by didem
WHAT WE HAVE?
Published in Idea Incubator, Personal Skills on October 21, 2010
What are the daily green practices that you see in your region?
It is not just out of my curiosity as well as answer to Elizaveta‘s question which was what we want to see in our forum.
i have been thinking that how public become more involved in green practices? Is it about policies that government supports? Is it about firms who provides people with more sustainable options(services and products)? Is it about education system that can increase awareness? Is it about niche areas that a person can see and attracts others’ attention? Is it about ‘brave’ entrepreneurs who are passionate about environment? Is it about culture? Is it about all? Is it about none? Or is it simply about people?
Obviously, the more we see, the more we get used to. So what are your daily encounters with ‘green’?
Do you hear about sustainability while you were in preparatory/secondary/high school or in university? If so, how often?
Have you had a waste management system in your region? Have you already had separated recycle bins for your waste? If so, how it is applied?
Do you have a transportation system that lead you to be greener? Do you have effective public transportation? What is your main transportation tool between cities; cars; buses; trains;planes? Do you have bike ways? Any subsidies/ punishments for making carpooling more common?
Do you have a chance to choose between organic / non-organic / local / with or without GMO? Are local markets available? Can you buy your foods unpacked?
Do you have efficient labeling system for products? Do you understand when you see a label on a product whether it is better for the environment/me or not?
Do you see renewable energy sources and applications -if it is possible to produce energy from renewable sources in your country – ?
So, friends, do you see what is missing?? Do you see how further it can be improved?? Do you see there is a huuugeee potential without comprimising to have higher life standards/ freedom?
Of course sustainability is not only about environment, but also covers economy and social attitudes!
So let’s share what you encounter in your university/region/country!!
Cheers!!
Thank you didem
I have improvised a dialog between us in order to answer all your questions, especially regarding my country. I am sure that answering to your questions we will see how different are daily green practices in different regions, countries.
Didem: What are the daily green practices that you see in your region?
Elizaveta:While the most developed countries are talking about Advanced Powertrains, Hybrid and Electric Vehicles, Alternative energy technologies, Wireless convergence, Smart grid technologies, Green business services and solutions, Solar and renewable products in underdeveloped and in developing countries like Moldova Green means planting trees, rubbish collecting campaigns, recycling paper.
Didem: I have been thinking that how public become more involved in green practices?
Elizaveta: I see a change, an improvement in public attitude toward environmental problems and I think this due to International non for profit organizations working in my country, due to big companies with good CSR practices, due to primary education system, where children learn about environment protection and pollution consequences. It is also due to people working abroad and bringing good green practices from other countries.
Didem: Obviously, the more we see, the more we get used to. So what are your daily encounters with ‘green’?
Elizaveta: Almost everyday I make a decorative object from used and recyclable materials. But outside what I encounter about green is not so beautiful. I see indifferent people, I see indifferent authorities. I see that environmental problems are not priorities in my country because of high poverty level.
Didem: Do you hear about sustainability while you were in preparatory/secondary/high school or in university? If so, how often?
Elizaveta: First I have heard about sustainability in university, in my business English class. I hear often about sustainability because I am interested in, and I try to find out and to learn about it by myself as much as I can.
Didem: Have you had a waste management system in your region?
Elizaveta: The waste management is an urgent problem to be solved in my country. We even do not have separated recycle bins for our waste.
Didem: Do you have a transportation system that leads you to be greener? Do you have effective public transportation? What is your main transportation tool between cities; cars; buses; trains; planes? Do you have bike ways?
Elizaveta: The main way of transportation in my country is maxi-taxi or minibuses. Most of them are older then 15 years and they raise the level of air pollution. Another mean of transportation is trolley, they do not pollute but they are too slow and too crowded. Moldovan people buy cheaper and older cars from Europeans countries and they are not so eco-friendly. And we do not have bike ways.
Didem: Do you have a chance to choose between organic / non-organic / local / with or without GMO? Are local markets available? Can you buy your foods unpacked? Do you have efficient labeling system for products? Do you understand when you see a label on a product whether it is better for the environment/me or not?
Elizaveta: As Moldova is an agricultural country, and people in countryside do not use chemicals, our local products are really green, but sometimes local products are more expensive then the imported ones and people chose to buy cheaper food even it is not so healthy. About labeling system is not so common here.
Didem: Do you see renewable energy sources and applications -if it is possible to produce energy from renewable sources in your country – ?
Elizaveta: Fortunately it is possible to produce energy from renewable sources in my country, like: Solar energy, wind energy, hydraulic energy and biomass (agricultural waste). In short time I hope the government will support financially the production of this alternative energy.
Didem: So, friends, do you see what is missing?? Do you see how further it can be improved?? Do you see there is a huge potential without compromising to have higher life standards/ freedom. Of course sustainability is not only about environment, but also covers economy and social attitudes! So let’s share what you encounter in your university/region/country!!
Elizaveta: After answering these questions I have a clear image about my country situation in terms of Environment, which are the main problems and where to find solutions. I encourage other community members to think about didem’s questions. It is a useful exercise. Tell us about your country.
Hey! Just after i asked my questions, i realized that i did not answer them
So here is the case in Turkey!! And Elizaveta, thanks for giving that concrete answers!!
Do you hear about sustainability while you were in primary/secondary/high school or in university? If so, how often?
Unfortunately, there is no courses that is related to environmental studies unless you are an ‘environmental science or technology’ student. There is one environmental economics class in master degree in my uni. However, i can frankly say that it is the same in other universities. In primary/seconday/high school, of course there are classes to make pupils ‘love’ environment, yet sustainability is not an issue!
Have you had a waste management system in your region? Have you already had separated recycle bins for your waste? If so, how it is applied?
Unfortunately, there is no recycle bins in the households. However, there are some legislations that make firms responsible to recollect their package waste up to 37% of total amount. Same is obligatory for shopping malls. Unfortunately not in food courts since they are counted as domestic waste and not as industrial waste.
Do you have a transportation system that lead you to be greener? Do you have effective public transportation? What is your main transportation tool between cities; cars; buses; trains;planes? Do you have bike ways? Any subsidies/ punishments for making carpooling more common?
Especially in big cities like Istanbul, transportation is one of the biggest problems. Traffic jam in almost everywhere at any time. Especially on the brigdes (Istanbul has 2), there is no motivation for drivers to do carpooling. Almost every one drives alone. Besides, although public transportation facilities are getting better, distances are long and it is almost impossible to go from here to there by only one bus. Plane becomes the most popular transportation recently since their prices go down and it is basicly time-saving. Unfortunately, no bike ways!!
Do you have a chance to choose between organic / non-organic / local / with or without GMO? Are local markets available? Can you buy your foods unpacked?
Fortunately, we are a bit lucky about that. There are open markets almost at every corner in different days. They serve local goods. We also have markets which have organic products only, though not as common as regular open markets. However, about GMO, there is not enough information whether the products are GMO or not.
Do you have efficient labeling system for products? Do you understand when you see a label on a product whether it is better for the environment/me or not?
Unfortunately! There is not any labeling system for electronic machines, foods, appliances… There is only one exception which is‘organic labeling’ system, which works effectively.
Do you see renewable energy sources and applications -if it is possible to produce energy from renewable sources in your country – ?
Turkey is the country of sun. Especially, in the southern part, you can see solar panels almost at every houses’ roof. However, these are only for heating water. Electricity production is controlled by the state. However, new regulations of renewable energy production by private institutions are on the way.