Hi Everyone
Please check out my project webpage
http://seedstotrees.weebly.com
Seeds To Trees is a website I created to encourage parents and teachers to incorporate a community minded curriculum. Community minded values are essential if we are to succeed in large scale sustainability efforts. Community mindedness is also an integral part of developing a sense of global interconnectedness.
I would appreciate any feedback.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Podcast
Podcast
I found the answers to the questions on the podcast really insightful. I found that hearing the answers added a reality to ecovillage life that I did not really think of. Throughout this class I envisioned ecovillage life to be comprised of community members already community minded/spirited who do not find it difficult to live in a communal way. I felt that although I would love to have this experience for my children and myself that I was not quite there yet mentally, not quite open to give up the independence I have grown so accustomed to. I learned from the podcast that Dr. Becker found that one of her challenges in ecovillage life was her independent spirit. This revelation opened up the door in my thinking that community mindedness is not something that just happens for some and not others it is a processes that takes effort. One of the questions presented was Do you ever get tired of collaboratively doing things? Again I assumed that people in the ecovillage live tirelessly for the shared experience. The reality is as was revealed through the podcast that of course as with many aspects of life it can be tiring to do things in a certain way. The emphasis is that when things are done collaboratively in an ecovillage every task has so much more depth of meaning than if we were to act alone. These realities really make me think that maybe I could enjoy the experience of living in an ecovillage with my children. Dr. Becker discussed how in the ecovillage her daughter had the wonderful opportunity of interacting with everyone "living and learning all the time". She also discussed what a wonderful experience it is for a parent to be able to see your child surrounded by other children always playing "spontaneous and beautiful". As a mother of three I have always wanted such an environment for my children and myself. I think what has been missing from our lives is an innate sense of trust. My children and I have always been in an environment comprised of struggle and uncertainty. We like so many other people have carried out our lives marginally connected to others, marginally connected to a sense of community. The trust that is created in environments like the ecovillage is truly a magical thing. As a mother I am always in an almost state of paranoia for my children always watching out for where they are, if there are cars, where they are playing, who they are playing with, what are they watching on TV, what are they looking at online. I can only imagine how freeing it is to allow my children to really play in an environment that allows me to open up and be trusting and supports that trust.
As far as my behavior change I have really put in the effort to eat better and buy locally grown produce. My children ride the bus more to get to school which is an hour away from our home and means one less car on the road. Ultimately my change through the information presented in this class is one of a true sense of awareness about how imperative it is to change our way of thinking. Before I would be so supportive of my children's individual success I failed to see the importance of instilling a sense of community mindedness. My biggest behavior change is working with my children volunteering our time in the community. We have done beach clean ups, we volunteer at the Humane Society, we are helping out on our neighborhood work days. My children also volunteer on their own doing whenever something comes up at their school. We are opening up and becoming more trusting as we are seeing the necessity of having a community connection.
I found the answers to the questions on the podcast really insightful. I found that hearing the answers added a reality to ecovillage life that I did not really think of. Throughout this class I envisioned ecovillage life to be comprised of community members already community minded/spirited who do not find it difficult to live in a communal way. I felt that although I would love to have this experience for my children and myself that I was not quite there yet mentally, not quite open to give up the independence I have grown so accustomed to. I learned from the podcast that Dr. Becker found that one of her challenges in ecovillage life was her independent spirit. This revelation opened up the door in my thinking that community mindedness is not something that just happens for some and not others it is a processes that takes effort. One of the questions presented was Do you ever get tired of collaboratively doing things? Again I assumed that people in the ecovillage live tirelessly for the shared experience. The reality is as was revealed through the podcast that of course as with many aspects of life it can be tiring to do things in a certain way. The emphasis is that when things are done collaboratively in an ecovillage every task has so much more depth of meaning than if we were to act alone. These realities really make me think that maybe I could enjoy the experience of living in an ecovillage with my children. Dr. Becker discussed how in the ecovillage her daughter had the wonderful opportunity of interacting with everyone "living and learning all the time". She also discussed what a wonderful experience it is for a parent to be able to see your child surrounded by other children always playing "spontaneous and beautiful". As a mother of three I have always wanted such an environment for my children and myself. I think what has been missing from our lives is an innate sense of trust. My children and I have always been in an environment comprised of struggle and uncertainty. We like so many other people have carried out our lives marginally connected to others, marginally connected to a sense of community. The trust that is created in environments like the ecovillage is truly a magical thing. As a mother I am always in an almost state of paranoia for my children always watching out for where they are, if there are cars, where they are playing, who they are playing with, what are they watching on TV, what are they looking at online. I can only imagine how freeing it is to allow my children to really play in an environment that allows me to open up and be trusting and supports that trust.
