Training course on sustainable community indicators.

Sustainable Measures has developed a one-day training course on sustainable community indicators. The course can be used by:

• individuals as a self-directed introductory course,
• organizations that work with communities on sustainability issues, and
• community groups that are thinking about starting an indicator project.

• Course Manual
  The training manual is a complete guide for presenting the course. It contains descriptions of the four sections of the course, as well as detailed descriptions of each slide. Each slide description includes a small-size copy of the slide, a list of points that the presenter should discuss, and background information related to the slide. The manual is designed to be printed; the printed version can then be used by the presenter who is leading the course.
  To download the Course Manual, click here.
  
  
• Course Slides
  The course slides are black-and-white, 8.5 x 11 inch landscape format pages that can be printed and used to make overhead transparencies. While not specifically designed for this purpose, the slides can be used with Acrobat Reader as the basis of a computer-based presentation.
  To download the Course Slides, click here.

Online course: The Habitable Planet - A Systems Approach to Environmental Science

Course Overview

The Habitable Planet is a multimedia course for high school teachers and adult learners interested in studying environmental science. The Web site provides access to course content and activities developed by leading scientists and researchers in the field.

About this course // Using this site

Content By Type

• Online TextbookDownload PDF files of the Online Textbook
• VideoWatch 13 course videos
• Interactive Labs5 simulations and accompanying activities
• VisualsAll images and animations from the course
• ScientistsScientists who contributed to this course
• Professional Development GuideDownload PDF files of the companion Guide
• GlossaryDefinitions of selected vocabulary from textbook

Content By Unit

1. Many Planets, One Earth 2. Atmosphere 3. Oceans 4. Ecosystems 5. Human Population Dynamics 6. Risk, Exposure, and Health 7. Agriculture

8. Water Resources 9. Biodiversity Decline 10. Energy Challenges 11. Atmospheric Pollution 12. Earth's Changing Climate 13. Looking Forward: Our Global Experiment

Online Textbook PDFs

The online textbook provides a background to understand and discuss the natural functioning of the different Earth systems; it introduces humans as part of the overall ecosystem and explores what is needed to sustain human life; and it looks at the effects that human actions have on different natural systems. The online textbook also includes full-color images of related figures, glossary terms, and a bibliography for further reading.

Click on the unit titles in the menu to the left to view the Web version of the online textbook, which includes links to related material; or download PDF versions of the chapters below.

Download PDF versions of the Online Textbook:

Full textbook

1. Many Planets, One Earth
2. Atmosphere
3. Oceans
4. Ecosystems
5. Human Population Dynamics
6. Risk, Exposure, and Health
7. Agriculture
8. Water Resources
9. Biodiversity Decline
10. Energy Challenges
11. Atmospheric Pollution
12. Earth's Changing Climate
13. Looking Forward: Our Global Experiment

