Cycle carnival floats and Horse-bikes in Putignano Carnival

by Annalisa Tancredi

Holidays’ sense is wondering what holidays means. The Carnival has its origins in Greek and Roman pagan celebrations, consisting in abandon daily works to take part celebrations dancing and drinking wine (into bacchanalia). The masks symbolized the established social order subversion to generate, by the kaos, a new phase of symbolic regeneration. In this time, however, it seems that the abundance and the extravagance belong to everyday life and if we want to subvert the established order in occasion of the Carnival, we should dress sustainability and eco-friendly green mask.

This is what has been organized in Putignano Carnival 2012, that is a parade in the name of sustainable development and alternative mobility, programmed from 17th January to 21th February. New green Carnival, promoted by the new president Franco Laera and the Puglia region Mobility department councilor Guglielmo Minervini, will integrate its traditional carnival parades with cycle-lights, 2 carnival floats and 10 horse-bike sharing stations.

"Putignano Carnival 618th edition want to combine the spirit of tradition and innovation - said President Franco Laera - An event to enhance ancient traditions but looking at future modernity, promoting new ideas to grow up our Carnival and to make it more and more sustainable. And it is because in the intention of turning "green" the Carnival and, in general, to promote best practice in everyday life, that we are managing a sustainable mobility project. An opportunity to combine traditional and sustainable Carnival".

During the event, cycle-lights will be powered by alternative energy produced by bike movement like 2 zero impact cycle carnival floats which will generate necessary energy to power music and lights, thanks to a pedal mechanism. “Cycle-carts are the expression of futuristic vision – said Franco Laera – an example of sustainability. An artistic work representing carnival floats’ traditional work evolution. Sustainable mobility project is growing thanks to an hard team work that is like the energy powering carnival floats”.

Additionally will be allocated 4 bike sharing stations with 10 nice bikes masked as horses wich could be rent by visitors during the days of parades. Finally, on Friday 17th February, Putignano Carnival will be part of “M’illumino di Meno” (I will use less light) initiative promoted by Caterpillar transmission on Radio2 and, in the afternoon, there will be a zero impact concert of "A'SUrD Batukada".

More info www.carnevalediputignano.it

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First 10 candles for Eco dalle Città

by Silvia Musso

Envi's editorial staff and AICA are pleased to share an important goal.

Eco dalle Città, on line magazine newsletter for the urban environment, and colleague of many adventures, first of all, the European Week for Waste Reduction, celebrates 10 years of activity.

We interviewed Paolo Hutter, magazine's director.

Eco dalle città has been dedicating to environmental communication and information for 10 years. How has the communication environment changed in this decade?
«First, there are many more sites and more sources of information and communication. Although it is still missing - but it is so even in greener countries than ours - a very influential and recognized voice, a "Sole 24 ore" (Italian economic newspaper) about environment. There has been a development linked to the growth of businnesses that feed the so-called green economy. Then there are the general changes in information and communication, those related to the advent of social networks in general and short messages. There are not all positive changes, there is always the risk of superficiality, of lack of memory. And there is still a lot of ignorance around, people confuse smog and greenhouse gas emissions, for example».

What is the communication campaign or event you are more connected and you keep the best memory?
«The campaign we are most related to is definitely the European Week of Waste Reduction. We have participated since 2008 to the first pilot edition of the event. We are part of the national steering committee and we take care of the Italian official website of the event: www.menorifiuti.org. We believe that the issue of waste prevention must find more and more space among the actors involved in the initiative (institutions, companies, associations, schools ...) but also, in general, among the general public.The need to reduce waste production is a current subject and will continue to be so in the future.The data on waste generation in Europe in fact confirm the need to remain vigilant on the reduction: the European Agency for the Environment in Europe has estimated an increase of up to 558 kg per capita by 2020 (was 524 kg in 2008) unless some effective policies to reduce waste production would be realized».

What are the future plans of Eco dalle Città?
«First, the project to survive is already a big project. We started as a newsletter specializing particularly suited to be "adopted" by local authorities. But in recent years it has become increasingly difficult to receive financial funds by local authorities. And the possibility to finance by ourselves with commercial advertising is very low. We still have to learn to tie ourselves to the growth of the green economy. However, ideas about what we like to do, do not lack, if we find the resources. It would be to better articulate the production and supply of qualified and reliable information, crossing the deepening of the environmental issues of everyday life and a greater ability to find and verify the data of what happens and the terms of the conflicts on the choices on the environment».