As far as my behavior change I have really put in the effort to eat better and buy locally grown produce. My children ride the bus more to get to school which is an hour away from our home and means one less car on the road. Ultimately my change through the information presented in this class is one of a true sense of awareness about how imperative it is to change our way of thinking. Before I would be so supportive of my children's individual success I failed to see the importance of instilling a sense of community mindedness. My biggest behavior change is working with my children volunteering our time in the community. We have done beach clean ups, we volunteer at the Humane Society, we are helping out on our neighborhood work days. My children also volunteer on their own doing whenever something comes up at their school. We are opening up and becoming more trusting as we are seeing the necessity of having a community connection.
Sustainability, Communication, Hope & the Future (5.2)
Sustainability, Communication, Hope & the Future
It is often hard to envision a reality of positive social reprioritizing. Our societal goals are still stuck in capitalist consumerism that creates unbelievable wealth for the few and immeasurable problems stemming from the wealth disparity between the few and the majority. Far too often I find myself focused on the negative economic/environmental/societal realities to envision a world of positive and sustainable interconnectedness. I watched the short film at the following link;
What the World would look like Global Oneness Project:
www.mrcse.org/index.php
I was hoping to see artist renditions of a utopian society so that I could focus on what could be; instead the film offered more of a reality check. Although I was not able to sit back and relax my noggin the site provided many important things to think about especially in terms of how we are supposed to move foreword in light of all our differences. One of the quotes from the film that really struck me was that we have to “have respect for everyone’s narrative”. I think far too often we focus on the technology behind the change, for example we focus our effort on new ways to sustain our current mentality. By these terms we do not stray far from individualized notions of our narratives and how we relate/conform to larger society. For change to really happen we must all be aware of the multiple narratives, we must be beyond aware we must have acceptance and find a connection not in spite of narrative differences but in conjunction with narrative differences. I think only then can we effect the massive global change that is necessary for our survival on this planet. One of the speakers talked about challenges that will inevitably occur if we are to develop a community minded global identity. I think often people think that to develop this sense of interconnectedness we must loose sight of ourselves, our current identity. So much of identity is tied to cultural value and religious beliefs and a sense of separation from those who are not part of this tied identity. Creating a new global identity means that those aspects by which we define our identity are not removed but rather acknowledged. This acknowledgement is not in the current light of separation which inevitably has brought conflict and animosity, but in the light of interconnectedness, a global community identity. This global identity connects on the shared level that we must all work together and live together and that other aspects of our identity can flourish under these terms. However the key is to eliminate separation tied to other aspects of our identity and redefine our identity to acknowledge out larger connection.
I enjoyed looking at the following site;
Jean Houston Social Artistry
www.jeanhouston.org/socialartistry-whatitis-new.cfm
What was so interesting to me about this site is the way it presents our part as well as society’s role to effect change. It does not present the majority of people as stagnant and complacent under the power of society’s thumb, rather it envisions us as actively capable of creating a better reality through “the canvas of our social reality”. The site describes us as artists, social artists capable of creating whatever it is we want much like an artist who is given a blank canvas. “Social Artists are leaders in many fields who bring the same order of passion and skill that an artist brings to his or her art form, to the canvas of our social reality. It is within the depth work of Social Artistry that we can access the inner capacities to align ourselves with the earth's higher purpose. Ultimately, it is about all of us together co-creating the human and social changes needed to make a better world”
For the last part of this assignment I wanted to find a site that addresses how to really effect change economic disparity must be addressed.
End Poverty 2015
www.endpoverty2015.org/We far too often ignore the plight of so many people. We can not effect change unless we are willing to do something about the issues that prevent change such as poverty. Poverty is a worldwide pervasive problem. To eliminate poverty would have direct positive effects on decreasing child maltreatment. This site gives me hope that the issue of poverty is being addressed across the world. As I mentioned earlier alot of what we focus on to effect change are things we think we can do in our current social climate that allow us to maintain our current identity. We often think that the issue of poverty is far too big a problem to do anything about. Poverty connects to sustainability communication and culture it connects to everything we have learned in this class from ways to live sustainably to recreating a global interconnectedness/mindedness. Why? because poverty is proof of how our current global economic system has failed. If we eliminate poverty we exemplify a real positive global connection that is based on value and support. Proof of positive change comes with the elimination of tremendous wealth disparities. We can build and use all the green technologies we want to maintain our society, but if poverty still exists we have done nothing beyond restylizing our dysfunction.
