So it’s only a matter of time before Uber is accepted in Australia.  The disruption, I suspect, is to the taxi industry who now needs to overhaul its structure and compose new ways of conducting business.  With a smart phone in hand, members of the  public can use technology to serve their needs.  

We have an international agreement on climate change. We are on an urgent time frame to educate for action.  A sustainable future starts right now and MUST become part of our educational programs.

Since the late 1960’s, sustainability, which initially had an environmental focus, expanded to include economy and later social and cultural considerations.

In 1987 the approach to conservation brought together environmental conservation and development and so came the term ‘sustainable development’. This represented the first formal recognition that “development should meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, suggesting development, progress and growth had to take account of their environmental impacts.

So wider ethical issues such as human rights, in support of values, justice and fairness are integral to education for sustainable development.  Intercultural understanding strengthens respect for equality.  Peace and resolving conflict foster the values of empathy and cooperation.  A rights based education encompasses the concept of education for sustainable development and reinforces the awareness that we share a common destiny with others. (OHCHR 2006).

Sustainability has become a vast social, political, economic and educational concern. The UN has devoted a decade to Education for Sustainability. UNESCO has the online multimedia program Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future.  http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/index.html

How can sustainability enhance the learning areas in curricula?

The Australian Curriculum considers sustainability important enough to be delivered across all learning areas.

A curriculum that has sustainable futures at its core will be a dynamic and value enriched program of learning. The ways in which we can meet our current needs without diminishing the environment or reducing the capacity of future generations to meet their own needs is what a sustainable future is about.

So as a learner and facilitator, I brainstormed all the perspectives of a global curriculum centred around the concepts of sustainability – cultural sustainability, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability ….. so here goes ….. needs and wants, human rights, politics, the Sustainable Development Goals, belief systems, value systems,  gender equity, poverty reduction, global cooperation, interconnection, human well being, peace, resolving conflict, partnerships, trade, water, forests, natural hazards and disasters, biodiversity, food security, endangered species, energy, desertification, effects of climate and its change, trading fairly, education,  identity, child Rights, agriculture, ethical consumerism, migration, immigration, refugees, population, intercultural understanding, cultural diversity, connections to the past, indigenous culture, global health …… phwew!!  And that’s just for starters.

Write down these learning areas- Civics and Citizenship, Geography, Science, History, Technologies, Maths, The Arts, English, Health and Phys Ed, Languages and  Economics.

Now try and fit any one of the concepts above into just one learning area.  Can’t choose? That’s because sustainability and global learning traverse all areas of the curriculum. A rich curriculum has interconnected learning.

The best way to work out where you can work with these concepts in your curriculum is to do a concept map.

Take a look at your existing curriculum. Could you enhance it and open the eyes of your learners a little wider by including a concept around sustainability?  Are you willing to prepare our learners to be the active global citizens who will act for a better future for all on this planet? It’s a no-brainer.

 

Cartoon by Nicholson from “The Australian” newspaper: www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au – See more at: http://nicholsoncartoons.com.au/reproduce-a-cartoon#sthash.eni7rgBN.dpuf

 

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...does not exist without strong interplay from other important influences, economic, social, political, cultural and or ethical

 UNESCO.org

Some researchers interchange political with ethical or cultural pillars

Together these influences form Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is a moral precept as well as a scientific concept.  It is as closely linked to peace, human rights and equity as much as to ecology or global warming.  A shared vision and commitment to values that will provide a foundation for a global, sustainable future and equitable resource distribution

The Pillars

Environmental Sustainable use of resources, actions that will preserve and enrich the environment and enhance the quality of life of all species

Economic Improvements in people’s lifestyles, reduction of poverty and economic growth without being detrimental to the lives of future occupants of the planet  

Social Recognition of humanity’s global interdependence and responsibility for a peaceful, equitable sustainable future

 

I’ve just done a load of laundry and about to hang it out on an unseasonal hot day when I turned to my computer to write about green washing.

The washing will dry in a jiff.

The term was used at the Social Good Summit held in Sydney last weekend.  Among a gathering of stakeholders who were involved in bringing shared value to business were Professor Greg Whitwell and Ranjit Voola from the University of Sydney Business School. They spoke of conscious capital; profit that has a purpose, business involving social impact.  Greg believes the United Nations Sustainable Goals for Development can be achieved with a shift in direction.  He is leading the way by focussing his business school on building strategies for social conscience in business leadership.  Ranjit spoke on markets, poverty alleviation and social justice.

See his leadership in action Poverty alleviation and profitability

We can support businesses that are making their mark as partners in social equity.

Back to the washing.

Whilst I was guiding groups of home owners through my friends’ sustainable house on Open Day I was privy to a rather telling situation. I had many things to mention; the removal of down-lights, the blocking up of all gaps in the house, lights and power usage.  My spiel included mentioning the number of watts various home appliances consumed when plugged into power but not being used.

Me:  “We took some readings on this meter before you arrived and this is the data we got”.

Before I got to the figures SHE looked at HIM and her eyes spoke, “I told you there’s energy use when the power’s on at the wall.” HIS eyes rolled in complete surrender as
if SHE’D won another round. There’d obviously been some discussion around this point.  I went on.  “Computers sap 15 watts lying idle but plugged in.  Washing machines-6 watts….”

Have you wondered about the appliances around your house and how you could reduce your environmental footprint?