Slide 1 : From the publicationYoung People, education and sustainable development - Learning ‘otherWISE’; being wise about consumption Compiled by Jaana Laitinen, Earth Charter International Youth Facilitator
Slide 2 : As young people, we have a distinctly unique stake in the fight against climate change. Our decisions and actions over the next few years will shape the world we live in for the rest of our lives, not to mention that of our children. It is a monumental challenge, but one that we cannot afford to shy away from. Young people around the world, just like yourself, are standing up to politicians and polluters and taking their future into their own hands. In our communities, our schools, our countries and abroad we have the tools to take action and stop the climate crisis – and we are using them. Youth will be the leaders of tomorrow and we are already leading today.
TIG’s Climate Change, Youth Guide to Action
Slide 3 : 12. Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.
a. Eliminate discrimination in all its forms, such as that based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, language, and national, ethnic or social origin.b. Affirm the right of indigenous peoples to their spirituality, knowledge, lands and resources and to their related practice of sustainable livelihoods. c. Honor and support the young people of our communities, enabling them to fulfill their essential role in creating sustainable societies.d. Protect and restore outstanding places of cultural and spiritual significance.
Slide 4 : Jennifer Corriero, TIG
The Power We Have, in Young People,
Education and sustainable development
Slide 5 : Principle 3: Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful. Principle 13: Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice.
a. Uphold the right of everyone to receive clear and timely information on environmental matters and all development plans and activities which are likely to affect them or in which they have an interest.b. Support local, regional and global civil society, and promote the meaningful participation of all interested individuals and organizations in decision making. c. Protect the rights to freedom of opinion, expression, peaceful assembly, association, and dissent.
Slide 6 : What could trigger the change from over-consumption to a sustainable culture?
- strengthening democracy with the goal of an egalitarian society
“Democracy does not solve problems. It does not automatically combat poverty or stop deforestation. However, without it, the ability for people to solve problems or become less poor or respect their environment is, I believe, impossible.”
Wangari Maathai
Sustainable world without participation is unthinkable : Deep sustainability requires deep participation, while a shallow democracy will lead to shallow sustainabilityShallow = superficial, obligatory, detached, false, cosmetic Deep = real, intrinsic, involved, genuine, meaningful
Participation is both a right and a duty for everyone, because it is a way to respond to the need for collaboration and cooperation in our social mediums.
Participation is a key element of any change or development process. Inclusion gives people an important sense of self and a connection to the world they live in Sustainable world without participation is unthinkable
Slide 8 : We frequently participate in conversations, celebrations and gatherings.
Participation is very important when selecting the president of a country, an association or a classroom leadership board. However, it is also an important way for you to help improve the things around you. If you participate in selecting politicians, you can help our country have good leaders.
Society is built and modified through participation
It is essential for advancing democracy and sustainable development.
The democratic process offers room for people to participate in decision making and in building a better society. It ensures a social and political environment where women and men can aptly express themselves and promote human rights, social justice and a healthy planet.
Slide 9 : However, many citizens have become apathetic and do not participate in the electoral process or in community or student projects which try to improve the surroundings
it is important to motivate to actively participate as agents of change!
When there is participation in any process, a shared sense of empowerment and responsibility emerges; there is a greater commitment by the individuals participating.
Inclusive participation is a core human value (incl. Earth Charter, principle 13)
Happiest families, most successful corporations and organizations, healthiest communities and nations -> all give their people possibility to truly participate, be involved
Slide 10 : There is still lot to do to fully incorporate youth and coming generations into a world in transition towards sustainability
Any group in a society that is not given the option and opportunity to participate in generating solutions remains a part of the problem
Educating the youth about the sustainability and giving them opportunities to discuss and act on sustainability issues and development options maybe one of the most effective ways of ensuring sustainable growth
While youth can learn much from adult, they tend to absorb information more enthusiastically from their peers
Dynamic and creative learning opportunities designed and led by youth tend to be more effective
How do we truly include young people as participants in addressing contemporary and future global challenges?
Do you personally think that participation is fundamental?
Reactivating your inner citizen! : Reactivating your inner citizen! Participating in strong, vibrant communities makes us happier and healthier!
The single biggest contribution to our happiness is the quality of our social relationships. People with strong social ties tend to live longer and be healthier. Strong communities also have less crime and survive disasters better because neighbors watch out for one another and are more likely to raise a voice when they see a potential problem.
Slide 12 : A vibrant community lifestyle, as opposed to a strong individualist lifestyle, lessens our toll on the planet.
Having stronger local communities means we buy less stuff, use less energy, consumer fewer resources because we can share things and help one another. The more resources we can get locally – from vegetables to borrowed hand tools – the less energy is spent transporting this stuff all over the planet.
