UNESCO-UNEP ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

Vol. XXI, No. 2, June 1996

Education for Sustainable Development: A priority for the world community

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), set up by the United Nations to monitor the follow-up of the decisions of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development -U N C E D (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3 - 1 4 June 1992) recorded in Agenda 21, met for its fourth session in N e w York, U . S . A . , 18 April - 3 M a y 1996. The participants included high-level representatives from numerous member states, U N agencies, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations. The involvement of financial institutions, trade unions, business and industry, as well as the side events that were organized alongside the session, are worth mentioning.

The noteworthy feature of this session was that for the first time since 1992 the C S D would consider Chapter 36 of Agenda 21: Promoting education, public awareness and training. This cross-sectoral chapter was one of the few of Agenda 21 which did not provoke contention at the U N C E D , both developed and developing countries having agreed that education was critical for promoting sustainable development and increasing the capacity of the people to address environment and development issues.

The recommendations and action plans of all succeeding international conferences organized by the United Nations, namely: Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States (Bridgetown, Barbados, 25 April - 6 M a y 1994), International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, Egypt, 5 - 1 3 September 1994), World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, Denmark, 6 - 1 2 March 1995), Fourth World Conference on W o m e n (Beijing, China, 4 - 1 5 September 1995) and the Second United Nations Conference on H u m a n Settlements -Habitat II (Istanbul, Turkey, 3 - 1 4 June 1996), have confirmed the importance and the international support given to education at U N C E D .

U N E S C O , as Task Manager for this chapter, had been asked to prepare an overview of the subject covering the following topics: • Current status and progress since U N C E D • Constraints to implementation • Main trends • Linkages with other chapters of Agenda 21 • Policy recommendations • Action required to be submitted to the U N Secretary-General for his report to the C S D .

In its examination of the report, the C S D acknowledged the progress m a d e in co-operative ini­tiatives such as the U N E S C O - U N E P International Environmental Education Programme (IEEP), stress­ing the need to broaden co-operation at the interna­tional level and build upon past experience, in partic­ular that of the IEEP and involving all relevant bod­ies of the United Nations system, Governments and major groups, in particular non-governmental organi­zations, business and industry, youth and the educa­tional community. It laid particular emphasis on the development of a bold and imaginative co-operative arrangement concentrating on a limited number of key undertakings during the next four or five years.

The C S D recognized that education for sustain­able development is a lifelong process, that it needs to be understood as part of a broad n e w vision of educa­tion and that this would require restructuring and reform of formal education, as well as the utilization of all non-formal channels, including distance educa­tion. The concept of education for sustainable devel­opment needs to be further refined and key messages have to be identified. It stressed the importance of basic education for all, the value of traditional knowl­edge and the potential of technical and vocational education and training in the promotion of sustainable development in key economic sectors.

In order to change unsustainable production and consumption patterns and lifestyles, it was essential to give greater emphasis to the role of education for sus­tainable development, including environmental eco­nomics, as well as public awareness. In the latter case, the C S D acknowledged the importance of the role of the media and the advertising industry just as it recog­nized the need to give greater emphasis to raising awareness and taking action in implementing Agenda 21 at the community and municipality levels, as well as to targeting households as a key point of entry.

O n e of the most important outcomes of this ses­sion was the adoption by the C S D of a special work programme1 devoted to education, public awareness and training. The special work programme on edu­cation, public awareness and training outlines the priorities for action by the U N system and U N E S C O in particular, as well as by governments and major groups-. Within the U N system, U N E S C O , as task manager for Chapter 36 will be responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of this work programme and for working with the U N Department of Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development (DPCSD) to report on this work to the forthcoming session of the Commission in April 1997.

The main decisions taken by the C S D in the con-, text of this programme of work, taking into account relevant linkages with the programme of work on changing consumption patterns adopted at its third session, can be roughly grouped into three categories:

1. W o r k programmes are adopted by the Commission for themes con­sidered of particular importance and for which the Commission wants some concrete action to be taken immediately on its behalf. The C S D has three other special work programmes devoted to: changing consumption patterns; technology transfers; and indicators.

1. Those addressed to U N E S C O 2. Those addressed to governments 3. Those addressed to major groups

1. C S D decisions addressed to U N E S C O :

• U N E S C O , as task manager for Chapter 36 should actively pursue, in partnership with U N E P , the International Union for the Conservation of Nature ( IUCN) and other key institutions, international ini­tiatives that lead towards a broad alliance for educa­tion for sustainable development taking into account the experience of the U N E S C O / U N E P International Environmental Education Programme and other rel­evant programmes, and to promote networks on edu­cation and training for sustainable development at all levels, particularly at the grass-roots level;

• U N E S C O , working in close co-operation with other governmental and non-governmental organi­zations, and the educational and scientific c o m m u ­nities, should advise on h o w education and training for sustainable development can be integrated into national educational policies;

• U N E S C O should refine the concept and key m e s ­sages of education for sustainable development, taking into account the experience of environmen­tal education and integrating considerations per­taining to population, health, economics, social and h u m a n development, and peace and security.

2. C S D decisions addressed to Governments:

• Governments should advance education and train­ing for sustainable development with assistance, as appropriate, from the U N system and other relevant international bodies. The Commission encourages the involvement of the educational community, the sharing of experience - including among the youth - and the highlighting of best practices, in particu­lar within local communities in the preparation and implementation of action plans to this effect;

• Governments and all relevant stakeholders should work in partnership with youth to strengthen tools for youth empowerment and to provide skills and training to prepare youth for decision-making roles and sustainable livelihoods.

3. C S D decisions addressed to major groups:

• the United Nations system, governments and major groups should implement in an integrated manner the recommendations concerning education, public awareness and training contained in the action plans of all the major U N conferences and conven­tions adopted after U N C E D ;

• Developed countries, international organizations and the private sector should assist in promoting education, public, awareness and training in devel­oping countries, through the provision of financial and technical support;

• N e w partnership arrangements should be devel­oped a m o n g educators, scientists, governments, non-governmental organizations, business and industry, youth, the media and other major groups,

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to communicate the key messages of sustainable development through both formal and non-formal channels. The n e w communications technologies should be exploited for this purpose. Education and training for sustainable development should be based on a broad participatory approach, taking into account local needs and values.

Finally, the C S D requested the U N Secretary-

Teaching for a Sustainable World, a professional development workshop manual, has just been pub­lished for the U N E S C O - U N E P International Environmental Education Programme (IEEP).

Conceived with the intention of facilitating pre-service and in-service teacher education on curricu-lar themes, it is a revised, expanded and international edition of the materials developed at the Griffith University which w a s supported by IEEP, the Australian Association for Environmental Education and the Australian A g e n c y for International Development, A u s A I D . The twenty six 3-5 hour workshop modules on education for sustainability for use in teacher education that it contains were written by 24 educators from 21 different universities, gov­ernment departments and N G O s , w h o helped ensure the accuracy, cultural sensitivity and flexibility of use of the modules. The chief editor is John Fien w h o also co-ordinated the project, assisted by Michael Atchia, Wimala Ponniah and Orlando Hall.

