Talking With the Trees
„The Living Future in a School Library“
The School Library of Technical School Kutina is located in Kutina, at the center of the territorially and politically fragmented but historically, culturally, and economically connected geographical region of Moslavina. We are surrounded by Moslavina Hill, which, due to its great geological and biological diversity and rich cultural heritage, was declared a regional nature park in 2007. Additionally, we are situated near one of the best-preserved floodplains in Europe, Lonjsko Field. While the city, which used to be the center of the Croatian petrochemical industry, now experiences deindustrialization and population decline, this situation, like any negative starting point, offers countless opportunities for new, different, and greener futures, given the beauty and wealth of the region.
As the library is an integral part of the community, all of these aspects have been reflected in its work and activities. To guide you through the world of the School Library of Technical School Kutina, I will take you on a journey through a notable part of the cultural heritage of Moslavina, specifically, one of the most beautiful and fantastic stories of Croatian literature, “Mor,” written by Đura Sudeta. It serves as a hymn to nature, in which everything has its function and meaning, and humans are just one part of that magnificent whole. All educational and cultural activities of the library are built on this premise. In 2022, we joined an initiative to declare Moslavina Hill a UNESCO Geopark. This initiative, through a scientific and sustainable approach, aims to bring improvement and prosperity to our local community.
The main character in the story “Mor” can communicate with trees because he knows and loves them. Perhaps, as humans, we can once again adopt patterns of living in harmony with nature by opening new channels of communication and, in light of new discoveries, developing new forms of living without degradation and destruction.
Through this lecture, I aim to demonstrate how the School Library of Technical School Kutina integrates ecology and nature into all aspects of its work. This includes building a fund, arranging the library space to reflect the nature and heritage of the local area, and actively participating in the life and work of the community. Activities include promoting active citizenship through actions like planting trees, gardening, clean-up efforts, and opposition to harmful projects on the local level. We also engage in cultural work to present, promote, and preserve the natural resources of the Moslavina region, utilizing advanced technologies that are integrated into the school curriculum.
In the second part, I will show how the School Library of Technical School Kutina actively participates in a county initiative to declare Moslavina Hill a UNESCO Geopark. I will also explain how we used our involvement in another international event, the Global Women’s Chemistry Breakfast of IUPAC, to internationally present this initiative.
Gordana Rešicki Degoricija, Technical school Kutina, Croatia
Klaudija Ivančević Božić, LAG Moslavina, Croatia