It is often hard to envision a reality of positive social reprioritizing. Our societal goals are still stuck in capitalist consumerism that creates unbelievable wealth for the few and immeasurable problems stemming from the wealth disparity between the few and the majority. Far too often I find myself focused on the negative economic/environmental/societal realities to envision a world of positive and sustainable interconnectedness. I watched the short film at the following link;
What the World would look like Global Oneness Project:
www.mrcse.org/index.php
I was hoping to see artist renditions of a utopian society so that I could focus on what could be; instead the film offered more of a reality check. Although I was not able to sit back and relax my noggin the site provided many important things to think about especially in terms of how we are supposed to move foreword in light of all our differences. One of the quotes from the film that really struck me was that we have to “have respect for everyone’s narrative”. I think far too often we focus on the technology behind the change, for example we focus our effort on new ways to sustain our current mentality. By these terms we do not stray far from individualized notions of our narratives and how we relate/conform to larger society. For change to really happen we must all be aware of the multiple narratives, we must be beyond aware we must have acceptance and find a connection not in spite of narrative differences but in conjunction with narrative differences. I think only then can we effect the massive global change that is necessary for our survival on this planet. One of the speakers talked about challenges that will inevitably occur if we are to develop a community minded global identity. I think often people think that to develop this sense of interconnectedness we must loose sight of ourselves, our current identity. So much of identity is tied to cultural value and religious beliefs and a sense of separation from those who are not part of this tied identity. Creating a new global identity means that those aspects by which we define our identity are not removed but rather acknowledged. This acknowledgement is not in the current light of separation which inevitably has brought conflict and animosity, but in the light of interconnectedness, a global community identity. This global identity connects on the shared level that we must all work together and live together and that other aspects of our identity can flourish under these terms. However the key is to eliminate separation tied to other aspects of our identity and redefine our identity to acknowledge out larger connection.
I enjoyed looking at the following site;
Jean Houston Social Artistry
www.jeanhouston.org/socialartistry-whatitis-new.cfm
What was so interesting to me about this site is the way it presents our part as well as society’s role to effect change. It does not present the majority of people as stagnant and complacent under the power of society’s thumb, rather it envisions us as actively capable of creating a better reality through “the canvas of our social reality”. The site describes us as artists, social artists capable of creating whatever it is we want much like an artist who is given a blank canvas. “Social Artists are leaders in many fields who bring the same order of passion and skill that an artist brings to his or her art form, to the canvas of our social reality. It is within the depth work of Social Artistry that we can access the inner capacities to align ourselves with the earth's higher purpose. Ultimately, it is about all of us together co-creating the human and social changes needed to make a better world”
For the last part of this assignment I wanted to find a site that addresses how to really effect change economic disparity must be addressed.
End Poverty 2015
www.endpoverty2015.org/We far too often ignore the plight of so many people. We can not effect change unless we are willing to do something about the issues that prevent change such as poverty. Poverty is a worldwide pervasive problem. To eliminate poverty would have direct positive effects on decreasing child maltreatment. This site gives me hope that the issue of poverty is being addressed across the world. As I mentioned earlier alot of what we focus on to effect change are things we think we can do in our current social climate that allow us to maintain our current identity. We often think that the issue of poverty is far too big a problem to do anything about. Poverty connects to sustainability communication and culture it connects to everything we have learned in this class from ways to live sustainably to recreating a global interconnectedness/mindedness. Why? because poverty is proof of how our current global economic system has failed. If we eliminate poverty we exemplify a real positive global connection that is based on value and support. Proof of positive change comes with the elimination of tremendous wealth disparities. We can build and use all the green technologies we want to maintain our society, but if poverty still exists we have done nothing beyond restylizing our dysfunction.
Communication Media and Social Change (5.1)
Communication Media and Social Change
In the first centuries of mass communication people accommodated their needs from media through what the older media technologies provided. Today’s media systems enable opportunities for people to use media to create experiences that are meaningful. Instead of accommodating to media as in the past today’s audience is actively able to make media accommodate to their needs. This freedom for people to make their own meaning from media content is known as semiotic democracy. The capability of today’s media systems to span great (worldwide) distances enables an interconnectedness that is has the capability of transforming social orders around the world. A fairly recent example of this is the presidential election protest in Iran. Protests stemming from the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to the country employing media censorship. Today’s communication technologies enable people to creatively use the media to facilitate their own needs. Due to media literacy complete media censorship could not be achieved. Many protestors used social networking communication sites such as Twitter, Face Book and YouTube to chronicle their experiences. The result was that active media use enabled worldwide attention. This is a direct example of communication technology use in the transformation of social order because worldwide attention was not facilitated through larger governing forces but rather the collection of individual experiences opposing those governing forces. This example also shows that through the use of current communication technologies (that enable worldwide interconnectedness) the division of cultural boundaries as well as social order boundaries are not as black and white. Individuals can get as well as offer an intimate look/insight into each others lives that previously may have been inaccessible.
