The baobab that is sensitive to touch
BY MAGDALENA KUFREJ
To encourage people to take care of our Earth, the Polish Green Network is coming up with innovative programmes including rafting campaigns, free bike services and movie screenings.
"As all of us are responsible for climate change, we want to make sure that people are aware of the problem," claim the members of the Polish Green Network. This summer they organized the rafting "Poland for Climate" on the longest polish river, Vistula.
A six-person crew sailed the distance of over 900 km on the raft made of big plastic barrels. During the 30-day journey the crew arrived to the five Polish cities: Krakow, Kazimierz, Warszawa, Torun and Gdansk, where the members of The Polish Green Network organized happenings, conferences and photo exhibitions.
Taking action
The ecologists gave out brochures and bicycle bells, persuaded participants to sign the official letter, addressed to the prime minister, to take actions for the increase in energy consumption efficiency.
‘The age of the stupid’
To encourage people to take care of the Earth, the Polish Green Network offered free bike services and organized screenings of the movie "The Age of Stupid" which shows the apocalyptic vision of the destroyed and polluted Earth from the year 2050. Those participants who were willing to take care of a baobab sensitive to touch had also the opportunity to do so.
"We chose the raft as it is the most environmental friendly mean of transport," explained Małgorzata Krzystkiewicz, one of the crew members, during the Krakow press conference. "It is a symbol of the journey towards North, to Copenhagen, where the international conference against climate change will be held in December this year."
The main aim of the rafting on the Vistula river was to make people aware and at the same time warn them of the way in which the society affects the climate.
Minimising energy consumption
During the event, inhabitants of the five Polish cities could have learned how to minimise energy consumption in their households, as well as in their work places and during journeys.
The members of the Polish Green Network had also illustrated the audience the possible effects of climate change.
"Polish society is getting more aware of climate change and factors influencing it," states Marta Śmigrowska, the event's coordinator, "By organizing this unusual rafting and happenings we wanted to share our experience with all the citizens and explain them how can they contribute in preventing further climate change, as everyone can help win this battle!"
The Polish Green Network is a public benefit organization uniting ecological organizations from the biggest Polish cities.
Wherever there is a need, the organizations cooperate in preparing happenings and campaigns. "Our mission is to spread the idea of sustainable development in accordance with nature," explains Śmigrowska, "We educate Polish society that can in turn influence government decisions. It already has a positive outcome: Poles show high awareness of climate change. Still, they have to start to respect the rules of energy saving.
Complicated government position
More complicated, however, is the position of the Polish government: Poland's veto blocks the decision of agreement for taking actions against climate change in Europe. The national economy is dependent on coal mining and that is why the government claims that reducing carbon dioxide emissions would be against the national interest.
"Poland for Climate" is not the first such an event organized by the Polish Green Network; the organization had previously arranged the Buy responsibly campaign, engaged itself in exhibiting photos, ecological in nature, at the biggest Polish railway stations, and, what is more, continually participates in the programme of monitoring international financial institutions and supports the idea of sustainable development in Central Europe.
"It is high time for all of us to take actions against climate change. If we do not intervene, in the next five years we will be unable to stop this process," warns Śmigrowska.
