Students:Veronika Kupková

About me

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

I enjoy doing "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 a CZP CUNI event was in September 2012 - International Summer School of Regional Development (in the Ore Mts.) - and consequently in the ISPoS 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 as probably being one´s (political) will. We may discuss how important the role of politics is (e. g. various regulations or prohibitions), but there must be an individual´s conviction 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 a lack of time orientation :-) After a very long but safe journey to Lüneburg our bus stopped near the Restaurant im Sportpark. The smell from its kitchen revealed that our dinner was being served right then. Consequently, we played a short name-game to get to know each other and then briefly discussed our SD perceptions and viewpoints.

Monday 10th June

The second day started with a delicious breakfast and a sunny walk to the city of Lüneburg. We met our guides from the Leuphana University and went through the city centre enjoying a guided tour. Crossing the old streets full of Hanseatic houses reminded me of a middle ages atmosphere. We saw also some „pregnant“ houses which have been sinking for centuries due to the salt mining activity under them. However, the salt gave to the city its look and fame from that time. Afterwards we visited the Uni campus where we enjoyed an „organic“ lunch and then heard about the SD concept and how the sustainable campus is run. 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 energy strategy of Germany (which is supposed to be 100 % of renewables in fifty years), and after that we discussed the preferences of the renewable resources and their consequences. Then we saw some particular actions towards the sustainability (e.g. long-lasting cups for coffee that were designed by the students instead of paper ones; the university "garden" where one can plant one's own vegetables; and many more) during our campus guided tour. The day continued with a visit to an old landfill in Neu Wulmstorf near Hamburg. We saw a 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)), and the old docks which are used nowadays as a market for "Middle East" commodities).

Wednesday 12th June

Day four was dedicated to 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 caches found :-)

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 a long debate and also initiated lots of questions. Then we enjoyed the last sunny day - during the lunchtime. The second aim of the day was to visit the International Building Exhibition (IBA) in Hamburg. There were various projects presented at the site which dealt with 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 brown fields 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 to house 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 in their work. Then we all reflected on the 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 who organised 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 of 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 the biggest divergences between the two states are and 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 high authority - without any will to take action and their own responsibility. Only a few people retain a relationship with nature, trying to live a 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 focus on social sustainability - to lower social prejudices, inequality, xenophobia or discrimination. One piece of research published a few days ago (Dětský postoj k Romům revealed some alarming facts - even the members of the youngest generation would participate in an anti-Roma demonstration if there was a chance (no matter or not whether they have met any Roma people before now, or have any personal experience with them). It is clear that we probably do not face only 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.