The modules illustrate h o w environmental and development themes are related and provide practical assistance for teacher educators w h o would like to include these themes in their courses. They are pre­sented in four categories: Introductory Workshops; Modules on the Nature of Sustainable Living; Modules for Subjects, Curriculum Themes and Topics; and

This project is being carried out by the Institute of Environmental Sciences of Beijing N o r m a l University in the framework of the U N E S C O - U N E P International Environmental Education Programme (IEEP), in collaboration with U N E S C O / E P D and the Chinese National Commission for U N E S C O .

It is aimed specifically at Middle School E E teachers and its overall goal is to familiarize educa­tors with approaches and experiences in dealing with problems related to the environment, population and development in an integrated manner.

General to take the preliminary results of this work programme into account in the context of the 1997 review of education, public awareness and training:

For further information contact: Director, Environment and Population Education and Information for Development (EPD), UNESCO, 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France. Fax: (33-1) 45.66.96.84 E-mail: epd@unesco.org

Concluding Modules. Whereas the first category con­tains explanations of key concepts such as sustainabil­ity, environmental and development education and the links between them, the second category concentrates on the didactic aspects of sustainability: h o w to intro­duce it, to appreciate it, the role of culture and religion as well as environmental beliefs. A s concerns the sub­jects, curriculum themes and topics contained in the third category, a wide range is offered such as: Health, Environment and Communi ty Development; C o m ­munity Action for Sustainable Development; W o m e n , Environment and Development; The Population-Food Debate; Waste Managemen t and Future Problem-Solving; Refugees and Development; Tourism in the Developing world;... to name a few. The concluding modules are mainly devoted to analysis of educational resources for Environment and Deve lopment Education and the conflict between personal power and planetary survival.

Teaching for a Sustainable World was used for the first time at the Asia-Pacific Regional Training W o r k s h o p on Environmental Education and Sustainable Deve lopmen t , L a k e Cooroibah, Australia, April 1996 (v. Connect, vol. XXI, No. 1, March 1996).

For copies - available only to national educational institutions - write to: Connect (address on last page).

Based on the need felt by local authorities to har­monize and further develop E E in China, the project consists of the preparation and publication of a Teacher's Guidebook for E E in Middle Schools in English and Chinese followed by four training work­shops: 1 for teacher trainers, 1 for pre-service teacher training, and 2 for in-service teacher training.

The guidebook is aimed at familiarizing educa­tors with E E objectives, principles, contents, methodology and approaches. It was conceived to enable teachers to raise students' awareness of

Teaching for a Sustainable World

A professional development workshop manual

FIELD REPORTS Teacher Training Project to re-orient E E

to sustainable development in formal education

China

June 1996 3

environment, population and development problems, promote environment friendly behaviour and increase their participatory and problem solving capacity in the local context. Divided into four main sections: General principles and approach; Classroom teaching and extracurricular activities; Education in relation to local environment and devel­opment; and Assessment of environmental education, the guidebook will be used as a basic document in the four workshops.

The first workshop for teacher trainers will be attended notably by representatives of the Chinese National Commission of Education, National Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Association, Research Institute for Education

This Subregional Training Workshop was organized by the Collectif Sénégalais des Africaines pour la Promotion de l'Education relative à l'Environnement ( C O S A P E R E ) in co-operation with U N E S C O / E P D in the framework of IEEP and held in Dakar, Senegal, 15-19 January 1996.

The workshop was attended by participants from five countries of the Sahel region: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Senegal as well as represen­tatives of the C O S A P E R E , various N G O s , Université Cheikh Anta Diop, the media ánd the Senegalese ministries of Education, Environment, Health, Science and Technology, Economy, Water Resources, and Modernization.

The overall objective of the meeting was to strengthen the knowledge base of w o m e n teachers of family economy to enable them to function effective­ly as training personnel in the rural zones of the Sahelian region. More specifically, the training work­shop focused on: • increasing the knowledge base of the participants concerning sustainable managemen t and use of resources such as water, energy and food in the Sahelian subregion; • capacity building of key personnel in changing existing mentalities concerning the above mentioned resources as well as in matters of health and hygiene; • elaborating a subregional training programme for capacity building of w o m e n trainers to provide train­ing to women ' s groups for a multiplier effect; and

In the framework of IEEP, the National Aquarium of Cuba of the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, in collaboration with U N E S C O / E P D , will develop ah E E and information

(Shanghai), Center for Nature Conservation and E E (Jilin province), Research and Training Center for Rural Education (Heber province) as well as from several universities and education colleges. The two in-service teacher training workshops will be held in Beijing and Shanxi province, and will be attended each by 25 middle school teachers whereas partici­pants for the pre-service teacher training workshop will be selected from four teacher training universi­ties and colleges represented at the first teacher train­ing workshop.

A comprehensive report of the entire project, including the preparation, procedure and outcomes, is foreseen in English and Chinese, and will be pub­lished in the coming months.

• establishing a regional network of resource persons from the different drought affected countries.

The work consisted of presentations by specialists on the four major themes of the workshop: Water and its uses; Energy saving and Deforestation; Food tech­nologies: production, transformation and conserva­tion of foodstuffs; and Health and Hygiene. These were followed by the presentation of country reports by the representatives of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger. Three working groups were then formed on three topics: Use of water resources; Food technologies; and Energy saving. Health and Hygiene were treated as transversal themes touching each of the three groups. A field trip to the Institute of Food Technology (ITA) and a food production society ( S O C A ) was also included in the programme.

At the end of the workshop it was decided to establish a network of w o m e n teacher trainers spe­cialized in the topics treated at the workshop for rural and semi-rural zones of the drought stricken coun­tries of Central and Sahelian Africa. The Central African countries would be represented by Cameroon , Chad and Centralafrica whereas the Sahelian countries would be represented by Burkina Faso, C a p Verde, Gambia , Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal.

The final report of the workshop, including reports of the working groups, has been prepared and is available (in French only) on writing to: Connect (address on last page).

series for children entitled Conozcamos el mar (Getting to know the Sea).

The objectives of the project are to provide an educational supplement for use in formal as well as

Subregional Training Workshop for W o m e n Teacher Trainers

Dakar, Senegal, 15-19 January 1996

"Getting to know the Sea" (Conozcamos el mar)

A n E E and Information Series for Children

Cuba

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non-formal education in Cuba in general and in the educational programmes of the National Aquarium in particular. The series is designed in a manner so as to help school teachers develop new, complementary activities and stimulate interest for the subject matter in children and youths.

The series, which will be expandable, will initially comprise ten parts: General Information on the Sea; Marine Ecosystems and Biotopes; Physical and Chemical Properties of the Sea; Plankton; Inverte­brates; Fish; Turtles; Marine Mammals; Sea Birds; and A New Life Style. Each subject matter will consist

Following Recommendation 41 by the Mondiacult World Conference (Mexico, 1982) , the Rio Declaration on cities (1992) and the decision of U N E S C O ' s 27th General Conference (Paris, 1993), the Programa Multinacional: L a Ciudad Latino­americana was launched by the Instituto Regional de Estudios Urbanos (IREU) in co-operation with the Environment and Population Education and Information for Development (EPD) project and the Banco Internacional de Desarrollo (BID) in the framework of U N E S C O ' s p rog ramme on Latin American cities. The rationale of the programme is that the social, economic, environmental problems arising from the overpopulation of Latin American cities are largely due to the adoption of imported forms of urban development. In order to do away with these problems, it is necessary to revert to the traditional models of development, best suited to the artistic and cultural expression of the Latin American people.

