Samso Film and presentation - Waiheke

An Island takes charge of their own affairs

A film and presentation at The Waiheke Community Cinema - December 2nd, 7:00pm

The island of Samso in Denmark is a two hour ferry ride, not 35 mins, it has a land area of about 40 square miles, (Waiheke covers 35 square miles) with a permanent population of about 4,000 (we are 8,000). Not too dissimilar, but in terms of energy usage, we are miles apart and could learn a lot from our island brothers and sisters in the north.

Take farmer Erik Andersen. His tractor runs on oil from rape seed, which he grows. His hot water and power come from his solar panels or wind turbines. There's not a fossil fuel in sight. "It's a very good feeling because the island is a renewable energy island," Anderson says. Ten years ago, Andersen and the people of Samso accepted a challenge from Denmark's government: Could they run their farms; could they power their businesses; could they lead their lives in an entirely energy self-sufficient and carbon-neutral way?

Now they have the answer. They can.

(watch a video here)

Come along to the Waiheke Community Cinema at 7pm on Tuesday night (December 2nd). We will be screening a film called "Samso an (un)common island" and will have Jakob Andersen Danish Trade Commissioner to Auckland. Jakob began his career as a seaman in the Danish Polar expedition and has traveled extensively. Prior to coming to NZ Jakob established the Danish Trade commissions in Bangalore and Slovakia. Jakob is keen to develop a relationship between Waiheke and Samso and will speak about this island's amazing record of energy transformation, and about the remarkable record of Denmark in addressing the issues of energy and waste.

This event has been organised by John Stansfield of The Waste Resource Trust and James Samuel of Transition Waiheke (372 8737).