Students for Sustainability Journal

March 2022 issue no 1

Students for Sustainability Journal

news knowledge inspiration

Table of contents 3

Letter from Co-Presidents

4

oikos Warsaw

5

Will capitalism bring us down?

11

Why regulations matter? Environmental disaster in Ohio

16

How much does Donut Economics have to do with donuts?

22

Career in Colliers

23

#ŚRODOwisko

27

oikosowe polecajki (oikos finds)

29

Summary of initiatives

32

Partners

Chief Editors: Wiktoria Kaleta Małgorzata Haruba

2

Letter from Co-Presidents

Dear Reader, March has come, and with it the time to present the results of our several months of various activities as part of the Scientific Circle for Sustainable Development oikos Warsaw.

There have been many changes in the 2022/2023 academic year, including the introduction of the Co-Presidents and the new function of a Board Member for Project Supervision. At the beginning of semester, about 20 new members have joined us. In addition, we have confirmed cooperation with our first strategic partner - Colliers company. A scientific section was established in the club that would be responsible for the development of education for sustainable development. We organized many initiatives for the first time, e.g. workshops on writing articles, debating or on ESG. As an organization we supported Caritas during the senior Christmas Eve and also made guest appearances during several events.

On behalf of all oikos Warsaw members, we are delighted to present you the first edition of our original magazine "Students for Sustainability Journal by oikos Warsaw". It is the result of our joint work, which cannot be done without our board's and organization's members. The main goal of this journal is to share with students the more unusual look at the sustainability. This magazine is the best evidence of the breadth of sustainable development concept.

We hope that the lecture would be inspiring and full of new knowledge for all our readers!

Kind regards, oikos Warsaw Co-Presidents Małgorzata Haruba & Wiktoria Kaleta

3

Student Club for Sustainable Development

oikos Warsaw

since 2001

We are the only local branch of oikos International in Poland at the Warsaw School of Economics and one of the leading student organizations regarding the topic of sustainable business.

Since 2001 we co-create oikos International's global projects, and at the same time, we develop our own projects for the sake of local community and our members. We empower students to understand the concept of sustainability in economics and management through a rich portfolio of projects.

We believe that social, ecological and economic sustainability belong together and are essential elements for a better future. Therefore we try to reach as many students as possible and make sustainability a constant companion in their future decisions.

Our projects in Warsaw School of Economics focus on diversified topics concerning education, business and lifestyle. We try to encourage representatives of business, politics, NGOs and science to participate in the discussion and to create a neutral platform enabling all the participants to exchange their ideas concerning sustainable development.

We also enable our members to grow by learning how to manage their own initiatives, discuss different ideas and research economical concepts. Our mission: transforming education in the fields of economics and management for a more sustainable future.

We currently have over 40 active members in our structures - both students of the Warsaw School of Economics and other Warsaw universities.

4

PL: Czy kapitalizm nas pogrąży?

ENG: Will capitalism bring us down?

Author: Katarzyna Kurzyk Editor: Maciej Więckowski

PL: O tym, że kapitalizm nie jest najlepszym systemem, wszyscy już słyszeliśmy. Jednak czy da się go zmienić? Czy istnieje ratunek dla nas i dla planety?

ENG: We have all heard that capitalism is not the best system. However, can it be changed? Is there salvation for us and for the planet?

author: David McBee

5

Czy kapitalizm nas pogrąży?

Will capitalism bring us down?

SZTUKA DLA SZTUKI

ART FOR ART'S SAKE

Wielu z nas kapitalizm kojarzy z wymianą dóbr, rynkiem bądź po prostu handlem, jednak wszystkie te aspekty były obecne na długo przed wprowadzeniem systemu kapitalistycznego do gospodarek światowych. Od początku dziejów ludzie posługiwali się różnymi środkami płatności, sprzedawali swoje wyroby i zaspokajali potrzeby materialne.

Many of us associate capitalism with the exchange of goods, the market or simply trade, but all these aspects were present long before the introduction of the capitalist system to world economies.

Since the beginning of time, people have used various means of payment, sold their products and satisfied their material needs.

Jest jednak coś, co odróżnia kapitalizm od szeroko pojętego handlu, a tym czymś jest wzrost. Czy to w postaci PKB w państwach, czy jako wzrost dochodu w przedsiębiorstwach. Cały świat goni za pieniądzem, a wzrost nadaje tej pogoni gwałtowne tempo. Jeśli jakaś firma chce utrzymać się na rynku, musi generować coraz wyższy obrót, inaczej jest postrzegana jako bez perspektyw.

However, there is something that distinguishes capitalism from broadly understood trade, and that something is growth. Whether in the form of GDP in countries or as income growth in enterprises. The whole world is chasing money, and growth is driving this race at an exponential pace. If a company wants to stay on the market, it must generate ever higher turnover, otherwise it is perceived as without prospects.

KIEDYŚ BYŁO LEPIEJ… LUB NIE

BETTER BEFORE... OR NOT

Jak to się zaczęło? W szkołach zapoznajemy się z kapitalizmem jako systemem, który wraz z rewolucją przemysłową rozpoczął złoty czas dla Europy – czas wielkich wynalazków, odkryć i reform. Za tym wszystkim kryje się mroczna strona, która przedstawiana z perspektywy uprzywilejowanej szlachty wydaje się równie chwalebna.

How did it start? In schools, we learn about capitalism as a system that, together with the industrial revolution, began the golden age for Europe - the time of great inventions, discoveries and reforms.

Behind all this is a dark side, which, presented from the perspective of the privileged nobility, seems equally glorious.

