November 2011 newsletter

Dear all, Welcome to the new Sustainability Newsletter, written entirely by students from the Sustainability Committee! Our aim is to bring noteworthy issues concerning sustainability and MODUL University to our readers including:  Conferences, innovative ideas, and investigation into trends in and abroad.  Easy ‘to-do’ tips to become more environmentally friendly in everyday life.  Everything our readers demand with their feedback! We believe the MODUL Sustainability Newsletter can benefit us all with interesting but also practical information. Please have a look and we hope you enjoy it!

1. NEWS

In this section we will provide you updated info about what is going on with sustainability issues at MODUL University Vienna and all around the globe!

 Mostviertel Sustainability Conference 2011  Profession: Banker to the poor

On the 12th and 13th of September, one of the most This month, Vienna welcomed an outstanding international important sustainability events in Austria took place for the figure, Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Prize winner and founder fourth time. Each year in the Mostviertel region, successful of the Grameen Bank. The eminent Bangladeshi professor managers and experts from the tourism domain gather to attended the Global Social Business Summit where he discuss and exchange ideas with the aim of enhancing discussed the role of social businesses in alleviating poverty. . The organizer of the event, Thanks to micro loans, Muhammad Yunus has helped ‘’Mostviertel Tourismus’’, offered a special opportunity for millions of underprivileged people, notably women, to start MODUL University students to support the organization of small businesses and find their way out of poverty. The this unique event as well as to take part in the conference. Grameen Bank has now expanded and created successful The official website page provides more detailed social ventures with major corporations such as Adidas and information about the conference program, including the list Danone. These companies aim to provide malnourished of speakers and challenging topics they presented during Bangladeshi children with nutrient- panel discussions. enriched yogurts and affordable pairs of shoes. http://www.nachhaltigkeitskonferenz.at/d/default.asp He spoke on ‘’Micro-credit, or how a small idea can revolutionize the financial sector and achieve sustainable social changes.’’

http://www.grameen- info.org/index.php?option=com_con tent&task=view&id=28&Itemid=108

Muhammad Yunus

SC MU Vienna [email protected] Nov 2011

2. EASY WAYS TO DECREASE YOUR DAILY FOOTPRINT

Every day we make small choices that might have larger consequences if we sum them up within a period of one year. In this section we want to address the importance of some of these issues, and provide more background information to help you decide for yourself. - Whenever you are planning to present something in class, just think for a moment if you really need the chart paper or would it be fine with the whiteboard? - Double-sided printing is an easy way of decreasing your daily impact! - Shut down computer screens in the PC lab whenever you leave. The blue light from the monitor means it is on!

3. CURIOUS STUFF

Sustainability is a concept that has spread to almost every human activity. Therefore, we sometimes find very creative and innovative ideas coming from completely different disciplines. Here we will try to bring you the most amazing ones!

THE STORY OF STUFF! In 2008 Annie Leonard and Free Range Studios founded the non-profit “Story of Stuff Project”, sponsored by San Francisco’s Tides Center. With help from both private and public foundations, they came up with a 20 minute movie that clearly explains the life cycle assessment of all kinds of stuff we consume in our everyday life. It is an extraordinary way to understand a little better why is it so important that we start to have the concept of “sustainability” in mind. Below Click on the link below to watch the movie online! http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-stuff/

The Story of Stuff (www.storyofstuff.com, 2011)

4. CAREER

Starting to think about your future? Here are some tips and information to give you ideas! Are you aiming for a meaningful career? While the current economic model exhibits severe shortcomings, these times reveal exciting opportunities for social entrepreneurs. But what is a social entrepreneur? She/ he is an engine for change who has found an innovative and pragmatic solution to a major problem of society. How can I become one of them? Well…there is no strategic recipe. Just open your eyes, look at the community you are living in, the idea may be right there. Be creative, social, and joyful, doing well by doing good! Inspiration may also come from visiting places such as the Hub Vienna, a meeting point for aspiring entrepreneurs: http://vienna.the-hub.net/public/

5. YOUR FEEDBACK AND INPUT ARE IMPORTANT TO US!

We believe a newsletter loses its relevance whenever readers are not taken into account, so we want to become as relevant to you as you are to us! Whenever you want to criticize, comment, or even congratulate us, you are very welcome to do so by contacting us at: [email protected]. Facebook comments are also welcome through the official MU group.

SC MU Vienna [email protected] Nov 2011