Slide 13 : Reinvigorating your inner citizen will rebuild public participation in politics, and generate real collective solutions to the considerable problems we are facing on this planet.
This point is really important!
When we act from our community or citizen selves, we can think more broadly. We consider the impacts of our actions and, importantly, we can broaden our thinking about strategies to make change.
Instead of “what can I, as an individual consumer, do” we can ask, “what can we, as a community, as citizens, do to fix this problem once and for all?”
Joining up with others around a shared goal is fun! It makes us happy!
“The greatest happiness comes from absorbing yourself in some goal outside yourself”, Richard Layard, economist and pioneer in the field of happiness studies.
If we spend less time watching TV and shopping, and more time building community and engaging in civil society, then our community and our world become better, more fun, so we want to engage with them more.
Some ideas… : Some ideas… Be part of the solution, not the problem!
Insist that your government cooperate in international environmental fora and agreements. In order to achieve real solutions to our global environmental threats and to begin a new era of environmental leadership and cooperation, governments simply must start enthusiastically promote environmental solutions in international setting. Write to your elected representative urging strong action to reduce carbon emissions.
Join international solidarity campaigns led by communities, trade unions, and environmentalists who ask for support in their work against corporations engaged in destructive extraction, production, or disposal practices, especially when those corporations are from our home countries. Such campaigns are vital tool for promoting corporate accountability, improving industrial operations, increasing local involvement in decision making, supporting broader eco-social improvement, and strengthening international solidarity.
Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard
Activity - Acting as an agent of change : Activity - Acting as an agent of change Sometimes we do not agree with certain things, but we do nothing to change them. Take advantage of this opportunity, and change a situation that you think could be better!
Think about something that you would like to change.
Talk to your classmates / friends about your idea, and motivate them to put on a campaign for this important subject. This campaign can be realized in your school / community. Make a plan, and put it into practice.
Slide 16 : “What could be more important than the future of our world? As young people, we have the most at stake, so we should be stepping up to our roles as the major stakeholders and stand up for the kind of future we want.”
PauPau, TakingITGlobal member, Philippines
Are you ready to take action? The TIG 6-Step Action Process to get started : Are you ready to take action? The TIG 6-Step Action Process to get started
Slide 18 : 1. REFLECT AND GET INSPIRED
Think about local climate change issues that affect you.
Research a local or international climate change story.
Find a climate hero’s story.
2. IDENTIFY AND GET INFORMED
Identify the issue that you feel most passionate about.
Research the issue, challenges and opportunities to address the problem.
3. LEAD AND GET OTHERS INVOLVED
Identify your leadership skills and characteristics.
Build a team of people you want to work with who share your passion.
Slide 19 : 4. GET CONNECTED
Attend events in your area to connect with people and organisations dealing with the specific climate change issue you are interested in taking action on.
Search your personal networks to connect with people who can help you with your project.
Start by connecting with the Youth Climate Coalition in your area.
5. PLAN AND GET MOVING
Choose a simple project idea with clear goals.
Create an action plan identifying how you will achieve your goals.
Implement your action plan using the tools and resources at your disposal (you can start by using the free TIG Action Tools).
6. HAVE A LASTING IMPACT
Evaluate your progress to make sure that you recognise areas for improvement.
Sustain your action by ensuring that you have the help and support you need to ensure the continuity of your project.
Slide 20 :
Slide 21 : “Affirm that with increased freedom, knowledge, and power comes increased responsibility to promote the common good”
Principle 2.b. of the Earth Charter
Funds for Earth Charter related projects : Funds for Earth Charter related projects http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/content/articles/529/1/Possibility-to-get-funds-for-Earth-Charter-related-projects/Page1.html
IMITATIONLearning from the successful projects : IMITATIONLearning from the successful projects “Even imitation requires intelligence”
Urdu saying
Slide 24 : “When someone said to Socrates that Hector was courageous, he said ‘define courage.’
[He should have said] ‘Tell me Hector’s story’.”
Instead of trying to define the elusive concept of sustainable development, Banuri and Najam have sought to approach it through the story of sustainable development, rather, the stories of the practitioners of sustainable development
Slide 25 : The best way to learn on the sustainable development is to concentrate on successful projects
Leadership, vision, communication and partnerships are essential in sustainable development but the most important is imitation
Building from existing experiences is the most effective path to progress;
one can look for best practices and adapt the great ideas to his own context and situation This presentation is based on Tariq Banuri’s and Adil
Najam’s publication on “Civic Entrepreneurship – A Civil Society Perspective on Sustainable Development”. In their volume the authors strongly emphasize the stories of the practitioners of sustainable development.
