Humanity must face the waste problem which nowadays has reached drastic importance, requiring acting quickly and incisively. Too much waste thrown into the sea or land improperly is returning to everyday life through food and water, such as microplastics. Not to mention the animals that die from ingesting waste, like whales, with kilos and kilos of garbage in their stomachs. In essence, humanity has generated a real environmental catastrophe. Many actions have been created to cope with this phenomenon, such as the Zero Waste movement which deals with minimizing the production of waste up to complete reuse, recycling, and enhancement. AEGEE welcomed this movement, to the point of investing antennas and working groups to be part of the change. We interviewed the guys from the Climate Emergency Working Group, let us find out what they think!

How and when was the Zero Waste campaign project born?

The idea came from our friends from AEGEE-Salerno and in particular from Martina Masucci, as a Board Member of this wonderful antenna. Martina was very interested in the issue of Zero Waste, as she was aware of the importance of raising awareness of all young people, intending to increase awareness of waste, especially in Italy where the issue is very much felt, as there is the need to enhance the territory, considering the incredible biodiversity and nature available to it. It is in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, a focal point for the success of the ecosystem. Thus, Martina of AEGEE-Salerno and the Climate Emergency Working Group of AEGEE-Europe have brainstormed on the project and on how to carry it out.

In this initiative, have you had feedback on the usefulness of your project. Can you give us some examples?

From the first month of the Climate Emergency Working Group, we have been puzzling to find a “fanciful” way to spread Zero Waste good practices and see them applied at least within our Network. An example was the call to the “Greenest Antenna” to which the magnificent members of AEGEE-Brescia responded, winning the title of Greenest Antenna of October thanks to the commitment they dedicated in the days in which they freed the city parks from waste left by the uncivilized.

Portal and social networks, how useful are they for spreading Zero Waste good practices?

Extremely useful, Zero Waste good practices are often not taught in school, so the best way to reach people is through social media. Reading a post costs little time, but you can learn simple gestures that may not come spontaneously, guided by old practices that are now a habit to be eradicated.

At what age did you start committing yourself to the environment?

Each of us in the Climate Emergency Working Group has begun to approach the protection of the environment for different reasons at different ages. For example, Cristina, of AEGEE-Madrid, from an early age was informed of small daily actions effective to protect the environment, such as not wasting water, or for Giampiero, of AEGEE-Napoli, who from the dream of designing self-sufficient buildings from the point of from an energetic point of view he has come to want to move in everyday life and make it a lifestyle. We all have one point in common, in fact, once we grew up, thanks to AEGEE, we had the opportunity to continue with this commitment and learn more and more. For us, it is now a lifestyle!

What are the first difficulties you have encountered in your path in practicing this lifestyle?

Plastic, plastic and plastic. It is daunting and impressive to see so many products with plastic, especially single-use ones. Its impact is very negative, and it is everywhere, as it is mainly used for packaging. Plastic is so easy to obtain that unfortunately people do not value it and do not realize that a simple gesture, such as recycling, can make a difference. So, the most difficult part is to convince people about how much they can do with small gestures.

It seems like a battle against windmills, maybe even governments could do more, beyond what we can do individually. What do you think about it?

They are both fundamental but let us remember that the government and any political party are nothing more than a small-scale representation of citizens’ thinking and as such, it moves according to what the majority makes to hear. If each person changed their habits personally, we would be able not only to protect the planet, but also to appeal to politicians and governments, but also to companies. Because, in fact, we are in dire need of government measures and it is thanks to an ever-growing awareness of people that the situation is starting to change, finding ourselves in the current green transition. Just think of the greener products that we find at the supermarket, well these arise from the customer’s need, who begins to demand more respect for the environment, or the elimination of subsidies for fossil fuels in favor of those for renewable energy. We are all part of the system!

Would you say, from your experience, that people are changing their habits and thinking more about sustainability in their daily life?

We answer with an optimistic yes! Especially young people, from the generation of Greta Thunberg to ours of AEGEE, you can see an awareness but also a growing concern, sometimes even overwhelming. There is no Planet B! Many young people are changing their habits such as reducing the use of plastic or becoming vegetarians and vegans.

How much do you think the masks, sanitizers, and other medical devices that we are required to use can negatively affect the environment?

Unfortunately, a lot… For example, we can already see many masks thrown away improperly. What has affected a lot has been the fear that people had and still have about this threat to our health. Just think of the disposable gloves used in public places … a great waste, senseless, which does not exclude the possibility of being infected in any case. As we know, COVID is not transmitted through skin contact, so why wear gloves? Just do not touch your face or eyes, instead of using gloves which will inevitably contribute to the increase of waste. If the first quarantine showed us how our planet breathes without our emissions, the next situation turned into a catastrophe, worsening the initial situation.

Today we hear a lot and above all about what pollution causes to the environment, but in your opinion, how serious can the effects of pollution be on our body?

