16 March, 2013

A group of MEG students took part in the 2nd International Convention of Environmental Laureates in Freiburg, that brought together over 80 environmental prize winners to prepare a declaration for a sustainable future.

The event, co-sponsored by the Club of Rome, included public lectures from illustrious environmentalists Ernst Weizsäcker, Ashok Khosla, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Klaus Töpfer and  Jørgen Randers.

MEG students shined during the conference's final day, when laureates, university students and local high-school pupils came together for roundtables to discuss a range of topics (e.g. energy, work, finance, mobility) within the framework of limits to growth.

The MEG students then proudly presented the outcomes of their discussions to the plenum... a resounding success!

** For a full account of the convention, have a look at the official blog written by the students.

February, 25-27

MEG8 was in Geneva for three very intensive days of talks. Having barely set foot in town, they were already in the International Environment House listening to speakers from UNEP, WBCSD, IndustriAll on key topics such as financing sustainability, the business case for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem services, and green jobs.

The following morning, dressed in the nines, they made their way through the  security of the Palais des Nations for a full-day of fascinating presentations revolving around the theme of small-scale agriculture from UNCTAD, UNEP, FAO, IISD and South Centre. To relax after a such thought-provoking day, the class gathered for an evening of delicious fondue, while looking out on the Lake of Geneva.

The final day was devoted to biodiversity, water, risk and policy issues courtesy of IUCN and WWF. 

Adapted from: Behind the Mural on the MEG 7 blog Different Shades of Green

If you haven't heard yet, MEG 7 organized a Mural Co-creation Event on 2^nd of February! Here's all the background info

Originally a student-organized event, but also a space for residents of Freiburg to express their thoughts and feelings, the questions posted on the murals revolved around the opportunities and limits as well as the societal pressures (eco-paradise versus eco-tyranny) of living in green city like Freiburg.

The murals were nearly completed within the first couple of hours and participants'  creative energy then flowed onto the backs of the murals. These became tools for dialogue and communications throughout the day.  Initially reluctant to paint, participants quickly began to use the murals as a forum for (heated) debate. The Mural Co-creation Day turned grew into more than a forum for self-expression: it became an interactive platform brimming with dialogue.

The fun continues on 1 March from 7pm onwards at Weingut Andreas Dilger, Urachstraße 3, 79102 Freiburg.  It will be the last public display of co-created murals providing a chance to revisit and interpret its messages and ideas.  The evening goes on with a short presentation by Prof. Dr. Andreas Ernst, an environmental psychologist, entitled “50 Shades of Green – A typology of environmentally friendly behavior.” Participants will be encouraged to take part in discussion sessions while enjoying a glass of organic wine. The programme continues with a mini-roleplaying session by MEG7 on various circumstances of daily life in Green Freiburg.