic crisis and the nation hoped to be able to sell oil from Karlino and pay off the debt. It took on a symbolic role as a sign of a better future. On December 9, 1980, a big eruption of oil and natural gas took place here. At that time, it was one of the biggest oil eruptions in the history of Europe. The fire was put out on January 8, 1981, almost a month after the eruption. Karlino's torch The eruption of oil in Karlino was an important event for the city. Thanks to it, nowadays, Karlino is recognized among 16 most environmentally friendly towns in Poland.

Our students try to check what the inhabitants of Karlino know about ecology in their area. They asked some questions to people and wrote their answers. First students’ step was inviting the most important person in our town - our mayor - to school to ask him some questions about ecological changes in our area.

Marta K. - WHAT HAS CHANGED IN KARLINO’S ENVIRONMENT RECENTLY? What has changed? Everything. Karlino is leading an active policy to support and promote ecology and protect the natural environment. In all coal boiler-houses in the town were modernized and adapted to burn gas from local sources. A modern computer system was used for monitoring everything. In 2000 the buildings in Karlino's train station's estate were connected to the gas network. The use of natural gas helps to reduce atmospheric emissions of carbon, sulphur and nitrogen produced when coal or other traditional fuels are burnt.

There are new: refuse dumps, new cycles’ tracks, wind turbines and energy-saving lamps in our area.

Marta K HOW CAN WE HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT? We can help by segregating rubbish, saving water and energy. We can clean the land around our houses and organizing eco - actions to talk about the dangers connected with the environmental pollution. Our local goverment modernized sewage treatment station in Karlino in In 2003 new mixing devices were installed, as well as a system for automatic control of the level of biological treatment, and measuring apparatus. Since 1996 the district of Karlino has had a waste segregation scheme, and the amount of recyclable materials. We have a system for collecting dangerous waste, used batteries and old medicines.

Sylwia P - DO YOU SAVE WATER AND SEGREGATE RUBBISH? Yes. I try. I changed my bath into the shower. I put water into the cub during cleaning my teeth. I bought the dishwashing machine and segregate rubbish into plastic bottles, glass and papers.

Sylwia P - DO YOU NOW IF WE HAVE SEWAGE TREATMENT STATION IN KARLINO? Yes, all of the district's sewage is taken to a sewage treatment station in Karlino. About 82% of the inhabitants are connected to the grid. Other households collect sewage in their own septic tanks. The use of new technologies to transport drinking water allowed the elimination of pollution. The pipes now used prevent chemical and bacterial contamination of the water running directly to consumers and preventing risks to health due to infections carried in the water supply.

Marcin Wiciu W – DID YOU HEAR ABOUT A NEW REGULATION CONNECTED WITH THE SEGREGATION OF THE RUBBISH? WHAT IS THE REGULATION ABOUT? Yes, I heard, we will pay additional money for recycling rubbish

Marcin Wiciu W - DO YOU KNOW WHAT ARE THE WIND MILLS BUILD FOR AND HOW MUCH ENERGY DO THEY NEED? The company build the wind farms to reduce the environmental pollution. Wind power consumes no fuel, and emits no air pollution, unlike fossil fuel power sources. The energy consumed to manufacture and transport the materials used to build a wind power plant is equal to the new energy produced by the plant during a few months. What is more, our traditional energy sources started to dissappear, so we have to think about alternative sources to replace them.

Nowadays, we have to do everything to save our planet for us and our children. Care for the cleanliness of the natural environment has brought effects, and Karlino was awarded prizes in the second "Kindness to the Environment" competition organized under the patronage of the President of Poland.

The interviews were conducted and prepared by: Marta, Sylwia & Marcin This presentation was prepared by Michał