All posts tagged with ‘action’
- June 7th, 2012
Join our Glow meet from Rio
- imenzies
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, community, democracy, events, human rights, learner voice, natural disasters, nature, poverty, water
: Categories biodiversity, community, curriculum areas, learner voice, outdoor learning, religious and moral education, renewables and climate change, sciences, social studies, sustainable development
11am - 12pm, Tuesday 19 June 2012
What are your green dreams for the future?
What message will you send to world leaders?
How can Scotland become more sustainable?
What can we expect from this globally important event?
Over 150 heads of state and world leaders will gather in Rio de Janeiro from 20-22nd June 2012 for crucial talks at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, will be one of those travelling to Rio as part of the official UK delegation.
Education Scotland, through Glow, is giving you the chance to link with the Minister live from Rio to learn more about the event and the hopes and expectations of the UK delegation.
The conference, referred to as Rio+20, will mark 20 years since the historic Earth Summit in the same city in 1992 which put issues such as climate change and the protection of biodiversity on the map and gave birth to Agenda 21 – an action plan for a sustainable future which was adopted by national governments, cities and local authorities across the world. Rio+20 will focus on seven priority areas including: decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness.
Rio+20 provides an opportunity to move away from business-as-usual and to take bold steps to end poverty and address environmental destruction.
This will be an interactive Glow meet so get your questions, messages, ideas and green dreams ready for Rio!
- What is Scotland doing to protect the environment and promote sustainable development? What more could we be doing?
- What are your green dreams and ideas for the future? What should we have achieved by the time Rio+40 comes around?
- What messages would you like the Minister to pass onto other government officials and world leaders when he meets them for discussions?
This Glow meet will be suitable for learners in primary and secondary schools.
Visit http://bit.ly/glowrio20 to register and join the Glow meet on the day. Free Rio+20 resources are available at: http://bit.ly/JxZr5G
More- June 1st, 2012
Refugee Week Scotland, 18th-24th June 2012
- imenzies
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, asylum seekers, democracy, events, human rights, refugees
: Categories africa, citizenship, commonwealth, community, curriculum areas, europe, international, social studies, sustainable development
Each year Refugee Week grows and increases in profile, making its mark on the UK’s cultural calendar. This year’s theme Spirit captures:
- Spirit of survival and the individual – the determination needed to flee persecution and rebuild your life
- Community spirit – the connections between refugees and local communities
- Scotland’s spirit – the cultural diversity of Scotland today
Refugee Week is all about having fun, broadening horizons and breaking down barriers. Every June the week long UK-wide festival of arts, cultural and educational events celebrates contributions refugees have made to the UK, and promotes understanding about why people seek sanctuary.
Click here to see the exciting programme of activities and events for 2012>>
More- May 30th, 2012
World Environment Day - 5th June 2012
- imenzies
- Comments: 1 Comment Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, events, resources
: Categories sustainable development
World Environment Day (WED) is an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place all year round but climax on 5 June every year, involving everyone from everywhere.
WED celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become the one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. This year there will be a special focus on the Green Economy to tie in with discussions taking place at the Rio+20 conference betwen 20-22nd June 2012.
Everyone counts in this initiative and WED relies on you to make this happen – why not organise a neighbourhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags and get your community to do the same, plant a tree or better yet organise a collective tree planting effort, walk to work, start a recycling drive . . . the possibilities are endless.
Visit the World Environment Day website for resources, ideas and information >>
More- May 30th, 2012
Get Ready for Rio+20 – UN Conference on Sustainability
- imenzies
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, democracy, events, human rights, natural disasters, nature, poverty, resources
: Categories biodiversity, community, international, outdoor learning, renewables and climate change, sustainable development
Latest: Join our Glow meet live from Rio+20 from 11am to 12pm on Tuesday 19th June. Put your questions to Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, who will be attending as part of the official UK delegation. Share your green dreams and vision for a better future for all the world’s people.
Between 20-22 June 2012 world leaders will gather in Rio De Janeiro for crucial talks at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The conference, referred to as Rio+20, will mark 20 years since the historic Earth Summit in the same city in 1992 which put issues such as climate change and the protection of biodiversity on the map and gave birth to Agenda 21 – an action plan for a sustainable future which was adopted by national governments, cities and local authorities across the world. The establishment of the international Eco-Schools movement was another practical outcome of this process.
The 1992 Earth Summit achieved much but clearly there are still many challenges to be addressed if we are to build a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all.
The hopes and expectations for Rio+20 are high and the preparations have highlighted seven priority areas including: decent jobs, energy, sustainable cities, food security and sustainable agriculture, water, oceans and disaster readiness. Rio+20 is a chance to move away from business-as-usual and to take bold steps to end poverty and address environmental destruction.
Sustainability in Scotland
The document, A Flourishing Scotland, produced for Rio+20 outlines the many achievements we should celebrate with regards to Scotland’s success in promoting sustainable development education. IN the context of the Rio Summit it may be of interest to note that Chapter 36 of the Agenda 21 document, which focussed on education, was written by a Scot – Professor John Smyth.