The following are the major points of action of the programme: • Research on the cultural, legal, economic and

social factors that have contributed to the develop­ment of Latin-American cities;

• Formulation of regional criteria for urban growth/improvement incorporating cultural, envi­ronmental and safety factors;

• Elaboration of legal, technical and urban planning instruments;

• Definition and recommendation of qualitative crite­ria for the development of n e w populated centres with the participation of civil and local populations;

of 10-12 pages and be treated so as to emphasize the conservation and protection of the marine environ­ment. Information will be provided through texts, illustrations and photos as well as educational games.

Target groups for the publication will be children from 6-14, teachers, environmental educators as well as educational institutions and libraries. A n initial run of 10,000 copies is foreseen.

For further information on the project contact: Marlenys González, Especialista Principal EA, Acuario Nacional de Cuba, Ave. Ira y Calle 60, Miramar, C Habana, Cuba.

• Promotion of projects replying to the above m e n ­tioned criteria;

• Training of human resources in development and management of cities and populated centres through promotion of specialized courses in the academic centres of the region.

The first major concrete action has been the initi­ation, by the Government of Venezuela, of the con­struction of an "ecological" city, Ciudad Sucre, on the border with Colombia, underlining the impor­tance it lays on the development and management of its border region. With this initiative, the Venezuelan government aims to: • Begin a veritable chain of border cities with the

re structurization, remodeling and regrouping of other populations and construction of other cities;

• M a k e available health, social, cultural services as well as work opportunities to dispersed rural popu­lations;

• Put a check on the existing conditions of insecurity in the frontier zone;

• Harmonize development with the Colombian side of the border;

• Initiate a n e w model of frontier zone occupation and development; and

• Anticipate the increase in urbanization on the completion of the Caracas-Bogota-Quito-Lima highway. For further information contact: UNESCO Office,

Av. Los Chorros, c/c Calle Acueducto, Edf. Asovincar, Altos de Sebucán, P.O. Box 60.394, Caracas 1062-A, Venezuela. Tel: (58-2) 283.13.33 Fax:(58-2) 286.03.26.

A multinational programme for Latin American cities

Venezuela

June 1996 5

E E Centres, Networks, Initiatives around the world

The Technical Co-operation Office for the Environment ( T C O E )

Egypt

The Technical Co-operation Office for the Environ­ment ( T C O E ) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization funded by a consortium of donors to help the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency ( E E A A ) in the preparation and designing of profes­sional project documents on the environment. It also acts as co-ordinator for donor countries and agencies, one of its responsibilities being the implementation of the 1992 Environmental Action Plan. The T C O E has a special department to handle E E , Training and Public Awareness which is also responsible for encouraging the Egyptian business community to participate in environmental activities and to help in the implementation of the Egyptian Governorate Action Plan. The aims and objectives of the T C O E are:

• to assist the E E A A in the implementation of the Environmental Protection L a w of 1994 and incor­porate priority projects that address pressing envi­ronmental problems and needs;

• to promote environmental awareness and preserva­tion in the form of education and training and engage the business community in environmental activities through the media and public participa­tion; and

• to assist in capacity-building of Egyptian institutions. The activities of the T C O E include :

• designing priority projects and programmes to facilitate compliance with the Environmental Protection L a w ;

• initiating self-sustainable model demonstration projects;

• mobilizing resources and international support through the preparation of several country co-oper­ation programmes; and

• negotiating existing and potential projects with bi-and multi-lateral donors.

The T C O E ' s current areas of co-operative action include the Environmental Education and Training P r o g r a m m e and the North Sinai Governorate Environmental Action Plan, both funded by the Danish International Development Agency ( D A N I -D A ) , as well as the Public Awareness Campaign on the Environmental Protection L a w funded by the United States Agency for International Development ( U S A I D ) . Future and potential areas of co-operation include support programmes for N G O s and environ­mental awareness programmes for sectoral police and judges.

For further information contact: Mr Akram El Hosseiny, Environmental Program Manager, Technical Co-operation Office for the Environment, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, 16 Lebnan St. Mohandessin, Giza, Egypt. Fax: 302-9081.

Asian Institute of Environmental Education (AIEE)

Pakistan

The Asian Institute of Environmental Education (AIEE) is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit making educational organization which provides technical consultations and advisory ser­vices in the field of formal and non-formal E E with special focus on reorienting education toward sus­tainable development. It was established in 1995 by its founder-President, Dr. Abdul Ghafoor-Ghaznawi, former Chief of the Environmental Education Section of U N E S C O .

The objectives of A I E E are: • To train educational policy makers in the incorpo­

ration of E E philosophy, objectives and concepts into national educational policies and plans;

• To foster curriculum and teacher education renewal • To assist governmental and non-governmental

• organizations through consultations, advice and joint collaboration; and

• To foster exchange of information and experience among active professionals and institutions in E E for sustainable development.

The target audience of A I E E comprises intergov­ernmental, governmental and non-governmental organizations, E E and curriculum development cen­tres, institutions of educational planning and teacher education as well, as educators and education special­ists whose decisions and actions can lead to educa­tional renewal concerning environment, population and sustainable development.

For the 1996-97 biennium, A I E E plans to focus on the following major activities: • Asian Conference on the implementation of

Agenda 21 concerning Reorientation of Educa­tion toward Sustainable Development (March 1997);

• Asian Conference on Environmental Ethics and Cultures (October 1997);

• Asian Training Workshop on E E for Sustainable Development (2nd half 1997);

• Five National Training Workshops for W o m e n on E E for Sustainable Development (1996-1997); and

• Three pilot projects:

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-Improving Rural Environmental Health and Sanitation

- Fostering Village Afforestation - Curriculum and Teacher Education Renewal

through E E for Sustainable Development. A I E E also plans to translate into U r d u (the

national language of Pakistan) and adapt to local conditions, a substantial number of E E documents

The Namibian Environmental Education Network ( N E E N ) was established in June 1995 as a response to the need felt to co-ordinate the multiple, disparate efforts in E E made in diverse parts of the country which, due to lack of proper information, often resulted in duplication of efforts and gaps in terms of environmental issues as well as geographic regions covered. N E E N targets all organizations involved in the field of E E and aims to: • serve as a network linking all E E efforts through­

out Namibia and as a forum for discussion on E E and related issues;

• co-ordinate E E efforts among various ministries, N G O s and other organizations;

• represent and prornote the interest and issues of E E in local, regional, national and international fora; and

• encourage and co-ordinate research on relevant aspects of E E in Namibia. Concretely, N E E N organizes annual planning

Tereza is a core organization of the Czech Union of Nature Conservancy. A non-governmental, non-prof­it, civic organization focused on E E , its aim is to develop active educational models and focus on a deeper understanding of mutual relationships between m a n , society and Planet Earth. Under­standing these relationships and implementing corre­sponding changes into lifestyles is the most basic of current problems. A n d for this reason, Tereza aims to make children and adults aware of their right to influ­ence their environment and their responsibility towards it.

