Encouraging Agency
You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself.
Nelson Mandela
Statement by the Council Chair, bck体育app_bck体育官网下载-二维码平台 Gerald Bloem (April 2021)
As a research-intensive institution of the post-school education and training sector, Council also encourages the mobilisation of the research resources and knowledge networks of the students, staff and management of our bck体育app_bck体育官网下载-二维码平台 to contribute further to resolving the challenges of our times and work towards the achievement of a better life for all within the constraints of the geophysical planetary boundaries of sustainable development.
It all starts with small actions... The Seventh Generation Principle is an ancient Iroquois philosophy that encourages individuals to a mindfullness in every-day decisions and the sustanability impact of these decisions for 7 generations to come.
Read: Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economics "Unforeseen financial crises. Extreme wealth inequality. Relentless pressure on the environment. Economics is broken, and the planet is paying the price..." Oxford academic Kate Raworth proposes a paradigm shift for just and equitable system that meets the needs of all of humanity without compromising Earth's carrying capacity.
Call to end the use of single-use plastic water bottles
The Institute for Water Research, Department of Environmental Sciences, Environmental Learning Research Centre and the School of Journalism all support the call for an end to the use of single-use plastic water bottles except in emergency situations. The environmental and health consequences of the manufacture, transportation, use and disposal of these bottles are well documented. The IWR does not supply single-use plastic water bottles for meetings, alumni events, conferences, etc, and requires catering suppliers to comply with this. Both staff and students are encouraged to make use of multi-use water bottles.
Recycling and the Waste conundrum at Rhodes bck体育app_bck体育官网下载-二维码平台
Sign up to the Call-to-Action EnviroImpact Petition, with thanks to the Department of Environmental Sciences.
Join a Student Society and become involved.
Vuka Makana is a call for the Makana public and Rhodes community to join forces in the fight for the betterment of out community. Going above and beyond encouraging citizens to do good and volunteer their time and services, the initiative calls for diverse individuals to integrate, communicate and collaborate in order to brighten up the city. Vuka Makana is about giving and taking, teaching and learning - offer your services to improve an aspect of the city and in return, take something back from the community that you can integrate into your everyday life.
Challenge the paradigm and brainstorm ideas. Progress circular social greening entrepreneurship thinking. See Hult Prize competition
Contribute to the Sustainable-living sharing network
Remain inspired: Inspirational short videos
Switch your web browser to ECOSIA https://www.ecosia.org/?c=en. Ecosia is like any other search engine but they use profits to plant trees.
Support the Makana Plastic Action Group
Calculate your footprint
Support the implementation of the RU Environmental Sustainability Policy directive and learn more about the individual directives.
Consider eating less meat and reduce your carbon footprint - see An Inconvenient Lunch
Thought contributions: c.royle@ru.ac.za