Kolonializm, bo o nim mowa sprowadził ból i cierpienie na ludzi, którzy nie mieli tyle szczęścia, aby urodzić się w kraju o łagodnym klimacie, sprzyjającym rozwojowi społeczeństw. Afryka i Ameryka Południowa stały się łatwym łupem i niewyczerpalnym źródłem taniej siły roboczej oraz surowców niezbędnych do budowy maszyn parowych, torów i wielu innych urządzeń, bez których nie wyobrażamy sobie świata.

Colonialism, because we are talking about it, brought pain and suffering to people who were not lucky enough to be born in a country with a mild climate, conducive to the development of societies. Africa and South America have become easy prey and an inexhaustible source of cheap labor and raw materials necessary to build steam engines, tracks and many other devices, without which we cannot imagine the world.

6

Czy kapitalizm nas pogrąży?

Will capitalism bring us down?

POCZĄTEK KOŃCA

BEGINNING OF THE END

Jednak kolonializm to nie tylko niewolnictwo mieszkańców innych kontynentów.

Większość europejskiej ludności z XVIII wieku również nie czuje sympatii do tego okresu.

Pierwsza rewolucja przemysłowa była niezwykle zachłanna – kapitało i ziemiochłonna. Okazało się, że najprostszym sposobem na pozyskanie dodatkowego miejsca na rozwój, było odebranie ziem ludności chłopskiej, która przecież nie rozwijała się, więc nie potrzebowała własności prywatnej.

However, colonialism is not only slavery of inhabitants of other continents. Most of the European population of the 18th century also has no sympathy for this period. The first industrial revolution was extremely greedy – capital and land-consuming. It turned out that the easiest way to gain additional space for development was to take away the lands of the peasant population, which was not developing, so it did not need private property.

Nowo pozyskane grunty przerodziły się w infrastrukturę, ale również łąki i pastwiska, na których pracowali – a jakże – wypędzeni z nich wcześniej chłopi, z tą różnicą, że od tego momentu zarabiali na zamożnych właścicieli ziemskich.

Wśród wysoko postawionych przedsiębiorców panowało przekonanie, że ubóstwo, a przede wszystkim głód to najlepszy środek motywacyjny dla pracowników – uczy pracowitości i posłuszeństwa.

Tworzenie sztucznego niedostatku to podstawowy oręż wczesnego kapitalizmu.

The newly acquired land turned into infrastructure, but also meadows and pastures, where peasants who had been expelled earlier worked, with the difference that from then on they earned money for wealthy landowners.

Among high-ranking entrepreneurs, there was a belief that poverty, and above all hunger, is the best motivation for employees - it teaches diligence and obedience. The creation of artificial scarcity is the primary weapon of early capitalism.

author: Andrew Neel

7

Czy kapitalizm nas pogrąży?

Will capitalism bring us down?

KOMU SŁUŻY PIENIĄDZ

FOR WHOM IS MONEY

Kapitaliści i myśliciele okresu rewolucji przemysłowej sami przyznawali, że aby wygenerować wzrost i zadbać o dobro publiczne, niezbędne jest zubożenie społeczeństwa, co jest czystym paradoksem. Ten system to gra o sumie zerowej – nie może istnieć wzrost jednej strony, jeśli nie oznacza to spadku dla drugiej.

Capitalists and thinkers of the industrial revolution themselves admitted that in order to generate growth and take care of the public good, it was necessary to impoverish society, which is a pure paradox. This system is a zero-sum game - there can't be an increase for one side without a decrease for the other.

Jeśli chodzi zaś o sam wzrost i metody jego mierzenia, najbardziej rozpowszechnioną z nich jest Produkt Krajowy Brutto, opracowany przez Simona Kuznetsa.

Wskaźnik PKB początkowo służył pomiarowi poziomu aktywności gospodarczej – czy nie jest on za wysoki i generuje nadmierną podaż, a może jest zbyt niski i nie pozwala ludziom zaspokoić swoich potrzeb. W późniejszych latach zaadaptowano miarę do określania poziomu dobrobytu i postępu w kraju, co nie było aprobowane przez samego twórcę, który stwierdził ułomność miernika pod względem wskazywania czy dany rodzaj działalności jest szkodliwy, czy pożyteczny. Świat skupił się jednak na ciągłym wzroście, mimo że dane w oczywisty sposób zaprzeczają przyjętym zwyczajom.

As for the growth itself and the methods of measuring it, the most common one is the Gross Domestic Product, developed by Simon Kuznets. The GDP indicator was initially used to measure the level of economic activity - whether it is not too high and generates excessive supply, or maybe it is too low and does not allow people to meet their needs. In later years, the measure was adapted to determine the level of prosperity and progress in the country, which was not approved by the creator himself, who found the measure to be defective in terms of indicating whether a given type of activity is harmful or useful.

However, the world has focused on continuous growth, even though the data clearly contradicts accepted customs.

SYSTEM NACZYŃ POŁĄCZONYCH

VESSEL SYSTEM

Wraz z PKB proporcjonalnie wzrasta ślad materiałowy, czyli całkowita eksploatacja surowców. Optymalne zużycie wynosi 8 ton na osobę, natomiast kraje o wysokim dochodzie zużywają wielokrotnie więcej – nawet 28 ton. Porównując to z krajami o niskim dochodzie, gdzie ślad materiałowy na osobę to ok. 4 tony, można zauważyć, że postęp i wzrost jest nierozerwalnie związany z zużyciem surowców.

The material footprint, i.e. the total exploitation of raw materials, increases proportionally with GDP. The optimal consumption is 8 tons per person, while high-income countries use many times more - up to 28 tons. Comparing this with low-income countries, where the material footprint per person is about 4 tons, it can be seen that progress and growth are inextricably linked to the consumption of raw materials.

8

Czy kapitalizm nas pogrąży?

Will capitalism bring us down?