I found several of the sites useful for my project which focuses on educating middle school children about environmental awareness and sustainability. Earth Island Institute is a wonderful site. It definitely gives me hope that people are striving for positive social change. This was inspiring for me to see that ideas are being supported and given a chance to succeed as mentioned on their site EII "provides an opportunity for a committed environmental activist with a good idea to launch a project with us, or to gain sponsorship for an existing project. Starting and running a non-profit campaign requires a great deal of administrative and logistical effort. This limits the time and energy that can be applied toward actually carrying out campaign objectives". One of the important things about this site is that they are using media to integrate a mission of community mindedness which I think is vital for positive social change "As an alternative to dozens of separate nonprofits, each duplicating basic administrative functions, EII is a consortium of more than thirty grassroots campaigns, each functioning independently while sharing resources and benefiting from the synergistic exchange of experience, ideas, and energy". From the site The Ecology of Media from Storytelling to Telecommunication I was able to gather a lot of information which I can directly apply to my project. The information on new media provides hope that mass change is possible. For my project I will incorporate some of the information presented to show how media has changed dramatically with the rise of new technologies. As active participants in our own media use we can find ways to promote and integrate positive connections. This is basically what I am trying to do in my project promoting community mindedness for young children.
In the first centuries of mass communication people accommodated their needs from media through what the older media technologies provided. Today’s media systems enable opportunities for people to use media to create experiences that are meaningful. Instead of accommodating to media as in the past today’s audience is actively able to make media accommodate to their needs. This freedom for people to make their own meaning from media content is known as semiotic democracy. The capability of today’s media systems to span great (worldwide) distances enables an interconnectedness that is has the capability of transforming social orders around the world. A fairly recent example of this is the presidential election protest in Iran. Protests stemming from the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad led to the country employing media censorship. Today’s communication technologies enable people to creatively use the media to facilitate their own needs. Due to media literacy complete media censorship could not be achieved. Many protestors used social networking communication sites such as Twitter, Face Book and YouTube to chronicle their experiences. The result was that active media use enabled worldwide attention. This is a direct example of communication technology use in the transformation of social order because worldwide attention was not facilitated through larger governing forces but rather the collection of individual experiences opposing those governing forces. This example also shows that through the use of current communication technologies (that enable worldwide interconnectedness) the division of cultural boundaries as well as social order boundaries are not as black and white. Individuals can get as well as offer an intimate look/insight into each others lives that previously may have been inaccessible.
I found several of the sites useful for my project which focuses on educating middle school children about environmental awareness and sustainability. Earth Island Institute is a wonderful site. It definitely gives me hope that people are striving for positive social change. This was inspiring for me to see that ideas are being supported and given a chance to succeed as mentioned on their site EII "provides an opportunity for a committed environmental activist with a good idea to launch a project with us, or to gain sponsorship for an existing project. Starting and running a non-profit campaign requires a great deal of administrative and logistical effort. This limits the time and energy that can be applied toward actually carrying out campaign objectives". One of the important things about this site is that they are using media to integrate a mission of community mindedness which I think is vital for positive social change "As an alternative to dozens of separate nonprofits, each duplicating basic administrative functions, EII is a consortium of more than thirty grassroots campaigns, each functioning independently while sharing resources and benefiting from the synergistic exchange of experience, ideas, and energy". From the site The Ecology of Media from Storytelling to Telecommunication I was able to gather a lot of information which I can directly apply to my project. The information on new media provides hope that mass change is possible. For my project I will incorporate some of the information presented to show how media has changed dramatically with the rise of new technologies. As active participants in our own media use we can find ways to promote and integrate positive connections. This is basically what I am trying to do in my project promoting community mindedness for young children.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Extra Credit: Community Volunteerism
Extra Credit: Community Volunteerism
I have wanted to take a more active role in my community for a long time, however I have moved so often I have never considered myself a member of any community. Seeing such efforts as the World Wide Action for Climate Change I realized I was defining community all wrong. I had been defining community in terms of where I lived, location, instead of understanding that community mindedness was much more encompassing than the physicality of location. I realized that I had to start thinking of community in terms of how can I contribute. Under these terms I can connect to a community mindedness no matter where I live. I wanted to really help develop an understanding of community as being tied to active participation and not just location for my children. So far we have volunteered our time together to clean up Old Airport Beach, we have picked up trash a Pebble Beach and we just finished our orientation at the Humane Society. Last month my children volunteered their time handing out sponges and drinks for the Iron Man athletes. I think we are developing an understanding that it is how we contribute that creates our connection to community. Whether it be our community here in Kona or as members of the global community we are making the effort to connect and having fun while doing it!
