When discussing sustainability most people focus on environmental or economic issues and overlook the core concepts of human need and the diverse experiences that make up the sheer complexity of the challenge we face. So, it was refreshing to acknowledge the chaos in S_stainable? The Inclusivity of Sustainability in the John Crank Marquee on Wednesday 25 October.
As one of the event organizers, I was pleased to see the team aim to create a platform where everyone and anyone on campus could come together to share feelings ranging from the beauty of our planet to the urgency of the situation we face. It was clear that an ultimate vision of sustainability is an inclusive society improving the quality of life for both current and future generations.
During the event, attendees engaged in writing haikus as a way to structure the breadth of feeling around a vast subject. We were treated to multimedia creative explorations around the challenges we face. We also saw participants share thoughts and feelings on our candid postcard wall. But most of all, we saw people discussing sustainability freely with each other and witnessed first-hand that the next generation cares enormously, and openly.
From this event, it’s clear that the campus community can come together in a spirit of unity and purpose, ready to make a lasting impact on the environment. In one day, friendships were forged, commitments were made, and the seeds of change were sown. It succeeded in reigniting a passion for nature and sustainability in the hearts of those who participated and went some way to unpacking the multiple perspectives at play.
S_stainable? aimed to highlight the positive and negative depths of the subject of sustainability, and the key role that you play among us and in opening a debate that is too often closed to many.