Tereza offers a broad spectrum of educational projects for children whose c o m m o n denominators are notably: • practical, meaningful and rewarding activities • original, enticing and quality tools • qualified and systematic assistance throughout the

duration of the project • fostering independence and a sense of responsibility

towards the project

published by the IEEP in the E E Series which will then be used in training workshops for curriculum developers, teacher educators, educators, education inspectors and specialists.

For m o r e information contact: Dr. Abdul Ghafoor-Ghaznawi, President, Asian Institute of Environmental Education (AIEE), No. 2, Street 64, F-8/4 Islamabad, Pakistan. Tel: (92-51) 260-561.

workshops, biennial conferences and general discus­sion fora focusing on environmental issues. It also publishes a quarterly newsletter to share information on the members ' activities, upcoming issues and general exchange of E E ideas. So far, N E E N has compiled a directory listing all organizations in the field of E E and sent it to members for comments. It has also drafted a national E E policy which is in the process of being finalized.

N E E N has a current membership of 54 consisting of N G O s , government agencies, farmers' associa­tions, community based organizations and individu­als. Most of the network's activities are funded by the Rössing Foundation E E Project through a U S A I D grant.

For more information contact: Louisa Mupetami, Secretary, The Namibian Environmental Education Network (NEEN), PO Box 24355, Windhoek, Namibia. Tel: (061)21-1721 Fax:(061)21-1273 E-mail:neen@windhoek. org. na

• co-operation with the public, local authorities and the media.

S o m e of Tereza's noteworthy projects are: The Blue of the Sky: do you care what you

breathe? - an air pollution project which gave chil­dren from all over Europe the opportunity to monitor and to notify the public of air pollution and growing damage to the environment;

Three Steps to Life or What you learn in kinder­garten - focusing on energy efficiency, waste disposal arrangements and greening the neighbour­hood;

Where does Europe end? - a project to highlight the importance of the role of history for the future.

Tereza organizes regional programmes in nature parks for practical activities centred on the sensory perception of nature. The goal of the programmes is not only to increase general ecological awareness but also to create a feeling of responsibility for the environment and for its future. It is also involved in spreading n e w and non-traditional forms of

The Namibian Environmental Education Network (NEEN)

Namibia

TEREZA

Association for Environmental Education

Czech Republic

Junel996 7

education which often become part of the projects. This is done through co-operation with teachers and children's group leaders, by organizing workshops and seminars for teachers which are by and large tied to individual projects.

Club Tereza, whose motto was to take care of Planet Earth, was launched in 1994, and already counts entire classrooms, hobby groups, families and groups of neighbourhood children as its members.

In co-operation with the National Centre of

Ecological Education and other partners, Tereza has undertaken the publication of documents such as Global Education by D . Selby and G . Pike and Place in the Sun by S. Fountain as well as the preparation of a 30 minute video entitled Education for the Future.

For further information contact: Jana Ledvinovä, Chairperson, Tereza, PO Box 77, 110 01 Praha 1, Czech Republic. Tel: +42-2-76.94.01 Fax: +42-2-76.42.85 E-mail':globe@tereza. anet. cz

DOING IT AND TELLING IT Community based E E for farmers

Ghana

Place: Four communities in the H o district. Target groups: Farmers and the youth. Introduction: Education and information on conservation and sustainable management of natural resources has been conceived for and made available to opinion leaders and policy makers. However, little or no direct provision has been made for the peasant farmers at the grassroots level. This category con­tributes significantly to the degradation of the environment and poverty. Besides, most activities have lost sight of the fact that the soil is the foundation of all activities. The purpose of this programme is to bring to the doorstep of the local communities scientific knowledge on sustainability. It was a pilot phase upon which future outreach programmes can be based. Objectives: • To make local people aware of practices that lead to the degradation of the environment; • To increase their understanding of ecological and technological processes that promote sustainable

agriculture; and • To help develop their o w n ability to sustainably manage the environment individually as well as

collectively. Resources: Resource persons from Our Global Heritage and Fire Service I.T.T.U. Red Cross as well as handouts and a video show. Methodology: A 3-day seminar/workshop was organized in each of the four communities on the following topics: Soil ecology; fire prevention and control; agroforestry; first aid; bee-keeping; biodiversity and human survival. The work, carried out in the local language E w e , consisted of the presentation of each topic followed by a discussion. This was followed in the evening by a video show and discussion. Evaluation/Results: There was no systematic evaluation done but the results speak for themselves. There has been a significant increase in the demand for nitrogen fixing tree seedlings. Bushfire effects have reduced drastically in these communities. In general, among the participating communities, there is an increase in the awareness of the principles of agroforestry and the efforts to avoid degradation of the envi­ronment are notable. Other communities have called for similar programmes. Depending upon the avail­ability of funds, the programme will be carried out in the entire district before being expanded to cover the whole region and the country. Sent by: Beloved M . Dzomeku, Education Co-ordinator, Our Global Heritage, P.O. Box 587, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana.

Involving N G O s in the development of local-specific materials

India

Place: Chandigarh, Punjab. Target Groups: Non-governmental Organizations ( N G O s ) and Voluntary Organizations (VOs) located in the state of Punjab. Introduction: Distribution of resource material is one of the most effective means of reaching out to wide sections of the society with w h o m N G O s and V O s have to communicate repeatedly. However, this material has to be region-specific with emphasis on local issues. A s feedback from the district authorities and

Connect

N G O s had indicated that at times these organizations are unable to decide on the choice of appropriate resource material, a two-day intensive workshop was organized to provide N G O s and V O s basic informa­tion for developing their o w n resource/awareness material. Objectives: To inform N G O s and V O s about resource material options and to provide them with adequate training to develop appropriate materials on their o w n . Resources: Books, pamphlets, brochures, wall-papers, newsletters, slides on the environment. Financial help was provided by the State government. Methodology: N G O s were informed about the workshop by means of a circular. From the 40 nominations received, 25 participants were selected. Effective teaching techniques like use of games, practical demon­stration and hands-on experience were adopted. Topics covered included local-specific environmental issues, practical problems in communication, non-formal E E as well as resource material options and plan­ning (targetting text, graphic art and designing). Practical demonstration for designing one poster, one leaflet and one newsletter was taken up. Subsequently, participants designed their o w n resource material in groups. Evaluation: The enthusiasm of the participants was visible from the fact that within a span of two days, 14 posters, 1 wall newsletter, 9 stickers and 3 pamphlets were developed by the participants. The merits and demerits of these were discussed with suggestions on improvement. The final evaluation was done through a questionnaire. Eighty per cent of the participants found the workshop very useful and wanted more persons from their organizations to be trained in future. Results: The major result of this activity was the démystification of the belief that resource material development is highly technical work. The final result will be known only after feedback is received in the form of local-specific material developed by the N G O s themselves. The project is expected to help N G O s improve communication with the masses. Sent by: Dr. (Mrs.) Neelima Jerath, Principal Scientific Officer (Environment), Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, S.C.O. 2935-36, Sector 22-C, Post Box No. 958, Chandigarh-160 022, India.

