{"id":154609,"date":"2023-05-11T13:19:58","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T11:19:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=154609"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:46","slug":"bringing-in-the-police-to-tackle-occupyeur-cast-a-dark-shadow-over-the-sustainability-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/05\/11\/bringing-in-the-police-to-tackle-occupyeur-cast-a-dark-shadow-over-the-sustainability-days\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Bringing in the police to tackle OccupyEUR cast a dark shadow over the Sustainability Days\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Erasmus Sustainability Hub chair Levi Polderman is disappointed in the way in which the university brought the OccupyEUR protest to an end. He said that during the opening of the Sustainability Days<\/a> on Wednesday morning in the Erasmus Pavilion.<\/p>\n

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Levi Polderman (left) and Luciano Lopez Santesteban from the Erasmus Sustainability Hub during the opening of the Erasmus Sustainability Days<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNico Cruz<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we take faster action to resolve sustainability issues? We know where we want to go, don\u2019t we?\u201d, lecturer and researcher Jilde Garst rhetorically asked the half-filled theatre. She was one of the speakers during the opening of the Sustainability Days, and she called for an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability. \u201cIt\u2019s not easy, but we need to find common ground to resolve the issues together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Staying in the conversation<\/h2>

Prior to Garst\u2019s lecture, Rector Magnificus Annelien Bredenoord took to the microphone. \u201cIn this rapidly changing world, society expects engagement from us, the university, to tackle complex societal challenges together,\u201d she said. \u201cThe pace at which we must help restore the environment must be faster, which is why we are going to embark on an accelerated sustainability programme.\u201d She also urged the various parties to keep talking to each other. \u201cWe can only achieve results together. So keep the conversation, particularly with those who disagree with you, because it is when we try to understand each other that fresh new insights arise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018We can only achieve results together. So keep the conversation, particularly with those who disagree with you\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Climate-neutral university<\/h2>

Sustainability programme manager Mariecke van der Glas and Marcel van Oosterhout from the Erasmus Centre for Data Analytics gave a short presentation on what their organisation is doing. \u201cIs the university\u2019s ambitious goal to be carbon free by 2024 realistic? Will we be able to achieve that?\u201d asked one student during the panel discussion with the three speakers.<\/p>\n

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Panel discussion with (from left to right) Jilde Garst, Marcel van Oosterhout and Mariecke van der Glas<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMelis Zavlak<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

In order to calculate the carbon footprint, the university uses the Green House Gas Protocol<\/a> method, explained Van der Glas. The calculation is divided into three categories, namely direct and indirect emissions within the organisation and the emissions that arise from sources that are not managed by the organisation. \u201cWith regard to the direct and indirect CO2 emissions within the organisation, I am sure that we will achieve it. We are currently working on reducing the emissions that are not directly managed by the university, such as business travel, student mobility and food, because there is still much to be gained in these areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

OccupyEUR<\/h2>

Sustainability Hub chair Polderman mentioned the Occupy protest when he introduced the panel discussion. \u201cTuesday was a tumultuous day on which protesting students were arrested by the police. This means there is still a lot of work to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018It\u2019s strange that we\u2019re trying to behave in an environmentally friendly way as a university, but we\u2019re still working with Shell\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cThe way in which the university brought the OccupyEUR protest to an end, casts a dark shadow over this event\u201d, he said after the opening. \u201cIn recent weeks, I have tried to persuade the university to resolve this protest peacefully, just like at other universities. I\u2019m disappointed that the university didn\u2019t allow OccupyEUR to remain overnight. I can understand that the board wants to wait until we have a broader dialogue before making decisions. But I don\u2019t understand why they would use violence and bring in the police at a peaceful protest.\u201d The Sustainability Hub represents all students, emphasised Polderman. \u201cWe have a broad responsibility to facilitate everyone. Although I don\u2019t always agree with OccupyEUR, I am definitely in favour of allowing peaceful protest. I think this is very important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t