Tuesday, 23 November 2010 20:24
Earth
Charter International and the Center for Environment Education hosted
an Earth Charter + 10 International Conference on the CEE campus in
Ahmedabad India. The conference, titled “Ethical
Framework for a Sustainable World” took place from 1-3
November, 2010. The event brought together people from all
sectors and from countries around the world to engage in dialogue, to
collaborate and reflect on 10 years of the Earth Charter and
consider the next steps towards a sustainable future.
Distinguished Earth Charter educators and activists shared their
experiences and guidance in the plenary sessions of the conference to
encourage a positive conceptualization of the future while addressing
key world challenges, issues and priorities.
In
these links you can find a PHOTO
ALBUM and MEDIA
COVERAGE for
the event.
The
10 thematic workshops at the conference focused on the sustainability
challenges faced by various sectors and how using the Earth Charter
can help accelerate our much needed transition to a just, sustainable
and peaceful future. Participants spent four sessions in
sectoral workshops. Each workshop included case studies of
projects using the Earth Charter or other initiatives that combine
values with sustainability.
From
each emerged useful material on Earth Charter good practices as well
as some suggestions for the way forward and potential partners.
Participants in each workshop agreed to develop a range of
education and training materials and opportunities. Their
recommendations are available below. A major outcome of the
conference was to contribute to the adoption of a strong
sustainability framework at the UN Conference on Sustainable
Development in 2012 (Rio+20).
Recommendations
from Working Sessions:
These
are the final recommendations resulted from the work of all
participants, attending 10 different specific sessions:
1.
School
Education and Teacher Training
2.
Higher
Education
3.
Non
Formal Education
4.
Reviewing,
Reorienting and Rethinking ICT to ESD
5.
Businesses
& CSR and Green Economy
6.
The
Earth Charter and Religion, Spirituality and Ethics
7.
Cities,
Communities and Urbanisation
8.
Ethical
Development Practices for Sustainable Livelihoods
9.
Global
Challenges and Global Governance
10.Biodiversity
& Ethics
Thursday, 04 November 2010 00:37
Our first real business in the
villages, building and selling solar stoves of the Kyoto design is
underway. Genie Skypek and Charlotte Starfire are working with
Victor to identify a woman's group in Shapi Village near Mansa who
want to start the business. We made many contacts during our visit
there, and so we know there are women ready to go. Victor is looking
for a supply of cardboard boxes and thin plastic sheets used to
actually construct the solar cookers. Charlotte and Genie will fund
the initial start-up. Entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs, the heart
of the economic aspect of Project COPE. They will work directly with
the women in the group, helping with advice, and sharing in the
excitement of creating a needed business for the local economy of the
village.
Women love the solar stove because it
does not need to be tended, so they can put in the food, then go work
in the field, head into town to the market, or take care of home
chores. There is no need to stoke the fire or move the food. Solar
stoves cook like our crock-pots, only using the collected and stored
heat of the sun. The will cost somewhere around $5 to make, and will
sell for $10 or so, which is a real deal compared to the money spent
on charcoal, the main cooking fuel right now. Also, the solar stove
has no toxic emissions to harm the lungs of the women or their
children. We will keep you updated as this project moves forward.