Training manuals and education resources on sustainability

Training Manuals “Thinking Critically about Environmental Impacts throughout History” is a workshop developed for history and social studies teachers who want to incorporate the scientific and social aspects of using renewable resources into classroom teaching. Through the Ecological Footprint framework, educators learn how to help students understand cumulative environmental impacts. Redefining Progress developed the Ecological Footprint Teacher’s Manual to make this curriculum available for self-paced training. Both complete sections and individual handouts are available for download. After a series of training sessions in 2005 and 2006, participating teachers submitted their own lesson plans and sample student work. These resources comprise the Lesson Plans and Sample Student Work. Ecological Footprint Teacher’s Manual Click on a link to open a PDF that includes the instructions and handouts for the section. All of Section 1: Overview (PDF) All of Section 2: Handouts and Transparencies (PDF) All of Section 3: Connecting the EF to History (PDF) All of Section 4: Lesson Plans (PDF) All of Section 5: Readings and Resources (PDF) PowerPoint Presentation: Section 2 (PPT) Ecological Footprint Handouts Click on a link to open a single document from the training manual. Section 1: Overview Title Page Table of Contents Training Objectives Concepts and Outcomes EPA Grant Summary Agenda Section 2: Handouts and Transparencies 1- Human Needs 2- Sources and Sinks 3- Land Use Types 4-7 Conventional Potato Diagrams 8- Organic Potato Diagram NEW: Coffee Diagrams 9- EF Definition 10- EF Quiz Excerpts 11- Condensed Quiz Results 12- Land Use Definition 13- Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources 14- Overshoot Definition 15- Sustainability Definition 16- Population Trends 17- Global Distribution of Income 18- Critical Thinking Graphs 19- Factors Affecting the EF 20- Population and Poverty Cycle 21- Food System A 22- Food System B 23- Modern Agriculture Footprints 24- Food Chart 25- Food System History 26- Changing to a Sustainable Food System 27 and 28- Sustainable Food Policies Section 3: Connecting the Ecological Footprint to History 29- Connecting the EF to History 31-32 Integration Plan 33- Stipend Requirements 34- Identifying EF Connections to Standards 35- Sample EF Activities 36- Sample Research Activities 37- Lesson Plan Overview California State History/Social Studies Standards and the Ecological Footprint Elementary School (K-5) Middle School (6-8) High School (10-12) Section 4: Lesson Plans Food Footprints through Time Columbian Exchange Let Them Eat Cake (www.facingthefuture.org) When the Chips Are Down: GUIDELINES When the Chips Are Down (www.facingthefuture.org) Section 5: Reading and Resources Seeds of Change Article Boston Globe Article "Hamburger, French Fries, and a Cola" Food Timeline List of Resources FAQs Frequent Debates Eating Up the Earth Energy Footprints What about Population? Evaluation Forms Pre-test Post-test Evaluation top of page Lesson Plans and Sample Student Work Learn more about integrating the Ecological Footprint into your classroom from K-12 Educators who have attended the “Thinking Critically about Environmental Impacts throughout History” workshop. Teachers submitted online evaluation forms after using the Footprint in the curriculum. They offered their integration strategies, what standards they addressed, barriers to integration, student reactions, and success stories. Click a link to download a PDF file with sample lesson plan or student work. Sample Lesson Plans 1st Grade 7th and 8th Grade History Geography Natomas High School teacher Serenity Vontroba restructured her geography unit to focus on the Ecological Footprint and the Impact of Human Societies. She has provided a detailed outline of the unit, sample student work, and her observations on student learning and interest. UNIT OUTLINE- Objectives, Lessons, and Observations Objective 1- Human Progression from Hunter/Gatherer to Industrialized Societies Objective 2- Calculating Personal Ecological Footprints Objective 3- Determining Footprints of Products Objective 4- Population and Consumption Trends Objective 5- Global Inequity Objective 6- Impacts of Globalization 10th Grade History 11th Grade History Economics AP Environmental Science Mary Kahl-Redman, Natomas High School, integrated the footprint throughout 8 units in her class. Click here to see the units she taught and the materials she used. 9-12 Environmental Science Tish Tablan, Excelsior Education Center, created a unit and her own lesson plans to conclude her environmental science class, summing up all their work in an action plan. Sample Student Work When the Chips Are Down Posters Students in an AP Environmental Science class at Piedmont High School learned about the social implications of national Ecological Footprints in Facing the Future's activity, “When the Chips Are Down.” Ecological Footprint of Transportation- Poster/Research Project This student from Meg Gorman's Economics class at San Francisco Waldorf School researched the Ecological Footprint of transportation throughout history. Lesson Plans Redefining Progress, in partnership with Earth Day Network, has developed single-day environmental education lesson plans for K-12 educators. The lesson plans are designed to integrate easily into science, social studies, math, and/or economics curricula. Food and You Designed to incorporate environmental education into general math and science classes for elementary school students (K-5th grade), this lesson encourages students to think about where their food comes from, the food production process, and the byproducts associated with their favorite foods. Download Lesson Plan The Trash We Pass This lesson brings environmental education to middle school (4–7th grade) social studies, math, and science classes by asking students to have fun analyzing garbage and recycling options. Download Lesson Plan Have and Have-Not This lesson incorporates environmental education in middle school (7–9th grade) social studies, geography, math, and economics