• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

! Issue # 13, April - September 2010 RCE Bulletin R C E A N D E S D N E W S The 5th International RCE Conference: education and public participation within their RCEs. The need to facilitate student and professor exchanges, such as next steps Master’s and doctoral students in sustainable development Forty-one RCEs, of the seventy-seven in the global network, programmes, along with faculty and others with expertise were represented at the 5th International RCE Conference was also noted. held in Curitiba, Brazil from 18 to 20 May 2010. Of the participating RCEs, 8 were from Africa, 17 from the Asia- RCEs committed to identify youth in each of their RCEs to Pacific region, 7 from the Americas and 9 from Europe. The create an RCE youth structure for the Americas. conference follows the ones held in Yokohama (2006), Penang (2007), Barcelona (2008) and Montreal (2009). Africa Delegates agreed to The conference was organised to provide an opportunity for - liaise with the other RCEs in Africa and beyond; face-to-face interaction between RCEs and to act as a - form a committee with the participation of SADC-REEP, spring-board for future RCE actions by providing RCEs West Africa and North Africa and the Francophone opportunities to discuss various operational and thematic countries and to mobilise ideas from all RCEs; and to issues. - develop a discussion paper on further development of the RCE initiative in Africa. The three-day conference included plenary and parallel working group sessions organised by continent (Africa, Europe Europe, Asia-Pacific, Americas) on the first day and by A discussion on developing a strategy for European RCEs themes (e.g., biodiversity, sustainable consumption and which emerged in the months prior to the conference was production, climate change) on the third day. On the discussed in depth. It was agreed that rather than looking at second day, a World Café method was employed to discuss an overall structure for European RCEs an agreement on a operational issues such as communications, assessment and strategy to enable European RCEs to have an impact on RCEs’ engagement with policy. European policy had to be reached. It was felt that develop- ing a dialogue with European policy-makers would give Some significant outcomes are detailed below. added value and help raise the profile of RCEs as experts and regional catalysts. Outcomes from the continental meetings Asia-Pacific Americas The main agenda of the meeting was the role of the Asia Each RCE agreed to develop a vision answering the Pacific continental platform and its effective management. question “what the RCE means for us” to, in turn, allow Participants acknowledged that the Asia-Pacific continental for the development of key messages about RCEs. This platform would be a way to build collaboration among was viewed as a way to raise public awareness about RCEs. It was also recognised that the vision of the RCEs and to develop a profile for RCEs in the Americas. Asia-Pacific continental platform is to promote Asian perspectives on sustainable development and ESD, RCEs in the Americas also committed to ensure ESD based on the traditional wisdom of coexistence. projects in the Americas were documented and mapped. This included the documentation of RCE flagship projects Members of the group also presented various projects on in the project reporting portal of the UNU as well as specific themes and set milestones for collaboration. A working with the UNU to develop a map of RCEs. It was report on the Sejahtra Centre for ESD in Asia which is to be envisioned this would enable specific networking established in Tongyeong, Korea, was also given. opportunities between RCEs in the Americas. RCEs also committed to document current methods used for public " 1 R C E A N D E S D N E W S A few outcomes of the world café sessions Continental groups have started consolidating their actions while RCEs continue to search for synergies with other SD A draft concept paper on the development of a portal for and ESD initiatives and networks. RCEs was distributed and most participants at the world café session on communications felt that the uses of the Note: This summary touches upon only a few of the ideas and portal may be prioritised as: issues discussed at the conference. More detailed information is available on request. - Database/library with toolkits, conference papers, Q&A including solutions to common problems, presentation of For more information RCE projects, tools such as technical writing including The Global RCE Service Centre UNU-IAS successful proposals [email protected] - Providing a public face to RCEs through web pages - Offering opportunities for online discussion among RCEs - Keeping track of RCE progress and achievements through NEWS FROM RCES IN AFRICA reporting In the session on RCE engagement with policy, participants RCE Kakamega works towards ICT felt that RCEs could generate policy ideas by acting as an