Press Release March 11 2008
Sustainability in the City – new guide targets young people
A free guide on how to achieve better and more sustainable living for young urban dwellers through simple, achievable
and cheap actions has just been released in Wellington.
After a year in the making, Gecko, (the Student Environment Group at Victoria University of Wellington (VUW)), has now
launched its Urban Living Guide.
The guide was created in response to a perceived lack of easy, fun and clear information on the environmental and
sustainability issues facing young people. It was written and produced as a completely volunteer project by students at
VUW, with a huge amount of support from the wider Wellington community.
The Urban Living Guide has received an extremely positive response since its launch last week, says Gecko spokesperson
Rachel Meadowcroft.
“The production of the guide was designed with a low environmental impact kaupapa. This included using recycled paper
and vegetable ink to print the guide and incorporating workshops and an online version of the guide to maximise the
potential impact of the guide while minimising its physical environmental impact. We’ve tried to practise what we
preach.”
The guide provides the basics for living a happier, healthier and more sustainable life in Te Whanganui-a-Tara
(Wellington) and includes:
- information and tips on how to heat your home cheaply
- buying food that's good for you and your community; and
- how to reduce the rubbish you send to the landfill.
The guide will be available online at www.42collective.org.nz/projects.html or it can be found at tertiary and secondary
schools around Wellington, as well as in cafes, the library and community centres. A series of follow-up workshops is
also planned to focus on helping people put in to practice many of the guide’s suggestions.
The project was funded by the Victoria University Students’ Association and the Wellington City Council.
ENDS
Authorised by Gecko, Student Environment Group at Victoria University of Wellington