classes by helping students gain a perspective on different consumption habits in developing and developed countries, and the effect that mass consumption has on the ecological footprint of a country and an individual. Download Lesson Plan Sustainable Dining Designed for lower high school (7–10th grade) economics, home economics, and general education classes, this lesson teaches students about sustainably produced groceries as a valuable and environmentally friendly option for grocery shopping. Download Lesson Plan Renewable Energy In this lesson targeting high school history, science, and math classes, students will analyze the use of energy in their every day lives, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of environmentally friendly renewable energy sources. Download Lesson Plan Kid’s Footprint For more lesson plans, please visit www.kidsfootprint.org, our adaptation of the Ecological Footprint Quiz for elementary and middle-school students. Footprint Education The Ecological Footprint is a powerful tool for introducing the concept of sustainability to students. Redefining Progress has applied the Footprint to a number of resources for educators to help students understand environmental impacts of their lifestyles. Kid’s Footprint The Bobbie Bigfoot Quiz is a fun, interactive way to introduce the Ecological Footprint to young people. The site includes lesson plans for science and social studies classes at the elementary and middle-school level. Lesson Plans Five simple sustainability lesson plans can be easily integrated into K-12 classrooms. Training Manual Access the training manual for “Thinking Critically about Environmental Impacts throughout History,” a workshop for social studies and history teachers. Online Course “Assessing Energy's Footprint and Carbon Emissions” is a free, university-level web course designed to teach college students and resource management professionals how to calculate the ecological footprint of energy use and the carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Resources for Sustainability Education
There is a wealth of resources available for educators who want to introduce the concept of sustainability in the classroom. Redefining Progress compiled a list of resources for K-12 sustainability education in conjunction with a survey conducted in 2003. This compilation was made possible by the Packard Foundation.
Bay Area Science Alliance Single activities and module lessons for all levels on a variety of science topics. Center for Economic Conversion Sustainable economics and Genuine Progress Indicator module lessons for grades 9-12. Centre for Science and Environment in India Module lessons for all levels on a variety of sustainability topics. The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education Lessons on consumption patterns, sustainable food systems, and sustainable economics for grades 6-12. Creative Change Educational Solutions (CCES) Module lessons on sustainable development and ecological economics for grades 7-12.
DEPweb The World Bank's Development Education Program provides module lessons, quizzes, and games on sustainable development for grades 9-12. Earth Education Partnership Program Module lessons on sustainable development, population growth, and resource consumption for grades 9-12. EcoVoyageurs A free kit to teach for Canadian teachers about the Ecological Footprint concept. Education for Sustainable Development Toolkit Activities and a sustainability toolkit for all levels. The Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plans The U.S. Department of Education’s extensive list of resources for grades K-12. Environmental Education Center The Environmental Protection Agency's resource center for lesson plans, award programs, grants, and more. Environmental Education (EE) Link Single activities and module lessons for all levels on a wide range of environmental topics. Facing the Future: People and the Planet Module lessons on population growth, poverty, resource consumption, and sustainable economics for grades 5-12. Global Footprints Sustainability games, quizzes, and classroom activities on global citizenship and the Ecological Footprint for grades K-5. Global Learning Inc. Module lessons on sustainability and interrelated concepts of the environment for grades 6-12. GLOBE Program Module lessons for grades K-8 on atmosphere, hydrology, soil, land cover/biology, GPS, and seasons. Green School Guidelines Antioch New England Institute's resources for incorporating environmental literacy into school-wide educational programs. Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley Single activities and module lessons for all levels in science, math, and environmental subjects. Ollie’s World Lessons and online games on sustainability principles for grades K-8. Population Education A program by Population Connections offering module lessons for grades K-12 on population growth and resource consumption. Project Learning Tree Sample module lessons for Pre-K-12 on energy and society, forest ecology and issues, municipal solid waste, risk, and biodiversity. Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Activities and module lessons on sustainability and water for grades K-12. Project WILD Wildlife management, biodiversity, and sustainable economics activities and lessons for grades K-12. Second Nature: Education for Sustainability Offers workshops and support services to colleges and universities in their efforts to integrate sustainability as a core component of all education and practice. Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future: A Multimedia Teacher Programme UNESCO provides a broad range of lesson plans on interdisciplinary issues related to sustainability and sustainable development for grades 6-12. Vermont Community Works Free lessons on service learning and community-based education for grades K-12. Vermont Population Alliance Lessons for grades 4-12 on population, geography, and resource consumption. Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education An educator's network, conference information, and programs for Wisconsin teachers. top of page

