12 July 2005
More than five hundred students, activists, academics and representatives of environment and Indigenous groups will camp at the Monash University Clayton campus this week while they participate in the annual Students of Sustainability (SoS) conference.
Monash Student Association environment officer Ms Melanie Szydzik said SoS aims to create the changes participants wish to see in the world, even if just for one week.
"The conference is designed to foster a sense of community in the student environment movement," Ms Szydzik said.
"The vision is to bring together a diverse group of people and encourage discussion and action aimed at creating ecological, political, economic and social sustainability in the world.
"During the conference we camp together, cook together, live together and learn together.
"There will be sessions focusing on how to overcome homophobia, sexism and racism in the environment movement."
Forums, workshops and activities will be held throughout the week, including a 'Home energy action' workshop, which will provide practical solutions for reducing greenhouse emissions and lowering energy bills, and workshops and forums that will allow participants to network and plan short- and long-term objectives to protect Australian forests.
The inaugural SoS conference was held in Canberra in 1991 under the name 'Students, Science and Sustainability' and is now the largest student-run environment-based conference in Australia.
What: Students of Sustainability conference
Where: Monash University , Clayton campus
When: Tuesday 12 July - Friday 15 July
Program: http://sos2005.greenash.net.au/ program
For further information contact Melanie Szydzik, Monash Student Association on 03 9905 5710 or Ms Natasha Whalley, Media Communications on 03 9905 9201 or 0437 458 457.
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