Unfortunately, the effect is not small, and it will get worse and worse. For now, those who pay the consequences are the most fragile people such as the elderly, children and those who suffer from various diseases such as respiratory diseases. According to an estimate by the World Health Organization (WHO), every year 3.7 million people worldwide die because of prolonged exposure, mainly in outdoor environments. In this case, the phenomenon also affects the countries of Western Europe, the United States and Australia, as well as low-income countries. To make you understand what pollution is capable of, we report a serious event that occurred in 1952 in London. At that time, due to a thermal inversion in the atmosphere, the English capital was shrouded in a dense fog of smog for four days, which led to tragic consequences. According to medical services, there were approximately 4,500 more deaths in the first week after the incident. From December 1952 to March 1953, there were over 13,500 more deaths than normal.

Do you think the production of drugs is safe for the environment?

Keeping in mind that the pharmaceutical industries are required to purify and treat the waste generated, the demand gives light to a new type of pollutant that we must consider. I am referring to the residues of drugs that our body expels, such as dicoflenac, an anti-inflammatory that is often used by humans. The residues found in the urine convey into the sewer and subsequently into the treatment plants, which do not all have sufficient technology to remove them from the wastewater. Also due to the lack of legislation on drug pollution, the consequence is that aquatic fauna has repercussions due to this substance, especially in the context of reproduction. The problem must therefore be mitigated and solved both through the new technologies and regulations that are coming into play in the field of wastewater treatment and through conscious and intelligent use of drugs.

Sources

•  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/18/3964
• https://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/air-quality/publications/2013/review-of-evidence-on-health-aspects-of-air-pollution-revihaap-project-final-technical-report

Hello AEGEEans! Hope you are doing well and enjoying this summer that is starting. As a treat from us, we bring you the Local of the Month: AEGEE-Krakow! With a little more than 40 active members —and the ambitious goal of getting even more ;) — you’ll discover (if you didn’t know it yet) a welcoming and wise local that knows what matters and is about creating a big, crazy, loving family. Read this article to know everything about them! 

Congratulations on being awarded the Local of the Month! We’d like to hear more about you! 

Thank you very much for this great honor and choosing us. Currently we have a little more than 40 active members but our ambition is to get even more ;) It’s very hard for us to choose just one key activity or project in our local area because what sets us apart is our diversity of activities. In the spring we had 2 different projects from our usual ones: a Sexual Education Project ” Merytorycznie o Seksualności”; and a Political Activism Project “Operation Diplomat”.

What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in your Local? 

Every year we have this special event we call “The Oscars”. It’s an opportunity to reward people from our antenna for their good work and their great achievements and to thank the previous board members for their outstanding performance.

What has been the key to your success? Which areas have you found challenging and how did you overcome them? 

We would definitely want to work more with other locals from all over Europe. We discovered that the key to success is people, so it’s very important to make sure that everybody feels welcome in our local area and knows that we will always have their back ;) We are all in AEGEE; one big, crazy, loving family.

Some words of wisdom to other locals?

Always listen to your people and make sure that they are okay. People work better when they know that someone cares about them. AEGEE is about making connections. Never forget that.

Any closing remarks?

We want to thank everybody who chose us as their local of the month and we also promise to keep up our good work ;)  See you all at the next Agora. 

Coming from AEGEE-Tilburg, we are pleased to present to you this new Member of the Month: Melissa Boom. Part of AEGEE since 2018, she knows very well what this association is — a huge family of course! — and its many possibilities. If you want to know more about Melissa’s journey (and her words of wisdom), this article awaits you! 

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story! 

Thanks so much for this appreciation, it brightened my day!

My AEGEE story began in September 2018, so I have been a member for almost three years. I first learned about AEGEE when I attended a fair where all the student associations presented themselves to the new students. I was fresh out of high school and never expected myself to join a student association. AEGEE’s stall caught my attention though, because the stall was covered in the flags of many different countries. I spoke to one of the members who was so enthusiastic and he described the association as a family. After this conversation, I was sure I wanted to become part of this family. At first, my motivation to join AEGEE was to get to know students from all over Europe and because I wanted to travel. But AEGEE has brought me soooo much more. More than I could ever have imagined. And I am still curious as to what it will bring me in the future.

Question: What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

Answer: This was most definitely my board term at AEGEE-Tilburg. I was so actively involved in the association. I enjoyed the members, the projects, the trips, the collaborations, the challenges and the development of both myself and the association. During my board term, I really felt like I was seizing all the opportunities and making the most out of my time in AEGEE.

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

A: For starters, a very memorable moment was organizing my first large event (together with an amazing team of course). At this moment, I felt so proud of what we had accomplished, and it was so rewarding to see all of these people have fun. Another very memorable moment was visiting the CD house. I was still a very new member, having only been with the association for two months. During this trip, I really felt connected to the whole of AEGEE, whereas before the trip I had mainly felt connected to my Local.

Q: What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life?

A: This list goes on and on and on. I will spare you the entire list and will focus on what changed me the most. First of all, I learned project management through AEGEE. Practice makes perfect. Even though my project management is still far from perfect, AEGEE has really offered me a lot of experience in this field. Because of this, I now feel confident and comfortable working on projects in different kinds of teams and even dare to take the lead.

AEGEE has also taught me a lot about what I value in life. This is not getting the perfect job; what I value most in life are the experiences I have and the people with whom I share those experiences.

Q: What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

A: Cherish all the amazing people who surround you <3

Q: Any closing remarks?
A: AEGEE really is a huge family to me. I enjoy all the contacts I have and the ones I’m still making all the time. Thanks to everyone I have met so far for making this experience so memorable.

