'Language Genius' Tyler Rasch's Special Lecture: "Climate Crisis, A Crisis in My Life..."

[Seoul District News] Broadcaster Tyler Rasch to Hold Environmental Lecture on "Climate Crisis, Crisis in My Life, Crisis for My People" on April 19 at 1 PM in Nowon-gu Office 2nd Floor Auditorium... Gangdong-gu Children's Autonomy Center Kkumiso 11th Branch Opens... Songpa-gu 'Community Childcare Sharing Center 2nd Branch' Opens... 'Gangseo Safety Education Center Groundbreaking Ceremony' Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will hold a free environmental special lecture featuring broadcaster Tyler Rasch as the instructor in celebration of Earth Day and Science Day week.

The lecture, hosted by the Nowon Environmental Foundation, will take place on the 19th at 1 PM in the large auditorium on the 2nd floor of Nowon-gu Office.

Broadcaster Tyler Rasch, known as a representative ‘language genius’ and ‘brainy man’ in the broadcasting industry, has been active as an ambassador for WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) since 2016, consistently raising awareness about the seriousness of environmental issues.

In his book No Second Earth, Tyler confronts the climate crisis of modern society, arguing that we must abandon the thoughts of ‘it won’t be solved just because I do something’ and ‘someone else will solve it,’ and that in the face of the imminent extinction of all, we must do what we need to do now.

Under the title ‘Climate Crisis, Crisis of My Life, Crisis of My People,’ this lecture will explore the current reality and severity of the climate crisis, emphasizing that it is a crisis for us now, not just for the next generation, and will provide time to contemplate and share perspectives on changes and actions needed to overcome it.

On the day of the lecture, the Seoul Science Museum will operate an exhibition and experience booth under the theme ‘Living Together on Earth - Anthropocene,’ adding further significance.

The ‘Anthropocene’ refers to a new geological epoch created by humanity’s alteration of the Earth’s climate and ecosystems. The term was first proposed in 2000 by Paul Jozef Crutzen, a Dutch chemist and Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry, and it reflects on humanity’s impact that has rapidly changed the Earth’s environmental system.

Through the exhibition and experience accompanying the lecture, participants will have the opportunity to understand what the Anthropocene is and learn about environmental problems accelerated by the climate crisis. Additionally, there will be activities such as voting on what fossil will represent the Anthropocene and pledging our own actions.

Residents wishing to participate can make a reservation in advance by accessing the QR code or through the notice section on the Nowon Environmental Foundation website. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for up to 250 people.

The district plans to broadcast the lecture live on YouTube for residents who cannot attend in person but wish to listen.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “As interest in the climate crisis, including carbon emissions, is gradually increasing, we prepared this special lecture to have time to think together about environmental issues,” and added, “We ask for the active interest and participation of the residents.”

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) announced on the 11th that it opened the 11th branch of the intergenerational shared space Children’s Autonomy Center ‘Kkum Miso’ at the Amsa 2-dong Second Senior Love Room.

‘Kkum Miso’ is a name given with the hope that children gain ‘dreams’ and ‘smiles.’ During the day, it is used as a senior center, and from 4 PM to 10 PM after seniors return home, it is reborn as a space for children and youth’s autonomous activities and care. It is an open space free for use by children and youth under 18 years old, excluding infants and toddlers.

Previously, the district started with the Gil-dong public Giriul Senior Center in 2017 and opened up to the 10th branch in January this year at the Dunchon 2-dong Senior Love Room.

The 11th branch of Kkum Miso utilizes idle space in the senior love room remodeled in 2020, reducing installation costs and promoting public facility efficiency. It is equipped with books and board games preferred by children to freely enjoy cultural life, and plans to conduct special programs such as cooking and crafts once or twice a week, as well as outdoor sports like badminton, taking advantage of its location near Gwangnaru Park.

For a safe care environment for children and youth, a guide teacher will be stationed to provide supervision. Additionally, the Kkum Miso Autonomy Committee, called ‘Kkumjaengi,’ will be formed to support children and youth in planning programs themselves, aiming to create a hopeful space co-created by children and youth.

