Thursday 09-11-2017 - 16:49

This was my first ever NUS Sustainability Summit, and it was the largest one ever, so the best one to start off my sustainability journey on! I attended some really inspirational workshops and met some amazing people.

On November 8^th at 6 o’clock in the morning the bells of my alarm began to chime from my phone, and rather than hit snooze for another 20 minutes, I excitedly got out of bed. Usually I would dread waking up before even the sun has begun to rise, however that morning was different, the noise coming from my phone meant that it was time to get ready for the Student Sustainability Summit. After a bus ride, a ride on the tube, a train, and a short walk, I had finally arrived at Coventry University. Walking into the Student Union building I was eager to find out what the day was going to consist of, as this was my first Sustainability Summit and I didn’t know what to expect. Little did I know that I would be attending different workshops that discussed a number of pressing issues, listen to motivational stories from the keynote speaker, or even meet the most passionate and friendly people who all had the same thing in common; everyone wants to make a change. As I began the journey of a walk, train ride, tube ride, and bus ride, back home to London I felt inspired to take action and make a difference, in both my own life as well as on a larger scale at my university. I came home with so much more knowledge than before, and while I have pages of notes on the event, I will just share four of the main takeaways that I left with.

Ben and Jerry’s are doing a lot more than just making delicious Ice Cream.

I obviously know this, as Ben and Jerry’s are a sponsor of the Student Switch Off campaign, however I did not realize the impact that they are trying to make in a number of different industries. As the representative from Ben and Jerry’s put it, “Ben and Jerry’s is an activist organization that happens to make ice cream”. Recently they have partnered up with the International Rescue Committee to support legislation that would help refugees resettle safely within Europe. Ben and Jerry’s have used their resources, like their PR and marketing and created the campaign Together with Refugees. Last year they launched the I.C.E. Academy, which teaches refugees skills on how to set up a business and be successful in the U.K.. Last year there were 8 refugees in the academy, and next year they plan on having over 200 participants.

Here is a link to find out more about what Ben and Jerry’s are doing to make a change: http://www.benjerry.co.uk/values/issues-we-care-about/refugees

Feminism and environmentalism are more connected than we think.

Kate Metcalf from the Women’s Environmental Network spoke on two issues, and at first, I did not understand how they were related. Both feminism and environmentalism are pressing issues that are of importance, but why gender and climate change? How are these two related? These are questions that I was asking myself when Metcalf finished discussing the history of the Women’s Environmental Network, and started going into the issue of climate change. The first figure is what shocked me the most; women hold only 4% of the world energy chairs. ‘How is this possible?’ I thought. As the talk went on Metcalf discussed how most of the environmental and political decisions made are overwhelmingly decided my males, and how the goal of the Women’s Environmental Network is to get more of an equal voice when it comes to climate change and the environment as a whole. Environmental issues are everyone issues, and there needs to be more input from those who are underrepresented currenlty.

To find out more about the Women’s Environmental Network click here: https://www.wen.org.uk/climate-change/

No idea is too small.

Again, this is something that everyone has been taught since they were young, but very few people actually take it to heart. The keynote speaker, Esha Marwaha, is one example of how no idea can be too small. Esha has always loved geography, and when she was 15 she heard that there was a possibility that climate change education for under 14’s could be eliminated. Rather than just sit and let that happen, she acted.  Esha created a campaign on Change.org and gathered over 31,000 signatures in support of keeping climate change education, and once the petition was delivered to Education Secretary, Michael Gove, he announced the abandonment of his plans to drop climate change as a subject in the Key Stage 3 curriculum. Esha used her experience to share that no idea is too small, all ideas are crucial and are an asset to society, and to take every opportunity that comes your way.

There are many ways that universities can get involved.

As the day went on, many eager attendants had a common question; how can we make a change in our universities? Even considering this question means that a change is being made. The first step is to be aware that there is more to be done in terms of sustainability. Many of the workshops actually had ways that campuses could become more sustainable, such as using reusable cups and eliminating the use of straws, as well as ways to push administrators into making a change. One of the workshops that I attended went into Electronics Watch, which to be honest, I had never heard of before. Electronics Watch focuses on researching different electronics factories and pushing for better working conditions with the aim of eliminating sweatshops. As an avid shopper myself, I have started becoming more aware of the products that I am buying and making sure that I am not contributing to the “fast fashion” trend. However, I had never thought about my electronics when it comes to sustainability issues. As I am sitting here, typing on my computer, I can only think about what went into the creation of this laptop. Electronics Watch gets the involvement of Universities to ensure that companies that they are using are being sustainable and are pushing towards fair labor practices.

To Find out more about Electronics Watch click here: http://electronicswatch.org/en/our-story_2459916

Even if you didn’t get the opportunity to go to the summit, there are still things that you can do to get involved and make a difference; it could be in your personal life, through involvement in your university, or even starting a campaign for change.

Written by: Kristen Wagner | Loyola Marymount University