On the occasion of Tourettes Awareness Day on 7th June and as a part of “Disability Awareness Campaign ”, Social Equity Working Group of AEGEE Europe decided to raise the awareness of challenges that young people with Tourette Syndrome tackle on a daily basis through interview with one of the members of European organization that focuses on Tourette syndrome, European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome (ESSTS). We are presenting you with an interview with expert interview partner Dr. Nanette Mol Debes, board member & Vice-Chair of ESSTS. 

Nanette Mol Debes is working as a neuro-pediatrician (combined research and clinical position) at the paediatric department, Herlev University Hospital in Denmark and clinical associate professor at the University of Copenhagen. She graduated from Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen (Holland) in 2002. In 2009, she finished her PhD study “Tourette syndrome and co-morbidity – Diagnostic process and impact of psychosocial consequences, severity of tics, pharmacological treatment, and intelligence” (University of Copenhagen). In 2014, she finished her medical specialization in paediatrics, and in 2017 the sub specialisation in neuropediatrics. She is currently leading several scientific research projects on Tourette syndrome, paediatric headache, sleeping disorders in children and adolescents, post-streptococcal neuropsychiatric disorders, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy in children and adolescents.

If you need to define Tourette syndrome, how would you simply describe it? 

A condition with at least two motor and one vocal tic, persisting for more than one year and starting in early childhood, most typically between age 5-7 years.

What is important, in your opinion, for people to know about young people with Tourette syndrome?

Tics are not dangerous, and, in most patients, tics decline with age. Only a minority of the patients do have coprolalia (e.g. swear words), although that is what usually is depicted in the media. There is a lot of focus on tics and Tourette syndrome on social media, although many of these influencers do not have tics at all as seen in Tourette syndrome.

Do you think that people should be more aware of this condition, which is also considered a neurological disability? If so, how and in which (professional, personal, social) areas?

Tourette syndrome is often underrecognized and underdiagnosed and the delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis can be long. On the other hand, there is a substantial number of people who are not bothered by their tics at all and they do not need to seek medical attention.

Do you think young people tell their condition to other people in their community? Do they talk openly about that topic?

Most young people will probably be advised to talk about their condition in their community to prevent social misunderstandings. During the last year, there has been an enormous increase in people on social media, who claim to have tics or Tourette syndrome, but actually do have functional tic-like symptoms. For these influencers, Tourette syndrome has become a big part of their life and identity, and some young people with Tourette syndrome feel attracted to these influencers and feel to be a part of an interesting online community. It is very important to distinguish these functional tic- and Tourette-like behaviors from tics as seen in Tourette syndrome, since both the cause and the treatment are different.

Do you feel that young people feel supported and understood in their community in regards to their condition?

It is important that young people learn about their diagnosis, so both themselves and their surroundings will have a greater knowledge about their condition and how to cope with it in daily life. Most persons with tics feel understood in their community.

How does this disorder affect their lives and daily activities – what challenges do young people face?

Most patients with tics can live a very normal life despite their tics. Tics normally decline with age and many young people learn to suppress their tics in certain circumstances, so they are not bothered by their tics in daily activities.

Have the pandemic (and lockdown) affected and still affect their lives? If so, in what way?

In several countries in Europe, USA and Canada, a significant increase in young (mostly female) people with functional tic-like symptoms has been seen during the pandemic and lockdown. This might be due to psychosocial stress caused by lockdown and pandemic, and due to the increased focus on (functional) tics on social media.

It is very important for these young persons to be diagnosed correctly in order for them to get the right support and treatment. Regarding Tourette syndrome, tics often increase during stress. Hence, the pandemic may have increased tics in those people with Tourette syndrome who felt stressed. However, some children enjoyed home schooling and their tics may have decreased.

Do you believe that young people with Tourette syndrome are integrated into the school / work environment? Do you think they face any kind of discrimination based on their condition (in public places, at school / university, in the workplace)? If yes, please share how.

Most people with Tourette syndrome do not face any troubles integrating into the work/school environment.

Do you think that the government of your country, or the country in which you currently live, has a good response and strategy for the inclusion and integration of people with neurological disability? Why yes/no?

The government ensures people with neurological disabilities get the support they need.

What are your hopes, fears, or expectations for the future?

It is important to be aware of the condition Tourette syndrome that often is underdiagnosed and underrecognized. On the other hand, a wrong image of Tourette syndrome is often created on social media. It is important to diagnose Tourette syndrome correctly in order to help young people with tics in the right way.

On the occasion of Epilepsy Awareness Week from 18th till 24th of May and as a part of “Disability Awareness Campaign ”, SEWG (social equity working group) of AEGEE Europe has decided to contribute to making the marginalised voice of our society heard. We are presenting you the interview with Lorraine Lally, a young person with epilepsy, who is also a Co-chair of Youth Team in International Bureau for Epilepsy. 

If you need to define Epilepsy, how would you simply describe it?  

Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition. It is like an electrical storm in the brain and your brain is overloaded and restarts as a result of having a chain reaction which affects all the nerves in the body. Epilepsy can cause a disruption in the normal activity of the brain and it can involve behaviour that is uncontrolled and not remembered.

What is important, in your opinion, for people to know about young people with Epilepsy?

