Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Having visited the amazing place that is Vorovoro back in June, I now write this in an ever colder England back at university. I think that the beauty of the island and the amazingly chilled, considerate and friendly way of life can only really be appreciated to it’s full extent when you take a step back from it.

Anyhows…Getting to my point. One of the modules in my degree this year, ‘Property And The Environment’ has a lot to do with the topic of sustainability. Indeed, I have just this minute decided to take a break from writing a report on ‘The Code For Sustainable Homes’. What astounds me about the sources I’m reading from to construct my report, is how vague and diluted the ideas are that are being spouted by the ‘Communities’ Department about how such and such a Code will replace this EcoHome System in 2016 etc etc.

What I loved about Vorovoro was how all of this spin and red-tape was bypassed, and sustainability was actually being put into practice, not just being used as a tool to gain points at the next election. No one on the island would wish it to become rubbish-strewn and therefore made sure to recycle everything as much as possible, and take steps not to bring plastic bags to the island. If only the housing minister could see that it takes maybe 5 litres of fresh water from a solar shower to get clean (or none at all if you use the ocean!) rather than the 60 litres from a water-reducing electric shower that is seen to be of a ground-breakingly low level of water use!

I think the main divide between Vorovoro and the UK is that there is far more doing out there than the talking that goes on here (with nothing much ever happening!). If only people here learnt that you don’t need to use so much energy and water to have a good life, and to find happiness from the people around you and the possessions you already have, rather than the desire to always have more and more.

‘Naka Vorovoro, keep up the good work guys.

Tomasi x