LU konference
It is interesting to know, that EURENSSA originated in Latvia. As Maija Vanaga, the president of EURENSSA, told, the inspiration came after visiting EUGEN, a substantially earlier developed and well attended field camp for Geology students, and a group of Latvian environmentalists joined in action. Since then EURENSSA has been held in Germany, Romania, and Serbia. Traditionally each year the location is changed to familiarize participants with different cultures, actualities and nature resources, and the organizers are students, so they are able to have an experience in project management and organizing. This year the “Geographer’s mafia” (Ģeogrāfu mafija) from University of Latvia have taken the initiative again, and several students from Riga Technical university also joined them.
As this is an Environmental science students’ conference and especially according to this year’s topic (Environmentally friendly management and every day actions)”, the conference also has been managed with care. All the materials are printed on recycled paper and nearly all the products are from biological farms or farms near-by, paying attention to each detail. The waste is being sorted, and organic waste put off for farm birds. The water use is limited with one bowl to rinse the dishes after each meal, and always the least detergents are used.
The practical side of organizing an event so big is always exciting, especially catering. The owner of “Ozoli” has set up a special outdoor stove and each day the organizers arrange a team of several cooks… and every morning and evening two big pots send the signal for dinner. We can taste different Latvian and local goods – from ostrich omelet in the morning, herb tea and cold soup in the afternoon; on the last day of conference the participants enjoy the groat gruel with potatoes.
The majority of participants have been sleeping in their tents, thereby had very sunny and warm mornings. They that started with morning activities (rīta rosme) or a swim in the near-by river Venta. The programme is full from morning till the evening – if not the excursions, we have lectures or other exercises in the arbor. The lectors are Sandijs Semjonovs from Vides filmu studija and Jānis Brizga from NGO Green liberty (Zaļā brīvība), who explain the sustainable development in economical and environmental terms, and engage participants in discussions. Also there is Lauma Žubule from NGO Latvian experience education center, who teaches the how to leave no trace while camping. On one another day the participants are doing presentations themselves or participate in different activities, e.g. simulating emission trade. On the evening different folk songs and Latvian folk dancing bring everybody together, everybody enjoys candies and the bear from local brewery.
We are seeing a lot of places during the field excursions – from Liepājas metalurgs (a metal armature factory), Cemex (concrete factory), biological farm, former army bases in Kurzeme region, and work safety and pollution can be compared in a historical and cultural context. Another excursion brings us to the selective cut „ Bajāri”, literally – a forest. Here, the Slovenian students explain they don’t have clearcuts since 1948., and it really allows for the owner of the forest to earn more and regulary recieve the benefits. The owner of „Bajāri” forest agrees. On the list there is also Slīteres natural reserve, Kolkas horn, the communities of Livs, where participants get to know their language and culture, and Ventspils city. In this summer heat we cannot forget swimming – e.g. in Jūrkalne, enjoying its geology and landscape beauty, or in Ventas rumba, the widest waterfall in Europe – the places we are very proud of.
EURENSSA has left a trace in Zūras – in the yard of biological farm “Ozoli”, where a small hill had ascended since recent pond-digging activity. During the conference the flag of “Geographer’s mafia” stood waving proudly on the top, and the height of the hill became known by leveling. From now on, it will have the name of Geographer’s mountain. This week is a collection of colorful memories, and as recently announced in October, the next EURENSSA will be held in Ukraine.
Special recognition to EURENSSA 2010 sponsors – University of Latvia and the Faculty of Geography and Earth sciences Student council, JSC „Envirotech”, Ventspils City council, JSC “Laima”, JSC “Gutta”, Africa’s black ostrich farm "Ozoliņi", farm "Kalndruvas A" or home bred chicken egg farm, Tele 2 “Zelta zivtiņa” and “Vides Filmu Studija” documentary production company.
As this is an Environmental science students’ conference and especially according to this year’s topic (Environmentally friendly management and every day actions)”, the conference also has been managed with care. All the materials are printed on recycled paper and nearly all the products are from biological farms or farms near-by, paying attention to each detail. The waste is being sorted, and organic waste put off for farm birds. The water use is limited with one bowl to rinse the dishes after each meal, and always the least detergents are used.
The practical side of organizing an event so big is always exciting, especially catering. The owner of “Ozoli” has set up a special outdoor stove and each day the organizers arrange a team of several cooks… and every morning and evening two big pots send the signal for dinner. We can taste different Latvian and local goods – from ostrich omelet in the morning, herb tea and cold soup in the afternoon; on the last day of conference the participants enjoy the groat gruel with potatoes.
The majority of participants have been sleeping in their tents, thereby had very sunny and warm mornings. They that started with morning activities (rīta rosme) or a swim in the near-by river Venta. The programme is full from morning till the evening – if not the excursions, we have lectures or other exercises in the arbor. The lectors are Sandijs Semjonovs from Vides filmu studija and Jānis Brizga from NGO Green liberty (Zaļā brīvība), who explain the sustainable development in economical and environmental terms, and engage participants in discussions. Also there is Lauma Žubule from NGO Latvian experience education center, who teaches the how to leave no trace while camping. On one another day the participants are doing presentations themselves or participate in different activities, e.g. simulating emission trade. On the evening different folk songs and Latvian folk dancing bring everybody together, everybody enjoys candies and the bear from local brewery.
We are seeing a lot of places during the field excursions – from Liepājas metalurgs (a metal armature factory), Cemex (concrete factory), biological farm, former army bases in Kurzeme region, and work safety and pollution can be compared in a historical and cultural context. Another excursion brings us to the selective cut „ Bajāri”, literally – a forest. Here, the Slovenian students explain they don’t have clearcuts since 1948., and it really allows for the owner of the forest to earn more and regulary recieve the benefits. The owner of „Bajāri” forest agrees. On the list there is also Slīteres natural reserve, Kolkas horn, the communities of Livs, where participants get to know their language and culture, and Ventspils city. In this summer heat we cannot forget swimming – e.g. in Jūrkalne, enjoying its geology and landscape beauty, or in Ventas rumba, the widest waterfall in Europe – the places we are very proud of.
EURENSSA has left a trace in Zūras – in the yard of biological farm “Ozoli”, where a small hill had ascended since recent pond-digging activity. During the conference the flag of “Geographer’s mafia” stood waving proudly on the top, and the height of the hill became known by leveling. From now on, it will have the name of Geographer’s mountain. This week is a collection of colorful memories, and as recently announced in October, the next EURENSSA will be held in Ukraine.
Special recognition to EURENSSA 2010 sponsors – University of Latvia and the Faculty of Geography and Earth sciences Student council, JSC „Envirotech”, Ventspils City council, JSC “Laima”, JSC “Gutta”, Africa’s black ostrich farm "Ozoliņi", farm "Kalndruvas A" or home bred chicken egg farm, Tele 2 “Zelta zivtiņa” and “Vides Filmu Studija” documentary production company.
 field conference. This year, students from Latvia, Germany, Switzerland, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Sweden, and even Mexico came together for a week to learn and explore environment in Latvia. ){kind=link}