Be kind and respectful of their life with the condition. Don’t restrict them when having a seizure. Maintain and care for their head and try and prevent injury to the head. A young person with epilepsy may find it hard to talk about the condition. It is important to ask them about their own seizures and if there is anything that you can do to support them.  Seizures are very individual and the needs of each young person is different.  Some young people feel shame with epilepsy and they may have parents who discourage them from informing others of their epilepsy.  Having seizures is frightening for young people so reassure them that everything will be fine.

Do you think that people should be more aware of this disorder, which is also considered a neurological disability? If so, how and in which (professional, personal, social) areas?

Definitely should be considered a disability. Epilepsy should be considered a disability in all areas of society including public transport, employment, education and access to services.

As a person with epilepsy it took time to accept that I had a lifelong condition that was unpredictable and until this day it is still uncontrolled. There should be a human rights based approach in dealing with people with epilepsy and all disabilities. 

As a woman with epilepsy there are issues that I in fact as well feel are often underrepresented. Some of the young people like myself the seizure were worse once I started menstruating and self confidence is an issue. People should be more aware of the condition in all areas of society such as education, employment and social inclusion. The stigma surrounding epilepsy can limit the opportunities that are available to young people and it is a cruel reality on top of a neurological condition that we have no control over.

At times I speak with others who are visually impaired ,deaf,wheelchair bound and they feel for me with the epilepsy being uncontrolled and ask me how I manage the stress of living with the uncertainty.

Do you think young people tell their condition to people in their community? Do they talk openly about that topic?

No they do not speak openly they do not want to be limited or placed in a particular category in the community.  My mother told me as a child not to discuss the condition and not to mention it.  My mother wanted people to see my abilities and my personality, not my epilepsy.

As a young person you do not discuss the topic. I have been in contact with many young people who tell me they want good friends and they want a normal social life and both seem out of reach with epilepsy. I was bullied as a child and then I made good friends who were kind to me and showed me that I had nothing to be ashamed of with epilepsy. A part of me felt as if the epilepsy was a punishment for something I did not do. I had a problem with my brain and it was going to be there forever. The anger that you feel is common and the resentment for all the medical professionals who never really understand the social disadvantage.

Do you feel that young people feel supported and understood in their community given their condition?

The stigma around epilepsy is real. The fear is that no one will be your friend, invite you to the party,  no one will  love you, hold you, want you, and if they do like you how will they react to the epilepsy and they look at you and say it’s fine but they look terrified which I understand. If you add hospital visits to that it can be too much to explain and then you are forever labelled as the girl with epilepsy. 

There is a part of you as a young person that wants to pretend you don’t have a neurological condition and you want to stay on the dance floor for as long as you can with your friends. The impact of peer pressure is social and the move away from the family structure is all relevant to people not transitioning.  I know people with epilepsy who have been robbed while having a seizure and another person who had a seizure and then found that the young men in the room put the video online. The condition is not accepted and there is often a reaction that you cannot predict. The truth is that people only care about those with epilepsy if they are known to them.

How does this disorder affect their lives and daily activities – what challenges do young people face?

 Being in a relationship with another person, a loving and sexual relationship is an issue. Personally I have given a boyfriend a black eye. I get seizures in my sleep. Luckily as an Irish person we took humour from it with him bragging he was so good he caused a seizure. This is a challenge as a healthy sexual relationship is a basic need and often an area of worry and the concern for young people.

I have spoken with young men with epilepsy who sometimes have seizures after sex and ask if there is somewhere they can talk to someone. The fact is that my nocturnal seizures are beyond my control. At present we don’t sleep together in the same bed in my house but it was an area that had an impact.

Another friend of mine from another Eastern European State never told her husband about her epilepsy as her mother told her not to. She was 8 years seizure free and now they are trying to have a baby so she is on Sodium Valproate. She was asking me how to proceed and she is now changing medication and having seizures and trying to conceive.  She is 25 years old.  Personally I am self employed due to my epilepsy as my condition is not under control.  As a young person there are clear barriers to employment and to obtaining a job where there may be a medical assessment required.  There is a practice of putting some people under pressure and employers are sometimes cruel in their treatment of persons with epilepsy. The mental health issues from the side effects of medication and the social isolation are serious for young people. Many of the AEDs cause depression and anxiety so the young person is trying to move on and progress in society with all the other pressures and then finds they are overeating or depressed as well as having epilepsy. Neurologists have seen the research on the large numbers of young people struggling with depression and they often don’t explain the impact of the treatment fully to the young person.

Have the pandemic (and lockdown) affected and still affect their lives? If so, in what way?

 A massive increase in social isolation is very clear. We are currently doing online support group meetings and the attendance has increased 4 fold over Covid -19 /Pandemic.  The social stigma and shame that people feel is limiting their opportunities in having some social interaction.  There is a desperate loneliness for those living alone with epilepsy or even for a young person who is being cared for by family members.

The mental health issues that are a normal part of epilepsy and the side effects of the medication is made worse by the social limitations of lockdown.  I know many who have gone to the doctor for anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants. The social isolation and the stress of lockdown has made a lifelong condition worse. The lockdown has also meant that the consultations with the neurologist were on the phone or online and they were not able to conduct a neurological assessment then the medication reviews are limited by a lack of blood work as well.

