Vyvyan Evans, LSE Sustainability Assistant, looks back at an action-packed Green Week, featuring Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, cycling lessons, beehive signing and more…
We did it again! Another wonderful Green Week at LSE. The annual event, which this year took place in the week leading up to Valentine’s Day, invited us to share some love with our planet and raised awareness of climate action in schools, colleges and universities across the country.
Nadia Raslan and Seb Bruhn from LSESU launch Green Week
Dr Bike
This year’s highlights include cycle training throughout the week, to improve cyclists’ confidence on the London roads, Feel Good Food days run by LSE Catering, and a Dr Bike maintenance session to mend those creaks and squeaks. There was also a lecture on ‘Environmentalism through the lens of faith’, and a debate on divestment from fossil fuels.
Students were invited to make their own Green Pledge. There were film screenings of Cowspiracy, a critical look at the global meat industry, and Trashed, a provocative documentary that highlights the throw-away nature of today’s society and investigates the ecological effects of our
Pledging to recycle… properly
waste. The film examines a fundamental element of modern culture, the disposal of what our society defines as ‘waste’. It is a problem influenced by nearly every person on this planet, most of whom never consider the consequences or the implications to our biosphere.
The topic of how much waste we produce was made very clear on Wednesday when we saw a morning’s worth of waste displayed on Houghton Street. (In fact, this huge quantity of refuse was just four hours’ worth of waste from only half of the buildings on campus!) This visual display allowed staff and students to really reflect on the quantity of waste each of us produces, whilst thinking of the alternatives and small things that can be adjusted in your daily routine to cut down your trash. For example using a reusable water bottle (and filling up at one of our 64 water fountains on campus of course), only printing what you need, donating books to friends or giving them to the Sustainability team to distribute to charities.
One morning’s waste!
Cycling for smoothies
LSE Food Cycle Society had a stand highlighting food waste, which was also accompanied by our famous Smoothie Bike, where many staff and students created pedal-powered fruity delights. Two gardening workshops took place, one at Passfield hall of Residence and one on Connaught House, to plant some bee-friendly nectar-filled plants. Following our competition to paint our new beehive, students and staff were invited to sign the hive, with many signing – including LSE Director Craig Calhoun.
LSE Director Craig Calhoun signing the new beehive
Amelia Sharman of the LSE Beekeeping Society
Students were able to get involved in recycled textile fashion workshops, and create masterpieces to be shown off at the Ethical Fashion Show.
The week of eclectic events came to a brilliant climax with a talk from the leader of The Green Party Natalie Bennett, who gave an overview of green ideals and goals, and took many questions from the floor, sparking some exhilarating discussion.
The importance of initiatives such as Green Week cannot be overstated. Although there are many ongoing sustainability projects and initiatives at LSE on campus and in Halls, shining a spotlight on such issues as recycling, carbon emissions and biodiversity for the whole week re-engages and reinvigorates staff and students, it sparks debate and encourages change. So whether you’re all loved up this Valentine’s Day or still seeking your perfect match, I hope you don’t forget to love your planet.
