Climate Week 2013

Climate week, a national initiative organised between the 4th and 10th of March this year, attracted more attention than ever. Our university has joined in by organising various fun events for students and staff alike. The Environment Office, as the primary organiser of the Climate Week on campus, collaborated with many student societies and groups to make the event as widely accessible as possible. The “I Say Climate Change, You Say …” Art Exhibition was open to the public throughout the week and ran simultaneously with the Society’s Festival in Butchart. The subject, in all cases, revolved around the different age groups’ understanding of the effects of climate change and what could be done to slow down the process, and various mediums were used and recycled to produce the artwork exhibited. The exhibition portrayed art work submitted by the 2 – 4 year old children of the on-campus Rocking Horse Nursery as well as the 16 year olds’ of the St Machar Academy. Photographs shot by Jonathan MacDonell on behalf of AUSA for the University’s new sustainably campaign were one of the highlights of the display shown around the Shelter Box tent.

Have you been wondering what the large scale installation was placed in the Games Hall? The tent sponsored by Rotary International was envisaged to reflect what the older generation is doing to respond to the devastating effects of climate change and bring to your attention to an area in which you could also get involved by raising funds or volunteering for the scheme. All around the world many people are left without shelter, lack of nutrition, sanitation and adequate medical supplies after having been struck by environmental disasters which as we know are inter-relatedly magnified by climate change. The large box and the equipment kept in it provides shelter for as many as ten people, along with tools such as a wood burning or multi-fuel burning stove, blankets, hammer, saw, axe, cutter, etc. to make the first steps on the road to recovery. For more information on the box and how you could get involved visit:http://www.shelterbox.org/about.php?page=9 or the Aberdeen Rotaract Club for the 18-30 year olds at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/110723069083883/

Following the opening of the exhibition by Emma Carlen, on behalf of AUSA Society’s, and Fraser Lovie, head of Sustainability and Social Responsibility on campus, the dialogue on climate change continued with the feature event of the week, the War over Natural Resources Conference. In conjunction with the Politics and International Relations Society the one day event was organised in order to examine what local, national and international authorities as well non-governmental actors are doing in the area of sustainable resource management. The conference attracted over 50 participants from various disciplinary areas and looked into the questions behind how technology and research, the concept of culture and our relationship with the natural environment surrounding us, as well as various policies can be applied to tackle climate change while helping us work towards a more sustainable future in peace.

The message all participants came away with from the conference was the following:

Respect and care for your surroundings, be informed, have your voice heard on issues important to you and do not be shy to express new ideas by contacting your local representatives or a pressure group as you all are able to do your bit!

Lili Nagy