Do you believe that young people with epilepsy are integrated into the school / work environment? Do you think they face any kind of discrimination based on their condition (in public places, at school / university, in the workplace)? If yes, please share how.

No If you leave home and go to University like I did, I ended up with a neurologist in Dublin after I collapsed in the library and a staff member took care of me. Then I ended up by chance with the 2nd best neurologist in Ireland. With the introduction of the GDPR regulations most States have to ask the person as an adult if they want to use the adult service. If they are stable and the medication is working they don’t use services.  

I believe that if I was not a self employed person that I would not be able to gain employment as a result of the epilepsy. I have assisted hundred of people with epilepsy with workplace discrimination and for others they cannot obtain an interview. The nature of epilepsy is that employers are nervous of injuries from seizures and the risks to others in the workplace. The excuse of medical examinations and the insurance issues are always raised in defence of not hiring someone.  Education was not easy. I did not inform those in the institutions that I had seizures, instead I collapsed in lecture halls and dealt with it afterwards. They always treated you differently after it and you were uncertain what to tell them.

Do you think that the government of your country, or the country in which you currently live, has a good response and strategy for the inclusion and integration of people with neurological disability? Why yes/no?

No, there is no real integration. The State takes a medical model approach to dealing with epilepsy. There are insurance issues with persons with epilepsy.

There is an issue with the training given to staff in schools to support a child who needs medication during school time. We are working on policies and the renewed policies on access for women with disabilities has given me hope that the situation will improve. The neurological situation in Ireland is appalling. We currently have 725 consultant vacancies so we have a shortage of consultants and neurologists.

The public system is disadvantaged and you can get access to. treatment and diagnostic equipment and tests if you have the money to pay privately for the access to services.  The current social policies are inadequate in providing services for persons with epilepsy.

What are your hopes, fears, or expectations for the future?

Hopes:

•        Supported integration in primary school and progressive educational opportunities for those from 5years to 23 years.

•        Employment opportunities supported by State employers and encouragement for the private companies to hire persons with epilepsy.

•        Equal access to medical services for all persons from birth to death and that those with the most need would be seen first within the health system.

Fears:

•        The cost would prevent proper access and  provision of educational and medical services.

•        That more adults would be socially isolated and denied the opportunity to enter the workplace.

•        That those with epilepsy would be discriminated against in obtaining education and training and therefore be a victim of a neurological condition that they cannot change. 

Expectations:

•        To respect human rights and to realise that human dignity should be respected at all times.

•        That others would learn and support those with epilepsy if they saw the stigma and the loneliness that we live with when having seizures.

•        That I will live a long life and see the world evolve and change to include and care for all persons equally with compassion and understanding.

The Zero Waste Approach points at the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.

The amount of waste generated per year is estimated at around 2.2 billion tonnes worldwide. It is mainly composed of packaging from food and beverages, which usually end up in a landfill since many types of them have a non-degradable nature or they degrade too slowly, such as some plastic bottle types, for instance, that can take as long as 450 years. The actual way of thinking rests on the idea that the world has infinite resources, but it is just a myth, so there must be a change in the culture about production, consumption and disposal patterns.

Action in this sector needs to be taken, indeed, according to the International Solid Waste Association, it is estimated that the waste sector could cut 10 to 15% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally if waste management actions, including disposal, recycling, composting and treatment, are considered. Furthermore, if a reduced waste approach is considered, the sector could reduce up to 20% its carbon footprint. To achieve these results, The Zero Waste Approach is the answer.

The Zero Waste Approach is a philosophy that tries to encourage a lifestyle that assures the reuse of products and materials, rather than ending up in landfills. It is inspired by nature, where nothing is wasted but everything is a resource. Recycling is part of this approach, but it is the last chance, instead, the main aspect is reuse. It goes from the design and production processes to rethinking the purchase decisions we make and evaluating if what we are consuming will become a waste or not. The overall goal is to hold materials in circulation for as long as possible, by ensuring various valuable lifecycles. Instead of discarding resources, the point is to create a system whereby all of them can be reused again.

Community education and public debate are requisite for the success of any intention to go toward the Zero Waste Approach. Citizens must be invited to take care of waste-free practices and take active participation in the management system thinking towards waste reduction. Public education campaigns to boost public participation must be engaged, and they need to be well resourced and sustained over time.

That is what happened in Japan where A great example of the implementation of this approach is presented by Kamikatsu, a small village of Tokushima prefecture located in southwestern part of the country. It was the first in the country to make a ‘Zero Waste Declaration’ in 2003 born with the support of the Japanese Zero Waste Academy. The Zero Waste project was expected to achieve 100% recycling of the waste produced by the 1500 inhabitants of the village by 2020. To date, 81% of urban waste is recovered which reaches only 20% at the national level, but the final goal remains to completely abandon the use of its two small incinerators. The village was forced to change the way it managed its waste when a strict new law on dioxin emissions forced it to shut down the incinerators.

The active participation of the citizens of Kamikatsu is essential. Indeed, every day the residents are called to separate their waste, selecting the organic materials to be used for composting, washing, and drying the rest of the waste to be then taken to the Zero Waste Center, a sort of ecological island with 45 different containers divided into 13 types.

