Eight groups start debate at Guimarães Eco-Parliament
Young students from eight school groups in Guimarães took part this Friday in the first session of the ninth edition of the Eco-Parliament, at the Landscape Laboratory.
An anchor activity of the Guimarães municipality’s environmental education programme and Landscape Laboratory – PEGADAS, this year’s Eco-Parliament includes the Abação, Fernando Távora, Pevidém, Professor Abel Salazar, Taipas, Vale de São Torcato and Virgínia Moura school groups, as well as Colégio do Ave.
When the debate opened, each of the parliamentary groups, made up of students from the various stages of basic education, presented their environmental challenges and solutions, responding to the Sustainable Development Goals. There was also room for debate, questions and defence of the proposals presented.
Abação presented the project “Água Limpa Vida Plena – Strategies to combat plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems”. Colégio do Ave defended its “Community Vegetable Garden” proposal. Fernando Távora suggested an inclusion project, “Inclui-te – Incluímos-te”, while Pevidém wants to combat the use of plastics through bags made from textiles, “(mal) Trapilho, (bom) Trapilho”. Abel Salazar has chosen to talk about “Eco Activists”, while Taipas is betting on holding a “Mobility Assembly”. Vale de São Torcato proposes “Reforesting Pedra Fina! A greener future”, and Virgínia Moura presented and defended the project “A Pedalar sonhamos energizar”.
After hearing the arguments for each project, the students held a first vote, which will count towards the final session. The Eco-Parliament also includes an external jury, which includes the Guimarães 2030 Mission Structure, the United Nations University – UNU eGOV, the Landscape Laboratory, Vimágua and Resinorte.
The first of two Eco-Parliament sessions was also attended by Guimarães City Council’s Councillors for Education and the Environment, Adelina Pinto and Sofia Ferreira, respectively.
The final Eco-Parliament session will take place on 17 May in the auditorium of the University of Minho and will be attended by MEP João Albuquerque.
