Whoops - Carbon Dioxide doesn't float!

The Walk to School Supporter Poster

Our thanks to an eager Guardian Reader that pointed out the slight "mistake" in our Walk to School poster.


We are thrilled that the Walk to School advert, has been published in the Guardian Newspaper (in the "Best Foot Forward" school travel supplement) today.

This years Walk to School week is focussing on the impact that Walking to School can have on reducing exhaust emissions - particularly carbon dioxide (the greenhouse gas that causes climate change).

We produced the advert as a way of getting the message out to more people - particularly parents and carers who don't currently walk their children to school.

The advert features a school girl holding 60 red balloons - the same amount of carbon dioxide as is released by driving to school and back just once. It also highlights the fact that you breath in more pollution inside the car, than walking along the pavement.

While the statistics are right, an eagle-eyed Guardian reader has pointed out that the balloons are floating. If they were filled with carbon dioxide (which is heavier than air) they would be sinking, and around the girls feet. He is right, and we are sorry for any confusion this may have caused. The balloons were made to float for design reasons.

We hope that (floating balloons not withstanding!) you will agree it is an arresting image. If you'd like to use the image to promote Walk to School week it can also be downloaded as a PDF poster. We also have a limited number of supporter packs - consisting of four copies of the poster and some postcards - available on a first-come first-served basis. More information...

Published Tuesday 24 April 2007