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Resolving Environmental Threats for the Benefit of Humanity, conference in Korea

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The Twenty-Sixth International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences (ICUS XXVI) will be held in Seoul (Korea) on February 3 – 5. The main theme will be Resolving Environmental Threats for the Benefit of Humanity.

Mario Salomone, Secretary General of the WEEC Network is one of the speakers. The theme of his speech will be about Educating the Public in Environmental Best Practices.

The conference is organised by the HJIFUS, the Hyo Jeong International Foundation for the Unity of the Sciences. HJIFUS engages in research on the environmental ailments of Earth. As the Foundation has connections to many world level organizations, it is well-positioned to spread innovative ideas and best practices to leaders. HJIFUS institutions around the world work together to cosponsor international conferences and projects.

The mission of HJIFUS is to protect and regenerate the health of the environment, thereby enhancing the well-being of humanity and all life on Earth.

To do this, HJIFUS will identify environmental threats and their causes. The Foundation conducts research on solutions to the environmental problems directly or through partnering entities. After best solutions are identified, HJIFUS supports their implementation in areas of the world facing environmental challenges.

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MedArtSal, sustainable management of artisanal salinas in the Mediterranean

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Ready, set, go! MedArtSal kick is a project to promote sustainable management of artisanal salinas in the Mediterranean. The eight partners of the project MedArtSal – sustainable management model for Mediterranean Artisanal Salinas are gathering in Rome, on 18 January, for the kick off meeting of this initiative funded by the European Programme ENI CBC MED 2014-2020 with a total budget of € 3.2 million and an EU contribution of € 2.9 million (90%).
Artisanal salinas across the Mediterranean are today facing many pressures due to profound socio- economic changes that have affected productive activities. The MedArtSal project that is being launched in Rome, aims to promote the multifunctional use of the artisanal salinas to diversify socioeconomic activity generating revenues in terms of good quality salt production, but also by obtaining other products that can be commercialized, or by exploring their potential for tourism, while respecting the natural values of the sites. The project will address common challenges for artisanal salinas in four Mediterranean countries (Italy, Spain, Lebanon and Tunisia), with 10 pilot actions for the development of new products/services in selected salinas and 2 demonstration projects on the diversification of salinas products (i.e. food and cosmetics) and services (i.e. HO.RE.CA) carried out in La Esperanza, Cádiz (Spain) and Sidi Al-Hani (Tunisia).
«Investing in artisanal salinas means preserving our cultural heritage and landscape, local development and biodiversity. The final aim is to develop a sustainable and adaptable management model fostering the territorial valorisation of artisanal salinas in the Mediterranean region» says Gaetano Zarlenga, General Manager at University Consortium for Industrial and Managerial Economics, (CUEIM), Italy. The main beneficiaries of this project will be artisanal salinas and salt producers, small and medium enterprises around these sites and local communities from the Mediterranean region.
The project has a duration of 3 years and is led by CUEIM – University Consortium for Industrial and Managerial Economics (Italy) and involves the following partners: Association for the Development of Rural Capacities (Lebanon), Fair Trade Lebanon (Lebanon), IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (Spain), Mediterranean Sea and Coast Foundation (Italy), Saida Society (Tunisia), University of Cádiz (Spain), and Tuniso-Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tunisia).
Contacts
Lourdes Lázaro, IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (Lourdes.lazaro@iucn.org)

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African youth against climate change, a new hub is born

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A major new initiative to fight climate change was launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, at the 2019 Climate Action Summit of the United Nations. The initiative, focused on promoting the ideas and solutions of young Africans, was launched on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Her Royal Highness, as a globally committed actor, has, for several decades, systematically placed young people and citizens at the center of the Foundation’s activities.

This initiative was born out of a partnership between the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, YOUNGO (group of children and young people at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, the OCP Group, as well as young people who were at the heart of the co-construction of this initiative.

The Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection brings to this initiative its 18 years of experience in education for sustainable development in Morocco, as well as a significant emphasis on Africa, digital technology and international cooperation . YOUNGO makes use of more than 200 youth-led NGOs for young people, as well as its technical expertise. The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University contributes with its approach based on learning by doing (learning by doing), its network of African experts as well as its cutting-edge resources. Finally, the OCP Group provides its support and expertise as a representative of the private sector.