Reuse is also encouraged: a small emporium has been set up in the village where citizens can exchange objects and tools that they no longer use for lottery tickets.

By Kamikatsu example, several other cities in Japan and worldwide now have ambitious waste goals. In 2018, 23 cities and regions signed C40 Cities’ Advancing Towards Zero Waste Declaration. They pledged to cut the amount of waste generated by each citizen 15 per cent by 2030, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incineration by 50 percent and increase the diversion rate to 70 per cent by 2030.

This approach is mainly linked to the circular economy concept that will be the future of the economic system. Indeed, it has the potential to generate many more jobs and enterprises to deal with the reuse and recycling of the resources that are a precondition for a sustainable habitat for humans on this planet.

Moreover, this way has an important result on the management of energy flows in the economy. In the life cycle of most products, the most energy-intensive processes are the extraction, production and use phase. Consequently, from an energy point of view zero waste reduces emissions associated with extraction and production thanks to supplying back most by-products and resources back into the natural cycle –soils- or technical cycle -reuse and recycling-. The emissions associated with the use phase are reduced with better product design and eco-innovation.

Source:

https://zwa.jp/en

https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/special-reports/special-reports/small-things-add-up-the-japanese-town-leading-the-zero-waste-charge

https://c40-production-images.s3.amazonaws.com/other_uploads/images/1851_Zero_Waste_declaration_FINAL_5July.original.pdf?1530818554

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/20/no-waste-japanese-village-is-a-peek-into-carbon-neutral-future

https://greenbusinessbureau.com/blog/what-does-zero-waste-really-mean

To this date AEGEE had a huge impact on many generations of young Europeans. But what happens when these people grow up and leave AEGEE? In the online event AEGEE-Inspire, co-organized by the areas Wild East, Teddybearea and Rainbow area, members of AEGEE’s alumni organization Les Anciens d’AEGEE (LA) explain how AEGEE has impacted their lives and still does today.

About 30 participants are eager to listen to the stories the speakers, Adil Atiser, Ana-Maria Cociorva, Alberto Alonso, Else Cerezo-Weijsenfeld and Fabian Brueggemann have to tell, moderated by LA Board member, Michael Stuber. All of them are former AEGEE-members and are now part of Les Anciens d’AEGEE. The alumni network started about 30 years ago as a group of friends. Today open to any former members of AEGEE. 400 of them joined Les Anciens so far to deliver, among others, professional support to current AEGEEans and engage in pro-European activities.

Today the speakers talk about their unforgettable AEGEE-experiences. “I don’t know if I would have ever travelled without AEGEE,” states Ana-Maria Cociorva. People, back home, always told her that the world was a dangerous place but her first AEGEE-event in Naples changed this view forever. She realized that she had to see different places and thus decided to move for her Master’s programme to Sweden where she promptly became the president of AEGEE-Lund. “I basically owe my last 12 years to AEGEE,” she says. AEGEE also changed the life of Alberto Alonso. He visited his first event in 1994 and after that became an active member. He organized summer universities, learned how to find sponsors and took part in many events. To some of them Alonso even hitchhiked. And even though he disconnected with AEGEE for many years he believes that Les Anciens is a good way to stay in touch with the organisation. “The spirit is still here,” he laughs and the moderator, Michael Stuber, wholeheartedly agrees with him.

While AEGEE impacted the personal lives of Cociorva and Alonso, it also inspired Else Cerezo-Weijsenfeld’s and Fabian Brueggemann’s professional careers. Else became a member in 1996 and travelled with AEGEE to what was then known as Yugoslavia. After war broke out in this region she felt that immense injustice was happening and decided to become a human rights lawyer. “AEGEE gave me a more open-minded world view,” she explains. Fabian Brueggemann became a member of AEGEE Münster 16 years ago where he first heard the phrase “Make AEGEE your playground”. This sentence would still inspire him many years later. Today he delivers workshops using improvisation theatre and believes that is “all thanks to AEGEE”. 

When Adil Atiser was a new member of AEGEE Ankara in 1997 he saw the organisation as the most colourful and liberal place in the whole city where “being different was considered good”. Later, he became the president of the antenna for a while and even met his future wife during a summer university in Trieste. He is sure that he couldn’t have mastered many milestones in his life without AEGEE.

After listening to the stories of Les Anciens d’AEGEE, the participants had the opportunity to ask questions and start discussions. At the end of the evening one thing certainly is clear. AEGEE continues to positively impact many lives and has helped generations to better understand the world. The speakers show that even decades after leaving AEGEE the spirit never leaves. 

With the pandemic and events like Brexit, Europe is certainly going through some troublesome times. We probably all asked ourselves the question “Where does Europe end?” at least once. We had a chat with the team from the project Where Does Europe End? 2.0 (WDEE2.0) who tries to find an answer for exactly that. 

Hello everyone and thank you so much for this interview. To start, who are you? 

We are a diverse project team which is not a coincidence. The people behind WDEE2.0 really mirror the project’s idea of diversity. Most of the names are also not new to the network as we gathered quite some experienced and extremely passionate AEGEEans together. The project manager is Timo Haarman. Calvin Breakwell and Alexej Silenko are, as once Timo called them, our content angels. Aleksandra Rachwalska is the secretary and impact measurement responsible, Teodora Panus is our financial director, Sophie Crespel Caron is the event manager and fundraiser and Marijana Asprovska is the external relations responsible. Alice Golisano is the social media manager together with Ilse Driessen as PR director.

