NGO Forum, 29 February at the ULB

It was quite cold in Brussels on 29 February 2012. But that was no deterrent for the numerous NGOs, initiatives and associations, among them Mundus maris, to set up shop. The water crisis and food security challenges, climate change, social injustice, fair trade and access to knowledge and decent living conditions were at the centre of many stands and activities that day in response to this year's thematic orientation of Campus Plein Sud.

Mundus maris obviously focused on the connection between the resources crisis and the increasing vulnerability of many coastal communities directly depending on healthy and productive seas, but formost on what could be done to rebuild healthy marine ecosystems and to open up opportunities for young people through education focused on sustainable production and consumption.

The organisers of Campus Plein Sud 2012 at the Free University in Brussels (ULB) had opted this time for outdoor stands to attract more students and staff to the offer for information and discussion. From 10 to 16h30 o'clock Avenue Paul Heger on the Solbosch Campus of the ULB was transformed into a street happening with engaged discussions, hot tea and lots of leaflets changing hands.

Sharing a tent with an initiative promoting vaccination of livestock in Africa to support cattle herder in their daily struggle, the Mundus maris stand became a meeting point for interviews on the fisheries crisis and for exploring with an association of teachers how to develop stronger mechanisms to support fellow teachers in West Africa in their efforts to introduce more environment education.
Sandwiches from the organisers and hot tea allowed the three participants from Mundus maris, Christiane Daem, Cornelia E Nauen and volunteer Cleo Kun Zhang, to brave the cold more readily, together with many others from the NGO community.