Act and Inspire: our Role in Development of Concern for
Environmental Protection
Today's generation of children grow up indoors plugged!in lives
largely devoid of e"ploring the natural world detached from nature
Ramifications of their virtual world:
movement indoors is not benign; it costs to the health of our children
attention difficulties,
hyperactivity,
childhood obesity,
diminished use of senses,
disconnect from things that are real
Stoppage of learning about, understanding, and valuing nature
Tomorrow's leader need to be equipped for tomorrow's challenges, and
we must adequately prepare our children for the future they will inherit.
ow will this generation care about the land ! be stewards of its resources"
# am not a $eography Teacher%
# am not an &nvironmental 'ctivist%
# am not an &arth Scientist%
# am not an &nvironmental &ducation (fficer%.
# am not an )SS*)++*+SS officer
,hy me"
this tas# does not fall under the purview of a su$%ect teacher
-[Link] Raghav/ibhai
0ra/apati -itti +ool 1ridge2 clay
refrigerator that could hold
perishable items for a wee. and
cools water and mil. 2 e3tremely
cheap and life2saver in many
villages.
+reating -itti +ool ouse
-adhu 4hatnagar, The Shri Ram School,
5elhi &nvironmental &ducation 0olicy.
er school 2 first to implement rooftop
rainwater harvesting in 6777
believes in the power of children to ma.e
a difference to society.
8unior Tiger tas. 1orce
[Link] and sloth bear dances
man2animal conflicts 2 imachal 0radesh
Tila. 9i/ quit well2paying /ob in $ermany
to save animals
+reated : nature clubs ! encouraged
growing trees to increase state;s green
0lans to set up a leopard conservation
centre with the help of imachal 0radesh
state government.
Singh, a hunter who turned conservationist
and author
first person to suggest that tigers and
leopards could be sent into the wild after
living in captivity.
0adma Shri in 67<=
,orld ,ildlife 1und;s $old -edal in
67<:
0adma 4hushan in >??:.
@oganathan conductor with
+oimbatore Transport +orporation
Single2handedly responsible for
planting AB,??? trees over the past >:
years.
Teaching students the importance of
environment conservation in schools
across Tamil )adu.
8ohn 'braham #ndia;s first elephant village
in -aharashtra with the help of local
bodies and helpful communities.
'warded an &co ,arrior 'ward for
helping elephants find a new home in
natural surroundings.
Arun Krishnamurthy
Cuit career at $oogle to focus on conservation
>?66, founded )$( in +hennai, &nvironmentalist 1oundation of #ndia D&1#E
Fa.e 4iodiversity Restoration pro/ect
Restored 6< [Link] across #ndia.
+ollege students are on the threshold of becoming active
participants in society as citiGens, teachers, [Link]
and leaders.
Teachers are the [Link] of these citiGens, teachers, decision2
[Link] and leaders.
Supreme +ourt ruling on introducing courses on &nvironment at
all levels of higher education
Hniversity $rants +ommission's subsequent recommendation to
all universities to introduce a compulsory foundation course at
the undergraduate level.
Teachers have very uni&ue role in environmental protection: They
Teachers can %
%help students become conscientious
towards environment, protecting it for
themselves and generations to come
%educate and inspire students on
environmental issues
%equipping them to ma.e informed
choices about the impact of their Dand
othersE actions
Reasons to teach environmental science:
It is a great hook for getting students interested
in science and math.
There is an occupational component -- green
jobs, some claim, are the way of the future
n!ironmental literacy is a key re"uirement for
success in the global community.
'#ills (eeded:
I -ust have a commitment to and enthusiasm for environmental
conservation and sustainable development
I The ability to communicate effectively in presentations, [Link]
and guided wal.s
I The ability to relate to people of all ages
I &3cellent organiGational and time management [Link]
I The ability to ta.e initiative
I +omputer [Link] are usually considered an asset
I The ability to spea. multiple languages is considered an asset
Aims ) *$%ectives of environmental education:!
to increase public awareness about environmental issues,
e3plore possible solutions
to lay the foundations for a fully informed and active participation of
individual in the protection of environment and the prudent and rational use
of natural resources.
The resolutions provide the following guiding principles for
environmental education:
I The environment as a common heritage of [Link].
I The common duty of maintaining, protecting ! improving the quality of
environment, as a contribution to the protection of human health and
safeguarding the ecological balance;
I The need for a prudent and rational utiliGation of resources;
I The way in which each individual can, by his own behavior and action,
contribute to the protection of environment;
The long2term aims of environmental education are to improve
management of environment and provide satisfactory solutions
to environmental issues
I 0rovide opportunities to acquire the .nowledge, values,
attitudes, commitment and [Link] needed to protect and improve
the environment
I &ncourage pupils to e3amine and interpret the environment
from a variety of perspectives2physical, geographical,
biological, sociological, economic, political, technological,
historical, esthetic and ethical
I 'rouse pupil's awareness and curiosity about the environment
and encourage active participation in resolving environmental
problems
I &nvironmental education is closely [Link] to the other cross
circular themes of other sub/ect areas.