ESD think-tank regarding possible laws, regulations, and integration in education curricula reforms. This role could include developing model Over 120 science and mathematics teachers participated in policies and programmes based on strategic research that a two-week training on ICT integration in the two subjects. advanced existing or new policy directions of governments The training was co-organised by RCE Kakamega. and government enterprises. A number of informal areas for policy influence were also identified. These included RCE The coordinator of RCE Kakamega in Kenya was also social events for building ongoing friendships and relations invited as an ESD expert to participate in a training of trust with policy makers and community leaders. RCEs programme on integrating ICT in secondary school could also be proactive in anticipating and addressing curriculum. The training was held at the end of August – regional sustainability issues gathering the necessary early September 2010 at the Chavakali High School. The scientific and other forms of research needed to bridge representative was also invited to speak in a meeting for discussions with policy makers. RCEs could also make Pan-African Teacher Innovation held in Mombasa at the appeals to a government's broad citizen accountability in Agakhan Academy in August 2010. justifying policy changes for ESD. For more information Ombajo Misava Edward In the session on research, participants noted research could RCE Kakamega – Western Kenya mean a systematic investigation designed to develop or [email protected] contribute to common knowledge in the areas of (1) networks and partnerships (2) ESD, and (3) sustainable development. A number of research activities and questions RCE Kano and Hyogo-Kobe collaborate on were suggested. fair trade project Food preservation techniques are used minimally in In conclusion Kano, northern Nigeria, although most produce is seasonal. RCE Kano has invested in a solar dryer to produce dried The conference underlined the issue of identity of RCEs and tomatoes which may be marketed. of the RCE movement which has been a recurring theme in recent discussions. The conference also highlighted the During the 5th International RCE Conference in Curitiba, strong engagement of RCEs in the governance of the RCE Brazil, RCE Kano and RCE Hyogo-Kobe discussed the movement, and the active engagement of RCEs on issues of exporting of dry tomatoes from Nigeria to Japan in an effort strategic direction and operation of the RCE community. In to help reduce poverty among farmers. Efforts to further the some regions, RCEs already have an established reputation project are now underway. and some RCEs have started providing services and advice as experts to authorities. For more information Ali#Bukar Ahmad The conference also spotlit the need to create a space for RCE Kano [email protected] RCEs whose everyday working language is not English, and brought up initiatives to develop concept papers on operational issues such as funding. An increasing alignment between communications, assessment and evidence-based strengthening of the RCE brand were also observed. 2" R C E A N D E S D N E W S NEWS FROM RCES IN THE AMERICAS Environmental fora organised by RCE Bogota RCE Bogota and the Environmental Education Network organised a series of fora in 2010 within the framework of the Decade for the Education for Sustainable Development. Participants with solar equipment at the workshop in Chaco The first forum was held at the end of March 2010 on the importance of biodiversity in Colombia. Presenters Fifteen participants were selected, in collaboration with a included a representative from the Colombian Ministry of local NGO, to undergo a training which includes work- Culture who spoke about language diversity in the country, shops on the construction of solar boilers and kitchens. and the coordinator of RCE Bogota who presented the results of a study on indigenous views of the environment. For more information Virginia Appendino The second forum on a sustainable industry culture was RCE Chaco held at the end of April. Representatives from industry and [email protected] business, technicians, students, professors, researchers and other interested people gathered for the discussions. The need for promoting environmental training among leaders Towards a healthy community: and workers in industry was stressed at the event. a year in retrospect RCE Greater Sudbury’s Healthy Community Cabinet For further information has promoted the design and implementation of a number Olga Maria Bermudez of projects in 2010. Some of these projects have been RCE Bogota recognised with an award from the community. Projects [email protected] that received awards were: RCE British Columbia launched Walk & Bike for Life: A community initiative aimed at making Greater Sudbury the most pedestrian-friendly city RCE British Columbia, Canada was publicly launched in in the province of Ontario by 2015.

Load more

  12

Copy Link