E E Project for the protection of the Jutia rat

Cuba

Place: The municipal district of Caibarien. Target Groups: The fishing community of the district. Introduction: The project for the protection of the jutia rat (Capromis auritus) is part of the E E pro­gramme for the population of the Caibarien municipality, which focuses on different natural themes. In order to protect a species endemic in the Fragoso island, which falls within the Caibarien municipality, various programmes were developed by the local radio station, specially designed for school going children of the fishing community. Objectives: - providing information about endangered species to the local population in a clear and sim­

ple manner - stimulating interest and participation in environmental activities - inciting municipal authorities to take decisions on and provide means for the environment

Resources: Biology teachers from the municipality and specialists from the group Flora y Fauna, psy­chologists, draughtsmen and designers, students and the local radio station. Methodology: The problem was presented through illustrations, discussions and debates. Special confer­ences were held on the subject and essay and drawing competitions organized. Finally, a Science Day was organized for and with the participation of the fishing community. Evaluation: A critical evaluation was done in groups. Another form of evaluation was done through the results of the competitions. Finally, a test was done to evaluate the level of awareness and participation. Results: The work done in terms of development of environmental awareness was accorded great impor­tance by specialists from the Pedagogical University "Felix Várela". Representatives from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment in the municipality recommended the use of similar methodological approach for other nature-related topics. Finally, a noticeably greater awareness is evident a m o n g the fisherfolk concerning indiscriminate hunting. Sent by: Jesus Amado Gutierrez Santana, Calle 6#1319 c/13 y 15, Caibarien, Villa Clara, C.P 52610, Cuba.

June 1996

The Silver Scarabeus

Italy

Place: Lucretili mountains, east of R o m e , Latium. Target Groups: Over four hundred 8 - 1 1 year old primary school children . Introduction: A s the Lucretili mountains are only a few kilometres away from R o m e , the latter is the focus of all economic and social activity and children are not stimulated to appreciate their immediate surroundings. Objectives: To revive the interest of school children in their immediate surroundings by developing a spirit of fantasy, creativity and observation through the following activities:

- learning to recognize and describe habitat and micro-habitat; - classifying animals using both morphological and imaginary keys; and - finding out the relationship between animals observed and the environment.

Resources: Financial resources were provided by the Mountain Community of Lucretili mountains. The activity was carried out by members of the Pangea, a co-operative society engaged in E E since 1990, together with local school teachers. Materials used were: topographical maps , stationary, magnifying lenses, digging tools and transparent boxes to observe little animals. Methodology: The activity was presented to the children as a scientific expedition to find the rare silver scarabeus, an imaginary insect invented to stimulate fantasy and research. Work groups of 40 children, 4 teachers and 2 Pangea members were formed. Each group was subdivided into 4 : map-makers, soil investigators, grass and bush investigators and tree investigators. Their task was to discover, collect, draw and describe everything observed with the aim of finding the silver scarabeus or at least its proper environment. Evaluation:- A formal evaluation was done by teachers through specific check cards. The judgement of all the teachers turned out to be positive. Results: Children became more familiar with animals and insects that are generally avoided, such as spi­ders and w o r m s . They learnt to recognize signs of the landscape and understand its evolution. The e m o ­tional relationship established between the children and the environment counterbalanced the unsuccessful search for the silver scarabeus. Sent by: Pangea Co-operative, Via Monte delle Copre 29, 00148 Rome, Italy. Fax: (06) 512.29.03.

Readers are invited to send us their FIELD experiences in Environmental Education activities involving the teaching/learning process - but not necessarily limited to students and teachers. They should be as brief as possible and set under the following headings:

Place: Locality where the activity was carried out Target Groups: For w h o m the activity is intended Introduction: Background information - w h y the activity was initiated Objectives: W h a t the activity is expected to achieve Resources: Materials/funds used for the activity Methodology: H o w is the activity carried out? Evaluation: H o w was the activity judged? B y w h o m ? Results: Did the activity produce any concrete changes? Selected experiences will be published together with the name and address of the author. Please address your contributions to: Doing it and Telling it (address on last page).

EE NEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

The final report of the Workshop/Seminar on Higher Education and Information on Environment and Population for H u m a n Development, held in La Plata, Argentina (9-11 October 1995) is available (in Spanish only) from: U N E S C O Office (CRESALC), Av. Los Chorros, c/c Calle Acueducto, Edf. Asovincar, Altos de Sebucán, P.O. Box 68.394, Caracas 1062-A, Venezuela.

The East Africa Environmental N e t w o r k ( E A E N ) just completed its 6th Annual Conference held at the National M u s e u m , Leakey Hall, Nairobi. It was a great success, very well attended by partici­pants from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya , Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. For more information on its work contact: Dr. K. Abate, Executive Secretary, EAEN, Nairobi, Kenya. Fax: 254-2-751.100.

R I O D (Réseau International d ' O N G sur la Désertification) is an international N G O network set up in 1994 by N G O s involved in the negotiations towards the Convention to Combat Desertification. Its establishment was based on the view that through exchange of information, experiences and ideas N G O s and C B O s (Community Based Organizations)

would be more effective in their efforts to contribute to humane and sustainable livelihoods for people liv­ing in drylands. R I O D focal points exist at the sub-regional, regional and global level and in some coun­tries at the national level - the aim for the future being to have as many of the latter as possible. R I O D N G O s have developed an N G O Action Plan to C o m b a t Desertification which includes guidelines for organizing an N G O forum in each country; for­mation of national N G O based committees; organi­zation of nation-wide awareness raising campaigns and establishment of mechanisms for community consultations. For further information contact: Baudouine Kamatari, ELCI (Environment Liaison Centre International), PO Box 72461, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel:(254-2) 562.015/022/172 Fax:(254-2) 562.175 E-mail: bkamatari@elci.sasa.unep.no or bkamatari@elci.gn. ape. org

The N A P R E C A (Natural Products Research Network for Eastern and Central Africa) C o ­ordinating Office has moved to: Chemistry Dept., University of Dar es Salaam, PO Box 35061, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Fax: 255-51-43038. E-mail: nkunya@unidar.gn.apc.org

ISLAND EXPEDITION - School at Sea

Discovering the islands of the world: 1997-2007

Island Expedition, based in France and the Bahamas , is a non-profit, research and educational organization whose staff includes journalists, marine biologists, photographers, film-makers, teachers and students from all parts of the world. Its principal objectives are: to study marine life, to protect the environment and to preserve island culture.

Since its foundation in 1985, Island Expedition has been regularly organizing study tours to the Bahamas and in the Caribbean focusing on marine life and the environment. Since 1990 it has developed a School at Sea Program for high school and college students living together on boats and/or camps.

Island Expedition is n o w organizing a ten-year study tour of the islands of the world to document and study indigenous cultures and the environment of various islands. The objective is to inform and educate people on specific environmental problems faced by island and coastal communities. Starting in late 1997, the first three year phase will include notably: The Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad, Venezuela, Panama, Costa Rica, the Yucatan peninsula and the Gulf of Mexico. Later on, the expedition will move on to the islands of Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, the Antarctic, the Philippines, Japan... A n entire season will be devoted to Canadian islands, before moving on to Greenland and Iceland.

One of the important aspects of the expedition is to train islanders in the fields of environmental science such as coastal management, waste management and ecotourism. Also, students from the countries visited will be offered the possibility of participating in the expedition allowing others to learn more about the lifestyle and culture of the country explored.