I have wanted to take a more active role in my community for a long time, however I have moved so often I have never considered myself a member of any community. Seeing such efforts as the World Wide Action for Climate Change I realized I was defining community all wrong. I had been defining community in terms of where I lived, location, instead of understanding that community mindedness was much more encompassing than the physicality of location. I realized that I had to start thinking of community in terms of how can I contribute. Under these terms I can connect to a community mindedness no matter where I live. I wanted to really help develop an understanding of community as being tied to active participation and not just location for my children. So far we have volunteered our time together to clean up Old Airport Beach, we have picked up trash a Pebble Beach and we just finished our orientation at the Humane Society. Last month my children volunteered their time handing out sponges and drinks for the Iron Man athletes. I think we are developing an understanding that it is how we contribute that creates our connection to community. Whether it be our community here in Kona or as members of the global community we are making the effort to connect and having fun while doing it!
Sustainability and Education
Sustainability and Education
I have a special interest in the area of sustainability and education. In fact my project for this class is about just that, so I am very glad to get some additional resources offered through this assignment. The quote by Stephen Sterling; "The challenge of sustainability may be viewed as a major threat/opportunity to existing cultural systems" accurately describes our present cultural paradigm. We are at the crux of a cultural shift that has developed out of necessity. The very real environmental damage and economic dependence upon a diminishing fuel supply means that the culture that thrived upon depletion and consumerism must reprioritize in order to survive. What this means is that it is imperative and obvious that a change in cultural/societal consumer dependence must be shifted/transformed into a culture based upon sustainable synergistic solutions. Of course the shift or change in paradigm is a threat to the many people who not only rely on consumerism but have incorporated a consumerist philosophy as being tied to cognitions of self purpose and worth. For the many who view sustainability as an opportunity they can see the real capabilities of functioning in a different 'healthy', inclusive way, and are participants in the movement to shift cultural dynamics. So how do you shift for the many an internal cognition based upon consumer dependence Stephen Sterling describes that through education, through a purposeful effort in adopting an ecological view our contexts of culture and how and why we contribute to culture at large can make what is deemed as the threat of sustainability for some into realizing the opportunity of sustainability. Again, he emphasizes education as a key to this context shift/change "an ecological view implies putting relationship back into education and learning – seeking synergy between all aspects of education: ethos, curriculum, pedagogy, management, procurement and resource use, architecture and community links – with emphasis on such values as respect, trust, participation, ownership, democracy, openness, and environment. Envisioning this change – and realizable, practicable steps in our own working contexts – is key."
At the urban options site the three systems described as intersecting to contribute to sustainability are a flourishing environment, an equitable economy, and a vibrant community. What really stuck out about these systems was the concept of a vibrant community. This is used to describe an education philosophy that focuses on the community potential rather than individual achievement. I think this is such an interesting concept because in our current understanding of community we often think in terms of flat realities, my community is where I live, my community is where my children or I go to school, or possibly where I work. With education the present dynamic is one focused upon the individual where individualistic achievement does not readily incorporate a collective learning dynamic. The concept of vibrant community in relation to education presents a dynamic between the individual and the larger macrosystem, a dynamic of healthy dependence where individual contributions equate to dynamic rather than flat cognitions of what community is. In this sense individual potential is not isolated but rather a working part of community potential. In this sense a vibrant community describes the individual as 'alive' active, full of energy, thriving and healthy in an atmosphere that encourages and sustains. "On the most fundamental level, the idea of living 'sustainably' refers to the notion that one's everyday actions and practices create a lifestyle that in turn produces a more healthy, habitable and equitable world for all beings."
I chose to look at the area of active citizenship and ethics in education. Often these topics go ignored or only addressed on the surface. The site describes educational goals that instill a cognition of not only active citizenship but of empowered community minded members. For many of us our schooling has encouraged a somewhat selfish mindset where we are concerned with our individual progress. In a community minded mentality education promotes an understanding of whole health, whole progress. It only makes sense that active participation is instilled to promote whole community health. Students look into human rights issues and have an understanding that they are not removed from the situation but rather a part of the solution. "Let's help our students see themselves as contributing and active citizens instead of cynical armchair pontificators. We need to share stories with them of people who have made a positive difference for society."
