Stockholm University, a Police Museum, and Sustainable Communities

Tuesday, July 17:

             Today was an extremely busy but good day. We were involved in a lot of interesting activities that helped us learn more about the ways Sweden is practicing sustainability.

    After our breakfast at the hotel we took a trip on the subway to Stockholm University. There our plan was to interview some students and workers on campus to find out ways they are staying eco-friendly. While many of them were on holiday, we still were able to split up and explore the grounds and visit the library, plus a few other areas on campus. When we had finished researching, we met up with the others and discussed our findings. They were all very intriguing: for example, we discovered they have a great recycling program. Students are encouraged to recycle their paper, light bulbs, batteries, etc., and other pieces of trash that would normally go by the curbside. They also have multiple bike racks available to encourage riding a bike to school. The campus is pedestrian friendly, which promotes a sustainable commute to class. Many of the workers leave the grass as it is, helping it grow better and saving money by not using excess resources. It was really fascinating how every department on campus made sure to make a difference in the community whether seen or unseen. It would be exciting if TCU could also take on many of these qualities.

    When we finished discussing things, we made a quick stop at the gift shop and went down to a nearby community garden. Citizens in the area are allowed to rent a plot of land to take care of in order to raise their own flowers, fruit, and vegetables. It was a beautiful site and really reminded me of how much fun being environmentally friendly can be! There were so many colors and smells that were alluring to my senses.

    After wrapping up our time at the community gardens we headed to a market square downtown to look at the many items being sold: pastries, coffee, meats, quiches, etc. They all looked so delicious! We tried not to eat too much so we would be hungry for lunch. We ventured upstairs for a vegetarian buffet at an oriental restaurant. It was very good. I tried some new foods I had never tasted before! It was all extremely interesting.
    Finishing up lunch, we traveled by bus to visit a police museum for the criminal justice students. We learned so much about the Swedish police department and many of the laws and policies that people are governed by. The tour guide, a soon-to-be fulltime police officer answered many of our questions such as “What are your crime rates? Are women discriminated against in the police force? Is marijuana illegal in Sweden?” and so on. We observed captivating things such as a fake crime scene, different police outfits worn by men and women over the past centuries, and were told of the history of several past cases, solved and unsolved. I think everyone really enjoyed the time there.

 

    Next on our list was to visit a sustainable city nearby called Sjostad. Many residents that live here are young and wealthy. They live in one of the area’s most eco-friendly areas. We were given an assignment to discover ways in which these people were making healthy choices for future generations. A few for example would be the requirement in the city to recycle and sort all trash. Solar panels are used for energy on many of the houses. Lights in some rooms only come on when a person enters, and they shut off if enough sunlight is in the room. Many of the cars are eco-friendly; water is filtered to be pure and drinkable for the citizens. Laundry is air-dried, and bins are provided on the side of the road for residents to donate old clothes. Even the restaurants in the area are doing their best to be sustainable and conserve resources. If a small city like this can make such a positive impact, why can we not back home? We ended the day with dinner at a nearby restaurant. The food was terrific; I had char, a fish that is quite popular to eat in Sweden. It tasted similar to salmon. I ate every last bit and enjoyed chatting with my friends at the table. Even one of the woman police officers we met at the museum came and ate with us! We had a great time.

            It was a great day to be encouraged and realize that it is possible to make a difference! I want to be sustainable just like the campus and the small community I visited. Sometimes habits are hard to break, but if I am consciously making decisions and being active in my endeavors, I know there is hope for the future.