What is your project about and how did it all start? 

WDEE2.0 is about  reviving  an old AEGEE-Europe project in order to answer the question from a modern perspective such as Brexit, migration or rise of populism. The project is about  gathering people’s opinion in Europe to answer the question of “Where does Europe end?”. We aim at examining European identity across Europe, finding out how young people in different parts of the continent perceive it and what it is that really defines Europe and its borders. To achieve this we have serias of different events such as conferences, case study trips, a podcast, and workshops. Last but not least, we are running a survey that will bring some quantitative data into the whole research process.

You relaunched an old AEGEE project. What is different in WDEE2.0 and what is similar?

We pursue the very same colossal endeavor of gathering colloidoscopical data on how people from all corners of our continent live and experience their (shared) sense of “Europeanness”. This experience may differ considerably from one region to another as well as interpersonally. However, we find it paramount to give a common platform to this diverse range of European challenges. The main difference consists in us setting more clear-cut goals and schedules for our events. We seek to maximize our reach by dynamic impact measurements. The first edition faced significant hardship in terms of timing and duration. Thus, by learning from past mistakes, we opted for a more efficient approach. Then again, we are confronted with an unprecedented pandemic that forces us to explore never seen digital means of exchange and data acquisition. It remains exciting!

Your project is very active on social media. Do you believe that this is important nowadays? What are the most important channels? 

We definitely think it’s important to spread our message online, right now more than ever!  Due to the pandemic it isn’t possible to travel and do research physically as much as we used to, so it is necessary to spread and collect knowledge and resources online instead. Our most important channels are our Instagram and Facebook page. On these channels we have a weekly ‘’Magnified Monday’’, a post dedicated to a specific region or country in Europe, with a corresponding blog post on our website. Besides this, we use the channels to update people on everything related to our project.

I saw that WDEE2.0 just launched a podcast. How do you choose the topics you are talking about and how does it help the project?

Yeah we did! So far we have two episodes that are ready to listen to and the next one should be ready on May 3rd! The topics are loosely based on the upcoming conferences we have. The conference that is coming up next is about cultural roots and that’s what we tied into the podcast. It helps the project by adding another dimension, promoting our work and giving people who like to learn through auditive sources the chance to get involved. 

To end this interview, do you already have an answer to the question WDEE2.0 and if not what answer would you like it to be? 

To be completely honest… nope, we don’t. Of course we can already think about multiple possible answers, based on the different themes that we are addressing. But we think the most important part of our project is the search/route towards answers, not the answer itself, if there is even a consistent answer. Europe is a complex continent and by trying to find out where it ends, we can hopefully raise awareness about the topic and bring young Europeans together!

This election of the member of this month was quite a roller-coaster – we had so many incredible candidates. But we unfortunately could choose one just and that one is Anastasia Sidiropoulou from AEGEE-Academy! Member for two years, her AEGGE story is as amazing as she is. Because what can be better than it being about her developing and discovering herself? She now is a trainer, a volunteer and a traveler for whom, if she dreams it, everything is possible! Wanna know how AEGEE helped? Read this article! 

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story. 

First of all, I would like to thank you for the nomination. It is so motivating when your efforts are appreciated! I joined AEGEE two years ago, in March 2019, when I was looking for ways to develop myself as an undergraduate student. It was just a simple Facebook post for a training event that opened the AEGEE world for me. From the first AEGEE gatherings that I joined and I felt that AEGEE was the perfect place for me to start growing as a volunteer and get out of my comfort zone.

Two weeks after being a member, I joined my first AEGEE event as a helper. This event was the beginning of my journey as a trainer. For those that do not know it, I am currently studying Adult Education and at this event I realised the uniqueness of my studies because I saw in front of my eyes how being a Non-Formal Education trainer looks like. Also during that training course, I set my first goal in this organisation, to attend a Training of New Trainers, which fortunately happened 6 months later.

Currently, I am the Public Relations Manager of AEGEE-Academy and I am looking forward to continuing being part of AEGEE-Academy board for another term. My motivation to be active in this organisation is my willingness to develop myself as much as possible, creating development opportunities for my fellow AEGEEans and contribute to making this world a better and more educational inclusive place for all of us.

What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

Being part of AEGEE-Academy is the most unforgettable highlight of my time in AEGEE so far. Being able to collaborate, in order to organise and implement training events, with people that are passionate for Non-Formal Education like me is more than exciting. Also, my whole term in the board of AEGEE-Academy as Public Relations Manager is an amazing experience. This year, I discovered that I have skills, which I have never imagined.

What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

Mmm that’s a tough question…I will say first of all, the Training New Trainers (TNT) event that I attended in 2019 in Budapest; designing outlines and drawing flipcharts with other trainers in the middle of the night, sleeping only for 5 hours and still have energy to participate in sessions (alright…maybe with the help of some cups of coffee haha!). Also, “The DiWine Comedy” SU of AEGEE-Firenze and a Brainstorming meeting that we had with the board of AEGEE-Academy some weeks ago in order to draft the idea for a study session that we wanted to apply for were moments that will always be written with lovely words in my heart.

