By: Jack S. `17

Today was day two at the Global Student Leaders Summit. We started off the day with an incredible keynote speech from Dr. Jane Goodall. She was very motivational in her talk, as well as very assertive with her responses to student questions. One part I particularly liked was when she said that the mind and the heart of humans are no longer connected and it is our job to rejoin them. This meant that the innovative people are no longer empathetic in what they create, and our job is to make people think creatively with the needs of others in mind.

I was very fortunate to be offered one of the competitive internships at the summit. In my role as a social media intern I was tasked to document the conference as a “my story” on Snapchat. As an Intern, after the keynote I was able to attend a private press conference with Dr. Goodall. I was pretty nervous to be in a small intimate experience with an environmental rock star! We got to ask her questions, I asked if while during 55-year study of chimpanzees she ever wanted to study anything else. She replied that she would have liked to study all the animals but she really enjoyed studying hyenas. I asked this question because she studied chimpanzees for so long that I wanted to know more about the discipline required to study something for such a long period of time.

I think what is incredible about this whole trip is that there are so many people from all over who came together to talk about the environment and how we can change it. My experience with Dr. Goodall today and the rest of the conference motivated me to find solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. After traveling around all the different regions of Costa Rica, the summit is a wonderful culminating experience to give us the tools to bring about change in our local community. Jane Goodall taught us today to first act locally, then think globally, and that’s exactly what were doing.

By: Chase L. `17  & Matthew H. `18

Today we participated in the mangrove reforestation project on the Central Pacific Coast. Out of the fifty two species of mangrove trees in the world, seven of them are found in Costa Rica. The point of the reforestation project in this area is to preserve the land from erosion, while creating a natural barrier and an ecosystem for animals that live in Costa Rica. In the past locals removed important mangrove trees so they could put in new hotels or buildings on the beachfront. However, they discovered how the landmass of the island began to decrease. We saw examples of water eroding the island and what happens without the mangroves planted. It is so important to plant mangroves to preserve and build up the eroding land, to provide a crucial ecosystem for a large variety of animals living in the area (we saw 32 species of birds in two hours), and to hold the land in place during hurricanes or other storms.

After understanding the problem of mangrove deforestation, we went to work to replant these important trees. First we took propagules from mature trees and carefully planted them in the nursery. Later we planted young trees along the riverbank.

What I learned from attending the mangrove reforestation project was not only the importance of these trees to Costa Rica, but also that the environment is all connected, and by cutting down a tree like the mangroves, it has a greater impact on the entire ecosystem and animals that depend on it. The mangrove reforestation project is a good example of identifying a local problem and finding a way to solve it. Having seen this type of problem solving work, makes me look forward to sharing my experiences at the Global Student Leaders Summit.

By: Christopher J. ‘17

We spent our third day in Costa Rica taking a highly educational excursion to a farm that put immense emphasis on sustainability, dubbed Rancho Margot. Beginning with an extensive tour of the facility, we learned that the solid excrement of animals such as cows and pigs could be used for heating water and also that the urine from these animals could be used to produce methane, and the methane could be used to run the kitchen for the restaurant on the farm. We then hands dirty by mixing a combination of three different materials that come from the mountains surrounding the 400 acre region the farm covered; these materials included semolina flour, decomposing leaves and grasses, and woodchips. Molasses and water were further ingredients added. The concoction could be used in septic tanks, the bacteria in the mixture speeding up the process of breaking down waste. The mixture could also be used for a tea, which is used in place of toxic pesticides to put good bacteria into plants that would make them grow both faster and stronger. We ended this fascination of a trip with an amazing lunch that made everyone’s mouths water.
We were riveted by the fact that the food we were consuming was a product of the eco-friendly and sustainable process we had been shown during the tour. All in all, it was another inspiring and educational day in Costa Rica!

By: Caroline K. `17

The second day in Costa Rica built on what we learned yesterday to create a fuller vision of the Costa Rican environment. Yesterday at InBioparque we witnessed the animals of Costa Rica in their habitats undisturbed by humans, but today we were able to see animals and plants living in symbiotic relationships and how those relationships provide ecosystem services for humans. This was evident when the group visited a Cacao Plantation, where we witnessed the harvesting of cacao seeds, and learned about the cultivation of the crop.

Cacao plants depend on small flies for pollination and the flies benefit by eating the nectar of the cacao flower. This is an example of the symbiosis between species. It fascinates me that the flies are a part of helping humans earn income with which they can plant more cacao plants to feed more flies. A cacao plant takes three years to mature. While waiting through the growth period, an aspiring cacao farmer who just planted his crop would be unable to find income from the cacao. Our informed guide, Erica, told us about how farmers in this situation planted plantains and vanilla. These plants provide both a source of income and a future benefit because mature cacao plants need plentiful shade that can be provided by the large leaves of the plantain plant.

