mariluna.musings

I wish everyone had the chance to visit Lahti. There is so much green space and there seems to be no one here to enjoy it. I’m here for two weeks as part of my innovation in product management course. We are working on specific pilot programs to integrate non-human stakeholders in policy making.

How do we give waterways a voice in town halls? Animals? Trees? Mycelium?

This summer school is bringing 90 students from all over the world and there are a bunch of different projects being discussed. It feels like I am in a bubble world. The space is unique, still optimistic in spite of humanities short term memory in regards to land exploitation and catastrophe.

I like my group members, two design students from France, one tourism student from Estonia and one engineer from Iran. We are on our way to creating a better discourse median and it feels productive and at the same time whistful. Could this really work as we intend it? Are people ready to be invested in space outside thier immediate bubble of noticing? How can we expand this bubble? Lets see 🙂

It was my birthday last weekend, I hope I never take for granted how incredibly lucky I am. In all this I come back to Marge. She would have loved this program. She would love to see me traveling and exploring. She was the first activist in my life, the first person who made me feel like an active stakeholder in the Earth’s well being and always keen to support any and all conservation efforts. Her friendship is one that still drives me today.

I sometimes hesitate to share online how blessed I am. It feels too much like bragging. But she would never take it that way. Even in my family I feel guilty sometimes that I get to have this kind of life experience when my own nieces and nephews might never leave Cali. I like sending them postcards but sometimes I think back to when Marg was the one traveling the world and I had to push down the little bit of envy that every one of her adventures would invariably bring. Sigh, she would be going crazy with questions for me. Wanting to support and cheer and encourage me. She still does in a way. I miss her dearly.

I apire to be half as cool as she beleived me to be and hope my postcards land in the hands of curious people who want to see the world improve for as many as possible.

Sending love from Lahti.

— Marisol

ps. Write me if you would like a postcard 😉