Mimo że w tym momencie kraje rozwijające się zużywają więcej surowców niż wcześniej, to właśnie globalna Północ historycznie odpowiada za lwią część wyemitowanego dwutlenku węgla i zużytych surowców. To Stany Zjednoczone i Europa Zachodnia używają materiałów i pracy pozyskanych od globalnego Południa, zwiększając tym samym swoje wskaźniki rozwoju. Nie może być tutaj mowy o dobru wspólnym i publicznym, gdyż mieszkańcy Afryki czy Ameryki Południowej nie korzystają na tym interesie w równym stopniu. Potrzebujemy symetrii.

Even though developing countries are now consuming more raw materials than before, the global North has historically been responsible for the lion's share of carbon emissions and raw materials consumed. It is the United States and Western Europe that use materials and labor obtained from the global South, thereby increasing their development rates. There can be no talk of a common and public good here, because the inhabitants of Africa or South America do not benefit from this interest to the same extent. We need symmetry.

CZY MOŻEMY LICZYĆ NOWE TECHNOLOGIE?

CAN WE COUNT ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES?

NA

Możemy. Jest to jednak jedynie nadzieją, jaką możemy mieć, ponieważ na ten moment nie istnieje możliwość zatrzymania zmian klimatycznych za pomocą jedynie wynalazków. Problem leży u źródła – kiedy znajdujemy nową metodę wytwarzania energii, nie zastąpi ona energii pozyskiwanej z paliw kopalnych, natomiast dołączy do wspólnej puli. Mówiąc inaczej, nie tyle zmieni się struktura źródeł energii, a ilość, która zostanie wykorzystana. Zapotrzebowanie na paliwa, prąd czy ogrzewanie stale wzrasta, gdyż wzrastają sztucznie wykreowane przez kapitalizm potrzeby. Jeśli trzeba wytwarzać coraz więcej dóbr każdego roku, a wzrost powinien być geometryczny, to potrzebujemy znacznych ilości energii, dużo większych niż potrzebujemy dzisiaj.

We can. However, this is only the hope we can have, because at the moment there is no way to stop climate change with inventions alone. The problem is at the root - when we find a new method of generating energy, it will not replace energy obtained from fossil fuels, but will join the common pool. In other words, it is not the structure of energy sources that will change, but the amount that will be used. The demand for fuels, electricity and heating is constantly increasing, as the needs artificially created by capitalism are increasing. If more and more goods have to be produced each year, and the growth should be geometric, then we need significant amounts of energy, much more than we need today.

Kolejnym problemem jest fakt, że aby stworzyć infrastrukturę bardziej przyjazną dla środowiska, a także zaawansowaną technologicznie również musimy skorzystać z surowców nieodnawialnych i wyczerpalnych, których wydobycie staje się coraz bardziej problematyczne np. ind, niezbędny do technologii solarnej, na który popyt wzrośnie o nawet 920%.

Another problem is that in order to create a more environmentally friendly and technologically advanced infrastructure, we also need to use non-renewable and finite raw materials, the extraction of which is becoming more and more problematic, e.g. indium, necessary for solar technology, for which demand will increase by up to 920%.

9

Czy kapitalizm nas pogrąży?

Will capitalism bring us down?

author: Johannes Plenio

CO DALEJ?

WHAT IS NEXT?

Musimy zacząć oswajać się z myślą, że przy obecnym systemie ekonomicznym, nie jesteśmy w stanie utrzymać postanowień porozumienia paryskiego, bo przy obecnym stanie rzeczy, nawet ze wszystkimi staraniami rządów i zwykłych ludzi, w 2050 roku przekroczymy próg nie tylko 1,5 stopnia Celsjusza, ale również 2 stopni.

We must start to get used to the idea that with the current economic system, we are unable to maintain the provisions of the Paris Agreement, because with the current state of affairs, even with all the efforts of governments and ordinary people, in 2050 we will exceed the threshold not only of 1.5 degrees Celsius, but also 2 degrees.

Jeśli zależy nam na planecie, powinniśmy znaleźć rozwiązania systemowe, które pozwolą na odwrócenie tendencji, jednak wszelkie badania i predykcje wskazują na to, że nie ma możliwości osiągnięcia takiego celu, bez wprowadzenia poważnych reform.

Boimy się ich, boją się ich rządy i korporację, ale stawką nie jest już odległa wyspa na Oceanie Spokojnym, która zniknęła pod wodą. Zmiany klimatyczne powoli zaczynają siać spustoszenie w krajach zachodniej Europy i Stanach Zjednoczonych, zaczynają zaciskać dłoń na gardłach przywódców świata.

If we care about the planet, we should find systemic solutions that will allow us to reverse the trend, but all research and predictions indicate that it is impossible to achieve such a goal without introducing serious reforms.

We fear them, governments and corporations fear them, but what is at stake is no longer a remote island in the Pacific Ocean that has disappeared underwater. Climate change is slowly starting to wreak havoc in the countries of Western Europe and the United States, starting to tighten its hand on the throats of world leaders.

Rozwiązaniem, za którym optują naukowcy i ekonomiści nastawieni na przeprowadzenie zmian jest system zwany postwzrostem lub postkapitalizmem (ang. degrowth).

Wprowadzenie reform będzie trudne i bolesne, ale nie bardziej niż skutki kryzysu klimatycznego. Wszystko wskazuje na to, że musimy spowolnić pogoń za ciągłym wzrostem dla samego wzrostu i kultem pieniądza, który w swojej istocie nie ma żadnej wartości, jeśli w grę wchodzą miliony istnień ludzkich, i nie tylko.

The solution favored by scientists and economists focused on making changes is a system called degrowth or postcapitalism. Implementation of reforms will be difficult and painful, but no more so than the effects of the climate crisis.