The combination of plantains, vanilla, and cacao is another example of a mutually beneficial relationship between humans and the land. The diversity of crops provides the farmer a more stable income, while also providing an optimal growing environment for the cacao plant. In addition, the biodiversity of the farm protects each individual crop from harmful insects and diseases.

The way in which the cacao farmers manage their farms works to maintain an important balance. Tomorrow, we will continue with the theme of sustainable farming with a visit to Rancho Margot, another organic farm in the La Fortuna area. Personally I have gained so much from this trip, not only the joy of meeting new friends, seeing the Costa Rican landscape and improving my Spanish proficiency with words like semilla (seed) and plantar (to plant) but also the new awareness of our planet and its ecosystems.

By: Hannah K. `18

In our first full day in Costa Rica we realized the importance of environmental sustainability. When we arrived, I personally noticed that there were not many large buildings and not many obvious tourist attractions like casinos, modern stores etc. Our tour guide, Heidi, explained, “ The biggest thing Costa Rica has to offer is not the shopping and beaches, but nature.” This was certainly the case when we went to the National Institute of Biodiversity right outside of the capital San José in the province of Heredia. Here, we first watched a short video on how the history and biodiversity of Costa Rica. We were amazed when we learned that every two days Costa Rican biologists discover a new species of insect. We observed many mariposas (butterflies) in their natural habitat including the iridescent blue Morpho peleides, which is commonly called The Emperor Butterfly. We also helped Costa Rican biologists identify an unknown specimen based on the features of the insect.

After exploring the National Institute of Biodiversity we crossed the continental divide on our way to the Arenal Region. Whilst on the bus looking out of the window, we noticed how beautiful Costa Rica is. All of the bright colors, the animals roaming free, and all of the
greenery were truly beautiful. Seeing the natural landscape reminded me of when I lived in Peru three years ago.

Our last stop for the day was the Baldi Hot Springs, which are natural pools of water that are heated by tectonic activity of three converging tectonic plates. These plates are also responsible for volcanic activity and earthquakes in the region. These processes combined with protecting the region’s biodiversity are real priorities for Costa Ricans. 40% of the land in Costa Rica is protected through the country’s national park system. It is easy to see why Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries on Earth!

By: Gabby Sanchez, `16 & Jules Becker, `16

Empowerment and equity are far more than simple rhetoric.  At this year’s Berlin Model UN conference, these two concepts shape debate and influence crucial decisions in every committee. 7 of us travelled to Berlin this week to participate in the Berlin Model United Nations (BERMUN) conference, a 5-day journey deep into a world of international debate and rich culture. Our delegation represents the Chilean Republic in different United Nations bodies such as the World Trade Organization, Human Rights Committee, or Security Council. We spend hours passing resolutions and amendments on various pressing current topics.

Discussing issues such as the introduction of entrepreneurship to prevent youth unemployment, political transparency and humanitarian intervention, I put fourth a resolution and amendments to represent the ideals of the delegation of Chile. The beginning of the conference underwent a period of laboring in which delegates split up into groups to bring forth their ideas and form resolutions.

The topic my delegation dealt with was the introduction of entrepreneurship as a way to decrease the youth unemployment rate in different nation states. As the days proceed and the conferences continued, many resolutions were debated and altered as fellow delegates as well as myself drafted amendments and presented detailed speeches. The experience of speaking to a crowd and operating under the strict guidelines of parliamentary procedure are both nerve-racking and exciting.

Debating territorial disputes between Asian powers and terrorism in the Middle East, I expanded my world perspective engaging in substantive debate with a diverse array of international delegates. In the Security Council, we started strong, debating the conflict between China and Japan over ownership of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. My delegation introduced a comprehensive solution to the problem at hand, dividing the territory using balanced division of the economic resources that the island has to offer.  After passing this clause, my committee moved on to issues of violence in Syria and Libya, deciding against assigning a formal definition to terrorism as the concept contains such subjective undertones. I’m excited to continue debate on this issue starting early tomorrow morning!

After committee today, we set out to explore the vast city of Berlin. One of the sites visited tonight was the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a moving landmark and museum documenting the atrocities of the Holocaust. This trip was especially fitting given Tuesday’s assembly in which Judith Altmann relayed her first-hand experience as a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Walking through the memorial surrounded by the field of 2,711 concrete Stelae ranging in height, was a surreal experience. We then descended below the outdoor display into a gallery depicting artifacts and personal accounts of the horrific event.

Today’s experiences in committee and around the city furthered our desire to truly understand how the world functions around us. The heated debate and collaboration during today’s Model UN Conference helped us gain a strong understanding of international viewpoints and negotiation tactics. Meanwhile, walking through the city of Berlin with traces of the Berlin Wall and the periodic Stolpersteine, serves as a real world example of the importance of international diplomacy.