The African Youth Climate Hub will offer young Africans the opportunity to establish and foster a generational movement to fight climate change. The Hub will educate, inspire, empower and mobilize young people to create lasting change in their schools, communities and professional ecosystems, at all levels.

The aim is to create a forum where young Africans can discuss their ideas for combating climate change. The ideas deemed most relevant to the key targets of the Hub will be developed in an incubator before being refined and then deployed. The Hub hopes to bring together the most committed and innovative young African thinkers on climate change, create a learning center and help people find green jobs in Africa.

«Africa is affected by climate change and at the same time constitutes a rich breeding ground for solutions. There has never been a more inclusive and impact-oriented space, allowing young Africans to come together and share their ideas for solutions adapted to their continent». This was stated by Meryem Hdia, a 21-year-old Moroccan woman, youth ambassador for the Hub. «This new platform will allow young Africans to create their own solutions to climate change. It is about developing ideas that will have a real impact on the lives of people around the world».

The African Youth Climate Hub will enable young Africans to identify and connect with the different groups and organizations that need to rely on their ideas to integrate best practices and amplify the impact of their actions. The Hub aims to generate forums involving the main stakeholders and young people, to reduce differences in capacity and to promote an active intergenerational approach.

But the Hub is not limited to ideas: the objective is to generate tangible results with support mechanisms put in place to make ideas happen. Among these mechanisms, the establishment of a network to facilitate cross-border and intergenerational connections, an incubator and a knowledge center.
The African Youth Climate Hub will be based at the Hassan II International Center for Environmental Training in Rabat, Morocco. An annual meeting of the Hub will be held at the Center and will allow young people from all over the African continent to share their knowledge, exchange their best practices, etc.

Contacts: contact@youthclimatehub.org

 

 

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Daughters of the Forest, documentary film

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The documentary film Daughters of the forest tells the intimate, powerful story of a small group of girls in one of the most remote forests left on earth who are transformed by attending a radical high school where they learn to protect the threatened forest and build a better future for themselves.It tells the story of these girls living in a rural area where more than 95 percent of the forest has been razed for multi-national agri-businesses.

Meanwhile, more than 80 percent of the people in the region live in extreme poverty, and nearly 90 percent of the teenage girls become pregnant by the age of 16, then drop out of school.

Despite this landscape of despair, The Centro Educativo Mbaracayu, is a place of hope and opportunities for these young girls as they become agents of change.

 

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Week-long Training courses on ESD

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The time of year has arrived for the Erasmus+ KA1 applications. This year MEdIES offers three courses on 3 topics:

– Marine Litter Education. Sun 4 October – Sat 10 October 2020. The course aims to build trainees’ skills in delivering meaningful education interventions on the issue of marine litter, using experiential, learner-centered training methods.
– Animation in Education. Sun 8 November 2020 – Sat 14 November 2020 . This course is the product of collaborative work of the past six years. Since 2014 more than 250 formal and non-formal educators were trained on the use of short-video animation on ESD projects.
– Education for Alternative Water Resources. Sun 24 January – Sat 30 January 2021. The course aims to enhance the professional development of formal and non-formal educators on non-conventional water resources. It capitalizes on our 10-yr experience having trained ~5000 educators!

All courses are eligible for an EU ERASMUS+ KA1 grant to support the trainees’ participation coming from the EU. Deadline for Erasmus+ KA1 application: 05/02/2020.
Training courses on ESD themes for teachers and adult education staff 100% fundable by Erasmus plus KA1.

MEdIES runs week-long training courses on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) for formal and non-formal educators from European countries and beyond.

The courses combine short theory sessions with many workshops, visits, hands-on, and co-creative group-work sessions. They all start from a common “core” instruction with the principles of ‘Education for Sustainable Development’, in light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), followed by a different focus-theme.
The indoor sessions are held in the premises of MIO-ECSDE, in the historical centre of Athens, while the outdoor sessions and visits take place in and around the city of Athens.