The district plans to open the 12th branch by the end of April, expanding the Children’s Autonomy Center Kkum Miso to a total of 12 locations following Sangil and Dunchon areas.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “By opening Kkum Miso in the idle space of the Senior Love Room, I hope it becomes a space where the 1st and 3rd generations harmonize and children and youth in the community can freely engage in activities,” and added, “The district will continue to do its best to prepare policies that help children and youth grow up healthily.”

Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) opened the 2nd branch of the ‘Community Childcare Sharing Center’ on the 8th to complement family care functions and build a child-friendly environment.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “Since the start of the 7th local government, we have been considering ways to share childcare burdens with the community to create a ‘city good for raising children,’ focusing on care blind spots,” and added, “Due to high resident satisfaction with the Community Childcare Sharing Center established upon my inauguration, we opened the 2nd branch.”

The ‘Community Childcare Sharing Center’ is an open space that reduces parents’ childcare burdens and provides opportunities for neighbors to exchange childcare information. The 1st branch was established on July 23, 2018, in Pungnap 2-dong (Toseong-ro 19-gil 37, 2nd floor).

The 2nd branch opened on the 8th on the 3rd floor of the Jamsilbon-dong Complex Application Building (Baekjegobun-ro 145). It covers 106.33㎡ (32.2 pyeong) and consists of a free playroom, infant experience space, office, and nursing room, designed as a space for parents and children to participate together.

Songpa-gu’s Community Childcare Sharing Center is available to children under 18 and their parents. It operates various programs for care and also runs a parent self-help group called ‘Family Pumasi.’ For inquiries, contact the Women and Childcare Division of Songpa-gu Office.

Mayor Park Seong-su said, “We will continue to foster a community atmosphere where childcare responsibilities are shared through the Community Childcare Sharing Center, successfully resolve care blind spots, and take the lead in overcoming low birth rates.”

Additionally, the district is implementing various child care projects as part of the 7th local government’s pledges. Representative examples include the 24-hour child safety care service and the ‘Night Emergency Care Service,’ which started in April 2019 as the first in Seoul’s autonomous districts. Furthermore, the number of after-school care facilities, Songpa Kiwoom Centers, has expanded from zero to 16, and public daycare centers have increased from 44 to 109, focusing on alleviating childcare burdens.

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Noh Hyun-song) has taken concrete steps to build the ‘Gangseo Safety Education Center (tentative name).’

The district announced that on April 13 at 3 PM, it will hold the ‘Gangseo Safety Education Center Groundbreaking Ceremony’ at the construction site (739 Naebalsan-dong, Gangseo-gu, inside Balsan Neighborhood Park).

Starting with the groundbreaking ceremony, the district aims to actively promote the construction of the ‘Gangseo Safety Education Center,’ an experiential safety education facility where people can directly experience and learn how to respond to various disasters and dangerous situations.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be attended by Mayor Noh Hyun-song of Gangseo-gu, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent, members of the National Assembly, city and district council members, and local resident representatives such as the chairman of the Balsan 1-dong Residents’ Autonomy Committee and the president of the Magok M Valley 14 Complex Residents’ Representative Council.

The event will proceed with an opening declaration, progress report, groundbreaking, and commemorative photo session. Notably, the ceremony will introduce the progress of the project so far and the approximate appearance of the Gangseo Safety Education Center to be built.

This groundbreaking ceremony is expected to be especially meaningful as it officially announces the construction of the safety education center, the first in the nation to be promoted by a basic local government. However, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community, the number of participants on-site will be limited, and strict quarantine rules will be followed.

Mayor Noh Hyun-song said, “With the goal of completion in May and active pursuit of international safety city certification, once the Gangseo Safety Education Center is completed, Gangseo-gu will become a representative safety city in the southwest area of Seoul,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure the smooth construction of the safety education center and create a safe environment city where all residents can live comfortably.”

The Gangseo Safety Education Center project was selected in 2017 through a Ministry of Education public contest and is being promoted with participation from Seoul City and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.

The district plans to invest a total of 23 billion KRW, aiming for completion in 2024. The facility will be three stories above ground with a total floor area of 3,825㎡ and will include 12 safety experience facilities covering earthquakes, fires, traffic, and more, as well as a civil defense education hall.