Transcript www.bcca.org

People, Planet, Prosperity – It’s all
Connected: Education for a
Sustainable World
Green Acre Bahá’í School, September, 2006
A regional seminar held in observance of the
United Nations Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development
2005-2014
“Education is the indispensable foundation of
all human excellence” (Abdu'l-Baha)
“For Bahá'ís, Bahá'u'lláh's promise
that civilization will exist on this
planet for a minimum of five
thousand centuries makes it
unconscionable to ignore the longterm impact of decisions made
today.”
Baha’i International Community,
Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Bahá'í Faith, 1995
All men have been created to carry
forward an ever-advancing
civilization… Those virtues that befit
his dignity are… compassion and
loving-kindness towards all the peoples
and kindreds of the earth.
Baha'u'llah,
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 214
Decade
Background/
History…
Sustainable Development = Development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their needs.
(The Brundtland Commission, 1987)
1992 Earth Summit
Agenda 21: “Blueprint for Sustainable Development”
40 chapters, 300 pages
Background/
History cont’d
27% coral reefs
Seriously threatened
(up from 10%)
1.1 billion lack
clean water
2.8 billion living
on < $2/day)
Extinctions
2002
on the rise
(10 years after Rio):
Declining indicators
6 million children
Greenhouse gas
died from hunger
emissions up 9%
In 10 years
Growing gap
between rich & poor
…2006
• Global warming
• Climbing fossil
fuel prices
• Terrorism & war
• Environmental
refugees
• …???
How do we get from where we are
to where we want to be…?
“Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take
an idea that seems abstract -- sustainable
development -- and turn it into a reality for all the
world's people.”
Kofi Annan, UNSG, 2001
Action Areas:
1. Provide basic education;
2. Reorient existing education;
3. Promote public understanding and
awareness;
4. Train the workforce
Key Themes…
Overcoming
Poverty
Gender
Equality
Health
Promotion
Environment
Key Themes
(cont’d)…
Rural
Development
Cultural
Diversity
Peace &
Human Security
Sustainable
Urbanization
Education for Sustainability
Framework
•
•
•
•
•
Imagining a better future
Critical thinking and reflection
Participation in decision making
Partnerships
Systemic Thinking
From Engaging People in Sustainability, IUCN,2004
Education for Sustainability –
some key areas of knowledge
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ecological Literacy
Systems Thinking
Multiple Perspectives
Knowledge of Place
Sustainable Economics
Citizenship
Creativity & Visioning
K-12 Grade Education for Sustainability, ELR News and Analysis, 2003
There are spiritual principles,
or what some call human
values, by which solutions can
be found for every social
problem.
The Universal House of Justice:
The Promise of World Peace, p. 13
The Sustainability “Stool”
Education for Sustainable
Development
Examples of Spiritual Principles
related to sustainability
Economic
Elimination of
extremes of
wealth and
poverty
Social
Equality of women
and men
Work as worship
Elimination of all
forms of prejudice
Moderation
Unity in diversity
Be content
w/little
Universal
compulsory
education
Voluntary giving
Profit sharing
Trustworthiness
Environmental
Interdependence of
all life
Nature a reflection
of the Divine
Humility – Earth
source of all our
wealth
Unity in diversity
Cleanliness
Kindness to animals
The Challenge of
Sustainability?
Thinking for the long haul
• Are we living within the limits of our
natural resources?
•Are we maintaining our planetary life
support systems?
•Can we keep doing what we are doing
forever? (US Environmental Protection Agency)
Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment, U. Wisconsin, Madison
Sustainability is…
“… the ability to achieve continuing
economic prosperity while protecting
the natural systems of the planet and
providing a high quality of life for its
people.”
(US Environmental Protection Agency)
…The speed and facility with which we
establish a sustainable pattern of life
will depend…on the extent to which we
are willing to be transformed…into
constructive forces in the process of
creating an ever-advancing
civilization.”
Baha’i International Community,
Conservation and Sustainable Development in the Bahá'í Faith, 1995
Decade-related National Bahá’í Initiatives:
• Brilliant Star Magazine May/June ’05
• The American Bahá’í & One Country articles
• Web resources (www.bahai.us, IEF, EBBF)
• Sustainable Development & the Prosperity of
Humankind -- Wilmette Institute online course
(Oct ’05 & ‘06)
• Conferences, workshops, seminars
• World Order Magazine issue
• U.S. Partnership for ESD
Blending Education for Sustainable Development
with Bahá’í Community Life…
Study Circles
Children’s Classes
Devotionals
Bahá’í Center Construction &
Maintenance
Feasts
Families & Parenting
(in the home)
The Fund
The Local
Bahá’í
Community
Social & Economic Development
Projects
Wider Community Collaboration
LSA meetings
Huququ’llah
Firesides & Public Meetings
Cluster / Reflections
Gatherings
Service Projects