To celebrate its tenth birthday Eco dalle Città organizes an eco-friendly aperitif. The event, organized for being coincident with the anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol, will be held February 16th, 2012 from 7 p.m. at BLAH BLAH (via Po 21, Turin).

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I click "I like" and save a forest

by Silvia Musso

Thousands of peopl use social networks every day, so what better tool to give your messages the widest echo possible? From this simple but true observation the campaign "One like One forest" by Lifegate, launched on December 14th, has derived. For each Facebook user who clicks on "I Like", a square meter of forest in Argentina, is saved helping to preserve an area rich in biodiversity. Today there are nearly 19,000 users who have clicked "I like", number that is equivalent to as many square meters of saveguarded forest.

«With this initiative we want to share the idea that doing something concrete for the environment is simple and requires no great sacrifice or effort - says Enea Roveda, Marketing Director of LifeGate - in this case, to contribute to the protection of a forest a click is enough».

While the campaign is having a great success, it is also true that Facbook users spend several hours a day to post messages, make comments, report links and chat, and "I Like" "I do not like" is the fastest, but sadly superficial way, to share your opinion: it is not the best way to create environmental awareness about an issue. Often, those who click on the thumb icon do not take an active part in discussions and shy express their opinion without exposing themselves.

But perhaps the goal justifies the means, considering the thousands of collected "I like", that are as many square meters of forest saved, but the work of communication to create a common and widespread awareness to save the forests can not be reduced to this.

Lifegate is surely aware of this, as shown by its many initiatives. LifeGate is in fact the first network for sustainable development that througout different communication channels – magazine, radio, web – promotes a new way of life and an economic model "People, Planet and Profit" where people, planet and profit live in harmony.

Among the many initiatives, we stress "Zero Impact", the first Italian project that since 2002 realized the intent of Kyoto Protocol alongside people and companies on a path of reducing and offsetting their CO2 emissions by contributing to the creation and protection of forests in Italy and worldwide, and the recent "Zero Impact Web" that will reduce and offset carbon dioxide emissions arising from the use of the Internet.

Original is, finally, the "Second day of sustainable beauty". Monday, February 13th hairdressing salons and wellness centers offer some bueaty services. The contribution is free and will go to forest conservation projects in Italy and Madagascar.

"One like one forest"is part of the Lifegate's largest communication project and aims to remember that every little gesture, in everyday life, counts and is useful for the planet's salvation as to turn off the water while soaping under the shower, turn off the monitors' LEDs, turn down the temperature by one degree.

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New urban scenes ... of garbage

by Eleonora Anello

How have the streets of our city to the door to door collection of waste? Often this areas do not look so nice. In the worst cases, they tend to resemble small unauthorized landfills. Meanwhile, however, it is a price to pay to get a better quality of recycling. In Auckland, New Zealand, instead, they have found a creative and glamour way for collecting the garbage, thanks to the campaign "Beautify Your City”.

The design project took shape in the distribution of special garbage bags depicting green hedges or colored pansies, instead of traditional bags for collection. The unsightly red envelopes have been banned during the blitz called "Trash Day" and replaced with green ones offered by the citizens and businesses of downtown. The streets of the city were thus converted into neat and unexpected green spaces where even the garbage is not able to alter the urban decor.

This phase of the campaign, which started in November 2011, aimed to combat fly-tipping of waste, especially that of oils and educate traders to take out the trash at the right time, to avoid small temporary landfills in the city. The inititive was carried out by the association of downtown merchants Heart of the City along with the municipal administration in view of the Rugby World Cup.

«The flower beds will help to beautify the problem areas of the city and and remind businesses and residents of the need to do their bit to keep the city clean», said Jane Stewart, Project Manager , Heart of the City. At the launch of the campaign, she added: «The CBD is the heart of Auckland city and the state of our streets leaves a lasting impression on visitors. This is an important time to win the hearts and minds of tourists as well as improve the environment for residents and workers».

