Oscar
My name is Oscar Marti Lopez and I am from Valencia, Spain.
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I am most strongly connected to SDG4, Quality Education, because I'm a teacher and I think that education is the best way to achieve most of the other SDGs.
If we want to live in an equal and sustainable future, the SDGs are a good way to that, but we can't stop on that, I mean, we must think about them and in which way we can help to achieve these goals.
I first found out about SDGs through a friend of mine who is working for the European Commission in a Youth Club. When I became a volunteer, I got to experience and act on the SDGs, learning more about them, and actually solving the challenges by taking action.
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"When I became a volunteer, I got to experience and act on the SDGs, learning more about them, and actually solving the challenges by taking action. "
The big question here is how to draw the attention of people and raise awareness on SDGs, which also is connected to education. In my opinion, doing projects in schools talking about sustainability and challenges as well as trying to implement the SDGs since early age would be effective. As I said, the most important SDG to tackle the others is the Quality Education, teaching the teachers, improving their knowledge about sustainable development, and as I am a teacher, I will work with my students to educate them about it for sure.
I believe that SDGs can be achieved, but it all depends on us. If we want to achieve all of goals we set, we must change the current system, because, in my opinion, with the current system it is very difficult to achieve all the SDGs without making a big change in it.
The SDG we should tackle first should be Quality Education, because in the short term we can raise awareness on the SDGs and educate the youth to be able to solve those challenges, while in the long term, SDG1, No Poverty, should be tackled.
In my organisation, Agros Environmental Group, we work on the SDG 13, Climate Action and Life on Land, mostly by doing environmental actions in Agros, for example by planting trees, cleaning the nature etc.
For anyone reading this right now, I suggest that you think in which way you can contribute to achieve these goals and I advise you to not be afraid to take action to solve them.
Which SDG are you most interested in if you could choose one?
I am personally interested in Quality Education because I believe it can make a big impact in the World. As Nelson Mandela once said: „Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the World. “
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What would be the SDGs that need more action and attention here in Cyprus?
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More attention would be needed in Quality Education; Clean Water and Sanitation; Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
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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?
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If we want to leave a better World to our descendants, please, take care of our World and every SDGs, try to understand them and try to do your best in your everyday life.