The organization Action Network (www.actionnetwork.org) offers a way to collectively voice concerns and actions to prevent human rights injustices. The Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org) offers a collective voice and commitment to action for environmental issues. It is imperative to adopt this community minded education philosophy, to meet the challenges and obligations to tackle not only community based but global environmental issues. A curriculum based in cultural awareness and understanding to foster a global minded way of thinking is key to sustainability. Hopefully children raised with community mindedness will be more empowered to act as social entrepreneurs to tackle environmental and societal problems around the world. What is fostered by community mindedness is an awareness and understanding of the similarities that link us as a global community.
There are more and more new charter schools opening that offer an education that centers on the Hawaiian language and culture. What is unique about organizations such as Kanu o' ka 'Aina Learning Ohana and Hawaiian culture centered schools such as Punana Leo and Kua O Ka La is that the Hawaiian culture is a fundamental part of education. There is a distinct difference between Hawaiian cultural values of collectivism and environmental reverence and westernized individualistic societal values. These differences are evident in a westernized school system that centers around individualism. Often Hawaiian children struggle in a system that is not inclusive of the Hawaiian value system. A knowledge of how to live off the land, of how to fish, to communicate in Hawaiian, a knowledge of understanding things by hands on learning, learning as a group, is no less important than the individualism that is promoted by westernized educational system. If a native Hawaiian child struggles in school the message that is sent is that the child is not living up to school standards instead of the reality that the school system is not meeting the standards of the child. In her research on traditional Hawaiian learning styles (Learning-Teaching Interactions Among Polynesian-Hawaiian Children in a School Context: Rationale, Method, and Preliminary Results. Technical Report #67.) Cathie Tharp found that "Hawaiian people may employ sets of learning and teaching behaviors which differ widely from those usually used in public schools. Comparison of videotaped mother and child interactions of both Hawaiians and Midwesterners showed that Hawaiian mothers used fewer verbal directions than did Midwestern mothers, although interaction rates were the same in both groups...Observation of Hawaiian child-child classroom interactions has resulted in the identification of information-seeking, help-seeking, and teaching patterns. Interaction of Hawaiian children is built on mutual involvement in the accomplishment of specific tasks. The rule-statement and verbal directions pervasively used by teachers in public schools are notably absent from Hawaiian child-child interactions..." What this means for many native Hawaiian children is that they are stuck in a school system that not only ignores a difference in learning styles and values but also deems the child's potential reaction to the instruction environment as disruptive. Programs that understand the importance of fostering a different but no less valuable educational style encourage not only a broader sense of learning but also perpetuate a culture of environmental reverence.
I have a special interest in the area of sustainability and education. In fact my project for this class is about just that, so I am very glad to get some additional resources offered through this assignment. The quote by Stephen Sterling; "The challenge of sustainability may be viewed as a major threat/opportunity to existing cultural systems" accurately describes our present cultural paradigm. We are at the crux of a cultural shift that has developed out of necessity. The very real environmental damage and economic dependence upon a diminishing fuel supply means that the culture that thrived upon depletion and consumerism must reprioritize in order to survive. What this means is that it is imperative and obvious that a change in cultural/societal consumer dependence must be shifted/transformed into a culture based upon sustainable synergistic solutions. Of course the shift or change in paradigm is a threat to the many people who not only rely on consumerism but have incorporated a consumerist philosophy as being tied to cognitions of self purpose and worth. For the many who view sustainability as an opportunity they can see the real capabilities of functioning in a different 'healthy', inclusive way, and are participants in the movement to shift cultural dynamics. So how do you shift for the many an internal cognition based upon consumer dependence Stephen Sterling describes that through education, through a purposeful effort in adopting an ecological view our contexts of culture and how and why we contribute to culture at large can make what is deemed as the threat of sustainability for some into realizing the opportunity of sustainability. Again, he emphasizes education as a key to this context shift/change "an ecological view implies putting relationship back into education and learning – seeking synergy between all aspects of education: ethos, curriculum, pedagogy, management, procurement and resource use, architecture and community links – with emphasis on such values as respect, trust, participation, ownership, democracy, openness, and environment. Envisioning this change – and realizable, practicable steps in our own working contexts – is key."
