In many Swiss universities and universities called the sustainability weeks are held currently. The organizers set a goal to raise awareness of environmental issues. Also at the Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) in Chur, discussions and Workshops took place at the beginning of March, specifically to sustainable travel.
In this debate, not least fuelled by the climate strikes, bursts, Professor Thorsten Merkle, tourism Director of studies at the HTW Chur: He commute several times a week from Visp to Chur, and sometimes by airplane, as he writes on the Instagram Account of the HTW. Is illustrated the Post with a view from the Cockpit.
look at comes to you in this post on Instagram
How is your work/teaching? By train, car or by plane, as our study leader????? HTW Chur tourism, study Director Thorsten Merkle lives in the Canton of Valais and commutes several times a week between home and the workplace across Switzerland. All of the tourism experts he makes in good weather, sometimes by plane, last week, to the beginning of spring.????? . Thorsten Merkle: ?Of course you can the sustainability of the occasional arrival and departure to work with the aircraft in question, this should be even. Commuting is per se not sustainable. Sustainability, as students of the HTW Chur don’t know three dimensions: environmental, economic, and social – it goes only to the Ecology. The ecological consequences of the (Hobby) flying, I’m compensated by the fact that I don’t own a car. On a social level, the advantages are obvious. And operate a 50-year-old classic car (thanks to the flight group in the upper Valais) creates jobs in the Region.? @Valais Wallis @graubuenden @kantongr #commute #study Director #tourism #plane #Switzerland #chur #Valais #study #htwchur
the Prompt, it rained criticism. “At a University of applied Sciences, to the Social-Media-modules are taught, is such a Post in times of climate change and climate demos very unfavorable.” Another user writes ironically: “in the spirit of the gross written sustainability of the HTW goals.”
It had not yet succeeded fully, to increase the awareness of, and HTW Chur for the topic of sustainability, after doubling the organizer of the local sustainability week. This behavior can be justified in terms of sustainability. “Mr. Merkle will receive a personal invitation for the next sustainability week – along with a complimentary train ticket.”
As the leader of the study tourism
compared To the “20 minutes” is justified Thorsten Merkle makes it clear: “The idea for the Instagram Post I had a person as a private. Since I am a hobby pilot, it was obvious, to make a Story.” Since he did not represent on the way to work, the University of animals, undermined the role model function. Sustainability is important to him, he says. “I barely eat meat, don’t own a car and travel mostly by train.” In addition, his flights were limited to about a dozen in the year, because the conditions would have to vote.
It was aware of the fact that you can see, Commuting by plane is critical, says Merkle. “But Commuting is per se not sustainable,” he writes, in the Instagram Post. This, he explained, one should consider not only the ecological level. So his commute was by airplane, but also to economic effects, because of the 50-year-old classic car-creating jobs in the Region. In addition, one should not forget that the fly was emotions, transport and tourism an integral part. “I welcome it, that a discussion on the sustainability of the flying – Post, I would not do so again.”
HTW does not see fundamental improvement
On request, the HTW explains Chur, it is their stand to judge the recreational activities, including the commute to work one of their relatives. “With its Strategic Initiative on Sustainable development of the HTW shall strive to Chur, and also their family members – be it students, employees or teaching – to raise awareness of the issue. “As in society as a Whole, there is also at the HTW Chur in this respect, potential for improvement,” says spokeswoman Flurina Simeon.
Taken from “20 minutes”, edited by editorial Board of Tamedia. (TA)
Created: 29.03.2019, 10:13 PM