However, other key achievements nationally include: the embedding of sustainable development education, global citizenship and outdoor learning within Curriculum for Excellence; we also have one of the most successful Eco-Schools programme in the world with over 98% of local authority school registered; and Scotland has shown leadership on a world stage by introducing ambitious targets on climate change and in planning for our transition to a low-carbon economy. By 2020 it is estimated that 130,000 people will be employed in low carbon and green industries in Scotland and that renewable energy will provide 100% of our energy needs. Scotland is also the only county in the world to have debated the issue of climate justice in its parliament.
Whilst much has been achieved, there is still work to be done. Nevertheless, there is a real opportunity for Scotland to show leadership on a world stage with regards to its commitment to sustainable development and to set an example for other nations to follow.
What you can do
Our ambition is that every learner in Scotland recognises themselves as a global citizen; has a strong commitment to living sustainably and has an enthusiasm for the outdoors and nature.
You can help by ensuring that global citizenship, sustainable development education and outdoor learning are on your school improvement plan and embedded in your curriculum. Make these areas the responsibility of everyone in your school, not just the eco-warrior or group, so your school can adopt a successful whole school approach and make an impact on every learner.
Professional learning – read Learning for Change: Scotland’s Action Plan for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and make use of our resources on sustainable development education, global citizenship and outdoor learning.
Join our online community to share practice and ideas with other practitioners around Scotland and engage in professional dialogue.
Activity ideas
Raise the profile of the conference in your own school or community – organise your own version of the Rio+20 conference.
Invite learners to develop their green dreams – what is their vision of a more sustainable future? What would they like to see happen in the next 20 years? What would their message to world leaders be?
Web links
Official website of the Rio+20 Summit
Twitter – follow the conversation at #Rioplus20
My green dream – add your voice and dream to thousands of others
Education Scotland Online
Sustainable development education pages and videos
Global citizenship resources
Outdoor learning resources
Weather and Climate Change
Exploring Climate Change
Schools Global Footprint
Resources
Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum have created a Rio+20 resource pack for schools and youth groups. This resource pack can be downloaded from the Eco-Schools Scotland website. Hard copies, plus the accompanying DVD, can be ordered via email: [email protected]
WWF has produced a free Rio+20 teaching resource and associated competition for young people aged 11-14 years. Download for free at: www.wwf.org.uk/futures
Download the special edition Living Planet Report - On the Road to Rio produced by WWF.
Stop Climate Chaos has produced Rio+20 resources for students and teachers. Download from: http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/rc-youth
More- May 30th, 2012
New online resource: ‘Ready for Emergencies?’ - available 13th June 2012
- kmayer
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, community, emergencies, events, resources, sectarianism
: Categories citizenship, creativity, curriculum areas, health and wellbeing, sciences
Education Scotland is delighted to announce the launch of a fantastic new resource designed to support practitioners in the delivery of emergency resilience education. This exciting online resource has been designed around the principles and approaches of the Curriculum for Excellence.
The Ready for Emergencies? resource enables practitioners access to expertise and materials in each of the 6 key emergency themes outlined, by the Scottish Government’s Ready Scotland website as posing the most immediate threat to communities. The themes include severe weather, flooding, terrorism, pandemic flu, animal disease outbreak and utilities failure all of which provide real and relevant contexts for learning, encouraging an interdisciplinary approach. Each emergency theme is explained and links to the curriculum made explicit, allowing inclusion in planning at levels 1 through to 4. In addition to specific learning journeys linked to relevant to outcomes and experiences the website offers a wide range of challenges, factsheets and videos as well as related links and RSS news feeds on breaking news of emergencies.
The importance of partnership working and opportunities for recognising achievement are highlighted so that transferable skills can be developed within and across sectors.
The new website will be available nationally from June 13th 2012 following a ministerial launch by Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages. It can be accessed under the following link www.educationscotland.gov.uk/readyforemergencies. Portobello High School in Edinburgh will play host to the launch event and the Scottish Government Resilience Division will provide the national context within which the resource will sit.
More- May 30th, 2012
Ready for Emergencies - Poster Competition
- kmayer
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, competition
: Categories citizenship, creativity, curriculum areas, social studies
Design a poster, picture, graphic that relates to one of the main themes outlined in the Ready Scotland/ Ready for Emergencies resource (eg. severe weather, flooding etc). This could be a warning sign, campaign poster or image of a recent event.
14 winning entries will be selected for inclusion in this year’s ‘Ready for Winter’ campaign calendar with a number of other prizes on offer as part of the competition.
Also every contributor will receive a free copy of the calendar.
More information on this including terms and conditions, submission address and deadline as we as topics and entry categories are contained in the following attachments: 2012_Resilience Week_ Calendar competition - terms and conditions for entries 2012-13_ Resilience Week_ Calendar Competition_Topics
The official launch of the competition will be on Wednesday, 13 June 2012 .
If you wish to pre-register for the competition please email [email protected]
More- May 1st, 2012
The healthy way to get to school – Travelling Green.
