UPJ Students Learn About Climate Activism and Sustainability in Cologne, Germany

Bintaro, Tangerang Selatan 02/10/2024 - On August 15, 2024, students from Universitas Pembangunan Jaya (UPJ) reunited with Annika Benz for a follow-up lecture on Climate Activism. In this session, Annika explained the different personal roles within society, such as Healers, Analyzers, and Trouble Makers. The students also reflected on the changes that had occurred since the previous class, while reviewing their opinions on the current climate issues. 

After the lecture, the students visited Stellwerk 60, a car-free residential area in Cologne. This area was established in 1995 by George and around 100 Cologne residents who took the initiative to create a car-free environment. Thanks to this policy, Stellwerk 60 has managed to save at least 15% of space and has actively contributed to reducing CO₂ emissions. Today, the area is home to approximately 1,550 people, making it a tangible example of how communities can contribute to environmental sustainability. 

In addition, the students visited Vitalis Garden, a garden focused on growing vegetables and herbs. The garden is managed by a gardening community of 50 members under the leadership of Karin. During the tour, the students were introduced to various plants such as tomatoes, cabbage, lavender, and apple trees. However, the most attention-grabbing sight was the rainbow chili in the vegetable section. Initially purple, the chili turns white, yellow, and finally red when it reaches full maturity. Although it tastes similar to chili in Indonesia, the striking visual difference made this experience unique and impressive. 

“Seeing firsthand how communities like Stellwerk 60 and Vitalis Garden play a role in sustainability was truly eye-opening. We learned that consistent small changes can have a big impact on the environment,” said one UPJ student. 

This activity provided UPJ students with a deeper understanding of the importance of individual and community roles in supporting sustainability and how local initiatives like Stellwerk 60 and Vitalis Garden can have a positive impact on the environment.