Something “green” is stirring in the air at BCU. The university is developing new initiatives to become an eco-friendly university and to educate students about the environment. The university has set up a new campaign entitled “grrreen“. It is based on the three ‘R’s reduce, reuse and recycle. BCU has appointed various members of staff to inject green practices throughout every level of the university whether it be in jewellery or creating eco-furniture. BCU also recently hosted the ‘Big Debate‘ which featured a panel of sustainability experts addressing Birmingham’s business leaders about developing green practices in the workplace. This shows that the university is on its way to becoming one of Birmingham’s most environmentally conscious education institutions.
Hopefully now the Union of Students will continue to further its work alongside the university in developing green strategies and educating students about becoming more eco-friendly. My sources at the union tell me that there will soon be nominations for a part-time environmental officer who will be a student elected by the students to work with the university and alongside Hannah Newland the representation and campaigns officer. So pay attention!
I’m sorry, but “Grrreen” is nothing but a greenwashing excercise. To try and claim that BCU is in any way seriously thinking about the environment, is total and utter poppycock.
Fact, this “Grrreen” project was thought up as a PR stunt – there is no substance behind it whatsoever. Stickers and sheds is the best they could come up with too, it’s a joke.
Most staff haven’t a clue about it, let alone actively engage with it.
If you seriously care for the environment, you would be calling for some real and proper action by the university – not going along with this pointless greenwashing agenda.
I am all for criticism, but criticism on its own is no good, it needs to be constructive. I agree with the previous blogger that the “Grrreen” campaign is not well known. I have been a student and have also worked for BCU at one time or another, and I had never heard of the “Grrreen” campaign.
However, at least the thought is there…which is more that you could say for some people, businesses and even countries! Every little helps! So rather than putting the campaign down as “total and utter poppycock”, why not suggest ideas and ways in which the university could do more?
Unfortunately many of the university’s buildings do not benefit from being particularly new buildings – some are even listed – and so the major ways of reducing carbon emissions or producing renewable energy are very difficult to implicate. For example cavity wall insulation, solar panels etc.
Every constitution has to start somewhere on the road to a “greener future”. Do you not think the best way to start out is to start small? There is no point putting great, new technologies in place to help save energy, without educating the people first. WE need to learn how to save energy, not rely on technology to do it for us. Even if the “Grrreen” campaign only reaches 10 people, if they take their knowledge back to their homes and encourage their family to save energy too, then indirectly the campaign could have reached 40 people.
I agree that posters and stickers alone are not going to solve the worlds “green issues”. But rather than highlighting what won’t work, why not suggest ideas that could work. It shouldn’t be down to a small number of people to encourage everyone else how to save energy! It is something everyone should and could be doing. Working together is the only way to deal with the issues surrounding climate change. So leave the pointless criticisms, and maybe make a few suggestions!
Can our beginning efforts be matched by any of the universities in the area? Even if at first they are ’stickers and sheds’ they’ll grow into something more and if you are trying to fix a problem you must start somewhere. I agree with Hannah. Even if you start small at least you’re starting.