The Big Green Idea

Fact Sheets

Click the title of the fact sheet to download it

Food and Drink

• Baking Bread (pdf 39KB)
• Cooking without Eggs and Butter (pdf 39KB)
• Cake Recipes (pdf 36KB)
• Sausage Making (pdf 180KB)
• Growing Container Vegetables (pdf 93KB)
• Why Buy Organic Food? (pdf 27KB)
• Foraging for Food (pdf 67KB)
• Keeping Chickens (pdf 64KB)

Crafts

• Getting Crafty - Out and About (pdf 39KB)
• Recycled Papercrafts – Papercasting (pdf 49KB)
• Recycled Papercrafts – Textured Paper (pdf 45KB)
• Basic Soap Making (pdf 34KB)

House and Garden

• Green Construction (pdf 37KB)
• Home Composting (pdf 95KB)
• Wormeries (pdf 93KB)
• Rainwater Harvesting (pdf 83KB)
• Saving Water (pdf 41KB)
• Wind Energy (pdf 46KB)
• Green Home Cleaning (pdf 28KB)
• Natural Cleaning Recipes (pdf 26KB)
• Working with Pallet Wood (pdf 118KB)
• Building a Solar Dryer (pdf 184KB)

Skincare

• Skincare (pdf 35KB)
• Chemical Additives to Avoid

Miscellaneous

• Alternative Burials (pdf 105KB)
• Nature Games and Activities to Play Outside (pdf 37KB)
• Useful Links for Adults (pdf 47KB)
• Useful Links for Children (pdf 34KB)

These fact sheets require Adobe reader.

All content ©2008 The Big Green Idea

Happy Valentine!

May you find serenity and tranquility
in a world you may not always understand.

May the pain you have known
and the conflict you have experienced
give you the strength to walk through life
facing each new situation
with optimism and courage.

Always know that there are those
whose love and understanding
will always be there
even when you feel most alone.

May you discover enough goodness in others
to believe in a world of peace.

May a kind word, a reassuring touch,
a warm smile, be yours every day of your life,
and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.

Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.

Teach love to those who know hate,
and let that love embrace you as you go into the world.

May the teaching of those you admire
become part of you,
so that you may call upon them.

Remember, those whose lives you have touched
and who have touched yours are always a part of you,
even if the encounters were less
than you would have wished.

May you not become too concerned
with material matters, but instead place
immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.

Find time in each day to see the beauty
and love in the world around you.

Realize that each person has limitless abilities,
but each of us is different in our own way.

What you may feel you lack in one regard
may be more than compensated for in another.

What you feel you lack in the present
may become one of your strengths in the future.

May you see your future
as one filled with promise and possibility.

Learn to view everything
as a worthwhile experience.

May you find enough inner strength
to determine your own worth by yourself,
and not be dependent on another's judgements
of your accomplishments.

May you always feel loved.

