1 Minute for whole life

To cite this article  use:  Londoño, S., Berrio, S., Cajavilca, R., Obregón, M., Parra, G. 1 Minute for whole life. J. Nano Sc. Tech, 4(2016)68-70.

To produce a positive change in the planet

Sara Londoño

Sara Berrio  

Rosa Cajavilca

María Teresa Obregón

Guillermo Alfonso Parra

Centro Ático – Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá,

Centro Ático of Pontificia Javeriana University, defined as a platform for creation, innovation and communication supported by technology is the ideal place for carrying cultural expressions from different formats into storytelling capable of making an impact in society. The initiative called “1 minute for whole life” is a proof of this, presenting itself as a communication project conceived as the result of the commitment and responsibility of Centro Atico for triggering water care consciousness in society.

Introduction

The universe shows us how the biggest, and most important elements of the creation, find their building blocks in the smallest particles we could find. It also shows us how the biggest issues and the most difficult challenges find their solution in the simplest, but not necessarily  less fascinating, proposals.

The care and sustainable use of water as a constituent element of life has been a global practice since the presence of ancient cultures all over the planet. There is no life without water. With more than 7 billion people living on the planet, the need and dependence for the valued liquid is growing. It is used, directly, for human consumption, but it is also vital for farming, animal breeding and industrial production. At the same time, contamination and waste of water is sadly increasing too. Research made by Hoekstra and Mekonnen in which the water footprint in humankind is conceptualized, serves as an evidence of the impact of water consumption by human activity and shows the importance of considering it along with water production and supply systems as a whole unit [1].

Nanotechnology has a very important role in the global water crisis, which establishes itself as probably the biggest challenge of the century for humankind. Ancient civilizations showed respect and care for water. Perhaps the adoption of these habits by the current civilization could be achieved with the help of cultural expressions such as music, art and digital/media communications strategies.  Then produce a positive change in the planet. This is the hypotheses we work in this project.

The Water Culture at Arts & Communication Digital Era

Centro Ático of Pontificia Javeriana University, defined as a platform for creation, innovation and communication supported by technology is the ideal place for carrying cultural expressions from different formats into storytelling capable of making an impact in society. The initiative called “1 minute for whole life” is a proof of this, presenting itself as a communication project conceived as the result of the commitment and responsibility of Centro Atico for triggering water care consciousness in society.  The purpose of this project is formative and educational, and looks for making communities aware about certain conservation habits seeking respect and care for environment and thus, with water.

The communication strategy of this project is focused in the design of a website, creating an information flow from social media and the participation in multiple events related to environmental preservation.

This campaign aims to encourage students and teachers on campus, and from other universities, to save 1 minute of water consumption in order to make a difference and change the future awaiting for us, mostly related to water scarcity.

The website designed for this initiative contains an element called “Our common home” inspired in Laudato Si Encyclical Letter [2]. Each space of this home shows an audiovisual highlighting topic related to daily water consumption per person, ways to reduce it and save it; and inviting to think about and propose simple actions to motivate new website visitors to save one minute of water.

The essence of this project relies on experience, which means that all kind of audiences will be able to interact with technology in order to change their surroundings, fostering in a ludic and pedagogic way, new experiences that can generate lifestyle’s transformations.

Moreover, professional staff members from Centro Atico [3] wrote a song called “Solo es un minuto”. The purpose of this song is that everybody interested in this idea can share it and use it as a time measuring reference while taking a shower, which cannot take more than 5 minutes; thus, saving water.

The project has successfully joint several areas and departments of the University, attracted government attention, and been able to linked other universities around the country and overseas.

In the current year, it has been formed several key alliances, allowing a bigger impact and effect on communities, making a call for environmental responsibility that each one of us, as an inhabitant of planet Earth, must hold.

The purpose of this call is to take conscience of our daily actions and avoid being indifferent while facing the consequences of wasting water. Everybody can join this project and help by saving one minute of water, sharing the song, or by simply teaching others how to change the world.

Acknowledgements

To all the Atico Center team who has contributed in this project, believing, creating, and doing, even in their free time and holydays, specially:

Sara Londoño, Project Leader

Rosa Cajavilca, Design Leader

Sara Berrío, Production Leader

Maria Teresa Obregón, Communications Leader

Guillermo Alfonso Parra, Centro Ático Director

Contact us comunicacionesatico@javeriana.edu.co

References

[1] Hoekstra, A. Y., & Mesfin M. Mekonnen. The water footprint of humanity.  Proceedings of National Academy of Science, 109(9), 3223-3237 (2012).

[2] Francis, H. F.  (2016)Retrieved from http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

[3]Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. (2016). Centro Atico. Retrieved from http://www.javeriana.edu.co/vicerrectoria-academica/atico

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