Projeto Conhecer para Sustentar: Diário de Bordo

On last May 31, representatives of the EcoSocial Institute were in Gaspar, in the state of Santa Catarina, to learn about the Knowing to Sustain project: Itajaí Valley, of the Bunge Foundation. Six members of the institute, accompanied by Bunge Foundation Social Project Manager, Juliana Santana, learned details about the project developed in Gaspar, as well as the teacher training projects and the mobilization of the community around environmental education. The visitors talked afterwards with several local people, among them educational coordinators, social workers and residents, as well as with Gaspar Secretary of Planning and Development, Patrícia Scheidt, and Gaspar Secretary of Education, Neivaldo da Silva.

Finally, the group visited the worksites in the town’s new neighborhood, which is totally sustainable and which will shelter families made homeless or in risk areas as a result of the heavy rains that hit the region in November 2008. The neighborhood is part of the Knowing to Sustain project: Itajaí Valley, which also plans to rebuild the Angélica Costa Public School, destroyed by heavy rains, based on eco-efficiency: a green roof, solar energy utilization and water reuse, among others.

The Bunge Foundation was invited by the EcoSocial Institute to share the project in a series of meetings which will take place under the theme, “Brazil: Broadening Perception of the Opportunities and Challenges of the Next Fifteen Years,” in June, August and October. This series of meetings is dedicated to thinking about and discussing the emerging future of Brazil.

The book Sustentabilidade e Gestão Estratégica: debates e experiências interdisciplinares includes a chapter dedicated to the project. READ MORE.

In the debAte AboUt the climAte chAnge UnderWAy,
hUmAn Action is still the best explAnAtion For the eArth’s WArming.

Why should we believe in global warming? Why should we review last century’s entire development
model in order to decrease greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere? The questions above
sound defiant. However, from a layman’s point of view, they are not that absurd. There are researchers
putting forward diverging views from an apparent consensus on climate change. If we are layman,
whom should we trust? Cidadania asked such questions to one of the people saying the planet is
indeed getting warmer and that humans are in fact accountable for that. Our talk with scientist Carlos
Nobre – PhD in Meteorology by the MIT (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), full researcher
at Inpe (the Brazilian Institute of Space Research) and one of the authors of the 2007 report by the
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize –
was focused exactly on the lay audience. Here, Nobre clearly explains the reasons why we should
all agree that our actions have an impact on the planet and that there is still much left to be done. READ MORE.

Work has begun on the new borough in Gaspar, which will house part of the families left homeless or in risk due to the heavy rainfall that afflicted the Itajaí Valley in November, 2008. The land has been prepped and houses are now under construction. The next stage contemplates the borough's infrastructure, such as water, electric power, rain drainage and sewage.

The borough project was developed by the architecture and urbanization offices of Indio da Costa upon an order from Fundação Bunge, and it is being implemented by the city of Gaspar's administration. It follows principles of ecological efficiency with the use of sewage treatment with vegetation roots, septic tank, and the use of tactile paving sidewalks, among other sustainable premises.

We will continue to update you on the next construction stages.

In July 2010, soon after the tragedy occurred on the Bumba Hill in Rio de Janeiro I posted a text at the Fundação Bunge site relating how we were moved by the events verified on Rio's hills, which were not different from the one that occurred in Angra dos Reis, RJ early in 2010, or the one that took place in the Itajaí Valley, Santa Catarina state by the end of 2008. And these are all similar to the devastation that afflicted the Rio de Janeiro sierra region early this year. I defended the idea that change is a choice that requires courage. The recent news we have read, heard and seen and that left us speechless reinforce the point that we must make this choice and have such courage. The tragedy must not be seen just as a threat, but rather as a shorter path to learning... Read More

Aberje, the Brazilian Association of Corporate Communication has announced the winners the 2010 Aberje Sul Awards. Fundação Bunge was the winner in the category Communication and Relationship with Society with its project "Conhecer para Sustentar: Vale do Itajaí"(Knowing to Sustain: Itajaí Valley). The awards ceremony was conducted on November 25 at the Rosa Rosarum Space in São Paulo.

This was the Awards' 36th edition, which is aimed at strengthening the strategic vision of corporate and institutional communication, and sharing efforts and initiatives in the communication and relationship areas.

Knowing to Sustain

The project Knowing to Sustain: Itajaí Valley is a Fundação Bunge initiative aimed at understanding and debating the issues related to the heavy rainfall that afflicted Santa Catarina state in 2008, while proposing sustainable solutions to minimize social, economic and environmental impacts, and urban actions to aid residents who were left homeless or in a risk situation, as well as disseminating knowledge.

For more information on the Aberje Awards access: www.premioaberje.com.br

On November 17 and 18 Fundação Bunge and the USP/Science Station conducted the last two meetings on the theme Knowing to Sustain: a reflection on extreme climate events.