The tuition fee for the week-long training (for MIO-ECSDE / MEdIES) is 490 Euro. The total cost (tuition fee, travel, accommodation and subsistence), depending on the country of origin can range between 1300 and 1800 EURO. These costs are eligible to be 100% funded by the Erasmus+ programme, notably under Key Action 1 (KA1 – mobility projects for staff of school education and adult education).
Contacts at info@medies.net

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China: Gunter Pauli named one of the Nation’s best science teachers

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The Xinhua News Agency announced the 10 best science teachers of China.  Gunter Pauli, one of the most influencer speaker at WEEC Congress, famous all around the world for his books and lectures, has been recognized as one of the Nation’s best science teachers (first time for a foreigner).

“Gunter’s Fables” are remarkably popular, and the production each year of 36 additional fables has offered a continuous flow of inspiration to teachers and children alike.
«Remember perhaps I have an agreement to publish 365 fables, I have already written 306 and the Chinese Government already published 216 – said Mr Pauli – Over the past 7 years I have taught 35,000 teachers and have spoken to more than 300,000 students. These model  classes have become so popular that the Government decided that within a decade these classes will have been presented in each and every province … by me in person».

It was just last November 2 that Alibaba and the Government awarded Gunter Pauli the “Best Education on Nature” award.  «What an honor to be recognized  now for the science education – he commented –  After all this is exactly what we need “be inspired by Nature” and ensure that we transform society for the better based on innovative science».

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Empowers successful clean-up in “the hinge of Africa”

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The local section of ICENECDEV – Cameroon organised a full action packed clean-up  in the coastal village of Isobe Idenau. The community members received information on the effects of marine litter and how actions can be taken in order to prevent waste from ending up in the environment. Their joint efforts led to a collection of 1004,8 kg of plastic waste! Which means the coastal community made sure that they saved more than a ton of waste from ending up in the ocean and harming our marine life. The executive director Fongoh Eric and his organizing team ICENECDEV together with the local community worked hard to realise this goal!
Discovery Networks Norway joined this plastic waste movement on their impact day and contributed to clean-up with quintuple global effect sponsoring clean-ups around the world. Thanks to their sponsorship, it led to new clean-up in a whole new region of Empowers journey- West Cameroon. Because of the geographical and cultural diversity of the country, it is often referred to as “Africa in miniature” and as “the hinge of Africa”.
Like many African countries, Cameroon exhibits the burdens of waste managements. Several factors such as inadequate financial resources, low levels of enforcement of regulations, lack of knowledge and poor governance often lead to poor waste management services. The local partner ICENECDEV (also accredited to UNEP) has actively been working towards combating marine plastic litter and micro plastics.
With partners they aim to increase awareness and actions on the environment along the coastal village communities along the west coast of Cameroon (Isobe, Idenau, Etissah, Batoke,Bakingli). «We are thrilled to be a part of this campaign with ICENECDEV to illuminate on the waste problem and incentivize plastic waste collection in the region. We humbly thank everyone involved for all their superb efforts in this collaboration».

Read the full article here

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World EE Day, Report 2019

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The second edition of the World Environmental Education Day took place from 14 to 26 October 2019,
The Weec Network invited all the stakeholders of the environmental education to join the World Environmental Education Day organising special events to highlight the importance of environmental educational actions all over the world.

The aim of EE Day is to focus on the complexity of the challenges in a world where everything is ever more interconnected. Several associations, environmental education centres, schools and institutions sent us information about their events in 2019. Here we present a selection of interesting case histories.

Haiti
Les Cayes, Botanical Garden
The event is organized from 27th October to 2nd November 2019 by Les Cayes Botanical Garden. The goal is to promote environmental education across different sector in the country. The theme chosen is “facing to climate change, environmental education is necessary. Which strategies to adopt”. Different activities are preview:
a. October 27: Talk-show on the history of Environmental Education around the world and in Haiti. Opening of the activities of the week.
b. October 28th: presentation of two training sessions on Environmental Education in 2 schools in the area.
c. October 29th, 2.00-5.00pm and October 30th to 31st: Training on Botanic systematic, identification native and endemic plants that could be used in reforestation, agroforestry, revegetation and restoration of ecosystems. After this training participants will have the ability to identify native and endemic plants to be conserved, exotic plants to avoid and invasive plants to eliminate. A certificate will be issued after this training.
d. November 1st: EDU-Tours to allow participants to discover the strategies developed by a community in environmental education.
e. November 2nd: Exposition and others activities based on Environmental Education.