+nowledge :!
.nowledge and understanding of
I The natural processes which ta.e place in the environment.
I The impact of human activities on the environment.
I The comparison between different environments both in the past and
present.
I &nvironmental issues such as: DiE The greenhouse effect. DiiE 'cid rain and
DiiiE 'ir pollution.
I Focal, national and international legislative controls to protect and
manage the environment;
I ow policies and decisions are made about the environment.
I ow human life and livelihood are dependent on the environment.
I The conflicts, which can arise about environmental issues li.e river water
sharing.
I ow the environment has been effected owing to past decisions and
actions.
I The importance of planning and design and an esthetic consideration.
I The importance of effective action to protect and manage the
environment.
'#ills:!
Si3 crosses curricular [Link] have been identified which are
necessary for environmental education.
They are:!
I +ommunication [Link].
I )umerical [Link].
I Study [Link].
I 0roblem solving [Link].
I 0ersonal [Link].
I Social [Link] ! information technology [Link].
universities have been successful centers
of social change.
#mproving the overall quality of our
environment and creating a society
rooted in /ustice and fairness first
requires recognition of the tremendous
influence college and university students
will
have in [Link] these issues post2
graduation.
0roviding students with opportunities for
involvement in sustainability both on
and off campus can lead to positive long2
term
changes in attitudes and behaviors and
will help create graduates that are
ecological citiGens.
4eing an environmentalist today calls for a whole new level of greener
[Link] what you choose at the grocery store to how you commute to
wor. every day.
Tips from leading environment bloggers on how to ma.e personal, science2
based choices to help save the planet:
$et your coffee fi3 the green way:
bring your own reusable coffee mug to
coffee shops
0aper coffee cups are laminated with a
plastic resin called polyethylene
.eeps beverages warm and prevents the
paper from absorbing liquids and [Link]
J but the plastic also
prevents the cup from $eing recycled.
'tart $y reducing the amount of animal
products in your diet, Replace the meat
and cheese with healthier beans, legumes,
whole grains and e3tra servings of fruits
and vegetables
$reening your diet DliterallyE is a simple
way to ma.e a big difference in your
health and the environment.
"Which would you rather do: Give up your car or give up
eating meat?"
#nstead of 6?? cars pumping to3ins into the environment, and lot of
pressure to mind and heart /ust rela3 and reach office%
%don;t have to deal with traffic, and have the option to ta.e a nap or
catch up on wor..
>??7 #nternational +oastal +leanup:
plastic bags were the second most
common item collected, [Link] up 66K of
all the garbage collected.
&ach year, appro3imately 6??,??? sea
turtles and other marine animals are
harmed or .illed by plastic in our oceans.
Reduce. Reuse. [Link]
REDUCE be our favorite part.
At home
2 Turn off tap when brushing teeth and save 6?,??? litres of water a yearL
2 ave a shower instead of a bath 2 good for circulation and for planet.
2 4anish plastic bottles of water and invest in water filter to purify tap water.
22 Replace ordinary light bulbs with high2efficiency ones 2 e3pensive but last 6>
times longer and use = times less electricity.
2 Turn off T9, hi2fi, 0+ and 595 player 2 they still use electricity when not in
use. (n standby, they consume 6?K more electricity. Switch lights off when you
leave room.
25efrost your freeGer. ' Mmm coat of ice can double its consumption of
electricity.
2 ,hen washing your clothes, switch to phosphate2free washing
powder and never run a machine half empty.
2$ive away clothes, boo.s, +5s that you no longer want to charities.
2 $reen in your home by growing plants as plants e3press your desire
to be environmentally sound and help process and help process
and clean the air inside your home.
At wor#
2
0rint only what is absolutely necessary and recycle paper by using
both sides.
2
&ncourage your company to go green by using heating and air
conditioning reasonably, recycling paper and [Link] with suppliers
who have sustainable development policies.
2
5onate old appliances e.g. 0+s, photocopiers, printers etc, as well
as old furniture.
2 $et each member of staff to bring their own mug to wor. instead of
using wasteful plastic cups every day.
-etting around
2
Ta.e the train for long trips, if possible.
2
Hse your legs 2 the most ecological form of transport 2 for short
distances. ,[Link] is good for your health and for the planetL
2 +ar pool with colleagues, friends, parents. The school run alone adds
up to a billion petrol2burning miles a year. -ost cars only currently ta.e
6 or > passengers, which equals a lot of pollution for a half2full car.
Than# you
