Challenge Europe project

Global Work Party Day in Denmark

On a gorgeous sunny Sunday in October – 10/10/10 to be exact - Climate Advocates took action in Copenhagen to spread a climate friendly message to as many people as possible on Global Work Party Day. While people in the United States and the Maldives were installing solar panels on their presidents’ houses, Climate Advocates from all three years of the Challenge Europe project in Denmark were also actively involved in reducing CO2.

Residents of CornerStone – a cooperative housing association – planted bushes and trees around their house and were assisted by Climate Advocates and children. It was perfect planting weather.

Sofie Werenskiold whose bicycle was stolen a few weeks ago, went along to the Bike Repair Workshop at Folkets Hus with an old bicycle she was given and she’s delighted. “It’s fantastic, I’ll never buy a new bike again, I’ve learnt such a lot,” says the happy to be mobile Sofie.

Maria, Lillian and many more took part in a Sewing Workshop in Jægerborgsgade. Participants brought along old clothes to mend and swap, and later attended the party, where a mini fashion parade was held, wearing stunning outfits they said were: “just something they had thrown together”.

At Biscuit Factory in Jægerborgsgade, participants attended lectures given by Birte Brorson about how to be more climate conscious in their food choices and then rolled up their sleeves to prepare a fabulous three-course meal under her tutelage. In high spirits, participants from all workshops enjoyed this scrumptious food at the party later.

Climate Advocates who had been busy distributing information and checklists in central Copenhagen arrived just as the food was being served. The brochures and checklists they had distributed were produced on paper made from stone and the information was about how easy it is to reduce 10% of CO2 a year. Did you know that if we switch off all standby-devices, we will immediately notice a 10% decrease in our electricity bills?

When the food had been properly digested, Climate Advocate Rasmus Vincentz contacted groups in other towns in Denmark and in Egypt via Skype to exchange stories and talk about the day. “It’s really been a hugely impressive day, people have truly shown that they are serious about acting about climate change,” said Rasmus.

For more information about 10:10 see here www.1010global.org and to find out about paper made from stone which can save enormous amounts of CO2 see here www.scandirock.dk and click on the UK map.

This grass-roots project aimed to be the first step in helping a densely populated Athenian community to make lasting changes towards sustainability in a socially and historically important area of the capital. The project focused on changing behaviour through a series of workshops which informed people about energy efficiency and ‘greening’ initiatives in buildings.