- imenzies
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, events
: Categories curriculum areas, health and wellbeing, sustainable development
Travelling Green is a complete six-week programme aimed at P5 level; it comes with lesson plans and wall charts. It gives children and their parents the skills and confidence to walk to school. Walking to school is good for children’s development as well and their physical and mental health. Travelling Green has strong Health and Wellbeing Curriculum links covering topics like for example; the circulatory and respiratory systems.
For more information, see link below;
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/safe-routes-to-schools/whats-in-your-area/scotland/travelling-green
Recent research has shown that children who do Travelling Green are generally more physically active than children who do not. Increasing children’s daily physical activity is essential for tackling the obesity epidemic, one of the key challenges facing Scotland’s population as described in Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer’s annual report. We need to make active modes of travel children’s first choice and make physical activity an everyday habit for Scottish children.
It has been shown that active children become active adults. Physical activity has recently been made a national indicator in Scotland. Walking to school is an excellent everyday opportunity for children to get the recommended amount of physical activity which is vital for maintaining their health and wellbeing. In addition, active children do better at school. When asked children want to be more physically active and they want to travel actively to school. Travelling Green is a resource that increases children’s physical activity in small manageable steps.
The resource was popular with teachers; they gave the following feedback;
“Well thought out and children benefited from it, many changed their route and started walking together in groups”.
“Easy to use with lots of additional resources and support materials”
“Good resource, making cross-curricular links”.
The Travelling Green resources were developed in partnership by West Dunbartonshire Council and are available for free to all Scottish schools.
There are also free Travelling Green flipcharts for interactive whiteboards available from Promethean Planet (see included step by step guide). We also include a guide for the Travelling Green resources and a flyer to circulate to your schools.
To get the resources sent to your school contact;
[email protected] 0131 346 9777
More- April 26th, 2012
Scottish Biodiversity Week 19th - 27th May 2012
- imenzies
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, events
: Categories biodiversity, curriculum areas, expressive arts, health and wellbeing, sciences, scottish culture, sustainable development
Scotland’s precious wildlife and landscapes are vitally important and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) want to offer you the chance to get out and about and experience them!
SNH have teamed up with a range of other people to bring you a wide variety of organised and fun events during Scottish Biodiversity Week.
Every year there is an astonishing range of events on offer. Here are just a few examples of the kinds of things that you can do:
- Countryside ranger led pond dipping events for little children;
- Guided walks on Scottish Natural Heritage National Nature Reserves;
- Story telling events;
- Seashore safaris;
- Fossil finding tours
- Expert talks on nature;
- Nature photography workshops.
Visit SNH’s Events Diary to find out what’s on - http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/safeguarding-biodiversity/events/
More- April 24th, 2012
Take One Action Film Festival
- imenzies
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, conflict, events, Fairtrade, film
: Categories citizenship, creativity, curriculum areas, expressive arts, international, social studies, sustainable development
Are you aged between 15 and 21 years? Interested in great films that make a difference in the world? Would you like to organise inspiring film screening events in your local community? If so, here is your chance to take action!
Take One Action – Scotland’s global action cinema project – is organising it’s second Young Action Heroes Project for young people and their educators/youth workers at the Macrobert Centre in Stirling in late August 2012. We are keen to hear from schools and youth groups who want to take part in the residential and then screen a film to inspire action in others!
Application information is available to download from www.takeoneaction.org.uk/youth
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY 25TH MAY, but if you have questions before then email [email protected] or phone Andy at 0131 5536335.
More- February 5th, 2012
First Minister calls for a year of Climate Justice
- imenzies
- Comments: none Tags: Tags: action, climate and energy, events
: Categories renewables and climate change, sustainable development
First Minister Alex Salmond has urged world leaders to make 2012 a ‘year of climate justice’ ahead of a major United Nations conference on sustainable development in June.
The FM said climate justice should be the focus of sustainable development during 2012 and form a major part of discussions at the Rio+20 to be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
Climate justice would link human rights and development, put people at the heart of our economic system, and allow all to share the burdens of climate change and benefit from its resolution.
The call comes after the FM raised the issue of climate justice during a speech to the influential Communist Central Party School in Beijing during his recent trip to China.
Climate justice was also raised by the FM and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a joint communiqué to the UNFCCC meeting in Durban, South Africa, earlier this month.
Mr Salmond said:
“It is vitally important that, as the world moves towards economic recovery in 2012, we place climate justice at the very heart of the decisions we make on energy policy and economic and social development in the coming months.
“I believe we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enshrine this important principle - that economic development should be linked to human rights - in global energy policy, ensuring that countries and communities least able to cope with the extreme weather events climate change brings are not further disadvantaged.”
“In the run up to the UN Rio+20 conference in Brazil in June and beyond, I am calling for climate justice to be made central to decisions taken by major countries on energy and development.
“It is also my sincere hope, given the fact one of the themes of this year’s conference is the green economy linked to sustainable development, that climate justice forms an important part of Scotland’s contribution to Rio+20.
“Only by focusing on the inequalities brought on by climate change, can we formulate meaningful policies that will truly help the poorest in our global society, and I urge all world leaders and decision makers to make 2012 the Year of Climate Justice.”
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