What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life? 

As I mentioned above, AEGEE was the perfect place for me to grow as a volunteer, develop myself and find the Trainer that exists within myself. AEGEE came in my life the right time, when it was time for me to get out of my comfort zone. I learnt to work in teams, especially remotely, to deal with conflicts and be able to manage my emotions in the working environment. Skills that came up as outcomes, when I had to deal with difficult situations and I should not give up. Also, right now I feel more confident about myself when I am talking in a big audience and in a language that is not my mother tongue. Something that was not so easy for me to do so three years ago.

Last but not least, I learnt to travel as a traveller instead of a tourist. The way that I used to travel completely changed for me after meeting AEGEE. Super happy about that fact. Not everyone has the opportunity to experience how it looks to be a real Traveller.

 What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

One of my favourite quotes: “If you can dream it, you can do it!” – Walt Disney

Any closing remarks?
Warm virtual hugs to all the amazing people out there, with whom I have the opportunity to collaborate with and to those, who always support me in my AEGEE journey. They know who they are!

Hello dear AEGEEans! Another month and another ‘local of the month‘ we proudly present to you! And what a local! With an awesome team of 20 active and energetic members, more projects than one can count – Urban Jungle, Foreign Voices, PR Masters project, one that’s a secret but that you’ll discover if you read the article shhhh – and amazing words of wisdom (except the key one, where to buy a ‘Iulia’) here comes AEGEE-Bucaresti! 

Congratulations on being awarded the Local of the Month! We’d like to hear more about you! What sets you apart ?

Hello hello! Firstly we are very proud to be selected for this wonderful distinction. At the moment, our awesome team is formed by 20 active and energetic members who are the core of all the projects that we organized in the last period, we know it is not a big team but is a very well-knit one and as you know the saying – strong essences are kept in small bottles.

In the last period, as you probably already saw, we were focused on many areas of discussion. Firstly, we can start with our soul project “Foreign Voices” which debuted in early February in collaboration with our friends from AEGEE-Athina, AEGEE-Thessaloniki, and Language Interest Group. From the beginning, the scope of this project was to promote linguistic diversity and to help us to get to know the youth from other countries. We hope that we will attract as many friends as we can in this project because we think that it has the potential to be a long-term beautiful story.

Another project, that you probably saw on our social media, is the Urban Jungle, a project made in collaboration with our interns. The main purpose of this project was to raise awareness through students and young people on subjects such as financial education, marketing and digitalization, mental health, and project management. Given that it is a pilot project, the target audience was represented by students and young people from Romania. But, we have a secret that must remain between us – we are ready to move on to the next level and to launch it at the European level in collaboration with other antennas and interest groups.

Because the pandemic made us live our lives more in the virtual environment and we are very passionate about marketing and public relations, we decided at the end of the last year to organize a project focused on this field and it is known in our antenna as PR Masters, it was also a pilot version because we wanted to test the market and the project structure before launching it completely. Basically, we help people that entered this project to learn and understand what are the steps for a marketing campaign from the scratch.

And last but not least, our freshest project focused on raising awareness of the European Union and its programs and opportunities offered to young people. Europolis has the purpose to help young people to find what European Union, and especially European Parliament, has for them. 

Even if the pandemic hit us hard, we tried to gather our strength and be reborn because in 2020 we really lacked the life of the usual AEGEEan. So, when we started the academic year, we decided to give it a try and hold the autumn recruitment session because we know that we need a fresh start. This time, however, we changed tactics and reshaped our strategy to a qualitative rather than quantitative recruitment. And after that, the single secret to keep the people active and motivated is to organize as many projects as you can and to have weekly status meetings to check everything.

What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in your local? 

We think that probably most memorable moments are represented by Christmas activities and our Anniversary activities where we remember how our AEGEEan lives before the pandemic were and where we met alumni and people from previous projects and we walked through memories and old stories. Other memorable moments took place during workshops within the Urban Jungle, Foreign Voices, and PR Masters projects.

What has been the key to your success? Which areas have you found challenging and how did you overcome it? 

Even if we had a board, we think that each of us is equal and each opinion is important. When we talk about new projects or about the changes to the editorial plan we do brainstorm together and after that, all the ideas are analyzed by all of us and we start planning. Secondly, every team should have an engine that will move mountains and push you to take responsibility and evolve – for us this person is our president Iulia, who challenges us every day to push our limits. So if you don’t have an Iulia, you should buy one (smiles). And last but not least, we actively practice knowledge transfer by challenging people to accept key positions in projects, even if we talk about a Project manager project, a Graphic Designer one, or a Copywriter one.

Some words of wisdom to other locals?

Each of us should understand that: 

1. All the members are equal and have the right to express their ideas.

2. When we organize projects we should take into consideration the fact that the time of each of us is important so the deadlines should be respected.

3. During our time in AEGEE we should learn, work and have fun too. Basically, live our lives and create memories. 

4. Collaboration is the key to success and we must respect our promises.

Any closing remarks?
We hope that we will have a continuous evolution and that after the pandemic will be over we will organize projects again in real life because the connection between people is more stronger and interesting there. We also hope that the “See you somewhere in Europe” will be possible again because we really miss the travels and the AEGEE projects in the old way.