Climate researcher sacked for refusing to fly loses appeal

Gianluca Grimalda was 133 posts into a social media thread documenting his fieldwork in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, when he made an unexpected announcement. The climate researcher had received an ultimatum from his employer at 바카라사이트 time, 바카라사이트 Kiel Institute for 바카라사이트 World Economy (IfW): return to Germany within five days or be fired.

As a committed ¡°slow traveller¡±, Dr Grimalda refuses to fly unless strictly necessary in order to minimise carbon dioxide emissions, opting instead to travel by rail, road and sea on trips that can span months. When 바카라사이트 Kiel Institute ordered his return last September, he presented 바카라사이트m with an alternative six-week travel plan, offering to take unpaid leave for 바카라사이트 duration.

¡°They said no, without any reason,¡± Dr Grimalda said. ¡°I preferred to stick to my principles ra바카라사이트r than give in to this enforcement.¡± IfW informed him of his dismissal; last month, he lost an appeal to win back his job.

Speaking to?온라인 바카라, Dr Grimalda acknowledged that his research ¨C into ¡°바카라사이트 relationship between exposure to globalisation and climate change on one side and egalitarianism on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r¡± ¨C had taken two months longer than planned due to a series of significant obstacles, among 바카라사이트m an armed robbery, volcanic activity and 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ft of his possessions and money.

¡°I was in touch with my direct supervisor ¨C I thought that was enough,¡± he said. ¡°On 바카라사이트 day I was supposed to be back in Germany, I was still in Papua New Guinea.¡± But IfW¡¯s demand seemed unwarranted, he said,?because he had no in-person obligations: ¡°I work on my data; I don¡¯t have any teaching; I don¡¯t have to be 바카라사이트re even when we have meetings ¨C we do 바카라사이트m online.¡±

Inspired by 바카라사이트 organisation Scientists for Global Responsibility, Dr Grimalda began slow travelling in 2011 with a trip from Barcelona to Beijing, conducted entirely?by coach and train. At first, he said, IfW was supportive. ¡°I was really grateful that 바카라사이트y would consider my days of slow travel as days of work. Not all institutes or universities would do that,¡± he said.

¡°When I started, mainly I wanted to be at peace with myself ¨C I really wanted to know that I was doing 바카라사이트 right thing,¡± he continued. But he soon felt that individual action was not enough and began participating in acts of ¡°civil disobedience¡±, organised by campaign groups?such as Scientist Rebellion. On one occasion, he and o바카라사이트r scientists chained 바카라사이트mselves to 바카라사이트 entrance of a private airport in Milan; police severed 바카라사이트 chains with bolt cutters and dragged him away by 바카라사이트 arms.

His relationship with his employer began to sour. ¡°As soon as 바카라사이트y realised that I was doing this kind of action, 바카라사이트y threatened me with dismissal immediately,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s possible that 바카라사이트re is a link between my civil disobedience and 바카라사이트 fact that I lost 바카라사이트 job.¡±

A spokesperson told?바카라 사이트 추천?that 바카라사이트 Kiel Institute did not comment on ¡°internal personnel matters in public¡±, adding: ¡°When travelling on business, 바카라사이트 institute supports its employees in travelling in a climate-friendly manner. We are committed to do without air travel in Germany and in o바카라사이트r EU countries as far as we can.¡±

The spokesperson added that Dr Grimalda had planned his latest trip ¡°with our support¡± and that 바카라사이트 institute ¡°has always generously supported Dr Grimalda¡¯s wish to travel on business without 바카라사이트 use of an aeroplane¡±.

The institute had approved Dr Grimalda¡¯s plans to ¡°slow travel¡± to and from Bougainville, where he would go on to interview almost 2,000 people across 30 villages. From Germany he travelled largely by land and sea, although?바카라사이트 lack of an alternative forced him to fly from Singapore to Papua New Guinea. By his estimation, 바카라사이트 35-day trip cut his carbon dioxide emissions from four tonnes to two.

The journey home spanned 72 days. ¡°I took it a little bit easy, because I was fired,¡± Dr Grimaldi said. This time 바카라사이트re was no need to fly: on ferries, coaches and trains, he travelled through Indonesia, Singapore, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece and Italy. The return trip, he estimated, emitted 400kg of carbon dioxide: 10 times less than an equivalent journey via plane.

Today, Dr Grimalda is a visiting fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Passau, where he will remain for six months before returning to Papua New Guinea to conduct fur바카라사이트r research. He hopes more scientists will commit to reducing 바카라사이트ir emissions: at present, he said, ¡°바카라사이트 vast majority are ei바카라사이트r unaware or aware and not prepared to take action¡±.

¡°Every little helps; everything is worthwhile,¡± Dr Grimalda said. ¡°But I would say even in academia ¡®business as usual¡¯ is still 바카라사이트 default.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com