Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) and Bermuda College have kicked off a new season of exciting topics for their Eco Lunch & Learn Series II. The series runs on the last Thursday of each month for September, October and November 2019, resuming in February, March and April of 2020.

This second series promises to be filled with important and interesting information that will inspire and encourage ongoing discussion on Bermuda’s environmental issues.

The first lecture in the series was held in September and featured a presentation by the Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Walter H Roban, JP MP, who offered insight into Government’s environmental policies and position on sustainability as well as the PLP’s ideas, as laid out in their platform, such as renewable energy, mandatory recycling and reducing single-use plastics. The well-attended lecture saw a lively discussion following the presentation with many pleased to hear about the Government’s promise to take action through programmes introduced as early as 2020.

On Thursday, October 31st, Chris Faria will be delivering a presentation on ‘Healthy Soil, Healthy People, Healthy Community’. Chris will elaborate on a method known as Grow Biointensive. Biointensive is a method of growing as much organic food as possible in the smallest amount of space. The method was designed to provide food security for those who practice it, while continually building and developing the soil and conserving natural resources.

If you are concerned about climate change, the quality of your food and food security for our small island nation and want to do something, but are not sure what to do about these issues, we urge you come to this presentation. The lectures are FREE and no registration is required. Bring your lunch and join in a lively discussion on possible solutions.

Amy Harvey, the Earth and Environmental Science lecturer at the Bermuda College, explained, ‘Bermudians need to look to our heritage and how we were once sustainable and self-sufficient and bring those behaviors back into our day to day lives. Climate change is here and not to be ignored. With real evidence showing up literally on some of our door steps with rising sea levels, we cannot just continue on with a “Business as Usual” approach. It is time to take action on both an individual basis and as a country. A natural reaction is to feel helpless in the face of something so daunting but there is hope when there is action.’

Kim Smith, Executive Director of BEST added, ‘BEST and Bermuda College want to highlight those people in our community who can provide important information relevant to issues of the present day. Chris Faria is offering us an opportunity to come together for this October Lunch & Learn to hear more about the ‘Grow BioIntensive’ method for growing our own food and at the end of his presentation, he will also be happy to answer your questions.’

BEST and Bermuda College are committed to providing a forum for learning; with knowledge comes empowerment. In each of the presentations we invite the community to learn more about global and local issues while discussing individual and collective solution-based actions that can be taken.

The October 31st lecture will be held at Bermuda College, Room H100 in Hallett Hall, from

1:00pm to 2:00pm. All are welcome!

For more information, please visit www.best.org.bm/events

• Press release from BEST