The Australian government has agreed to collaborate with Island Expedition in a project for the protection of islands on the Great Barrier Reef, specially those inhabited by aborigine populations, with a view to the preservation of their traditional cultures.

For more information contact: Island Expedition, P.O. Box CB 11934 Nassau, Bahamas. Tel:(809)325.2573 Fax:(809)327.8659 or 21 bis, rue de l'Alouette, 94160 St-Mandé, France. Tel/Fax: (33-1)93.09.49.26 E-mail:islandex@cob.edu.bs

June 1996 11

Forthcoming Meetings, Workshops, Courses...

The United Nations Population Fund ( U N F P A ) has announced the 1997 session of its Global Programme of Training in Population and Sustainable Development. The programme comprises five long term post-graduate training courses and is designed specifically to enhance the capabilities of professionals from developing countries to integrate population policy and development strategy. The pro­gramme addresses itself to staff members of macro-economic policy and planning units in ministries of economy, finance and planning, national and central banks, sectoral ministries, population programme officers and individuals working in the area of popu­lation and development.

O f the five training courses, three are offered in English - The International Training Programme in Population and Sustainable Development, at: • The Centre for Development Studies ( C D S ) ,

Prasantnagar Road, Ulloor, Trivandrum 695 Oil, India,

. The Cairo Demographic Centre ( C D C ) , N o . 78, St. N o . 4 , Mokattam 15571, Cairo, Egypt,

• The University of Botswana ( U B ) , Private Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana;

one in French - Programme international deforma­tion en population et développement durable, at: • the Institut National de Statistique et d'Economie

Appliquée ( I N S E A ) , B P 6217 Rabat-Instituts, Rabat, Morocco; and

one in Spanish - Programa Internacional de Formación en Población y Desarrollo Sostenible, at: • the Universidad de Chile, Faculdad de Ciencias

Sociales, Av. Capitán Ignacio Carrera Pinto 1045, Santiago, Chile. Each Centre will emphasize specific themes:

• Social change, health and poverty-related problems in Trivandrum, India;

• Gender equity and equality and w o m e n empower­ment in Cairo, Egypt;

• Regional distribution of population, economic inte­gration and environment in Gaborone, Botswana;

• Rural development, food strategies and interna­tional migrations in Rabat, Morocco; and

• Institutional aspects of the management and evalu­ation of population and development activities and decentralization problems in Santiago, Chile. Twenty scholarships per centre are available to

candidates from developing countries (candidatures for U N F P A scholarships must be approved by concerned governments and applications sent on pre­scribed forms).

For more information contact: International Co­ordinator, UNFPA Global Programme of Training in Population and Sustainable Development, Place Montesquieu I, bte 17, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

The British Council has announced a seminar entitled Learning for sustainable lifestyles: national strategies for environmental education which will be held in Edinburgh, U . K . , 28 July - 3 August 1996. O f particular interest to decision makers and policy makers in governments, educational institutions, industry and N G O s , the seminar aims to encourage,

assist, enrich and enhance the further development of national strategies as a framework in which learning for sustainable lifestyles can be effectively accom­plished. It will consist of presentations, discussions, workshops and on-site visits. The main topics are: The process of developing and implementing national EE strategies; EE in the home and commu­nity; EE in schools; EE in higher education; The business sector: environmental policies, education and training; and The role of government, govern­ment agencies and NGOs. For further information contact: International Seminars Department, The British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN, U.K. Tel:+44(0) 171-389.42.64/52/66 Fax: +44(0)171-389.41.54 E-mail 81: BC0022 (BT Gold/Dialcom)

The University of Lüneburg has organized a Training Course on the Preparation, Monitoring and Evaluation of Projects in Environmental Education, which will be held in Lüneburg, Germany, 2-4 September 1996. A limited number of scholarships are available for the training course. Fees D M 3 , 0 0 0 . For more information contact: Prof. Walter Leal Filho (address below).

The Institute of Environmental Sciences of the University of Lüneburg, in liaison with U N E S C O ' s Institute of Education, the G e r m a n National Commiss ion for U N E S C O , the Copernicus P r o g r a m m e of the Association of European Universities ( C R E ) and the German Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Technology will host a Workshop on Lifelong Learning and Environmental Education in Europe, in Lüneburg, Germany, 25-27 October 1996. The workshop will examine current provisions in relation to E E in the context of adult education in Europe, with special emphasis on related problems. Country case studies will allow an overview of current patterns and identi­fication of areas for further action. A n outcome of the meeting, whose results will serve as inputs for the preparation of the 1997 World Congress on Education to be held in Hamburg, Germany, will be a book entitled Lifelong Learning and Environmental < Education in Europe. Registration fee D M 2 0 0 . For further information/booking forms contact: Prof. Walter Leal Filho, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Department of Ecology and Environmental Education, University of Lüneburg, Rotenbleicher weg 42, D-21335 Lüneburg, Germany. Tel:+49-4131-714.373/106 Fax: +49-4131-714.202.

The theme of the 1996 European Rangers Training Seminar to be held from 13-18 October 1996 at Losehill Hall, the Peak National Park Centre, U . K . , is Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas. The course is designed to help participants develop their understanding of and ideas about sustainable tourism and to begin to work towards the development of an action plan for their h o m e area. It is structured around the fifteen guidelines for developing a sus­tainable tourism action plan taken from The Federation of Nature and National Parks of Europe report Loving them to Death? Workshops will be run on several of the report themes including working in

12 Connect

partnership, environmental impact assessment, car­rying capacities, marketing and traffic management. For further details contact: Peter Townsend, Director, Peak National Park Centre, Losehill Hall, Castleton, Derbyshire SSO 2WB, U.K. Tel.+44-1433-620.373 Fax:+44-1433-620.346.

A n international w o r k s h o p entitled Using Communication to make Environmentally Sustainable Development happen will take place in Burlingame, California, U . S . A . , 1-2 N o v e m b e r 1996. Sponsored notably by U S A I D through its Env ironmenta l Education and Communication ( G r e e n C O M ) pro­ject, World Wildlife F u n d - U S , I U C N and World Wide Fund for Nature-International, it will be held in conjunction with the annual conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education ( N A A E E ) . The workshop organizers hope to include as m a n y presentations as possible drawn from devel­oping country experience and by developing country professionals. For further information contact: GreenCOM, 1255 23rd Street N W , Washington, D C 20037, U.S.A. Fax:(202)884-8997. E-mail:<green com@aed.org>

Pacific Basin Conference on Hazardous Waste is the title of the 7th international conference spon­sored by the Pacific Basin Consortium for Hazardous Waste Research and Management which will be held in Kuala L u m p u r , Malaysia, 4-8 N o v e m b e r 1996. T h e conference will bring together hazardous waste professionals to review progress and seek opportunities to accelerate research and the application of research results in Pacific Basin countries. The Conference consists of plenary presentations of technical papers and posters on Pollution Prevention; Technology Research and Development; Integrated Assessments; Effects Research; Management Issues as well as other haz­ardous waste issues. There will also be 3 two-day courses on hazardous waste control issues, tours of industrial and waste treatment facilities and Pacific

