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General

Change the change, but how?

Project meeting in Rome Corviale 29th to 31st July 2021: In addition to further planning of the project activities, the meeting offered the opportunity to gain on-site impressions of the activities of the partner organisation Corviale Domani. To begin with, the colleagues explored “the snake“, a building one kilometre long on the periphery of Rome/Italy. What began in the 1970s as an ambitious project for social housing, remained unfinished. The astonishing silence in the building seemed like a symbol of this. But the unfinished holds potential. A master plan for a “green transformation” of the district is currently being developed under the leadership of Corviale Domani. It was presented to the group. The Italian colleagues also introduced in the content of their second contribution to the online course: Circular Economy in Disadvantaged Urban Areas. A very intensive and content-rich meeting.

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Food for Thought General

Wildfires in Greece

Excursion and photografic reportage

Wildfires have been part of the ecosystems forever. However, increasing heat, changing rain patterns and other climate-related changes have vastly increased the likelihood that fires will start more often and burn more intensely and widely than they have in the past.

According to data from the European Commission, in recent years, wildfires have had a huge impact on Europe’s natural capital, economy and citizens. In the South of Europe (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and France), every year 500.000 acres are burnt in average every year. In 2019 and 2020, the season of wildfires was extended, starting earlier or lasting longer than expected, while the number of fires and burnt areas exceeded the average of the last twelve years in record time. Together with the increase in the number of days per year with high to extremely high risk of wildfire, it is estimated that the impact of extreme fires on large areas is likely to increase in the future, with long-term consequences.

In Greece, in the last years the number of wildfires has increased by 160% and the size of the burnt areas has increased by 300%. In the 19th of May 2021, in Geraneia Ori in Western Attica (65 kms from Athens) burnt 52.000 acres of forest. It was the most destructive, in relation with the size of the burnt area, wildfire of the last years and the only major wildfire that happened in Greece in a May.

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General

Perceptions of climate change in Greece

During the workshop in Athens, colleagues from the partner organisation Action Synergy gave input on perceptions of climate change among the Greek citizens. It was remarkable that the natural disasters (forest fires, floods) of the past years led to a change in awareness. A presentation of climate protection initiatives in Greece also provided material for discussion. We hereby make both inputs available: Perceptions, initiatives.

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General

Climate Change and Natural Desasters

Global warming and energy production are two key words that come up when talking about climate change issues. This was also the case during the workshop of colleagues from all partner organisations, which took place in Athens from 5th to 10th July 2021. The focus was on the exchange of methods to make aspects of climate change a topic in adult education. The participants got to know techniques of the photographic reportage using the example of the destruction of nature by wild fires in Greece (this year already in May). They went ‘into the field’, took pictures and learned tips and tricks for post-production. How can I arouse curiosity? How can I tell a story with a picture? And at what point does image editing simply serve the purpose of manipulation? “Moving, inspiring and motivating,” was the feedback of one participant.

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General

Controversies about Climate Change

For some, the reduction of greenhouse gases is not going fast enough. Others doubt that climate change is happening or is caused by human activity. Rarely is a distinction made between climate change, climate protection policy and the way how climate change is under discussion. Different views are nevertheless indispensable for a democratic culture and its freedom of speech. If many people get involved, a broad process of awareness can be triggered, and the instrumentalisation of the issue by one side or the other can be disenchanted. And at the same time, the dramatic nature of the change could become clear. How to deal with it? What makes it so difficult to change the climate change? What needs to be transformed in terms of the energy supply? Is the arms industry the No. 1 climate polluter? To what extent should citizens change their consumption behaviour? What structural changes are necessary? When are moral arguments aimed at individual behaviour convincing?

These are some of the questions discussed during the workshop from 5th to 10th July 2021 at our partner organisation Action Synergy in Athens. The contribution to our online course “Criticism of climate protection policy – arguments and counter-arguments” was presented and will be published in November 2021.

Categories
Food for Thought

Artic Tipping Points

Ten-minute speech by Stefan Rahmstorf about the melting ice at the North Pole and the slowdown of the Gulf Stream – and the tipping or critical points to face a “major desaster of planetary scale”. We would not know how far away we are from these points but we move in that direction.

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Food for Thought

The Gulf Stream

The Gulf stream is a worldwide circulation system. Amazing! It is discussed now if and in which way the climate change has an impact on the ocean currents. What about the consequences for Europe? Shall we expect a new Ice Age? Or more hot and dry summers? Find explanations in 5 minutes:

Categories
Activities General

Of Value: Water and Waste

Yet another internet meeting: The colleagues focused on contributions to our online course (MOOC). One was dedicated to the subject of waste recycling, the other on water and the prevention of water waste. One question was which knowledge of the readers can already be expected. Which aspects might be new and interesting for them?

The parts on the history of waste and how people in earlier centuries dealt with it were well received, as were the thoughts on 3xR, i.e. “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle“. Above all, the case study on Corviale-Ecopark aroused interest – and hope.

Water, on the other hand, is readily available to almost all citizens. Life is not possible without water. But what about the value of this precious resource? What does a “water footprint” say, what tips can be given to avoid wasting water? How can people in Roma communities learn to use water more consciously? What can others learn from them? The contributions are now slightly revised. The didactic parts will be tested in workshops. Gladly offline, then in spring/summer 2021.

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Food for Thought

What means global warming?

Long and rich of content article in the Encyclopedia Britannica written by Michael E. Mann and Henrik Selin about Global Warming. With texts, videos, charts, and pictures to visualise the different phenomena and to explain global warming in general, climatic variation since the last glaciation, causes of global warming (including the greenhouse effect), radiative forcing, the influences of human activity on climate, natural influences on climate, feedback mechanisms and climate sensitivity, climate research, potential effects of global warming, global warming and public policy.

Enjoy reading and sure, you will learn a lot!

Categories
Food for Thought

Arctic Sea Ice Age Decline

See in short (2 min.) the development from January 1984 till October 2019