Students:Veronika Kupková

About me

Hello, I am Veronika and I study Geography and Social Sciences for Further Education in Plzen (ZČU). My Master Thesis deals with the High Tatra Mountains from the point of geomorphometry. I really enjoyed the practical training at grammar school this spring and hope to find a teacher-position in the future.

I enjoy performing "geo-hobbies" in my free time (geocaching, hiking, cycling, traveling, scouting) and also trying to learn some new art techniques (= great way how to relax mentally).

The first time I participated at CZP CUNI event was in September 2012 - International Summer School of Regional Development (in the Ore Mts.) - and consequently in the Programme on Sustainability (e-learning).

Sustainability

We have already discussed the principles and background of Sustainable Development concept - now I see the most important thing about it is probably one´s (political) will. We may discuss how important the role of the politics is (e. g. various regulations or prohibitions) but there must be individual´s persuasion to start a way of sustainable living. Hopefully, there will be a chance to witness it through our Sustainability Field Trip:-)

Diary

Sunday 9th June

We all met in front of Fantova kavárna in Prague, full of optimism and enthusiasm. Only one co-traveler missed our departure due to the lack of time orientation:-) After very long but safe journey to Lüneburg our bus stopped near the Restaurant im Sportpark. The smell from its kitchen revealed that our dinner is being served right now. Consequently, we played a short name-game to know each other and then discussed little bit our SD perceptions and viewpoints.

Monday 10th June

The second day started with delicious breakfast and sunny walk to the city of Lüneburg. We met our guides from the Leuphana University and went throught the city centre enjoying a guided tour. Crossing the old streets full of Hanseatic houses reminded me middle ages atmosphere. We saw also some „pregnant“ houses which have dropped down for centuries due to the salt mining activity under them. However, the salt gave to the city its glance and fame that time. Afterwards we visited the Uni campus where we enjoyed „organic“ lunch and then heard about SD concept and how the sustainable campus is running. Secondly, two students introduced us the OIKOS initiative and we took part in their workshop.

Tuesday 11th June

Our third day started with a presentation at the University. It was focused on the energetic strategy of Lüneburg district (which is supposed to be 100 % of renewables in fifty years), and after that we discussed the preferences of the renewable resources and its consequences. Than we saw the particular actions towards the sustainability (e.g. long-term cups for coffee that were designed by the students instead of paper ones; university "garden" where one can plant his own vegetables; and many more) during our campus guided tour. The day continued with the visit of old landfill in New Wulmstorf near Hamburg. We saw very interesting presentation and also experienced a guided tour through the landfill (it is now a renewable-resources park - solar, wind, biogas). Consequently, we drove across the Hamburg container port (the second largest port in Europe) and spent some free time in the city centre (the Elbe Tunnel (1911), or the old docks which are used nowadays as a market for "Middle East" commodities).

Wednesday 12th June

The day four was dedicated to the Nature Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture. It began at the Academy for Nature Conservation (Schneverdingen, Hof Mohr) with the discussion about the environmental activities and events provided there. The place itself is situated close to the moores in the middle of the forest. There was also a root water cleaner, a small pond, a herbs-garden and lots of birdhouses. The place perfectly fits into the concept of environmental education. Afterwards we moved to the Lüneburger Heide (moores) where we enjoyed a short walk with Jan (heath ranger). He told us about the history of this region (glaciation - trade of 3 commodities - burning the forest - migration - nature park) and took us close to the sheep herd (for some students the first experience ever:-). In contrast with Romania or FYROM, all the shepherd´s dogs were very nice and friendly! We spent the second half of the day in the village of Amelinghausen and its surroundings. Firstly, we enjoyed an organic lunch at the Baukhof farm. Consequently, the farmer guided us through the farm and nearby fields, and explained how it works. The history of the farm is very long (* 1932) as well as the "organic" tradition (end of 70s). We finished the day with a short geocaching walk close to the accomodation site - with three founded caches:-)

Thursday 13th June

At the beginning of the fifth day we met representatives of Die Grünen and NGO (DialogN) who are currently acting in local politics and active citizenship. Their presentations sparked up consequently a long debate and also initiated lots of questions. Than we enjoyed the last sunny day - during the lunchtime. The second aim of the day was to visit International Building Exhibition (IBA) in Hamburg. There were various projects presented at the site which dealt with the energy sufficiency, new materials (e.g. algae isolation system) and sustainable living. There is a tendency nowadays to change the town´s periphery into a comfortable place for living (the Elbe Island), and also to re-use the industrial brownfields in that area. After the exhibition we went to the city to see the exhibits in reality. Finally, the visit of the tower (ex-bunker built during the WWII, with the capacity of 17 000 people!) ended our tour.

Friday 14th June

The last day began at the university where we met local PhD students. They introduced us their theses and presented some results as well as further steps of the work. Then we all reflected previous days, topics and experience discussing them with those PhD´s. Before our departure we enjoyed a packed lunch outside the restaurant Sportpark. Consequently, the journey back home ended our Sustainability field trip.

Summary

Firstly, I would like to thank to Andrew, Dana and other people ensuring this field trip. The idea of going under the (theoretical) surface, crossing borders, comparing and discussing the differences is crucial there. Also seeing the practical things, applications of ideas and real people was on the same importance. That is why I cannot highlight one particular thing from our trip - I appreciate it as a whole!:-)

We may see after one week where are the biggest divergences between the two states and also comparing people´s active participation on public matters. I see a big gap particularly between the activity among citizens in the Czech Republic and in Germany. It seems to me that a majority of Czechs still rely on a high authority - without any will to take action and own responsibility. Only a few people do not lost a relationship with nature, trying to live sustainable life (basic examples found at Biofarma a biomoštárna Stvolny, Autonapůl, Zahrádky uprostřed města). Talking about sustainability, we may see that the environmental section is covered quite well here (tens of various environmental centres for education, environmental protection organizations and activists) but at the same time only a few programmes are focused on social sustainability - to lower social prejudices, inequality, xenophobia or discrimination. One research published a few days ago (Dětský postoj k Romům revealed alarming facts - even the members of the youngest generation would participate in anti-Roma demonstration if there would be a chance (no matter if they have met any Roma people untill now, or have any personal experience with them). That is clear that we probable do not face only the environmental problems but also social (cultural) ones. To be honest, at the beginning I was also focused mainly on the environmental concept of SD. However, our discussions last week also brought up a matter of social sustainability which, I see, is no less important.