~by Sandra Sturtz Hauss~

Corruption, Accountability And Transparency For Sustainable Development

Book review by Adewale Adeyanju

BOOK: Corruption, Accountability And Transparency For Sustainable Development, Edited by Ayorinde Aderinwale ALF Publications (Africa Leadership Forum www.africaleadership.org)

The book which contains 259 pages and about 5 chapters provides insights into the heart-rending paradox of Nigeria as a stupendously rich country with a desperate poor people. The book explained why, despite its massive earnings from oil, 70% of Nigeria is estimated 120
million people live below the poverty line. The book identify gaps in current policy initiatives and frameworks for combating corruption in Nigeria; Facilitate the creation of a broad based network for combating corruption as well as review administrative capacity of the government and other actors for enforcing sanctions against corrupt practices. Finally, it takes religion and spirituality as one sure way to remedied the sitaution if we all change our ways and be of God-like character.

This book is an outcome of a proceeding of a conference organised by the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) held between 7th - 9th February, 2003 and edited by Dr. Ayodele Aderinwale, Executive Director of ALF.

This book dealt in depth as to the reasons why Nigerians are corrupt. It is because both the haves and have nots are corrupt. I am made to understand that there is corruption of need. There is corruption of greed and there is corruption as a result of systemic failure. Some people are corrupt because of needs and opportunities and they know they can get away with it. You need money to sort out yourself. Like a man whose children are sick, he needs money to address the hospital bill. His income is small. He is where they smuggle goods and offered fifty thousand Naira (N50,000:00) as bribe. One would say he should not be corrupt because God frowns at it. Another will say his children must not die.

Police onroad with guns, not paid 2 or 3 months with wife and children at home must be catered for. Government should address system issue, things that government is supposed to provide. You should have on ground a system that make things work. When you create a crisis you
provide avenuefor corruption. An excample is the fuel scarcity resulting in queue. People beat the queue. A rational person will thinkof what to do. Do I give N200 or N300 to beat it at the expense of 3 or 4 man hours? The value of my time is more than N200. You can also contend with getting fuel importation through Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the problems assocaited with it. Sometimes, scarcity is created to make room for corruption.

Sanction has to be imposed to stem corruptionfrom thriving. For this to happen, the government need to have the political will and committment to fight corruption. Since corruption does not come to the society overnight, we should recourse to spritual and spirituality if the battle must be won. For example, if we recourse to the Bible in the book of proverbs, Solomon says "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is reprocah to any people". It is suggested that man should seek God and his ways will be clean.

In the Holy Bible, we were given account of how man fall. This shows how badly things have gone wrong. Not only is man's relationship with God disturbed, but also that with his environment. Loss of fellowship with God at Eden and subsequent expulsion from the lofty garden marked
the begining of a self-destructive and unsustainable lifestyles that threatens the natural environment, other creatures and man himself.

Book makers have given to the world another buzz word "green ethics" - a concept that seeks to strike a balance between human activities and the God - given environment, which calls for a paradigm shift from the old ways of doing things; lifestyles and activities that endanger the common destiny of human kind. The Bible's New Testament scriptural reality confronts man at his wits end. It is imperative call to change from responsible care and stewardship to his creator in natural resources utilisation, wealth creationand material prosperity. This will definitely require a change of heart and re-orientation in value systems that brings about a perfect harmony between man, his creator, other creatures and the global environment.

A spiritual awakening in mankind of the original purpose of God in terms of fellowship, bearing his image and dependence on Him will engender a new coinduct and disposition which will subsequently impact his physical relationships and activities in a positive manner for the overall good of mankind.

Emil Brummer captures this succintly when he wrote in his open citation as follows: "A civilisation and culure which has severed its connection with God, and thinks more of achievement than of p[ersons, necessarily becomes inhuman. It loses its true centre, and thus
disintegrates into sectional spheres and sectional interest, each of which comes into conflict with others and tries to develop itself at the cost of the rest. True civilisation and true culture can only
develop where the cultural creation and activity is directed and ordered from a centre which transcends culture.

A culture or civilisation which is indifferent to morals and religion is bound to degenerate. Religion and morality however, are identical, where God of Holy Love is known as the foundation of all being, and His will is the norm of all moralitry; that is where man knows himself to have been created by God for love, and for communion with God of love in faith through Jesus Christ.

