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VUB and city movement BRAL organize first Etats Généraux for clean Brussels’ air

VUB and city movement BRAL organize first Etats Généraux for clean Brussels’ air

April 25,26 and 27 in GC Pianofabriek in Saint-Gilles

Friday, April 19, 2019 — Air quality is a hot topic. All over the world, there is growing awareness that air pollution causes, amongst others, a range of respiratory diseases. Many citizen groups therefore stand up and demand action for cleaner air. To draw attention to the problem of air pollution in Brussels and build a vision for a healthier city, the VUB research group Cosmopolis and BRAL and a large network of universities and civil society are organizing the very first Etats Généraux for better and cleaner air in Brussels

The Etats Généraux lasts three days and includes a scientific symposium (April 25 and 26), a hackaton (April 26 and 27) and the citizens’ activities under the label of “#BXLDemandsClearAir” (April 25, 26 and 27) where residents can present and discover ideas and initiatives for cleaner air in the city. The Etats Généraux ends that day with a political debate in which a number of leading Brussels’ politicians such as Pascal Smet (sp.a), Sven Gatz (Open VLD), Elke Van den Brandt (Groen), Jan Busselen (pvda), Joris Pochet (CD&V), Céline Fremault (cdH), Viviane Teitelbaum (MR), Alain Maron (Ecolo),  Martin Casier (PS) en Marc Loewenstein (Défi) will participate.

"The international symposium, the hackathon and the citizens' day attract different groups, which results in a variety of discourses. The purpose of bringing them together is to set up fruitful interactions", says Nicola da Schio, researcher in urban ecology at the VUB, academic coordinator of the AirCasting Brussels Project.

You are kindly invited to the Etats Généraux on April 25, 26 or 27 in GC Pianofabriek in Sint-Gillis (Fortstraat 35, 1050 Saint-Gillis). You can speak with Nicola da Schio (VUB), Maya Maes (BRAL), and participating citizens and academics. Would you like to visit us? Please notify Lies Feron, press relations VUB ([email protected] or 02/629 11 38).

Highlights for the media:

Friday 26.4

  • 8:00 to 9:00 Filter Café Filtré at Parvis de Saint Gilles
  • 18:00 Children biking parade (Kiddical Mass). From Porte de Namur to Pianofabriek – festive interaction between experts, activists, practitioners…

Saturday 27.4

  • 17:00 to 18:00 Administration talks (Bruxelles Environnement; Bruxelles Mobilité; Innoviris)
  • 18:00 to 20:00 Political Debate (Confirmed politicians: Pascal Smet (sp.a); Céline Fremault (cdH); Viviane Teitelbaum (MR) ; Elke Van den Brandt (Groen); Alain Maron (Ecolo); Martin Casier (PS); Joris Pochet ( CD&V); Jan Busselen (PVDA)

Full Program: http://www.brusselsair.org/inex/programme/

Contact VUB:
Nicola da Schio
VUB
[email protected]

The Etats Généraux is an initiative of BRAL, city movement for Brussels, and Cosmopolis Centre of Urban Research of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and is supported by a large academic and civic network.

 

Contact us
Lies Feron Press Relations
Nicola da Schio
Lies Feron Press Relations
Nicola da Schio
About Press - Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Vrije Universiteit Brussel is an internationally oriented university in Brussels, the heart of Europe. By providing excellent research and education on a human scale, VUB wants to make an active and committed contribution to a better society.

The World Needs You

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel assumes its scientific and social responsibility with love and decisiveness. That’s why VUB launched the platform De Wereld Heeft Je Nodig – The World Needs You, which brings together ideas, actions and projects based on six Ps. The first P stands for People, because that’s what it’s all about: giving people equal opportunities, prosperity, welfare, respect. Peace is about fighting injustice, big and small, in the world. Prosperity combats poverty and inequality. Planet stands for actions on biodiversity, climate, air quality, animal rights... With Partnership, VUB is looking for joint actions to make the world a better place. The sixth and last P is for Poincaré, the French philosopher Henri Poincaré, from whom VUB derives its motto that thinking should submit to nothing except the facts themselves. VUB is an ‘urban engaged university’, strongly anchored in Brussels and Europe and working according to the principles of free research.

www.vub.be/dewereldheeftjenodig

 


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