- First conference on ecological transition in the face of the climate emergency from the perspective of social justice at MUMA.
- New version of Biosfira 2.0 in Alquenència Park over the weekend.
- Celebration of the 11th Cultivated Biodiversity Fair.
Alzira en Verd is a series of activities that aim to raise awareness of the attitudes and actions taken by the municipality and the people of Alzira towards sustainability and the necessary ecological transition. From 16 to 22 September, more than 50 activities will take place, including talks, workshops, round tables, music, exhibitions and a farmers’ market at various locations throughout the city.
The activities of Alzira en Verd are basically divided into two blocks: on the one hand, the first edition of the Fair Ecological Transition Conference, which will be held at MUMA from 16 to 19 September, and on the other hand, Biosfira 2.0 in Alquenència Park over the weekend, which also includes the 11th Cultivated Biodiversity Fair.
Fair Ecological Transition Conference
We begin with the celebration of the first Fair Ecological Transition Conference, which will be held at MUMA from 16 to 19 September with experts and the general public. The 1st Conference on Fair Ecological Transition will address current issues, both informative and technical in nature, with the aim of touching on aspects that affect our daily activities and can serve as a reference for improving models of activity in the home, in businesses and industries, and in the basic services provided by public administrations. To this end, scientists and educators from universities, government technicians and ordinary people who are concerned about and propose solutions to the problems of the 21st century have been involved. Topics such as water, mobility, energy production and use, and climate risks will be discussed.
Toni Barea, second vice-president of the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta, was present at the press conference, together with the mayor of Alzira, Alfons Domínguez, and other institutional representatives and organisers, to announce the programme in which the Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta and the Consorci de la Ribera have addressed poverty, the migration crisis and social marginalisation.
BIOSFIRA 2.0
On the other hand, Biosfira 2.0, which opens on Friday at the Casa de la Cultura and will take place on Saturday and Sunday in the Alquenència park, recovers the playful and encouraging nature of the initial proposal from seven years ago, which has not been held for five years. It focuses on disseminating values and actions for changing habits towards ecological transition. The mayor of Alzira, Alfons Domínguez, explains that this 2.0 version ‘is not intended as a commercial exhibition, it goes further, it seeks to shed light on a new model, with collaborative change thinking globally and acting locally’. There will be environmental, social and other activities carried out by AFA from some schools, NGOs and associations or professionals, with the collaboration of various municipal departments. It will have five main areas: Biodiversity, Biosphere, Main Stage, Exhibitors and Alma for workshops on various alternative disciplines such as yoga. The Cultivated Biodiversity Fair, now in its 11th edition, will also be integrated into the Biosphere for the first time. This is a travelling fair organised by the Llavors d’ací association, which this year comes to Alzira, coinciding with Biosfira. It offers many activities for children and adults, highlighting our agricultural resources and the Valencian countryside itself. Videos, explanations, workshops… Pep Roselló, representative of Llavors d’ací, organisers of the Biodiversity Fair, states that ‘at this point, many seeds are being lost and are disappearing. These traditional seeds are a collective heritage that should not be lost, because they also help to design more sustainable models and, in addition to seed exchange, it is also important to consume these native products’.
That is why on Sunday there will be a seed and genetic material exchange workshop at this fair, along with the farmers’ market, set up with the presence of different farmers, livestock breeders and food artisans from all over the Valencian region.
The Alquenència park will also host several musical performances, such as those by the duo Aigua, Lulú y los tigretones and SA for Dixieland.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The activities will be rounded off with the descent of the Xúquer on Saturday morning (from Alzira to Algemesí), organised by the Consorci de la Ribera, the Mancomunitat and the Ajuntament d’Alzira, four walking routes through Alzira on Saturday and Sunday mornings in La Muntanyeta and along the green belt, organised and sponsored by the Alzira Business Association and led and dramatised by Interpreta Natura, and a bike ride along the green belt on Sunday morning, taking advantage of the fact that it is European Sustainable Mobility Week.
Several bars and restaurants have also joined the initiative and will be incorporating local, organic produce into their menus this weekend. There will be a range of gastronomic offerings, including zero-kilometre lunch and dinner menus around the fair, as well as food at the fair itself, courtesy of the Llavors d’ací association.
The mayor of Alzira, Alfons Domínguez, explains that ‘Alzira en Verd wants to be a social and economic catalyst, from the perspective of the ecological transition we are facing in this century. Alzira is a dynamic and entrepreneurial city, with a diverse social fabric that is highly involved on a social and environmental level, which can take advantage of this necessary transition. The joint idea comes from the Department of the Environment and the Mayor’s Office, but it aims to involve all areas of the City Council and Alzira society, because sustainability and ecological transition must involve us all: education, culture, economic promotion, heritage, urban planning, public works, agriculture, waste, social services, festivals, animal welfare, health… all areas can and must have a say in the green transition. This is the first edition, so it is not pretentious, and we hope to implement and improve the proposal in subsequent years’.
From 16 to 21 September, conferences on fair ecological transition
To attend the conferences, you must register using the QR code attached to the poster or at the following link:
Topics related to sustainability and the environment will be discussed, including strategies to reduce pollution, fire prevention and how to promote sustainable practices in different sectors through environmental education, among others.
All the conferences will be attended by professionals specialising in the topics.
These conferences are part of the ‘Alzira en verd’ programme (16-22 September).