On the 17th the focus was cities and sustainable reconstruction. The event was opened opened by Sergio Trindade, President of SE2T International, one of the 2007 Peace Nobel Price winners and member of IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, with the presentation "The Sustainable City."

Harold Doley of Lugano Group Incorporated, New Orleans talked about the issue "Sustainable Reconstruction," based on the experience of the Louisiana city after hurricane Katrina. Daniel Todtmann Montandon, director of Urban Planning for the National Department of Urban Programs, Ministry of Cities, covered the same issue from a viewpoint of Brazilian experiences and public policies.

Mayor of Gaspar, Santa Catarina state Celso Zuchi and the city's  Secretary of Planning and Development Patrícia Scheidt  closed the day's events with a description of the Santa Catarina state experience with the heavy rainfall that afflicted the region in 2008. This was followed by a debate mediated by Prof. Dr. Rosely Aparecida Liguori Imbernon from the USP School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, when attendants interacted with the speakers.

On November 18 the presentations were focused on education aimed at sustainability The event was opened with the video "The River, the Poet and the Cuty" produced by the Science Station's department of Scenic Arts.

The presentations began with Prof. Lino de Macedo of the USP Institute of Psychology with the theme "Challenges of Sustainability and the Commitment to Education."

The event continued with a description of the Itajaí Valley public school system's experience offered by Prof. Ângela Hoemke, master's in education and post-grad in curriculum and methodology for Elementary and Junior High grades.

After the presentations there was a debate mediated by USP Prof. Luís Carlos de Menezes. Then attendants visited the exhibit "Planet Earth and Environmental Preservation," which illustrates in a pedagogical and entertaining manner the concepts around soil usage, climate changes and natural phenomena, as well as works from Itajaí Valley schools as part of the Knowing to Sustain project, with a presentation by Prof. Angela Hoemke.

The cycle of presentations on the on the theme Knowing to Sustain: a reflection on extreme climate events was aimed at bringing the debate on extreme climate events to our daily life, while analyzing their impacts and opportunities. The presentations took place on September 22, October 27 and November 17-18, and were attended by approximately 400 people.

A sustainability exhibit, part of the Fundação Bunge project Knowing to Sustain: Itajaí Valley, took place at the Bunge Center for Environmental Development and Leisure on November 9. Approximately 400 people attended the event, among teachers and students who presented 58 works on sustainability.

The exhibit is an action developed during one semester with the proposal to work with local educators on the challenges of sustainability and the commitment to education. Between June and August there were five training meetings with educators from 405 schools involving 22 townships of the Itajaí Valley and surrounding areas. Also, 7,264 teachers and 141,535 students were involved in an indirect manner. During the meetings teachers attended presentations by regional specialists on issues connected with sustainability and debated the concepts of trans-discipline work, ORA (Observe, Reflect and Apply), and Eco-pedagogy. There were dynamic sessions and proposals of works for the classroom with practical examples on how to benefit from the Knowing to Sustain project kit, which is composed of a documentary, a book and pedagogical insert in the development of projects and activities.

From August to October the educators received pedagogical support for the development of projects at their schools. Overall, 144 works from 150 schools were registered, involving approximately 5 thousand students, of which 58 were exhibited. The works included issues such as water, river shore vegetation, conscientious consumption, trash, healthy eating and global warming, among others.

Of the 58 works presented on 11/9 five were selected to be exhibited at the University of São Paulo Science Station. They are: Uphill, from Olavo Bilac State School in the town of Pomerode; João Floriani Memory from Prof. João Floriani state school of Rio dos Cedros; Selective Collection and Environmental Preservation, Prof. Arthur Wippel school of Guabiruba, Knowing the Mirim River from state school Ana Lira of Gaspar, and Preservation & Valuing Life from state school Mario Bonessi of Indaial.

On November 17 and 18 Fundação Bunge and the University of São Paulo Science Station will conduct the last two cycles of presentations on the theme Knowing to Sustain: a reflection on extreme climate events. Check the agenda and register to attend.

The first day, 11/17 will be focused on sustainable cities and education. The event will be opened by Sergio Trindade, President of SE2T International, one of the 2007 Peace Nobel Price winners and member of IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, with the presentation "The Sustainable City."

Harold Doley of Lugano Group Incorporated, New Orleans will talk about the issue "Sustainable Reconstruction," based on the experience of the Louisiana city after hurricane Katrina. He will be followed by Minister of Cities Márcio Fortes, who will cover the same issue from a viewpoint of Brazilian experiences and public policies.

The presentations will close with a description of the Santa Catarina state experience with the heavy rainfall that afflicted the region in 2008, to be presented by Gaspar Mayor Celso Zuchi and the city's Secretary of Planning and Development Patrícia Scheidt. At the end attendants will be able to interact with the speakers.