Italy
Metropolitan City of Florence, environmental educational laboratory
Trainging meetings for professors and educators. The 2019 training proposal was divided into three meetings scheduled for 27 May, 12 September and 26 October 2019. The meetings are organized by the Environmental Educational Laboratory of the Medici Park of Pratolino with the collaboration of the ‘Italian Sustainable Development Association, the University of Florence and the Unesco Club of Florence. The May meeting was included in the 2019 Sustainable Development Festival and the October meeting is included in the World Environmental Education Week (October 14-26)

Saturday 26 October, program:
– Irene L’Abate and Michela Mayer (LDA and IASS) summary of activities May / September and aims of EAS
– Prof. Giovanna del Gobbo (UNIFI) Educational methods consistent with EAS
– M. Pettenati and I. De Maurissens (researchers) The job for EAS of INDIRE how, why, for whom to document?
– Rossano Ercolini (elementary school teacher, president of the Zero Waste Research Center and the Zero Waste Europe Association) Presentation of the book Zero waste the ten steps to the ecological revolution of the Nobel Award for environment.
– Shared lunch (everyone brings something to share and plate, glass and cutlery strictly Plastic free)
– Michela Mayer and Francesca Farioli (IASS) group work on action research and educational skills
– Irene L’Abate, teachers and operators, document the activities: Sustainable school communities
– Good educational practices illustrated by managers, teachers, educators
– confrontation on the topic Let’s get on the net? hypothesis for the creation of the ECOS network

Italy
ITET Fontana, school
On the occasion of the Fair Do the right thing in Trento (Italy), as an EMAS certified school we participate by presenting the path of environmental sustainability that we have been pursuing for more than ten years and which plans to create a network of students and environmental teachers who promote good daily practices. We also investigate all school consumptions, calculate their environmental impact, design solutions to reduce them effectively. We have also developed an environmental calculator for educational visits and the related compensation with the adoption of a forest in Ecuador. We are also EMAS certified and our environmental declaration has won the first national award organized by ISPRA in 2017.
Too bad that, of all this, nobody notices!

Mali
AGIR, Ngo
The environment house of Bamako
Projection of small scenarios by the NGO AGIR from a notebook with messages. The themes treated for raising the awareness of school children and the public are:  the water,  water-related diseases,  waste, animals, hygiene, trees, pollution, big family, role of the town hall, road traffic, the sport, each sequence will be debated.

Nigeria
Smile-Face Global Peace Initiative
To organize Environmental week program in schools with expert/ environmentalist to talk on protection of our land and the need to engage in activities that promote healthy life and sustainable development.
As parts of the program line up, tree planting in schools to replace the ones uprooted for use as a source of fire for cooking. This will also involve sensitization/ awareness campaign on the need to avoid unhealthy behaviour that is contributing negatively to our environment.
We plan to recruit volunteers to help government, Ethiopian embassy, UN agencies in the implementation of tree planting program in schools, public buildings, Roads, parks etc.

Portugal
MARE Centre and INIAV, IP
In Portugal the MARE Centre and Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P. (INIAV), in cooperation with Centro de Educação Ambiental – Torres Vedras organized outdoor visits to the sand dune habitats, located at Torres Vedras coastal zone (Portugal).
These visits are part of the EMC2 Project, focused on white crowberry plant – Corema album (L.) D. Don.
In October 2019, 20 pupils of the 3rd grade, and 18 pupils of 5th grade, 5 teachers and 1 researcher participated in outdoor environmental activities that highlighted some aspects of this plant bio-geography and its value as an Iberian endemic plant with white edible small fruits.
(in the picture: activities with children)

 

 

 

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Be giants in the education work you do: the request of young people at 10WEEC

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Around the world, young people are marching for action on climate change.
Around the world, students are striking.
Around the world, the youth are protesting for a better world.
Young people are standing up and asking to be heard. This is what democracy is about. Being heard.

Dear Congress organisers, Her Royal Highness, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, WEEC Committee, and conference delegates, thank you for this opportunity to stand up, speak up, and be heard. Thank you for this opportunity to be a part of this 2019 World Environmental Education Congress.

I am speaking on behalf of 68 students and teachers from Thailand, Taiwan, Nepal, Japan, Philippines and India. In a way, I am also speaking on behalf of all young people in those six countries and around the world.
It is an honour to have the chance to present the views of young people to this Congress.