Everything indicates that we must slow down the pursuit of constant growth for the sake of growth and the cult of money, which in essence has no value when millions of lives are at stake and more.

10

Why regulations matter?

Environmental disaster in Ohio Author: Alex Beaumont Editor: Maciej Więckowski

Gen. J. Puskar / AP

Regulation of private enterprise is one of the cornerstones of our modern free market system and since the 1970s has been a powerful tool to protect the environment.

Government regulation can often be detrimental to the revenue of companies it regulates, meaning that they oppose it as they can. In the United States, lobbying is a powerful force for change, its legality and the size of the lobbying industry means that large corporations can directly affect the laws that bind them. In the case of the railroad companies that run most of the railway transportation in the country, this has meant spending $653 million on federal lobbying during the last 20 years.

On the 3rd of February a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in the town of East Palestine, Ohio. The train was operated by Norfolk Southern, the largest railroad company in the North East of the United States, responsible for 45,000 km of railway in 22 states. The train, with reporting number 32N, was 2.8 km long, consisting of 150 cars, 20 of which carried hazardous materials. 51 of these cars derailed, and 11 were tank cars that dumped almost 400,000 litres of chemicals, such as vinyl chloride and butyl acrylate, into the surrounding environment. The derailed cars caught fire and burned for two days. Five of the cars containing vinyl chloride remained intact, however, officials were concerned about a potential explosion.

Residents within a three-kilometre radius were evacuated and controversially, Norfolk Southern emergency crews began a controlled burn of the vinyl chloride gas.

This decision has been criticised as reckless because the company seemingly disregarded possible alternatives, possibly being motivated by a desire to have the railroad open again as quickly as possible, rather than by what would be safest. A visible symbol of this questionable decision-making is the huge black cloud of smoke and toxic gas released from the crash site. As a result of burning the vinyl chloride, large quantities of hydrogen chloride and phosgene were released into the air, the latter was used as a chemical warfare agent in World War I. This questionable decision-making is a theme that repeats itself throughout the whole story.

11

Why regulations matter?

Environmental disaster in Ohio THE STATE OF THE RAIL INDUSTRY The majority of railway traffic in the US is freight transport, contrary to most other parts of the world where a larger share consists of passenger transit. Also, unlike the American road network, American freight railways are owned and maintained by private companies. This means that the government and regulation agencies have less control over how freight is transported. American railways have experienced an average of 1475 derailments per year between 2005 and 2021. In 2019 this figure was 1338 derailments for 777 million kilometres travelled. In the same year, the EU experienced only 73 derailments for almost 4 times the distance travelled and Japan only had 9. While the overall number of derailments hasn’t increased in the past few decades, the number of derailments of trains carrying hazardous materials has.

Clearly, this is an issue that hasn’t been addressed.

In 2014 following a series of derailments of trains carrying petroleum, the Obama administration pushed to pass legislation that required railway operators to use newer and safer electronically controlled pneumatic brakes (ECP) on all trains carrying hazardous materials. After extensive lobbying by the railroad companies, the bill was reduced to only include trains carrying flammable materials, like crude oil and ethanol, but not the type of chemicals and hazardous gases that 32N was transporting through Ohio. Up to this point, the vast majority of freight trains still used air brake systems that were first developed in the 19th century which are reliable, easy to maintain and cheap but don’t stop a train very quickly, especially when it is several kilometres long. Modern ECP systems stop a train much more quickly as every car brakes simultaneously upon receiving an electronic signal.

These regulations were repealed under the Trump administration, whose regulators were much more lenient to the railroad lobby who argued these brakes weren’t economically justified. Had 32N been equipped with these modern brakes, the scale of the disaster could have been greatly reduced.

12

Why regulations matter?

Environmental disaster in Ohio NO NEED FOR SAFETY Just like any corporation, Norfolk Southern is focused on reducing costs. As well as resisting modernisation of its rolling stock, it also spends a significant part of its resources, working to minimise the number of workers it needs to employ. Railroad operators are running increasingly long trains maintained and operated by fewer and fewer workers. In the past 20 years, Norfolk Southern has reduced its workforce by ⅓ while doubling its profits. The workers who remain are forced to work almost constantly, with no sick leave and long hours. Just last year the Biden administration blocked a strike of 115,000 rail workers who were demanding paid sick leave. These poor working conditions and understaffing lead to mistakes in an industry where accidents can cost lives. There is actually no federal regulation regarding the minimum number of crewmembers on a freight train. Union contracts usually require two but some operators have pushed to reduce this to one. Rail workers have repeatedly warned federal regulators that the company regularly disregards safety rules.

As well as pushing back on safety rules and cutting its workforce, Norfolk Southern also employs a practice called Precision Scheduled Railroading, which is a product of just-in-time logistics which, nowadays, is prevalent in all industries. PSR aims to minimise any wait times in the journey of a freight train. As you can suspect this comes with some consequences, if the company has demonstrated that it isn’t too concerned about safety. In the case of the derailment of 32N, it is likely that a lack of safety checks or ignoring concerns of crewmembers, was the main culprit. It is not only rail crews that have faced staffing cuts in recent years but also rail yard workers, i.e. those that check to make sure rail cars are working properly and in a safe condition before they are picked up by a train. Norfolk Southern currently recommends that no more than 90 seconds be spent inspecting each car which obviously isn’t enough time to thoroughly inspect a car that is 30 m long. There have also been numerous reports of the company pressuring inspectors not to report minor defects in order to save time. Norfolk Southern uses special sensors in its railroads called “defect detectors”, designed to warn of potential issues on a train such as overheating bearings. However, in a worker complaint from last year, it is alleged that the crew of a 241 car train travelling through Ohio, which stopped on a defect detector, was told by a company dispatcher that they didn’t have to “walk the train” as the crew of a train passing the other way could do it instead. Workers called this an unsafe practice and this is just one of many similar complaints of workers being told to carry on when they had safety concerns. While this has been happening, Norfolk Southern has only increased its profits and spent billions on stock buybacks for its investors. This is true for all of the large railroad companies.