Upon this foundation alone also will man use his mastery of nature aright; only thus will he be preserved from a selfish, arrogant exploitation of nature which is a p[erversion of his powers. Man is not called to an absolute, arbtrary mastery of nature buit to a mastery of nature which remains under the order of the creator, and therefore honours and loves created universe as God creation.

This book summarises why we all need to choose God and path to spirituality so that we all can achieve sustainable development.

Adewale Adeyanju

Adewale Adeyanju's assignment

1. Which area of sustainability is the most urgent in your country?

Presently, Nigeria my country cannot achieved sustainable development without the entire institutional framework and system of the nation undergoing reforms. The nation is wobbling badly and areas and aspect of the nation's fabric required attention. Conscious that Nigeria is not a nation but an amalgam of several or diverse nations coerced into an unholy union without consultations and without consent, the problem that stare the nation in the face that make it hard to achieve sustainable development includes among others: the problem of divolution of powers, fiscal federalism and principle of derivation as well as return to parliamentary democracy, electoral reforms, security reforms and several others ; these remains the agitation of the common masses. On these institutional reforms hang the problem of environmental sustainblility reform too, which is supposed to take the centre stage. Our enivironment are not adequately receiving attention. Institutional and political reforms will imapct seriously on the nation and help stabilized the nation if caried out honestly so that the gains of our struggles does not continue to be eroded and where values, merit and hardwork were abandoned for bankruptcy, retarded brigandage and gross mediocrity.

2. How would you like to get involved?

As a special person, I have been instrumental in helping Persons Living with Disabilities to get their grievances of exclusion from partcipation in any major national policies to the government. We are now having our representatives in many of the government conferences and workshop designed to shape or implements national policy on some issues. More, we prepare draft bills on several issues ranging from environmental problem, infrastructural facilities, accesibility, empowerment and advocay for all persons with disabilities, in our Parliaments. Some of our draft bills have been passed into Acts of the parliament. We are participating more on environmental issues as regards gas flaring and harzardous effects of toxic fumes, depletion of our forest and ecological faunas etc. We have ensured that any major conferences announced by goverment must necessarily include our group of vulnerable people with disabilities.

3. Have you chosen a practical project yet? If not, now is the time to identify it!

I have a project on 'Managing Wastes and e-Wastes Products in Cosmoplitan/Metrpolitan Lagos City'. This project started last September 2007.

To give summary of the project, I took long to go round distributing a proposal seeking partnership to allow the youths achieved employment via co-ordinating and working on wastes accumulation and cleaning of the cities with payment from government as well as corporate
institution 'common pool'.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Project Title: Managing Solid Wastes and E-wastes products in Metropolitan/Cosmopolitan Lagos City State.
Project Overview: The Government of the Lagos State of Nigeria through its ministries of the Environment and Physical Planning, are responsible for maintaining the environment in Lagos State. This include supervising cleaning and sanitation of the cities, supervising planning and consrtuction of houses etc.

The cities are full of dirts and filths as everyday over 300 metric tonnes of refuse are generated by households, companies and establishments, thus, making solid wastes management problematic. A proposal was drafted to involve unemployed youths in environmental sanitation and cleaning of the cities. The proposal seeks among other things the partnerships of: (i) The Lagos State Governor; (ii) The Lagos State Ministry of the Environment; (iii) Ministry of Physical Planning; (iv) Lagos State Wastes Mnagement Authority (LAWMA); (v) All the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs); (iv) All the 52 Community Development Areas (CDAs); (vii) Several NGOS working in the reas of environment; (viii) Corporate Organisations, to pool resources and employ jobless youths with remuneration on daily or weekly basis for sanitation work.

PROJECT STRATEGY

IMPLEMENTS: The Lagos State Wastes Management Board in partneship with the others mentioned above took deliveries of large numbers of implements for use in saniation exercise by the youths. These includes: Garbage bins, hoes, cutlasses, plastic container bins, 4 Wheel charts, spade or shovels, rakes, brush, tipper lorries, uniforms complete with hand gloves etc.

YOUTHS PARTICIPANTS: Unemployed youths from age 16 years and 35 or above were given inviatation.

