As you listened to the speakers at the UN, try to reflect back and fit yourself in their shoes. How does their story or method impact your own story or method? How could you improve upon their ideas, actions, or designs. Think about what is special about YOUR way of thinking. How could you ADD onto these ideas, improve communication of ideas, what skills could you offer to improve the situations discussed. Could you imagine yourself, working for the UN one day – designing a more resilient future for all, democratically?
This week, Please make 3 short posts about each of the following
- 1 design idea you learned about as a result of the UN trip – how could you improve it?
The idea of turning NYC into a second Copenhagen through landscape architecture and design. From my point of view, I believe the concept does not have to be improved, but only modified to meet the specific characteristics of the city of New York, both in culture and aesthetics.
- 1 inspiring policy idea you learned about from the UN trip – how or why did it motivate you? what could you do to help it forward?
I believe TNS’s intention to not surpass a carbon footage of 400 was probably the idea that inspired me the most. Not because of the nature of it – which also plays an important role – but because of the fact that I am being educated in an institution that is truly trying to improve the world, and that is facilitating us with all this information and resources. I guess seeing the school motivated inspires me to take advantage of it and do something different. To wake up and say “Ok. They are allowing me to do it. Do it!”
If I have the luck to be in an institution that shares my values, I should then take advantage of it, because it will only be for 4 years.
- 1 fact that motivated or elevated your consciousness or empowered you from our trip to the UN – why did this fact touch you? did it speak to you emotionally, rationally, ethically? could you use that fact in your own way to motivate others?
Ever since I can remember I have defended the idea that visuals have a greater impact on the audience than any reading or soundtrack could have. To support this, I can now set Finn Harris’ video as an example. Despite all speakers thought highly important information, all of this seemed abstract or unreal. However, when Harris showed his short film, we were suddenly exposed to reality, and this is the image that has most stayed with me from our trip. I can still remember – and I am still concerned about – the graphics that explained the global warming and compared manhattan to the size of the amount of ice that melts every day (8 times bigger, approximately). Moreover, seeing him, at such a young age, doing what he does, highly motivated me to start moving and to take action. It is never to soon to start a change in your life.