13

Why regulations matter?

Environmental disaster in Ohio WHAT’S HAPPENED IN OHIO? Let’s circle back to the case of 32N. This derailment was caused by an overheating wheel bearing that caused one of the axles to fail. By the time the crew were alerted by the onboard safety systems, it was already too late and they couldn’t bring the train to a stop. The train passed 3 trackside sensors with an overheated bearing, but the alarm was only triggered once the bearing had overheated by 123 ℃. This raises questions over whether the alert systems used by Norfolk Southern are sufficient if they didn’t raise the alarm when the train passed an earlier sensor 30 km prior, showing that the bearing had already overheated by 40 ℃ . Based on other derailments and worker’s complaints that I have discussed earlier, one could assume that Norfolk Southern deliberately sets the thresholds too high on its alarm systems so as to minimise stoppages that could harm profits. 32N was also not classified as a High-Hazard Flammable Train, thanks to limited regulations that were willed into existence by railroad lobbiers.

ORLOWSKI DESIGNS LLC Shutterstock

The long-term extent of the environmental damage and damage to people’s health is not yet fully known. As of now, several things have happened. Some chemicals and gases have been released into the air, water and soil of East Palestine. Apart from the 5 cars worth of the carcinogenic vinyl chloride that were deliberately released into the air creating a huge, black mushroom cloud that loomed over the town for a whole day, train cars carrying butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene also lost the entirety of or part of their payloads. Butyl acrylate causes irritation to the eyes and skin, breathing problems and even lung failure after long enough exposure. If it is swallowed - easily done if it has made it into the water supply - medical attention is needed immediately. Ethylhexyl acrylate has many of the same characteristics and isobutylene is a gas that can cause dizziness or even unconsciousness when inhaled. Butyl and ethylhexyl acrylate were detected in the waterways after the accident.

14

Why regulations matter?

Environmental disaster in Ohio Since the derailment locals have reported sick and dead animals, irritation to eyes and breathing problems and large numbers of dead fish have been observed floating in local streams. Several lawsuits have been filed against Norfolk Southern, one of which alleges more than 1,000 people have been affected by exposure to the chemicals. In a letter to the Department of Transportation, a rail workers’ union says that many employees working at the accident site “reported that they continue to experience migraines and nausea, days after the derailment, and they all suspect that they were willingly exposed to these chemicals at the direction of NS”. Norfolk Southern has pledged $6.5 million to the families affected in East Palestine but has simultaneously announced a $7.5 billion stock buyback program - a striking dissonance.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? In most industries in the US, there is a lack of worker and environmental protection, especially when compared to the standards that we have in the European Union.

Clearly, the situation is no different when it comes to the American railroad industry.

Railroad operators have been given free reign, they invested heavily in lobbying and have increasingly pushed the envelope in regard to labour and safety laws so as to increase their profit margins. Rail is by far the most environmentally friendly mode of transport and should be invested in so that it can achieve its potential. However, any environmental benefits from its lack of emissions are negated if trains carrying hazardous materials are regularly derailing because of a lack of regulation. The current democratic administration in the US has made various promises on environmental protection but currently seems to be indecisive and regularly bends to the will of the companies that cause these disasters. To effectively protect the environment certain rules need to be established to stop people, companies and entire industries damaging it.

For further reading on the subject of railroad companies lobbying Congress, I highly recommend reading Open Secrets’ excellent article and research on the matter.

15

PL: Ile Donut Economics ma wspólnego z pączkami?

ENG: How much does Donut Economics have to do with donuts?

Author: Klaudia Świątek Editor: Maciej Więckowski

PL: Ekonomia Obwarzanka to teoria proponująca zmianę modelu ekonomicznego jako odpowiedź na główne wyzwanie ludzkości, jakim jest wyeliminowanie globalnego ubóstwa w ramach ograniczonych zasobów naturalnych planety.

ENG: Donut Economics is a theory proposing a change in the economic model as a response to humanity's major challenge of eradicating global poverty within the planet's finite natural resources.

author: Alexander Gray

16

PL: Ile Donut Economics ma wspólnego z pączkami?

ENG: How much does Donut Economics have to do with donuts?

JAK TO ZROBIĆ?

HOW IT CAN BE DONE?

Z odpowiedzią na to pytanie przychodzi koncepcja modelu ekonomicznego, zaproponowana przez angielską ekonomistkę, Kate Raworth. W 2012 roku przedstawiła ona zamysł spojrzenia na ekonomię oczami człowieka XXI w., który boryka się z innymi problemami niż człowiek XX w.

W swojej książce "Ekonomia pączkowa: Siedem sposobów myślenia jak ekonomista XXI wieku" pokazała ona nowatorski model, który przedstawia myśl ekonomiczną na kształt obwarzanka. Kształt ten wynika z faktu, że schemat przedstawia dwa okręgi, jeden mniejszy, drugi większy, a celem współczesnego ekonomisty jest utrzymanie gospodarki światowej na takim poziomie, aby nie dopuścić do przekroczenia granic wyznaczanej przez wspomniane okręgi.

With the answer to this question comes the concept of the economic model, proposed by English economist Kate Raworth. In 2012 she put forward the idea of looking at economics through the eyes of a 21st century man, who struggles with different problems than the man of the 20th century.

In her book Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist, she showed a novel model that presents economic thought in the shape of a bagel. The shape comes from the fact that the diagram depicts two circles, one smaller and the other larger, and the goal of the modern economist is to keep the world economy at such a level as to keep the boundaries set by the said circles intact.