Basin Consortium business and planning meetings. Financial assistance m a y be available to authors of accepted papers from developing countries. For fur­ther information contact: Executive Secretary, Pacific Basin Consortium for Hazardous Waste Research and Management, c/o East-West Center, Program on Environment, 1777 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96848 U.S.A. Tel: 808-944-7224 Fax: 808-944-7298 Internet e-mail: NishikU@ewc.hawaii.edu

T h e Coalition for Earth Science Education ( C E S E ) and its member organizations, in co­operation with the Association of Geoscientists for International Development (AGID) and the Commission on Geoscience Education and Training ( C O G E O E D ) of the International Union of Geological Science (IUGS) will host the Second International Conference on Geoscience Education GeoSciEd II: Learning about the Earth as a System at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hawaii, 28 July -1 August 1997. T h e conference subthemes are: Earth Science Education for All - Precollege and College; Role of Business, Industry and Government Agencies in supporting Informal and Formal Education Efforts; and Need for Public Literacy in the Earth Sciences. The conference activities consist of pre/post conference field trips; keynote addresses; interactive poster sessions; social events and family activities. Participants are asked to submit proposals for interactive poster sessions - i.e. a short paper/abstract on a topic accompanied by an exhibit consisting of photographs and/or diagrams and printed information - on conference subthemes by 6 December 1996. For further information contact: Dr. John Carpenter, Arrangements, Center for Science Education, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, U.S.A. E-mail:carpenter-

john@sc.edu or Dr. Victor Mayer, Program, Dept. Of Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University, 125 South Oval Drive, Columbus, O H 43214, U.S.A. E-mail: mayer.4@osu.edu

STOP PRESS Satellite Observation for Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean Area is the title of a colloquium organized by Eurisy to be held in R o m e , Italy, 2-3 October 1996. The colloquium will consist of Keynote addresses, poster ses­sions, a tool demonstration, three sessions devoted to: Current experience of satellite applications for Sustainable Development: Technologies and space-based services; New programmes and opportunities for expanding applications and services and a round table discussion on Possible initiatives for meeting operational, institutional, science and research needs in the Mediterranean region. For further information contact: Eurisy Association, Résidence Seine Zola, 17/21 ruedeJavel, 75015Paris, France. Tel: (33.1) 45.75.00.07Fax: (33.1) 45.79.90.08.

EKOTOPFILM '96, XXIII International Festival of Professional films, T V and video programmes, will take place in Zilina, Slovak Republic, 4-8 November 1996. The aim of the festival is to encourage technological and economic development and evolution of mankind in harmony with the conservation of the environment and maintenance of the ecological balance in nature. The festival will include press conferences, screenings, workshops, panel discussions and cultural events. Topics include the environment, sustainable development, impacts of industry on the environment, agriculture and the environment, technological development and the environment... For further information contact: EKOTOPFÍLM Secretariat, P . O . Box 51, 82012 Bratislava 212, Slovak Republic. Tel. 0042/7/237.421 Fax: 0041/7/293.614.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( F A O ) has announced the World Food Summit to be held in R o m e from 13-17 November 1996. The Summit will assemble world leaders for a public commitment to action to eliminate hunger, providing a historic opportunity for governments, international organizations and all sectors of civil society to join forces in a concerted campaign to ensure food security for all the world's people. For more information contact: World Food Summit Secretariat, FAO Headquarters, Viala dette terme di (Jaracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy. Fax/ (396) 5225-5249 E-mail: food-summit@fao.org

June 1996 13

Publications

IEEP Publications

A revised edition of the U N E S C O - U N E P IEEP set of 8 environmental colour posters on: • Climate Change; • FreshWater; • Oceans and Coastal areas; • Deforestation/Desertification; • Biological Diversity; • Environmental Effects of Industry; • Quality of Life; and • Environmental Education is available in English, French and Spanish on writing to Connect (address on last page).

Environmental Education Activities for Primary Schools (IEEP EE Series 21) - a module on the use of locally adaptable, low-cost materials or equipment for E E activities at the primary level is n o w available in Arabic from: Centre for Environment and Development for Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), 21/23 Giza St., Nile Tower Bldg., 13th Floor, PO Box 52 Orman, Giza, Egypt. Fax:570.32.42 E-mail:Cedare@ritsec.com.eg

(For the English version write to: Connect (address on last page)

The Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Environmental Ethics (Istanbul, Turkey, 7-12 N o v e m b e r 1994) organized by the Bogaziçi University Institute of Environmental Sciences in collaboration with U N E S C O / E P D in the framework of IEEP, have been published. They include contributions by a variety of international experts from Algeria, Canada, Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, U . K . and the host country Turkey. Available (English only) on writing to: Connect (address on last page)

Balancing Acts: Community-Based Forest Management and National Law in Asia and the Pacific is the title of an excellent publication of the World Resources Institute (WRI) . The book is an outcome of the W R I ' s Tenurial Policies arid Natural Resources Management Project, whose primary goal is to promote equity and help curb deforestation in developing countries by identifying national laws that establish or bolster viable short- and long-term com­munity-based management incentives... It is based essentially on data and analyses presented in case studies of 7 countries: India, Indonesia, Nepal, Papua N e w Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand, taking into account the historical antecedents and contemporary status of national laws and policies affecting forests and forest-dwellers. It also includes a review of the theoretical framework of community-based property rights and a discussion of emerging programmes in the 7 case-study countries as well as substantive and procedural recommendations for pro­moting sustainable community-based forest manage­ment. The findings of this report are valid not only for the countries mentioned above, but also for any coun­try striving to promote sustainable development by balancing the rights and duties of national govern­ments with those of forest-dependent communities. Price U S $24 .95 . 188 p p ; Order from: WRI

Publications, PO Box 4852, Hampden Station, Baltimore, M D 21211, U.S.A. Tel: 1-800-822-0504; 410-516-6963 E-mail: ChrisD@ WRI. ORG

U N E P / I E , the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) have jointly produced a training resource kit on environ­mental management: UNEP/ICC/FIDIC Environ­mental Management System - Training Resource Kit. Conceived to serve as a tool for trainers and m a n ­agers for conducting training courses in environ­mental management systems for companies, it also offers guidance for adaptation to local regulations, conditions and cultures. Elements are included that are c o m m o n to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) environmental management system standard, ISO 14001. The kit has been pro­duced by U N E P , ICI and FIDIC as just the first step in a long-term programme which will include nation­al and sectoral adaptations, with emphasis on small-and medium-sized enterprises. Price U S $ 1 9 0 (US$150/copy for 10 or more) + 1 5 % postage and handling. For orders/more information contact: UNEP, Tour Mirabeau, 39-43, quai André Citroën, 75739Paris Cedex 15, France. Tel:(33-1)44.37.14.45 Fax (33-1) 44.37.14.74E-mail: UNEPIE@UNEP.FR

Go Between is a bi-monthly publication of the U N Non-governmental Liaison Service ( N G L S ) . It is produced for N G O s and others interested in the insti­tutions, policies and activities of the U N system. The April/May issue focuses notably on the U N system-wide special initiative on Africa, the 1996 L D C (Least Developed Countries) report by U N C T A D ( U N Conference on Trade and Development) and the conclusions of the 40th session of the C S W (Commission on the Status of W o m e n ) . Also con­tains U N n e w s , N G O n e w s , publications and calendar of events. For subscriptions/information con­tact: Go Between, UN-NGLS, Palais des Nations,

14 Connect

CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. Fax:+41-22-788.7366 E-mail: <suroor.alikhan@unctad.org>

Environmental Issues and Sustainable Futures: A critical guide to recent books, reports and periodi­cals, has been published by the World Future Society in association with the International Center for the Environment and Public Policy, California, U . S . A . , and the I U C N Commiss ion on environmental Strategy and Planning. It contains 450 abstracts of books and reports written by environmentalists, biol­ogists, social scientists, futurists, journalists and politicians divided into three major categories: Environmental Issues; Towards Sustainability; and Politics and Planning. Written by Michael Marien, founder/editor of Future Survey, it also includes an annotated listing of 170 environment-related periodi­cals as well as publisher/title, author/institution and subject indices. Price US$35.00. For orders contact: World Future Society, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 450, Bethesda, M D 20814, U.S.A.. Tel: 301/656-8274 Fax:3011951-0394.

