Orestis

Ορέστης Τριγγίδης, Orestis Tringides, lives in Nicosia and works on various subjects:

I live in Nicosia with two cats and I am with Lemoni Radio. That’s one of the things I do, with the YAS team, Jónatas, Filip and Petra, and all the friends. I also work with media literacy, nonformal education, coaching… I am a jack of all trades, master of all maybe some times

In my life I have worked in various subjects. By one way or another, I have touched SDGs: Peace, for example. Peace in Cyprus and Peace in the World - I mean real peace, not just the absence of gunshots -, but also strong institutions, transparency, access to information and so on.

SDGs help us to focus and to have a common language of communication. If you go to an NGO anywhere in the world and you say “Hi, I’m Jónatas and I am interested in Goal 5 - Gender Inequality”, people will understand you immediately. NGOs can speak a common language that is easier to understand and that can reach more people. It provides a common guideline for all the world.

I would suggest every person to look at the goals and see how they can use it. If you are a teacher, a geologist, ... connect it with your work, connect it with your science.

I think that SDGs are crucial to create a sustainable future. Not just for humans. I mean, people think that humans are not animals, but they are! We are animals.

We need a sustainable future to be able to continue living like human beings. I mean, human physiology doesn’t change that fast. We are not adjusting fast enough to the environment. If we want to live like humans, as human as possible and with all the benefits of civilization, we need to efficiently adopt the sustainable goals. We need to know how not to kill each other and to realize how our capabilities now are stronger than us and that if we are not smart we are going to kill ourselves.

We live in an ever-changing world. Don’t forget that there are many, many emerging technologies coming up, like 5G, Internet of Things, Robotic, Prosttetics, better batteries… and the world is transforming gradually. They will offer a lot of opportunities for change: monitor the environment, monitor traffic, make more efficient machines, monitor the quality of air, artificial intelligence predicting climate change or natural disasters… So, I think the world will go hand-in-hand with the new technologies. These technologies are both our killers and our friends, it depends on how we use them.

You aim for the moon and if you miss the moon eventually you will hit a star. We don't know the future. We are faced with “unknown unknowns”. I don’t think the SDGs are achievable within the timeframe that we want them to be, but again, we don't know how the world is going to be in 10 years. SDGs are helping and eventually they will take us places. We have no other choice.

Which SDG are you most interested in if you could choose one?

The thing is, I feel strongly connected to all of them. The SDGs themselves are connected with each other. I cannot distinguish between no poverty and zero hunger. I mean, these are fundamental for a decent life. And I think that the goal of the SDGs is to give a decent life to people so they can live in peace, in a clean environment, and be able to get a proper education. It’s pretty difficult for me to choose one.

What would be the SDGs that need more action and attention here in Cyprus?

Definitely climate action. The Sahara is expanding and Cyprus must fight the desertification because we won’t be able to live on the island. I mean, all of the SDGs need more action and attention, but start with the environment. If first we understand that we have this common home, then we will understand that we need equality, we’ll understand that we need peace and we need agreements, and that we need strong institutions.

For the people reading the interview, what are your recommendations regarding the SGD’s, either for them to take an action, either to educate themselves? If you could send one message out to the people, what would that message be?

Have a look, take it personal, find the one that is more applicable to your person and to your community. Start with what is inside you, what is immediately around you. Start by that and the rest will follow. Everything is connected with everything. All SDGs. So start with the low-hanging fruit.

Orestis

Which SDG are you most interested in if you could choose one?

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What would be the SDGs that need more action and attention here in Cyprus?

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For the people reading the interview, what are your recommendations regarding the SGD’s, either for them to take an action, either to educate themselves? If you could send one message out to the people, what would that message be?

​

Have a look, take it personal, find the one that is more applicable to your person and to your community. Start with what is inside you, what is immediately around you. Start by that and the rest will follow. Everything is connected with everything. All SDGs. So start with the low-hanging fruit.

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