CO PREZENTUJĄ TE OKRĘGI?

WHAT DO THESE DISTRICTS REPRESENT

Jak już wcześniej zostało wspomniane, okręgi przedstawiają granice, których przekroczenie powoduje pewnego rodzaju problemy.

Przekroczenie granic wewnętrznego okręgu powoduje, że zasoby naszej planety są wykorzystywane w niezrównoważony sposób. Oznacza to, że ludziom nie są zapewniane podstawowe rzeczy do życia, takie jak: Żywność Dostęp do wody Opieka zdrowotna Miejsca pracy Dostęp do edukacji Dostęp do energii Wolność słowa

As mentioned earlier, the districts represent boundaries that, when crossed, cause some kind of problem.

By overstepping the boundaries of the inner circle, our planet's resources are being used in an unsustainable way. This means that people are not being provided with the basic necessities of life, such as: Food Access to water Health care Job Access to education Access to energy Freedom of expression

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PL: Ile Donut Economics ma wspólnego z pączkami?

ENG: How much does Donut Economics have to do with donuts?

author: Kate Raworth and Christian Guthier/The Lancet Planetary Health

Zatrzymanie gospodarki w wewnętrznych granicach pączka pomaga zatem stworzyć bezpieczną dla środowiska przestrzeń, zgodną z eliminacją ubóstwa i „prawami dla wszystkich”. Niestety w dzisiejszym świecie milionom ludzi wciąż brakuje niezbędnych do życia rzeczy. Na co dzień muszą się zmagać z problemami typu: brak pożywienia, analfabetyzm, niepewność i brak możliwości zawarcia głosu np.. w decyzjach państwowych.

Ponadto na każdym kroku muszą się mierzyć z podziałami ze względu na płeć, osiągany dochód, pochodzenie itp. Wciąż pozostają granice zewnętrzne, które są równie istotne dla utrzymania gospodarki na satysfakcjonującym, dla ludzkości XXI wieku, poziomie.

Keeping the economy within the inner limits of the doughnut therefore helps to create an environmentally safe space, consistent with poverty eradication and 'rights for all'. Unfortunately, in today's world, millions of people still lack the necessities of life. On a daily basis, they have to deal with problems such as lack of food, illiteracy, insecurity and the inability to have a say in, for example, state decisions. In addition, at every step they have to face divisions based on gender, income attainment, origin, etc. There are still external borders, which are equally important for keeping the economy at a satisfactory level, for humanity in the 21st century.

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PL: Ile Donut Economics ma wspólnego z pączkami?

ENG: How much does Donut Economics have to do with donuts?

Aby nie dopuścić do ich przekroczenia musimy chronić życiodajne systemy Ziemi, nazywanych granicami planetarnymi.

Zaliczamy do nich: Zmiany klimatu Zakwaszenie oceanów Zanieczyszczenie chemiczne Obciążenie azotem i fosforem Pobór wody słodkiej Przekształcanie gruntów Utrata różnorodności biologicznej Zanieczyszczenie powietrza Zubożenie warstwy ozonowej Obecnie mówi się już o przekroczeniu co najmniej czterech granic planetarnych: zmiany klimatu, przekształcenia gruntów, utracie różnorodności biologicznej i obciążenia azotem i fosforem. Obecnie w związku z tymi problemami zmagamy się z np. mniejszą ilością gleb, które są wykorzystywane do produkcji rolniczej na masową skalę, czy również załamywaniem się łańcuchów pokarmowych, przez co zaniknięcie jednego gatunku zwierząt powoduje brak pożywienia dla innych zwierząt.

In order to prevent them from being crossed, we need to protect the Earth's life-giving systems, called planetary boundaries. These include: Climate change Ocean acidification Chemical pollution Nitrogen and phosphorus loading Freshwater abstraction Land conversion Loss of biodiversity Air pollution Depletion of the ozone layer At least four planetary boundaries are already being talked about: climate change, land conversion, loss of biodiversity and nitrogen and phosphorus loading. In relation to these problems, we are currently struggling with, for example, less soil being used for agricultural production on a massive scale, or the collapse of food chains, so that the disappearance of one animal species results in a lack of food for other animals.

author: Mark Production

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PL: Ile Donut Economics ma wspólnego z pączkami?

ENG: How much does Donut Economics have to do with donuts?

CO GDY NIE BĘDZIEMY PRZEKRACZAĆ ŻADNEJ Z GRANIC?

WHAT IF WE DO NOT CROSS ANY OF THIS BOUNDARIES?

W JAKI SPOSÓB MOZEMY TEGO DOKONAĆ?

HOW CAN WE DO THIS?

Nasza gospodarka będzie w stanie zapewnić wystarczającą ilość materiałów i usług dla wszystkich, przy jednoczesnym wykorzystywaniu zasobów w sposób, który nie zagraża naszemu przyszłemu bezpieczeństwu i dobrobytowi.

Jednym z kluczowych celów współczesności jest stworzenie dla wszystkich ludzi bezpiecznej i sprawiedliwej przestrzeni, czyli miejsca bezpiecznego ekologicznie i sprawiedliwego społecznie, które dałoby wszystkim warunki do prawidłowego rozwoju. Poza tym ważnym aspektem jest usunięcie z naszych umysłów przestarzałych schematów, takich jak to, że im wyższe PKB, tym lepszy wzrost gospodarczy, czy o krzywej Kuznetsa.

