The waste of natural resources, the destructive influence on the human spiritual sphere, the perception of human value solely by what one possesses - these are just some of the sins of consumerism. Raising environmental awareness and shaping pro-ecological attitudes among students, employees and the environment is in the interest of all of us. In response to the increasingly visible problems of nature, the UG Chemistry Department is organising a Sustainable Development Day on June 3rd.
According to the theme 'Less is more, or how to beat consumerism,' invited academics will present lectures, and students and scientific associations will conduct workshops for young people and students. This year's theme is extremely important, as excessive consumption is one of the causes of the climate catastrophe predicted by scientists. It is also certainly a symptom of an imbalance in the development of the world's communities resulting in adverse environmental changes. Every process of production and consumption is inextricably linked to costs incurred by the environment. Waste is produced, carbon dioxide is emitted, water is consumed. Demand for minerals, fuels and food leads to the destruction of tropical forests and the reduction of natural capital. The consequences will be borne by all the Earth's inhabitants.
Over-consumption encourages over-production, which is a direct cause of environmental degradation. This can be seen very clearly in the fashion industry, where huge demand results in very low quality products, which in turn increases supply - 'The textile industry generates an enormous burden on the environment. Statistics report that in Europe, an average person buys 26 kg of clothes per year, where almost half of this value becomes waste in the same year. This is undoubtedly driven by the fashion world, which currently sets new trends even 52 times a year during the so-called fashion micro-seasons!' - said dr Joanna Dołżonek, who together with dr hab. Anna Białk-Bielińska initiated a fashion show in the spirit of Zero Waste.
The main goals of the event are to include the University of Gdańsk in the European network of activities aimed at promoting sustainable development and to realise the university's social responsibility through dialogue with stakeholders and joint activities focused on promoting similar ideas. Only a consumer who is aware of the consequences of his/her purchasing decisions can make responsible and rational choices. The time has come for a responsible approach to consumption, which takes into account social and environmental effects.
The event will be organised for the fourth time. The initiative is addressed to a wide audience: primary and secondary school students, university employees, entrepreneurs and the local community. Many partners connected with the implementation of the idea of sustainable development have been invited to join the project. This year's event will be accompanied by a Fair Trade exhibition prepared by the Polish Fair Trade Association and workshops prepared by the Centre for Sustainable Development of the University of Gdańsk.
We kindly invite you to participate in the event on 3.06 between 9:00 and 13:30
More information at: https://chemia.ug.edu.pl/wspolpraca/popularyzacja-nauki/science-clubs-w...