I want to thank you all for the work you have done and the work you are doing in environment and education to make the world better. It is not young people Vs old people. The Earth is one country and we humans are its citizens. We are in this together and we youth want to help heal and protect the Earth.

Yesterday, students from the Youth Camp came up with messages for some of the main groups in this room.

To the people from schools and universities, please teach students to become aware of the problems and how to help. Then students can use their knowledge and skills to make the better world.
To community organisations, please keep doing what you are doing to care for people and the environment.
To the scientists and engineers, we ask you to keep doing good science and keep innovating new designs and materials for the betterment of the planet and the people.
To the business people, we ask you to use your platform as a foundation to promote environmental awareness and action.
To the politicians here today, please make good decisions so young people can enjoy being young and not worried about the future. We don’t want to protest. We want to be children.
Finally, to everyone here, please work together. A sustainable world depends on communication and collaboration of all groups in society.

Sir Isaac Newton, a famous scientist from the 17th century, once said, “If I have seen further than others, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.”

We students at the Youth Camp will leave school soon. We will go to universities, we will go into the community, and we will go into the workforce. We ask you…

Please be giants.

Please be giants in the science and education work you do.

Please build a strong sustainability foundation that we can stand upon. Please be sustainability giants with strong shoulders that will help us see further and continue your work in building a world worth living in.

Please be giants.

Phansa Duangtip

Plutaluang Wittaya School, Chonburi Province, Thailand

see photos and video of the Youth Camp

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Improvement of the environment and natural resources: the goal of the Chaipattana Foundation

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May it please, Your Royal Highness, May I, Sumet Tantivejkul, Secretary-General of the Chaipattana Foundation, humbly request Your Royal Highness permission to deliver the introductory Remarks for the 10th World Environmental Education Congress. Your Royal Highness, On behalf of the Chaipattana Foundation and distinguished participants, I am greatly honored to express our deepest appreciation to Your Royal Highness for graciously presiding over the 10th World Environmental Education Congress today.

On this remarkable event, I have a privilege to announce that we are delighted to serve as one of the organizers that made this congress happen for the first time in Asia. It is also a wonderful experience for us to work with other two co-organizers, Kasetsart University and the World Environment Education Network. Established by His Majesty Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the Chaipattana Foundation has served, for 30 years, to provide prompt, timely and necessary responses to problems affecting the Thai people through various development projects. The Faculty of Environment Kasetsart University has long been providing vital assistance to the Chaipattana Foundation particularly in the areas of environment. Therefore, this serves as an excellent opportunity to host the Congress together with our co-organizers whose expertise will guide us through the worldwide discussions and exchanges of ideas that will lead to sustainability of the local and global connectivity.

The Chaipattana Foundation’s great concern has always been on the improvement of the environment and natural resources. Therefore, various royal development projects aiming at improving the quality of soil and water have been established around the nation that apply simple, affordable, and practical methods. Among these projects is the Laem Phak Bia Environmental Study Research and Development Project or LERD in Petchaburi Province. The main purpose is to provide environmental knowledge for local communities and organizations on how to implement simple natural methods to treat solid waste and wastewater. Extensive research and experiments to make the natural methods become more effective have been conducted by an academic team from the Faculty of Environment, Kasetsart University.

Throughout the years of implementation, the results on the application of the natural methods have been satisfactory and the LERD Project has become internationally recognized. Each year, the Project received numerous visitors from every part of the world. Collaborations with several academic institutions in the national and international levels were also established.

As the world is becoming smaller and our common future has become a common challenge, the Chaipattana Foundation is confident that the knowledge sharing is the key. The sharing that will happen during the conference will bring forth diverse bodies of knowledge from around the world to help formulate guidelines that will help ease the environmental problems that are becoming more severe. I personally believe that this meaningful congress will eventually play a significant part that helps our common future gear towards sustainability.

On this auspicious occasion, with Your Royal Highness’ gracious permission, I have a great honor to respectfully invite Your Royal Highness to graciously deliver an opening address and to preside over the opening ceremony of the 10th World Environmental Education Congress for all the success of this remarkable event.

International Secretariat

Corso Moncalieri, 18
10131 Torino – Italy
tel.+39 0114366522
secretariat@weecnetwork.org

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