Last week in Stockholm we found out that the winter is coming in several ways. Many stakeholders gathered to Stockholm to attend to the seventh Strategy Forum of the EUSBSR (EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region). We were there too; after all, we are one of the Flagship projects that EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region has. Keep the Sweden Tidy had their own stand where BLASTIC was represented and I was there for the both days.
The two days were interesting for various reasons. First of all, BLASTIC had its own Litter game! How cool is that. Do you remember the old childhood game Labyrinth, where you have to steer the marble through the board by marked route, but you have to avoid the holes on the way? Well, the Litter game has the same idea and you have to steer “the litter” to the bin and avoid different “sources” for littering. The best thing is that you have to cooperate with someone; it is a game for two. Stefan Löfven, Prime Minister of Sweden and Juha Sipilä, Prime Minister of Finland played it and manage to put the litter in the bin. Hooray for cooperation! 🙂
The two days focused on the future of the Baltic Sea, the Vision 2030. The discussion on environment focused on climate change and pollution of the sea and marine litter was discussed both in seminars as our stand.
Of course, the news that reached from US raised questions about the future of the environment. The result of election was surprise for many participant of the forum. During the second day’s afternoon many said that now we have to work harder and more determined for cleaner future. Cooperation is still the key to success in our work and in achieving our goals.
The second day was also historical. Stockholm had it first snow and not just a delicate “veil” of it. In one day Stockholm was covered by 39 cm of snow! It was Stockholm’s snowiest November day in 111 years. Nevertheless, I have to say, even if the traffic was jammed and flights were cancelled the snowy city was a beautiful sight. It also reminded that even how much there is pouring something from the sky (anti-environmental presidents, too much snow, new challenges in our work) you just have to go forward step by step.
With snowy greetings,
Jenny