On November 18 the presentations will be focused on education aimed at sustainability. The first one will be given by Prof. Lino de Macedo of the USP Institute of Psychology with the theme "Challenges of Sustainability and the Commitment to Education."

The event will continue with a description of the Itajaí Valley public school system's experience offered by Prof. Ângela Hoemke, master's in education and post-grad in curriculum and methodology for Elementary and Junior High grades.

Attendants will then be taken on a monitored visit to the Science Station's exhibit "Planet Earth and Environmental Preservation," which illustrates in a pedagogical and entertaining manner the concepts around soil usage, climate changes and natural phenomena, as well as works from Itajaí Valley schools as part of the Knowing to Sustain project, with a presentation by Prof. Angela Hoemke.

The two days of presentation may be followed via Twitter @fundacaobunge (all messages on the event will be identified by the hashtag #evex).

Agenda
Date: 11/17 - Time: 2:30PM to 6:00PM - Place: Science Station Auditorium -  1394 Guaicurus Street – Lapa – São Paulo/SP

Date: 11/18 - Time: 2:30PM to 6:00PM - Place: Science Station Auditorium -  1394 Guaicurus Street – Lapa – São Paulo/SP

An exhibit on Sustainability includes works from approximately 5 thousand state and city public school students and some from private schools of Itajaí Valley cities. The exhibit covers issues such as trash, river shore vegetation and water will take place on November 9 beginning at 1:30 PM in Gaspar, Santa Catarina state, at the Bunge CDAL - Center for Environmental Development and Leisure. It is part of Fundação Bunge's "Knowing to Sustain: Itajaí Valley" project, a partnership with Municipal Departments of Education and Regional Offices of Education. It was implemented this past June with the aim to work with local educators on the challenges of sustainability and a commitment to education.

Between June and August five training meetings were conducted involving educators from 405 schools of 22 townships in the Itajaí Valley and surrounding areas. It also indirectly affected 7,264 teachers and 141,535 students. The meetings entailed presentations by specialists in the region covering issues connected with sustainability, and educators debated the concepts of trans-discipline work, ORA (Observe, Reflect and Apply), and Eco-pedagogy. There were dynamic sessions and proposals of works for the classroom with practical examples on how to benefit from the Knowing to Sustain project kit, which is composed of a documentary, a book and pedagogical insert in the development of projects and activities.

From August to October the educators received pedagogical support for the development of projects at schools. A total of 144 works from 150 schools involving around 5 thousand students were registered for the exhibit that will take place in November.

A sampling of the Exhibit

Rising Knowledge = Growing Knowledge (Brusque)
Students mapped street water sources and analyzed the water to produce a school vegetable garden capturing rainwater, and also develop scientific white papers.

Port (Itajaí)
Construction of scale models illustrating the port during the 50s and nowadays, and a historical panel of the port town.

"Where's the Hill that Was Here?" (Itajaí)
Students interviewed residents of communities regarding the infrastructures of several neighborhoods, while producing drawings of the environmental degradation and a field study with visits to some of the most affected areas.

Memory and Sustainability (Guabiruba)
Students interviewed elderly residents in workshops and individual contacts. Also covered: cooking alternative foods, presentations by senior citizens, theater production and scale models on the issue.

Post-Tragedy Work Market (Ilhota)
Students conducted field research, interviews, visits to construction sites and promoted debates and exhibits of images.

Knowing the Gaspar Mirim River (Gaspar)
Students conducted field research, interviews with residents, outdoor classes, debates based on the Knowing to Sustain documentary, and also constructed scale models.

With Cooperation We Can (Ilhota)
Students offered a diagnosis of the community to understand the relation between the natural and cultural contexts of the transformed environment.

We Are Melting - Global Warming (Luís Alves)
Students offered a new view of artist Frank Krajcberg's major works  by producing different aesthetic languages using natural materials, puppets, theater and recyclable trash collection bins.

Reducing Paper Consumption (Timbó)
Students collected trash produced at the state public school Professor Juvenal Cardoso Zanella during one week and assessed how many sheets of A4 paper are used, aiming to encourage students and their families to conduct selective trash collection and the rational use of paper.

Dug In (Navegantes)
The action was aimed at understanding the relation between the natural and cultural contexts through a perception of the landscape by using a questionnaire forwarded to the students' families. They also produced drawings based on photographs taken on the school's surrounding areas.

Agenda
Exhibit Knowing to Sustain – Itajaí Valley
Date: November 9
Time: 1:30PM to 4:30PM
Place: Gaspar, SC –
Center for Environmental Development and Leisure
Address: Jorge Lacerda Highway, km 20 – Poço Grande