Environmental Concerns

Members
  • Cherith Letargo, USA
  • Angela Lo, Taiwan
  • Newton Peiris, Sri Lanka
  • Salvador Idos, Philippines/USA
       Coordinator: Clay Starlin
Preamble
We are mindful that if environmental degradation continues we will destroy the only habitable planet known to exist in the universe. Thus, environmental protection and sustainable development practices are important issues that need to be addressed immediately and continuously.

We are in accord with the definition of the Brundtland Commission (1987) that states: Development that will ensure that use of resources for the present generation will not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Each element of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social) need to complement each other.
Recommendations
  • In support of the mission of UNESCO Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) we propose to include sustainable development in the curriculum.
  • Begin sustainability instruction and practice at the pre-school level.
  • Environmental education should be addressed at all levels of the educational system (e.g., policy level, teacher training, administrator training, adult education/parent, etc.).
  • Use service learning activities to promote civic consciousness and engagement of environmental issues and concerns among students of all ages.
  • Include disaster preparation, disaster management and post-disaster recovery studies in the curriculum that will promote prevention rather than only reaction to both human-induced and natural disasters.
Resolutions
  • We resolve to include at least one sustainable development practice in all aspects of our teaching and learning activities.
  • We resolve to contact the disaster preparation management system in our community to determine the adequacy of mastery of preparation skills.