Ważnym elementem, który powinien się zmienić, jest dystrybucja. Przede wszystkim powinniśmy znacznie mniejszą uwagę poświęcić na redystrybucji dochodów, czyli na np. ponoszeniu podatków, zwiększaniu transferów i wdrażaniu płac minimalnych. W miesJce tego wyzwaniem współczesnych ekonomistów powinna być redystrybucja bogactwa, zwłaszcza tego, które polega na kontrolowaniu ziemi i zasobów, kontrolowaniu tworzenia pieniądza oraz posiadaniu przedsiębiorstw, technologii i wiedzy. I w zastępstwie zwracania się wyłącznie do rynku i państwa w poszukiwaniu rozwiązań, powinniśmy wykorzystać siłę wspólnego dobra, aby tak się stało.

Our economy will be able to provide enough materials and services for everyone, while using resources in a way that does not threaten our future security and prosperity.

One of the key objectives of the modern age is to create for all people a safe and just space, i.e. an ecologically safe and socially just place, which would give everyone the conditions for proper development. Beyond this, an important aspect is to remove outdated schemes from our minds, such as that the higher the GDP, the better the economic growth, or about the Kuznets curve.

An important element that should change is distribution. Above all, we should pay much less attention to income redistribution, i.e. paying taxes, increasing transfers and implementing minimum wages, for example. In lieu of this, the challenge of modern economists should be to redistribute wealth, especially that which consists of controlling land and resources, controlling money creation and owning businesses, technology and knowledge. And instead of turning solely to the market and the state for solutions, we should harness the power of the common good to make this happen.

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PL: Ile Donut Economics ma wspólnego z pączkami?

ENG: How much does Donut Economics have to do with donuts?

Ponadto powinnyśmy pomyśleć o rozdziale dochodów jako o sieci przepływów, w której można bardziej sprawiedliwie rozdzielić dochód i bogactwo między tych, którzy przyczyniają się do jej tworzenia.

In addition, we should think of income distribution as a network of flows in which income and wealth can be more equitably distributed among those who contribute to its creation.

Ten artykuł to zaledwie pierwiastek tego, co ma do zaoferowania Donut Economics.

Jeżeli chcecie dowiedzieć się więcej na temat tej przyszłościowej teorii gorąco polecam: About Doughnut Economics | DEAL Doughnut (economic model) Wikipedia What is Doughnut Economics? | Earth.Org Meet the doughnut: the new economic model that could help end inequality | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

This article is just a snippet of what Donut Economics has to offer. If you want to learn more about this forward-looking theory we highly recommend: About Doughnut Economics | DEAL Doughnut (economic model) Wikipedia What is Doughnut Economics? | Earth.Org Meet the doughnut: the new economic model that could help end inequality | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

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Colliers Poland THE PLACE OF YOUR FUTURE CAREER! Colliers is a global consulting company operating in the area of the commercial real estate market. It has offices in 62 countries and employs 17,000 people. It offers a full range of services to entities related to the real estate market.

In Poland, Colliers has been operating since 1997 and has offices in 7 regions of Poland, such as: Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, Tri-City, Wrocław, Katowice and Łódź. The company has been honored with many prestigious awards, including in competitions: Eurobuild, CIJ Journal, CEE Quality Awards, International Property Awards, Outsourcing Stars and Business Gazelles.

Colliers is a member of the Friendly Recruitment coalition, and in 2017 and 2019 the company was awarded the title of the Best Employer by the independent company Kincentric (formerly AON) and Investor in Human Capital in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

Colliers in Poland is also a partner of the Responsible Business Forum. In its strategy, the organization emphasizes, among others, to ESG criteria, which is why it undertakes a number of environmental, social and corporate governance initiatives.

To get to know more about the company and available positions visit their website: https://www.colliers.com/pl-pl/careers

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#ŚRODOWISKO #ENVIRONMENT

DID YOU KNOW THAT 770 MILLION PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY?

DID YOU KNOW THAT 26.4% OF THE TERRITORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IS PROTECTED AREA?

For many of us, having unlimited access to electricity seems to be the basis of most of our daily activities. However, despite this belief, as many as 770 million people in the world still remain without access to electricity.

One of the ways to reduce environmental degradation is the creation of protected areas, e.g. the Natura 2000 programme.

The aim of the European Union's Biodiversity Strategy is to protect at least 30% of its territory by 2030.

At a time when we electrify everything from cars to self-driving refrigerators, it is alarming that 77% of the African population is still without electricity.

Protected areas are important because we create them to both protect the environment and preserve the natural landscape.

What's more, the Covid-19 pandemic unfortunately neutralized the effects of transformation and modernization of SubSaharan African countries - there, the number of people without access to electricity increased by 3% compared to pre-pandemic data.

Nature is the source of our knowledge about the geography, biology and history of the Earth, therefore it is an important part of the culture of societies around the world.

Source: www.ec.europa.eu

Source: www.drawdown.org

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#ŚRODOWISKO #ENVIRONMENT

DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WATER A PERSON DRINKS PER DAY? Humans are made up of approximately 70% water. The importance of water for organisms is enormous - first of all, it is one of the basic building materials of cells. Thanks to it, they can transport and use nutrients and oxygen.

According to the nutrition standards for the Polish population, men should drink about 2.5 liters of fluids a day, and women 2 liters. You can easily find out what your water needs are - just multiply your body weight by 0.03.

It is assumed that 30 ml of water should be supplied to the body for 1 kilogram of body weight.

DID YOU KNOW THAT SEYCHELLES IS THE COUNTRY WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION IN AFRICA? Seychelles is a small island country providing the best education among African countries. It is inhabited by only 95,000 people, which is one of the reasons why it is currently at the top of the list of African countries for the quality of education systems.

Students up to the age of 18 have access to compulsory and free education, which is unique in Africa. Such a system functions thanks to huge financial outlays, which make up almost 12% of all expenses of this state.