"Beautify Your City" has created an atmosphere so evocative that has been immortalized by several images that have flooded the Web in a short time and that have been around the world, reaching an unexpectedly target. To show that aesthetics can not be underestimated, we are pleased to present this best practice, so that other communicators and other administrators make more livable and more beautiful their cities. And who knows whether a glamorous and fun bag will be able to make more enjoyable and profitable the challenging task of waste collection and separation, inescapable duty of every citizen.

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Green Flag for the Engim Artigianelli, Turin

by Emanuela Rosio

Students and pupils of compulsory education courses in the professional training center Engim, Piedmont – Turin, after more than a year and a half of daily work, have received the prestigious European flag of Eco-Schools. This is the first school in the Province of Turin and the first professional training center across the country that gains this recognition.
The flag was delivered by Daniela Marchetti, FEE contact for Piedmont, to the kids, teachers and the Director of the Institute, Marco Muzzarelli, during a press conference at the lounge bar of the Institute on January 26.

The event was attended by Enzo Lavolta, councilor for the environment of the Turin Council, and Carlo Chiama, councilor for the education of the Province.

Protagonists of the meeting were the kids of the eco-committee, who read the “Ecocodice”, and told how, every day, they study different ways to manage the wastes produced by the school, making observations and analysis, and involving the trainers in many eco-friendly practices, ranging from bike sharing and intelligent purchasing to paper recycling

The Ecocodice is divided into two parts. The first one is related to the Training Agency, which has to commit to make eco-friendly purchases and disseminate best practices in sustainability among the staff and the students. The second section regards directly the students, who have translated the code into a series of icons that will be disseminated throughout the school, together with rules to be followed to reduce the impact on the environment. Particular interest was aroused by the rule that says "pick up any litter on the ground even if it was not me to throw", showing how the students have been able to take charge not only for their own actions but also for those of their mates. It also demonstrates how the activity of a committee is able to determine a change of course involving everybody at various levels.

After listening to the rules and the method developed by the kids, Roberto Cavallo, President soc. coop. E.R.I.C.A. and president of AICA (International Association for Environmental Communication), says that here we celebrate the important step of a path of growth. He invites all the presents to feel, through their own testimony, active part of a network of sustainability, which can even look at forms of corporate competitiveness.

The eco-committee informs that all divulgation material can be downloaded from: www.torino.engim.it.

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The thread of asbestos through the web

by Eleonora Anello and Silvia Musso

Stalled and high level of uncertainty for Eternit trial. The social actors and institutions are considering whether to accept the economic offer by Swiss Stephan Schmidheiny, co-defendant at the maxi-trial that is being held in Turin. 18.3 million euros given to the town of Casale Monferrato (north Italy) to relinquish its role as a civil party.

Simultaneously with the beginning of the process that began on April 6th, 2009, Facebook has created an ever-expanding team of people, composed mostly by people directly involved in legal proceedings or relatives of asbestos victims. This network now consists of about 4,700 people, collects information, articles, opinions and updates to the ongoing debate and about the issue of asbestos in general.

“Processo Eternit”, this is the name of the group, is open to anyone, and signing up you can talk with other members. Some write to share theirpersonal drama, and to get news on the associations of asbestos victims. Others use the social network to keep updated on the process or to give information. Some report their feelings of closeness and solidarity.

The communicative strenght of the web and Facebook in particular has opened up new strategies of resistance and comes out in the process of victims' awareness of this environmental disaster. It is a tool that in addition to those pre-existing conditions, such as exhibitions, installations, performances, sporting events, movies, books and songs, however, is able to connect with a speed never experienced before, people geographically distant. The space and time limits are canceled and the virtual square becomes the place of creation - here and now – the sense and awareness to be victims and to have the right to receive justice.

Ordinary people take advantage of their ability to post a message able somehow to sustain the cause. This is the case of "Il Base", one of the last member of the citizens movement who tells his own experience: «I have always followed as a marginal until December, 16th 2011 (when the administration has chosen to find an agreement with the Swiss devil), day that all of us will remember for a long time. That day something moved inside me, that I didn't even imagine (and I discovered that I was not the only one)...the will to figh for my city, alongside my fellow citizens for the future of my children,to defend the memory of our victims and because I still believe in justice, and what better way to give a hand in this battle than through my creative input? As I communicate better through pictures rather tahn words... I've been working in the field of graphic design and communication for 22 years and as a volunteer I try to offer my skills to give even a breath of fresh air and more effectiveness to a communicating way still very institutional».

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