The UN Decade of ESD 2005-2014 is a powerful wave for all of us involved in positive change activities that is still largely untapped. In Germany, we have quite a well organised program for the decade with many events and awards for outstanding sustainability education ventures. We have received renewed status as Official Project of the UN Decade of ESD in 2005/6, 2007/8 and 2009/10 for our work with www.pnyv,org, www.humanity4.org and www.youth-leader.org.
This 'seal of approval for high and innovative educational value' is helpful in making educators and organisations recognise the spirit and relevance in our work for sustainability, the well-being of humankind and transformation to a better model that's in tune with the biosphere and more fun!
Civil society organisations, youth and educators can use this decade to support thier activities, especially through public recognition and connecting with the education sector, the mega important environment to promote and establish positive change thinking and action. There exist many programs and tools that change activists, parents, students and educators can use to introduce these in their schools. You will come across them in Youth Leader. And many are actually opened up through aspects in and around YL.
The Decade's half-time conference http://www.esd-world-conference-2009.org has been a very special occasion to connect with outstanding movers around the world, and it has been exceptionally fruitful for us. Since many are highly interested in connecting their work with the media work we do with YL, ISLEs, special editions and positive news radio programs.
I have collected impressions from the conference so you get an impression what cool people are around in those environments usually invisible. Yes, you got it right, these are just a few of the people there, and most... are rather... well, not so inspiring and inspired. But let's focus on the positive, since the exciting thing is : these fantastic people are inside the high level ESD environments, and there is lots of change potential! Much of it you can also tap into - for yourself, for students and educators you know.
Here are some chats I have uploaded to our channel @ http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=youthleadermagazine
- Lars Myrthu Nielsen of eco-net Denmark, presenting a great art initiative that can be a great tool and initiative for you to join all over the world! http://www.balanceakten.dk @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDHf4eVlKJk
- Kosha Joubert. The audio can be much improved but you no doubt get a strong insight that the Global Ecovillage Network has evolved to a major partner in ESD, holistic and sustainable community-building http://gen.ecovillage.org. Kosha represents the special program Gaia Education, which is a special training course for holistic community building open to young people, students and communities http://gaiaeducation.org. Their materials are all available for free download at the website. The renowned Scottish Ecovillage of Findhorn is now also site to a United Nations Institute for Training and Research and hosts national scottish ESD meetings http://www.cifalfindhorn.org. 2 parts @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izE2oGfExAU
- Pey Canlas, youth leader from the Philippines, who shares some of his discovery of spiritual traditions and their sustainable ways in his country, 2 parts @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Klmz8OYpomo
- Michael Wadley, director of the world's most famous and best-selling documentary film, tells about the avantgarde university course he is giving at Harvard University: 'Homo Sapiens : the last 130,000 and the next 200 years' @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq-sdWAM-YM
- Venkat Reddy from India, representing MV Foundation, the world's most amazing movement for liberating children from bonded labour (slavery). One of the most inspiring accounts I have heard in the past decade. 3 parts @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrdHwlVTnN4
- Hans Levander from Sweden, founder of Life Link Schools, a world leading informal curriculum for introducing positive change spirit in schools. 2 parts @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp9bpOO6pXw
- Osamu Abe from Japan, founder of ESD-J, leader of many institutes and advocate for the UN Decade already in the Nineties. While this chat may be sort of high up and boring to many, it gives you a personal impression of highly qualified movers in high level environments. He is a wonderful person, very dedicated. Way ahead of most. So don't think he can do the job all by himself. 3 parts @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-QpYPFQsjM
- Sosten Chiotha (Malawi) and Zabariah Matali (Indonesia), leaders of the 'Civil Society and ESD' workshop, sharing stories from their countries about ESD good practices and values. Another fun encounter. 4 parts @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrJbHD_H3Bk
- Morgan Strecker of UNEP's YouthXChange program, presenting a Lifestyle Guide on Sustainable Lifestyle Choices that's a great tool to use for free in education and youth club environments @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obYAMClJcrw
- Boshra Salem (Egypt) of SUMAMAD, representing a United Nations University program on arid region sustainability stretching from Tunisia to China. 2 parts @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO_MUw_u-Zc
These are just a few of several dozen absolutely amazing movers and shakers I came across. This has probably been the most fun crowd that ever came together at a UN conference :) I don't think the organizors really knew what kind of people is setting the pave in sustainability education ;) since the closing party's free drink contingent was empty half through the night, and the crowd was still going wild to live world music and Balkan Beatz.
I have my pockets full of business cards for future cooperations, since that is what many of these people are looking forward to, including the global choice of young people...
Young ESD Voices, contribution to the conference
Young people between 18 and 35 years of age were invited to submit applications for participating in the workshop "Young ESD Voices from around the World" and in the World Conference itself. Among 550 applicants the 25 participants from all world regions have been selected.
The group had an frutiful exchange on the internet before the conference, putting together their positions on how to advance and establish ESD in societies http://www.esd-world-conference-2009.org/fileadmin/download/Youth/ESD2009U35EmailConsultationsAll.pdf
The group had a great time at the conference and is looking forward to stay connected and collaborate using the internet. The group has produced their own videos documenting their meetings, exchanges and views.
I enjoyed meeting these movers from around the world, their commitment and professionalism! We share many views about changing the world, and different forms of collaboration will definitely evolve.
A link to their website upcoming...
I would like to conclude with a message to all those concerned, critical and sceptical of world affairs and institutions:
I believe that the above impressions serve to illustrate that - despite of utterly dishonourable interest groups definitely playing a very ugly game on global level, and may you include everything you have come across around 'conspircacy' matters - "they" do not! have everything under control. After all, education / conditioning is the key to a world that is free or controlled. This is very important to realise! To keep going, and not get blocked by a big black imaginary mental cloud. So, get informed but don't stay stuck with talking. Get going!
Everything is getting very, very tense on the planet now. Everyone really should stand up, attain their vision and evolve their full, magnificient potential as the wonderful human beings and unleash the change power. The people above have been in action for a long time, through many challenges. This is a wave you can surf and keep building up! Positive change must flow into the education environments where youth spend most of their time. Change is coming, and we need you to join! Then we may reach what I recently was invited to write about : The Shoal @ www.cafeweltgeist.org/shoal
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