I would like to thank the Progress Association for supporting me to attend the recent World Environmental Education Congress in Brisbane. The international gathering aimed to share learning and experiences in environmental and sustainability education.
It was both an overwhelming and inspiring affair. The Congress started with the science of climate change, 98% of scientists agree that human induced climate change is happening. In a session entitled ‘Creating Hope’ we heard that Himalayan vegetation is shifting 1.5-3.4m/year in altitude, the Rhododendrons are blooming a month earlier, glaciers retreating and bird distributions diminishing…I wasn’t feeling too hopeful by the end of the session.
It was also explained that the assumption that increased awareness will change attitudes and behaviors IS NOT supported by research. It is people’s worldviews and belief systems, philosophical and political positions which shape their interpretations and understandings…this was where being over-whelmed kicked in.
Some things seemed obvious, people learn and act as social beings, but in the context of sustainability it meant that goals should be framed democratically-empowering learners as individuals and collectives, just like the Sustainable Neighbourhood approach in our own backyard… hope was returning
Many speakers commented that at this point in history we’re in a predicament but we need to remove the doom and gloom, restore the fascination with nature and empower people to create a positive vision for the future.
Some of the workshops were about using our natural spaces to reconnect people with the nature around them. Thoughts of toddler trails through our local reserves, paths through the bushland that everyone could safely navigate seemed like real solutions.
A significant section of the congress was dedicated to empowering people, especially youth. There was a recognized skill gap towards empowerment but the Australian Youth Climate Coalition http://aycc.org.au/ is set on a path to build a generation of sustainable leaders…more hope.
Even Early Childhood Educators agreed that active participation and action taking was necessary and that children need to be recognized as change agents within their community.
The take home message for the attendees was that the mass media are not going to be much help in moving people towards sustainability. It is the role of educators to understand where people are at, to engage people in a process that creates a dialogue to determine a common vision for a world where our children will live in happiness and with hope.
The really hopeful bit was there is an opportunity to do just that with the Sustainable Neighbourhood workshop on Tuesday 16th August at Coal Point School.
If you would like to read the other notes and thoughts that I gathered at the WEEC they’ll be posted on the Progress blog.
All the best Suzanne Pritchard
P.S I am the person who writes the Chronicle each month and the President of the Association for the past 16 years.
It was also explained that the assumption that increased awareness will change attitudes and behaviors IS NOT supported by research. It is people’s worldviews and belief systems, philosophical and political positions which shape their interpretations and understandings…this was where being over-whelmed kicked in.
Some things seemed obvious, people learn and act as social beings, but in the context of sustainability it meant that goals should be framed democratically-empowering learners as individuals and collectives, just like the Sustainable Neighbourhood approach in our own backyard… hope was returning
Many speakers commented that at this point in history we’re in a predicament but we need to remove the doom and gloom, restore the fascination with nature and empower people to create a positive vision for the future.
Some of the workshops were about using our natural spaces to reconnect people with the nature around them. Thoughts of toddler trails through our local reserves, paths through the bushland that everyone could safely navigate seemed like real solutions.
A significant section of the congress was dedicated to empowering people, especially youth. There was a recognized skill gap towards empowerment but the Australian Youth Climate Coalition http://aycc.org.au/ is set on a path to build a generation of sustainable leaders…more hope.
Even Early Childhood Educators agreed that active participation and action taking was necessary and that children need to be recognized as change agents within their community.
The take home message for the attendees was that the mass media are not going to be much help in moving people towards sustainability. It is the role of educators to understand where people are at, to engage people in a process that creates a dialogue to determine a common vision for a world where our children will live in happiness and with hope.
The really hopeful bit was there is an opportunity to do just that with the Sustainable Neighbourhood workshop on Tuesday 16th August at Coal Point School.
If you would like to read the other notes and thoughts that I gathered at the WEEC they’ll be posted on the Progress blog.
All the best Suzanne Pritchard
P.S I am the person who writes the Chronicle each month and the President of the Association for the past 16 years.
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