At the urban options site the three systems described as intersecting to contribute to sustainability are a flourishing environment, an equitable economy, and a vibrant community. What really stuck out about these systems was the concept of a vibrant community. This is used to describe an education philosophy that focuses on the community potential rather than individual achievement. I think this is such an interesting concept because in our current understanding of community we often think in terms of flat realities, my community is where I live, my community is where my children or I go to school, or possibly where I work. With education the present dynamic is one focused upon the individual where individualistic achievement does not readily incorporate a collective learning dynamic. The concept of vibrant community in relation to education presents a dynamic between the individual and the larger macrosystem, a dynamic of healthy dependence where individual contributions equate to dynamic rather than flat cognitions of what community is. In this sense individual potential is not isolated but rather a working part of community potential. In this sense a vibrant community describes the individual as 'alive' active, full of energy, thriving and healthy in an atmosphere that encourages and sustains. "On the most fundamental level, the idea of living 'sustainably' refers to the notion that one's everyday actions and practices create a lifestyle that in turn produces a more healthy, habitable and equitable world for all beings."
I chose to look at the area of active citizenship and ethics in education. Often these topics go ignored or only addressed on the surface. The site describes educational goals that instill a cognition of not only active citizenship but of empowered community minded members. For many of us our schooling has encouraged a somewhat selfish mindset where we are concerned with our individual progress. In a community minded mentality education promotes an understanding of whole health, whole progress. It only makes sense that active participation is instilled to promote whole community health. Students look into human rights issues and have an understanding that they are not removed from the situation but rather a part of the solution. "Let's help our students see themselves as contributing and active citizens instead of cynical armchair pontificators. We need to share stories with them of people who have made a positive difference for society."
The organization Action Network (www.actionnetwork.org) offers a way to collectively voice concerns and actions to prevent human rights injustices. The Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org) offers a collective voice and commitment to action for environmental issues. It is imperative to adopt this community minded education philosophy, to meet the challenges and obligations to tackle not only community based but global environmental issues. A curriculum based in cultural awareness and understanding to foster a global minded way of thinking is key to sustainability. Hopefully children raised with community mindedness will be more empowered to act as social entrepreneurs to tackle environmental and societal problems around the world. What is fostered by community mindedness is an awareness and understanding of the similarities that link us as a global community.
There are more and more new charter schools opening that offer an education that centers on the Hawaiian language and culture. What is unique about organizations such as Kanu o' ka 'Aina Learning Ohana and Hawaiian culture centered schools such as Punana Leo and Kua O Ka La is that the Hawaiian culture is a fundamental part of education. There is a distinct difference between Hawaiian cultural values of collectivism and environmental reverence and westernized individualistic societal values. These differences are evident in a westernized school system that centers around individualism. Often Hawaiian children struggle in a system that is not inclusive of the Hawaiian value system. A knowledge of how to live off the land, of how to fish, to communicate in Hawaiian, a knowledge of understanding things by hands on learning, learning as a group, is no less important than the individualism that is promoted by westernized educational system. If a native Hawaiian child struggles in school the message that is sent is that the child is not living up to school standards instead of the reality that the school system is not meeting the standards of the child. In her research on traditional Hawaiian learning styles (Learning-Teaching Interactions Among Polynesian-Hawaiian Children in a School Context: Rationale, Method, and Preliminary Results. Technical Report #67.) Cathie Tharp found that "Hawaiian people may employ sets of learning and teaching behaviors which differ widely from those usually used in public schools. Comparison of videotaped mother and child interactions of both Hawaiians and Midwesterners showed that Hawaiian mothers used fewer verbal directions than did Midwestern mothers, although interaction rates were the same in both groups...Observation of Hawaiian child-child classroom interactions has resulted in the identification of information-seeking, help-seeking, and teaching patterns. Interaction of Hawaiian children is built on mutual involvement in the accomplishment of specific tasks. The rule-statement and verbal directions pervasively used by teachers in public schools are notably absent from Hawaiian child-child interactions..." What this means for many native Hawaiian children is that they are stuck in a school system that not only ignores a difference in learning styles and values but also deems the child's potential reaction to the instruction environment as disruptive. Programs that understand the importance of fostering a different but no less valuable educational style encourage not only a broader sense of learning but also perpetuate a culture of environmental reverence.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Sustainability and Diversity
Sustainability and Diversity
The videos required for this assignment were very powerful and providing alot of hope. To start with the video of Paul Hawkins who gave an inspiring discussion on the magnitude of the movement. He describes this movement as having “no center ideology..this movement is the most diverse movement the world has ever seen it is global, classless and tireless...” What Paul Hawkins is describing is that only through diversity can global mindedness begin/continue. This concept of social inclusiveness is integral to address global issues. We can not begin to tackle global problems unless we integrate the knowledge that the solution lies in diversity. The multi level meaning of diversity is one that is inclusive, an inclusive minded motivation for change. On another level diversity is integrating different solutions, different perspectives to common environmental goals. Diversity on the level of social inclusiveness means that part of the change, part of the “movement” is to acknowledge and address a defunct system that as it stands is not inclusive is not open to the positive change that can be brought about through diversity. One of the most profound statements that Paul Hawkins made was “salvation is found in diversity. This movement is humanities immune response to resist and heal political disease, economic infection, and ecological corruption caused by ideologies.” Through diversity “we are building the capacity to respond”.
