OUSA Announces 2013 Environment Week

OUSA Announces 2013 Environment Week

The Otago University Students’ Association and the University of Otago are this week joining up with several student clubs to promote the OUSA Environment Week.

“The OUSA and the students of Otago are passionate about supporting environmental ideas and this is a week where we can provide good events that highlight issues and give the right information to future decision makers,” said Francisco Hernandez, OUSA President.

The OUSA Environmental Week is in its second year with a full programme of events. Students will have the opportunity to get hands on in everything from creating a sustainability strategy right through to doing a spot of gardening in the campus garden. Along with films there will be speakers, presentations and an Environmental Quiz night held at Re:Fuel bar on campus.

As part of the week the OUSA have set up the Student Sustainability Network Facebook page which will look to be a base for those passionate about the environment and sustainability at Otago and providing a great place for events to be communicated to the wider following.

“Otago is already moving forward with sustainability initiatives and this will be a place that people can connect as we push out ideas and events,” said Hannah Payne-Harker, OUSA Environmental Officer. “The Student Sustainability Network aims to create and maintain an integrated platform for University of Otago environmental groups, which empowers university students to engage with environmental activities and facilitate communication between environmental groups.”

Public and media are welcome at all events unless mentioned in the description.

OUSA Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/578304872233478/
OUSA Student Sustainability Network Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/OUSA-Student-Sustainability-Network/511210435613840

Monday 19th
5.30-7pm, OUSA Recreation Centre, Otago Room: Sustainability Showdown
The 2013 Environment Week begins with a bang! On Monday night you have a very valuable chance to contribute to the developing University of Otago Sustainability Strategy. What will the University look like in 10 years’ time? How will we get there? Help to inform the strategy. Come along to be a part of the brainstorming battle, giveaways up for grabs!
The above event is student only and closed to public and the media.

Tuesday 20th
10-2pm, Campus Garden (Lower Albany Street): Campus Garden Working Bee
Want to get your hands stuck in and make a difference? Want to have a break and get some fresh air? This is the event for you. We'd love to see you at the campus garden on lower Albany Street for the Campus Garden Working Bee, brought to you by Students for Environmental Action.

7.30pm, OUSA Recreation Centre, Evison Lounge: Deep Sea Oil Drilling Film and Information Evening
Students for Environmental Action will screen the presentation made by award winning photo journalist John Wathan, where he recounts his experience on the ground and in the air documenting the catastrophic 2012 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Oil Free Otago will also be screening their recently released short film about oil exploration off our coast, in particular Anardarko's proposed test drilling programme this Summer. Come along to learn more about how the Otago community can stop deep sea oil drilling and mitigate the risks that it poses to our people, climate land and sea.

Wednesday 21st
12-1pm, Centre for Innovation Seminar Room: Climate Change TED Talk- Otago Climate Change Network presents Dr. Sara Walton
Why on earth would we think about climate change in Dunedin? Especially when there are so many other worries for businesses trying to survive in this current economic environment? Recognising the argument that there is opportunity for business in mitigating and adapting to climate change (which are both currently occurring), this talk will focus on the process of developing scenarios for future strategising to sensitise and plan for oneself as a citizen and as an employee to consider plausible happenings in the future.

2-6pm, Recreation Centre Practice Room: Turn Your Junk into Funk Workshop
Brought to you by Fixing Faults, this workshop is a space for you to turn your old winter wardrobe and odds and ends into a spring delight and learn some truly handy skills. Bring along any unwanted treasures; clothes, skateboards, you name it and we will provide the tools and skills to fix it up, trade it on or keep it to treasure for yourself!

7pm, Colquhon Lecture Theatre: Global Poverty Project NZ 1.4 Billion Reasons Presentation
The well being of the environment and people is closely interconnected. You are invited to experience this exciting and interactive presentation which sets out what it is like to live in extreme poverty, what can be done to change this situation and how all of us can be a part of the change. The presenter is Will Waterson, the National Director of the Global Poverty Project.

Thursday 22nd
4pm, Castle St Seminar Room 530: Permaculture Seminar - CSAFE presents: Permaculture Design Consultant Jon Foote
This seminar will introduce us to the concept of Permaculture design and how it fits into the landscape of food production within an urban, rural and a bio-regional perspective. What does design thinking bring, how can it build a more sustainable and resilient food system, and how can everyone do their bit to ensure New Zealand as a whole is truly self-sufficient? You might even take home some simple tricks you can apply to make your own garden more productive and lower your workload.

7pm, Refuel Bar: Environment Pub Quiz and DJ
Young Greens and Young Labour join forces to bring you an: A. Amazing, B. Brain bending, C. Convivial, D. Darn cool... E. Environment Quiz! Bring along a team of around four people to show off your environmental trivia knowledge- from global to local, politics to science. Free nibbles and special drinks deals for competitors, prizes up for grabs! Also featuring a local DJ to play some beats to get those brainwaves buzzing. All yours with a gold coin entry.

Friday 23rd
6-8pm, OUSA Recreation Centre Room 2 Climate Change Chats and Potluck
Come and chill out on Friday evening with the Generation Zero crew, find out all about what our generation is doing to mobilise the transition to a carbon neutral Aotearoa and find out about how you can get involved!

ENDS

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