Enviroteach has announced the publication of a set of 10 resource manuals specially designed for E E in Namibia. Well illustrated and in an easy-to-read format, they are based on up-to-date information and contain local examples as well as activities for teach­ers. Cross curricular in approach, they are conceived to encourage learner-centred education and promote environmental awareness in education. The titles are: Sink or Swim - Water and the Namibian Environment (230pp; N$51); Playing with Fire - Energy and the Namibian Environment (208pp; N$51); Lives in the Balance - People and the Namibian Environment (221pp; N $ 5 1 ) ; Tools of the Trade - Skills and Techniques for EE in Namibia (206pp; N$56) ; My Land, My Life (120pp; N$30.50);^4 Beginner's Guide to Outdoor Teaching (23pp; N$3.50); Fun with the Sun — Activities to demonstrate Solar Power (34pp; N$5.50) ; Let's look at Seaweed (98pp; N$10.50) ; Our growing Wealth: An Introduction to the Plants we use (88pp; N$22.50); and Wholly Ground: Soil and Soil Erosion Activities for Namibian Learners (39pp; N 1 8 ) . Postage and handling extra. For orders/more information contact: Enviroteach, P.O. Box 1592, Swakopmund, Namibia. Fax +264-64-461.300.

Human Nature is the title of the newsletter of the Environmental Education and Communication ( G r e e n C O M ) Project, published in English, French and Spanish. The inaugural issue, March 1996, vol. I, No. 1, explores a wide range of topics including articles on Environmental awards in The Gambia; H o w to launch an environmental award scheme; Post-Rio E E reviewed by U N Commiss ion on Sustainable Development; Folk Art and E E in the Philippines etc. Future issues will focus on specific

themes - Sustainable Urbanization (July), and Water (October). Articles, ideas, resources, news items, comments...are solicited. Write to: Editor, Human Nature, GreenCOM, 1255 23rd Street N W , Suite 400, Washington DC 20037, U.S.A.

Wedline is the quarterly newsletter of the Environment Liaison Centre International ( E L C I ) focusing on W o m e n , Environment and Sustainable Development and,the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. Its January-March 1996 issue, N o . 5, is devoted to information and communication channels for awareness raising and information dissemination in the post Beijing period with articles on N G O s , W o m e n ' s Communication for Sustainable Livelihoods and the Intergovern­mental Committee on Desertification meeting ( INCD 8) apart from information notices. For copies contact: WED Programme Co-ordinator, Environ­ment Liaison Centre International, P.O. Box 72461, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel:562015/562022 Fax: 562175 E-mail:wed@elci.gn.apc. org

PRODDER Newsletter, vol. 7, No. 4, Fourth Quarter, focuses on Youth and Development, con­taining notably a statistical profile of 11 Southern African countries; information on South African cen­tres, associations, organizations, foundations... devot­ed to the subject; the Children's Charter of South Africa; a list of international youth projects and youth organizations as well as training courses, pub­lications, references and resources. P R O D D E R is also compiling a Directory of South African Youth Organizations covering both youth organizations and organizations providing assistance and support ser­vices to youth which it expects to complete by end 1996. For more information contact: PRODDER Newsletter, Human Sciences Research Council (HARSCO), POBox 32410, Braamfontein 2017, South Africa. Tel:(+27)(11)339-4451 Fax: (+27)(11)403-2353 E-mail: DBB@ZEUS.HSRCAC.ZA

Symbioses, No. 30, April 1996 is devoted to Ecotourism with special emphasis on Ecotourism in Wallonia, the French speaking region of Belgium. Available in French only. For subscriptions contact: Réseau Idée, 26 rue de la Victoire, 1060 Bruxelles, Belgium. Tel:02/539.14.34.25.

The Institute of Nature Protection of Serbia publishes a journal entitled Zashtita Prirode (Protection of Nature) containing articles in Serbian with a summary in English. Number 46-47 (1993-1994) contains articles on the characteristics of the local flora and fauna, climate, landscape in different regions of the country as well as problems related to their protection/ conservation. For subscription con­tact: Editor, Journal of the Institute of Nature Protection of Serbia, Novi Beograd, III bulevar 106, Yugoslavia.

June 1996 15

Viewpoint

Dear Sir, I wish to congratulate you in your efforts to bring environmental messages to the doorstep of many people worldwide. You would agree with m e that the challenges to be met by the people of the world, presented by delegates at the first International Children's Conference in Eastbourne, U . K . , October 1995 (v. Connect, vol. XX, No. 3, Sept. 1995 - Ed.) are a clear manifesta­tion that children now want to be given the great­est opportunity of protecting the planet Earth because the future belongs to them. These chil­dren want action n o w but h o w are their voices going to be heard?

Sir Editor, these children would feel utmost gratitude to have their messages expressed in worldwide environmental news media. Consequently, I and m a n y others worldwide would not hesitate to propose that Connect should create space for Children and the Environment.

Yours sincerely, Delali B . K . Dovie (Mr), Conservation Education Officer, Ghana Wildlife Society, P.O. Box 212, Keta, Ghana.

(It would be very interesting to find out what Connect readers think of this suggestion - Ed.)

Dear Sir, I a m an international graduate student from Yemen pursuing an M . S . in Ecology and an M . A . in E E at the University of Georgia, U . S . A . In January Í996, a group of international students in ecology established a new organization Ecointer-national which is growing every day.

This organization focuses, as one of its objec­tives, on helping international students in E E . Some of the members are partners in education with some elementary and middle schools in Athens, (Georgia, U . S . A . ) . The organization also deals with international environmental problems and issues. W e are seeking support from more experienced organizations, associations or groups.

Yours sincerely, HudaAlkaf(Ms), Chief Officer, Ecointernational Organization, School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, G A 30602-2202, U . S . A .

P.S. I received Connect, vol. XX, No. 4, Dec. 1995 today (6/4/1996). W h y so late?

If you have something concerning E E to communicate to us - information, suggestions, opinions, ideas - on events or even the articles in Connect, write to us - briefly. The most interesting letter(s) will be published, in substance, together with the sender's name. Send your letters to Viewpoint, address below.

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ISSN 0250-4499

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Environment and Population Education and Information for H u m a n Development (EPD)

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