Slide 26 : Imitation is not only the sincerest form of flattery, it is also the most effective path to progress
None of the champions of sustainable development thought up his or her contribution from scratch
Whether consciously or unconsciously, all of them were active imitators
They achieved success by borrowing unabashedly from others
The word imitation is not used here to mean mindless repetition
It is used to mean adapting an idea to one’s own context and situation
No mass production; “One size does not fit all”
Conversely, it also implies that ideas have a life beyond the particular activity in which they are embedded. The same idea appears and reappears in a myriad of forms
Slide 27 : The number of stories in sustainable development is potentially infinite;
but the number of features and characteristics described is quite concise, and each feature gets repeated in various combinations with others
External programs, whether implemented by donors, government agencies or NGOs, have definite timelines
Sustainable development in practice does not have start or end dates. It becomes a success not when it happens but when it becomes self-replicating and self-perpetuating
Slide 28 : “Sustainable development is an approach that emerges from the studies and analyses that are rooted in the framework of action, of setting process into motion, of sowing seeds of hope, of building upon the past, and envisioning the future, not as a determined outcome but as a lure, a promise and a commitment. ”
Banuri & Najam
Slide 29 : The power of successful stories is that it is not just stories of those successful implementers
It is the story of all those who followed him/her and who passed on his sense of civil will from one hand to another, and one generation to another much like in a relay race
These stories are inspiring because they inspired others into action. The process of evolution and progress revealed through these stories is based not on mechanistic rules but on creative adaptation
Slide 30 : Banuri & Najam state:
“Appleseed and propagate the seeds of civil will as far and wide as possible.
…If sustainable development scales out through processes of adaptive imitation, then imitation is accelerated by repetition. That which is good and that which has worked needs to be celebrated and needs to be propagated so that it is repeated.”
Propagation of the stories of civic activism has to build upon investments in learning about them. For example, preparation of well-researched case studies could help propagate the experience through capacity-building and training programs, including university programs on sustainable development.
Slide 31 : In the business world, the case studies of successful entrepreneurs tend to become best sellers and thus propagate the experience and lessons of these entrepreneurs
why not in sustainable development?
Imitation happens not because of conceptual breakthroughs but because of experiential breakthroughs
Slide 32 : “Forests reproduce themselves through self-seeding, trees regenerate without human intervention, forests and even trees ‘walk’ long distances over periods of times, often in response to changing climates and environments. Imitation is as ‘natural’ a process of self-reproduction of the practices of sustainable development as it is of forests.
The only manner in which the pursuit of sustainable development has been sustained until now is through the natural process of self-regeneration through imitation.”
Banuri & Najam
Slide 33 : Banuri and Najam write:
“The final lesson that we wish to proffer in this volume is addressed to every stakeholder – the policy maker, the donor, the scholar, the consultant, the educator, the activist, and the present and prospective champion of sustainable development and the lesson is very simple:
imitate, imitate, and imitate;
make it easy for others to imitate;
learn from others;
teach what you learned
and prepare the ground for those who will follow.”
Slide 34 : Young People, education and sustainable development
Exploring principles, perspectives and praxis
Edited by
P.B. Corcoran
P.M. Osano
Rethinking Leadership
The role of the Earth Charter in fostering ethical leaders for the future
Mikko Erpestad
TIG’s Climate Change, Youth Guide to Action
http://www.tigweb.org/action-tools/guide/
Slide 35 : Teacher ToolkitTread Lightly
http://treadlightly.tigweb.org/
Sustainable FuturesReplacing Growth Imperative and Hierarchies with Sustainable Ways Edited by Marko Ulvila & Jarna Pasanenhttp://www.sustainablefutures.fi/
Teaching a Sustainable Lifestyle with the Earth Charter Mirian Vilela de Araujo, Elizabeth Ramirez Ramirez, Lidia Hernandez Rojas, Cristina Briceño Lobo
http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/details.php?id=802
Slide 36 : Background reading:
Earth Charter Virtual Library, http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/invent/
The Earth Charter in Action Toward a Sustainable World
Mirian Vilela and Peter Blaze Corcoran
History and Provenance of the Earth Charter Building Consensus on Shared Values
Parvez HassanA thematic essay on the historical context and significance of the Earth Charter
Earth Charter: An Ethical Lodestar and Moral Force
Abelardo Brenes
A thematic essay on responsibility to the whole Earth community and to promote the common good
Universal and Differentiated Responsibility
Nigel Dower
A thematic essay on global interdependence and universal responsibility
The Earth Charter and Global Citizenship: A Way Forward