What? Chloé has written for zi blog.
Finally, someone who cares to re-read her entry and make sure the right 'their/there' and 'affect/effect' has been used.
Truly, I am as relieved as the rest of the blogging community.
Check it out :)
The Sustainability conference began with a really good opening talk by Daniel Vockins: “Campaigning for the Common Good”. He explained that we must recognize the interconnectedness of our community, society and planet and consider the dynamic relationships between our politics, economics, ecology and culture. He was a good, engaging speaker who managed to keep all the students awake (which, first thing in the morning on a conference day, is no mean feat I tell you!)
My first workshop of the day was led by Joe Rowson, head chef at a great restaurant in the nearby town Cowbridge called Arboreal. We looked at the more sustainable options, local foods and produce in season to maximise the school menu’s sustainability. Our discussion led to ideas being put forth such as:
- Environmental faculty contacting local grower/suppliers and to see about building partnerships (e.g. exchange of student labour on the farms for local food, etc.).
- Introduce sustainable/organic meals for open house
- Raise awareness about seasonal eating (which I personally really feel should be part of the UWC learning experience as it is within our mission statement to be learn to be sustainable), for example by putting informative charts up around the dining hall.
- Expand the use of the polytunnels in the valley (run by environmental service) to provide more local food to the cantine
- Houseparent-organised trips to farmers markets (and Arboreal!)
My second workshop was an outdoor excursion around the school grounds called ‘Bees and Trees’. It was led by two first year students, Peter from England and Eleanor from Scotland, and, as the name suggests, focused on the bees and trees found on our beautiful campus. Despite the biting cold and nasty combination of wind and rain, we made our way all the way down to the seafront and through the forest until we reached the valley, stopping on the way to learn about the interesting facts and names of the trees that surrounded us. Highlight of the walk: finding some Dog’s Mercury (cool name!) in the forest, which apparently is a sign of very healthy and ancient woodland.
The next day began with another captivating speech by an ex-AC student (1977-79), David Fitzpatrick, from “Sustain Wales”. He spoke about our personal responsibility in global issues: the difference between what we do and what we should do. I got a bit lost when he started talking about sustainable charters but the general message of his speech was well received and discussed by the students: we must become conscious of how our daily actions and future decisions affect the sustainability of ourselves, our community and our planet.
My workshop for that day focused on the concept of co-ops and was led by two owners of a co-operative health food store in Edinburgh, one of whom was also an AC alumnus (2003/5, I believe). Unfortunately, they didn’t give us much information as a starting point but instead bombarded us with questions about our opinion on co-ops. Most of us were a bit lost but on the bright side they gave us raw, organic chocolate (actually quite yucky but interesting to have tried nonetheless) and I learnt that Champagne is predominately produced by co-operatives and 80% of Spanish olive oil is produced by co-operatives too!
The conference ended with a heated debate between the entire school and…
Gerwyn Williams - Coastal Oil and Gas
Dennis Campbell - Local Activist (Great public speaker! SO entertaining!)
Sissel Dyhraug – Statoil
Gareth Clubb - Friends of the Earth
Dennis Campbell - Local Activist (Great public speaker! SO entertaining!)
Gareth Clubb - Friends of the Earth
The topic of discussion was: “What will the energy of tomorrow look like?”
To be perfectly honest the debate wasn’t as focused as I hoped it would be. At one point it turned into a massive debate about the harmful effects of fracking. But then again I didn’t know what fracking was until the conference so I suppose it was useful in other respects.
The debate was followed by a rather confusing closing ceremony that had us all form a circle around a maze on the top lawn and place rocks with our own ‘sustainability reflection’ chalked onto them around its perimeter. It was organised by an ex-art teacher, Lydia White, who directed the participating students (who were all covered in face paint and screaming something about a beast in the forest in many different languages…) As my tutor said to me yesterday: “Yeah.. Bit deep for me. Bit too ‘Modern Art’.”
Overall though it was an interesting conference, particularly due to the fact that I think many people found the speeches more interesting than the workshops when the reverse is usually true for most of the other diploma periods. It developed my understanding of living sustainably and demonstrated how sustainability can be applied to a variety of disciplines and activities.
Following this conference I will certainly try to act far more sustainably because I realise that every little bit really does help. I’m not talking about the obvious things like turning off the lights when I leave a room and stopping the tap when I’m brushing my teeth, which by now SHOULD be a habit for all of us, but I will also try to consider the source and method of production when I buy a new product.. I say try… And so the same for food, although as Abi can tell you I usually pay quite a bit of attention to that anyway! Sustainable living is about considering the future, while also paying attention to the present -- it’s about thinking globally, and acting locally!
Video from the conference: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgfBE8XaCAc&feature=share
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On a different note...
26th March
Independence Day of Bangladesh!
This day commemorates the country's declaration of independence from Pakistan in the late hours of 25 March 1971 by the "Father of the Nation" Bongobondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman before he was arrested by Pakistani forces.
Atlantic College er Bangalider amar pokkho theke janiacchi shubho shadhinota dibosh! J
Joy Bangla!
Easter Break starts tomorrow! I get to see my parents after nearly three months :) Wheyoooo.
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