On the afternoon of April 16, 2024, the students of the International College of Innovation’s course, The Way of Resilience: Exploring the Sustainable Significance of Resilient Classics, embarked on a polar bear parade in relevance to Earth Month as well as a theme discussed in
class at the time of the event, namely earth resilience. Students paraded from the lobby of the Bai Nian building on the uphill campus of National Chengchi University all the way downhill to the General Building. A highlight worth mentioning is how a few of the students also took turns wearing a polar bear costume, presumably life-sized, to showcase the dire consequences of global warming, where endangered animals experience the degradation of their habitats.
Arriving at the hub in front of the General Building, students then transformed the space with their innovative props crafted from recycled materials. Using the props, the students proceed to engage with people who are passing by regarding their project. Besides physical props, games relating to earth resilience were also prepared to get more people involved. The students also encouraged passersby to take a commitment to make the Earth a better place to live in through brainstorming ideas of ecosystem resilience, disaster resilience, and sustainable lifestyles. To symbolize this commitment, potted plants were distributed, serving as tangible reminders of their collective responsibility to protect the planet.
In the events of the April 3rd earthquake in Hualien, the timing of the polar bear parade was certainly a coincidence to the earthquake disaster. Despite the devastating effects caused by the earthquake, the parade exemplified resilience in action, demonstrating how communities can unite in the face of adversity.
Overall, the polar bear parade organized by the students was a meaningful expression of solidarity with the environment. From wearing polar bear costumes to engaging in discussions about sustainability, the event highlighted the importance of protecting our planet.