Van Jones also discussed this central component of change, diversity. “Only through the diversity of this generation can we meet the true moral challenge of creating a green economy that has a place for everyone...Green for all”. Van Jones really puts the message of social inclusion as being part of the movement for change. He mentions that just changing one aspect of a faulty system (like replacing detrimental energy systems for clean energy) does not mean that the movement is over and the solution is complete. Diversity must be acknowledges and incorporated in change as social inclusiveness is an integral part to eliminate a faulty system and create a truly inclusive system that provides for everyone.
This assignment was very informative for me. Prior to this assignment I did not fully think about the necessity of social inclusion. I was focused on environmental changes and overlooked this key element that can bring about positive changes. I also had a hard time seeing how to create inclusion in a world filled with such ideology, and class differences. Van Jones allowed me to visualize a changing society that can “lift people out of poverty...green pathways out of poverty and into prosperity”. He describes the addition of millions of new ‘green’ jobs that could be created for the “people who need the work being connected to work that needs to be done”. A really important thing that I learned is that the scope of the movement is huge, and fueled by diversity. I often feel overwhelmed when faced with the statistics/facts of the environmental damage we have created and continue to create. These discussions gave me hope that change is occurring, and fortunately already picking up momentum as a large movement is already in the works. It gives me hope that there is redemption for us as Paul Hawkins puts it “humankind knows what to do”.
The videos required for this assignment were very powerful and providing alot of hope. To start with the video of Paul Hawkins who gave an inspiring discussion on the magnitude of the movement. He describes this movement as having “no center ideology..this movement is the most diverse movement the world has ever seen it is global, classless and tireless...” What Paul Hawkins is describing is that only through diversity can global mindedness begin/continue. This concept of social inclusiveness is integral to address global issues. We can not begin to tackle global problems unless we integrate the knowledge that the solution lies in diversity. The multi level meaning of diversity is one that is inclusive, an inclusive minded motivation for change. On another level diversity is integrating different solutions, different perspectives to common environmental goals. Diversity on the level of social inclusiveness means that part of the change, part of the “movement” is to acknowledge and address a defunct system that as it stands is not inclusive is not open to the positive change that can be brought about through diversity. One of the most profound statements that Paul Hawkins made was “salvation is found in diversity. This movement is humanities immune response to resist and heal political disease, economic infection, and ecological corruption caused by ideologies.” Through diversity “we are building the capacity to respond”.
Van Jones also discussed this central component of change, diversity. “Only through the diversity of this generation can we meet the true moral challenge of creating a green economy that has a place for everyone...Green for all”. Van Jones really puts the message of social inclusion as being part of the movement for change. He mentions that just changing one aspect of a faulty system (like replacing detrimental energy systems for clean energy) does not mean that the movement is over and the solution is complete. Diversity must be acknowledges and incorporated in change as social inclusiveness is an integral part to eliminate a faulty system and create a truly inclusive system that provides for everyone.
This assignment was very informative for me. Prior to this assignment I did not fully think about the necessity of social inclusion. I was focused on environmental changes and overlooked this key element that can bring about positive changes. I also had a hard time seeing how to create inclusion in a world filled with such ideology, and class differences. Van Jones allowed me to visualize a changing society that can “lift people out of poverty...green pathways out of poverty and into prosperity”. He describes the addition of millions of new ‘green’ jobs that could be created for the “people who need the work being connected to work that needs to be done”. A really important thing that I learned is that the scope of the movement is huge, and fueled by diversity. I often feel overwhelmed when faced with the statistics/facts of the environmental damage we have created and continue to create. These discussions gave me hope that change is occurring, and fortunately already picking up momentum as a large movement is already in the works. It gives me hope that there is redemption for us as Paul Hawkins puts it “humankind knows what to do”.
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