THE SDGS TOUCH US ALL, EVERY DAY - SCHIERMONNIKOOG

On Wednesday 25 September, International SDG Day, the municipality of Schiermonnikoog organised an extensive information and goods market for residents, guests and 75 international students of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen. At this market, which took place on the field in front of the town hall, in the middle of the village centre, a large number of associations, institutions and companies were present that are active on Schiermonnikoog and contribute consciously or subconsciously to the SDGs. Every day our actions – or our inaction - have an effect on the objectives of the various SDGs. To make this visible to everyone, the municipality of Schiermonnikoog has had a large number of SDG cubes made. These cubes were placed clearly visible near the participants. In this way, it became clear at a glance which goals the different participants represent.

Prior to the market, we - the municipality of Schiermonnikoog in collaboration with the Working Group Fairtrade Schiermonnikoog - held talks with the various parties we had defined. This varied from a clothes shop and a chemist, to the Amnesty International Schiermonnikoog working group and the manager of the island "giveaway corner" on Facebook. In this way, we spoke to islanders in a diverse range of situations and made them aware of their activities in the light of the SDGs. We also made international students at Hanze University aware of the existence of the SDGs and their impact on our community. At the market, the students, from 25 different countries, spent the afternoon talking to islanders and guests about sustainability, the activities of the various
organisations and sustainability in the broadest sense of the word.

To illustrate the SDGs in practical examples, the municipality of Schiermonnikoog also presented a scheme on 25 September for the purchase of rain barrels and compost bins at a discount. In this way, every resident and guest can make their own contribution to the various SDGs. To keep the SDGs permanently visible, samples of the barrels with the corresponding Global Goals cubes were placed in the lobby of the town hall.
In preparation for the market, a presentation was also made to the secondary school on the island containing - for the Economics and Cultural Social Education lessons - an explanation of the international SDGs and the effects this has on teenagers/adolescents. This includes the SDGs as part of the new economy, in which profit maximisation is put up for discussion. Prior to the presentation, a discussion about this took place with the director of the school.

The information market was a tremendous success, according to both visitors and participants.

The aim of the municipality of Schiermonnikoog and the Fairtrade Schiermonnikoog working group in organising this market was to create awareness among associations, companies and individuals. By addressing them at the heart of their (business) activities, they feel responsible, involved and motivated. Many islanders are barely aware of their contribution to achieving the SDGs. In collaboration with the Fairtrade Schiermonnikoog working group, we are busy organising various activities around the SDGs.

The following SDGs were put in the spotlight by the information market on 25 September 2019:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17.

The various organisations that took part:

• Lokale Pluktuin, local food production
• Fairtrade Schiermonnikoog working group
• Waterzooi and Schone Zee - Doe je mee?
• Energy Co-operative De Sintrale
• Working group on biodiversity and circular agriculture Schiermonnikoog
• Amnesty International Schiermonnikoog working group 
• The Care and Welfare Department of the municipality of Schiermonnikoog
• Individuals with handmade products of organic origin or up-cycling
• Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Education and Research
• Municipality of Schiermonnikoog

Of course, this does not mean that there are no developments within SDG 6, 9 and 11.
The start of the market was the hoisting of the flag by the sustainability portfolio holder and Mayor, Ineke van Gent. Since then, the flag has been flown every day in front of the town hall.

https://www.schiermonnikoog.nl/in-de-gemeente/nieuws_42819/item/global-goals-week_55214.html