For any form of development, education plays an important role. To be able to become better, or understand, a level of education is required whether that be from parent to child, amongst friends or in a school environment. Every day people experience encounters of education, whether it is relevant is then the question.
Encouraging people to become less reliant on non-renewable resources, and maybe reducing their carbon footprint, can be like talking to a brick wall at times! Although, some people I have spoken to about in the past have been of the opinion that why should we care about what we use on earth, life is too short to worry. This opinion from people is where education can encourage individuals to think of their own impacts on the society and environment for other people.
Without a solid foundation of education, sustainable development could be miss-interpreted, or the message could be somewhat watered down over time. It is clear that simple adverts in the media can make people aware of the point to re-cycle, share bath water or even use public transport. This education may not tell someone everything about sustainable development, but make them aware, that there are other ways to chuck out cardboard, or even that sharing is caring (in the likes of bath water!).
Throughout my time in compulsory education, I remember there being an emphasis on walking to school, cutting down car fumes etc. I have grown up knowing, and understanding that today’s resources will not be completely available in the future. But like all, I have trouble visualising this, and thus find it difficult to completely grasp, that unless we stop living foolishly, and be more sustainable, then we will ruin the earth for our children.
Therefore, I think sustainable development, should be included in more campaigns and education nationwide, so that people can constantly be aware of the point, sustainable living is best!
The United Nations, have dedicated the decade of 2005-14 to Education for Sustainable Development.
"The goal of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014, DESD), for which UNESCO is the lead agency, is to integrate the principles, values, and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning.This educational effort will encourage changes in behaviour that will create a more sustainable future in terms of environmental integrity, economic viability, and a just society for present and future generations."
This goal has not been forgotten in anyway, and on January 21st 2009, a conference was held in Scotland. This was to focus on the strategies Scotland have implemented to try and achieve this goal, in preparation for the 2009 World conference in Bonn.
Although, educating sustainable development is the key, we are faced with the question, how? Haigh (2005) writes with the view, that Geography has a large role to play in education of others in sustainable development, especially at a school level.
“Geographical education has the capacity to raise its sights above the merely human to help
all humanity live with the Earth and the fellow creatures of their life support system. In
other words, it could help: “To shift from a human-centred to an Earth-centred norm of
reality and value.” Haigh (2005 pg179)
I heavily agree that the subject geography can play a huge role in the education of sustainable development, but whether they are solely responsible, I believe not. Sustainable development does not affect geographers alone, it of course is about all humans, and therefore should be across a curriculums teaching. Science... English... R.E.... History... – All of these subjects could teach an element about sustainable development, and with this broad education, it would help develop that sustainable development and re-cycling isn’t just what those geographers do!
TeacherNet has established many resources in the last couple of years, to promote and educate staff at schools, how to make their school environment a sustainable one. This makes it possible for many aspects of compulsory education in the United Kingdom, to be a sustainable one, as discussed above.
“TeacherNet is designed to support schools on their journey to sustainability, introducing the principles of sustainable development and offering guidance on how to embed these principles into the heart of school life.”
Hopefully, the goal of the United Nations will be met, and all humans, can look forward to a sustainable developing world in years to come.
Since September, I have been studying Bsc Geography, as a part of my degree; I take the module ‘Sustainable Development’. I thoroughly enjoy this module, as it doesn’t only educate to the issues of sustainable living, but encourages you to think for yourself, develop your own opinion and stand on sustainable development. As Greg (Lecturer at University of Northampton) said once in a lesson, that it is thought that you (student) won’t just learn the module, but hopefully live it too. I feel this is true, especially through the assignment of blogging. I am a lot more passionate about re-cycling now, and trying to find another use for something rather than just throwing something away.
I would hope that one day, all development will be sustainable. :)
Refrences
Haigh, M., (2005), Geography and the 'European Year of Citizenship through Education. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 29, 173-182. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=2&hid=16&sid=62a6c82e-5225-4c35-b837-6a0f5895075c%40sessionmgr8
1 comment:
Interesting to see that your own behaviour has altered as a result of the module (recycling). Do you think other members of the class have also adapted their behaviour? Do you think that attention to sustainability issues in other modules would help other people to become more aware of their own role in 'sustainable development'?
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