We wanted to “Embrace the Sea” and landed on “Ecotopia”

With yesterday’s 10^th workshop, the cycle “Embrace the Sea on Wednesday”, as a part of the Coast Day celebration, was closed. The workshops were held at the public library of Split, on Wednesdays, under the guidance of philosophy professors, and with a number of guests, professors of geography, marine biology, spatial planning as well as the PAP/RAC coastal manager. Children aged between 10 -14 years were encouraged to reflect on sustainability, on the importance of the sea and of the coast, as well as on the need for its protection. They decided to imagine the ideal country, named it “Ecotopia”, and throughout the workshops they were discussing different dimensions of human life in this ideal country. It is interesting to mention that children were in favour of very severe laws, of a local food production and of good conditions of life for humans and for all other living beings in our imaginary land. Finally, children discussed the UN sustainable development goals, as a tool to organize life in Ecotopia, and agreed that with the goal 17. “Partnerships for the goals”, we could change everything. Humans are source of most problems, but they can also solve them. Based on the experience from these workshops, we should take into account children's opinion when deciding on environmental problems.