Source: www.egscholars.com

Source: www.upacjenta.pl

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#ŚRODOWISKO #ENVIRONMENT

DID YOU KNOW THAT IF FOOD WASTE FORMED A COUNTRY, IT WOULD BE THE 3RD LARGEST EMITTER OF GREENHOUSE GASES, BEHIND CHINA AND THE USA? The amount of food lost or wasted annually would be enough to satisfy world hunger approximately four times.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, we will need to produce 60% more food to feed a world population of 9.3 billion in 2050. The impact of the food and agriculture sectors on the climate is equally serious. The contribution of food waste emissions to global warming is almost equal to that of global road transport emissions.

Reducing waste and food losses can bring numerous benefits to food security, the climate and the economy.

DID YOU KNOW THAT A MODERN GLASS BOTTLE TAKES AT LEAST 4,000 YEARS TO DECOMPOSE? Every month we throw away enough glass bottles and jars to fill a giant skyscraper.

All of these jars are recyclable.

The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can power a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. It also causes 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution than a new bottle made from raw materials.

The extraction and transport of raw materials for glass generates approximately 385 pounds of waste for every ton of glass produced. If recycled glass is replaced with half of the raw materials, waste will be reduced by more than 80%.

Source: www.fit.edu

Source: www.impact.economist.com

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#ŚRODOWISKO #ENVIRONMENT

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE NUMBER OF CRIMES AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT HAS INCREASED MORE THAN 10 TIMES? The Ministry of Justice has announced a draft amendment to the regulations on crimes against the environment. The aim of this measure is to ensure better protection of nature. The project includes increasing penalties for those who harm the environment and relieving local governments, which currently spend millions on waste disposal.

The number of crimes against the environment is increasing year by year in 2017 there were 28 of them, while in 2020 there were already 287 of them. The proposed changes include tougher penalties for illegal import of hazardous waste, and fines for littering public places, fields and forests will increase to as much as 5 fines thousand zloty.

Source: www.polsatnews.pl

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS COULD FORCE 1.2 BILLION PEOPLE TO MIGRATE BY 2050?

More than a billion people will be displaced within 30 years as the climate crisis and rapid population growth cause an increase in migration, with a "huge impact" across the globe.

According to the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), 1.2 billion people live in 31 countries that are not resilient enough to face ecological threats. Many of the most ecologically vulnerable countries, including Nigeria, Angola, Burkina Faso and Uganda, are also projected to see significant population growth, driving further mass displacement. It found that 141 countries faced at least one ecological threat by 2050, with sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa facing the highest numbers.

Pakistan was rated as the country with the highest number of people at risk of mass migration, followed by Ethiopia and Iran. In such countries, "even small ecological threats and natural disasters can cause mass displacement of people."

Source: www.theguardian.com

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oikosowe polecajki oikos finds YUSH - soy candles It is a proven companion for successful relaxation and rest. Not only are they made of real, ecological soy wax, they burn for a long time and smell wonderful.

Unlike regular paraffin wax candles made from petroleum, YUSH wax is made from soybeans grown under sustainable conditions, which reduces the harmful impact on the environment.

Farmageddon Farmageddon: The Real Cost of Cheap Meat is a book

by Philip Lymbery. It reveals many dirty secrets of the industrial farming sector. Philip Lymbery, however, is not one of those writers who leaves readers feeling helpless and hopeless. The author gives plenty of examples of how we can make positive changes and live more sustainably. After reading this book, you will be 100% motivated to fight to change the world for the better (or at least to change your diet).

Ubrania do oddania It is a fundraising platform that combines used clothing collections with support for charities. Its operation is based on: collecting clothes through an online portal, sorting them, refreshing them, and then putting them back into circulation. People who donate their clothes have the opportunity to choose the organization they want to support. In return for the delivery of clothing, "Clothes to donate" give it a donation in the form of: each 1 kg (weight of a packed carton) = PLN 1.

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oikosowe polecajki oikos finds Be Organic Cosmetics The unique series of face and body care products combines extracts from long-lived, evergreen plants adapted to life in extreme conditions. The producers of these cosmetics gave up the use of synthetic ingredients, substances of animal origin and animal testing. The production was entrusted to a certified factory. Cosmetics with a pleasant consistency and delicate fragrances are placed in biodegradable packaging to be able to enjoy without giving up caring for the environment. They are available in drugstores: Douglas, Hebe, Rossmann

Foodsi To save the food, you only need to complete 3 steps: 1. Download the app on your phone 2. Find a restaurant (the choice of cities is growing, currently you can take advantage of offers in Warsaw, Wrocław, the Tri-City and Kraków) 3. Book a package and pick it up at a specific time Thanks to this, you will save food that would otherwise end up in the bin. There are benefits for everyone: the owners of the premises will limit losses, and you will get delicious food at a low price.

TED Talk by Michael Green In his speech, Michael Green explained what we have achieved so far and what we still need to work on in terms of Sustainable Development. The UN has developed targets but has not provided tools to track their achievement. Michael Green proposes the use of the Social Progress Index which, although quite different from the 17 SDGs, measures mostly the same thing. However, states must focus on goals proportionately to strike a balance and direct action towards all the challenges of the modern world.

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Summary of initiatives in 2022/2023 10.11.2022

Semester inauguration + integration 8.12.2022

'How to debate about Sustainability?'

Workshop with SKN Badań nad Konkurencyjnością 20.12.2022

Volunteering during Christmas Eve for Seniors with Caritas Poland

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Summary of initiatives in 2022/2023 7.12.2022

Guest speech by Małgorzata Haruba during the Mazovia Development Forum 15.02.2022

Christmas Party 9.01.2023

'Copywriting: how to write articles?'

Workshop with Nowl.pl

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Summary of initiatives in 2022/2023 2.03.2023

Pub Quiz integration 9.03.2023

ESG Workshop with Colliers Poland 10.03.2023

Meeting with Ecco Youth and Green Kozminski

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Our partners

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