HAND BILLS: These were circulated among youths calling for their patriotism and to come out and claen our towns and cities with attractive remuneration.

WAGE OR FEES: Was fixed at between four hundred Naira from 7.30a.m till 2.30p.m and six hundred Naira from 7.30 a.m till 5p.m daily.

REGISTRATION AND TRAINING: Was effected for three days by the Lagos State Wastes Management Authority (LAWMA). More than 300 enthusiast enlisted for the project. Each LGS and CDA register some handful of youhs particiapants.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

SANITATION OBSERVATION DAYS: In Lagos State, the government has enacted environmental sanitation edict that set aside every thursday in a week from 7.00 a.m to 10.00 a.m for shop owners and business community to observe sanitation exercises while, every last saturdays of every month from 7.00a.m to 10.00a.m has been reserved for general sanitation by the public.

The youths will work on thursdays and saturadys during sanitation exercise and carry on till the evening.

DIVISON OF WORKS IN SANITATION: The participating youths were divided into groups: The Street Sweepers; The Drain Ducks who clean and dreg the gutters and canals; The Lawn Mowers who cut the grasses round and about the cities; The Sorties who sorted refuse into papers, electronic wastes (e-wastes), plastics, etc; The Drivers who drive the refuse lorries and trucks; The 4 Wheel Chart Pushers who collects the refuse and garbage etc.

PLANTERS AND WATERERS: These are required to water flowers as well as plant flowers on pavements and public places. They work with horticulturists to beautify the landscape.

CONCLUSION: The project achieved sustainable ecological sanitation for Lagos cities, improved the towns and cities hygiene and reliable efficient heating and cleaning system in Lagos State environment through construction and enhancement of physical infrastrucure, training and education of the youths as well as public and the creation of a Lagos cities Sanitation Committee.

In a next step, the lesson learnt and specific outcomes of the project are promoted in regional and national levels. The project has been implemented in Lagos State by Lagos State Wastes Management Authority (LAWMA) in close collaboration with relevant local authorities in Lagos State. The Ministries of Environment and Physical Planning was responsible for the training, employment andssistance to the youths for the sanitation committee, providing educational sessions, training materials and follow-up ideas. This project was succesful and is hereby recommended to be replicated in other regions and countries as well.

Adewale Adeyanju

Call for Submissions for the SEED Awards 2008

Call for Submissions for the SEED Awards 2008 - call open until 16 March 2008

Do you have an entrepreneurial or innovative idea that is locally-driven and has great potential to contribute to sustainable development in developing countries? Are you finding new ways of simultaneously improving incomes and strengthening livelihoods; tackling poverty and marginalisation; and managing and conserving natural resources and ecosystems? Are you developing a new concept that brings together people and organizations from different backgrounds - a project that challenges partners to pool their human, financial, and natural resources?

Do you need support to make your idea a reality, or to help you grow?

If so, then we would like you to tell us about your idea.

The SEED Initiative is seeking submissions for "The 2008 SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development". We welcome innovative ideas from any group in a developing country, which is working in partnership with others to generate environmental and social benefits in an entrepreneurial way.

SEED Award Winners receive a tailored package of support services to help them to become established and to increase their impact. This includes access to relevant expertise and technical assistance, meeting new partners and building networks, developing business plans and identifying sources of finance. The Award is not a cash prize - but the services offered have a value of US$25,000.

The call is open until the 16th March 2008.

For further information please see www.seedinit.org where you can also find the application form and learn about previous Award Winners.

We look forward to receiving your application and to reading about your ideas.

With best regards

Dr Helen Marquard

Executive Director
The SEED Initiative


For information about the SEED Awards:

www.seedinit.org

seedawards2008@seedinit.org

Tel: +49 30 8900068 99

For any other queries about the SEED Initiative:

helen.marquard@seedinit.org

Tel: +44 1420 488 544

The SEED Initiative

- Supporting Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development

c/o The World Conservation Union (IUCN)

28 Rue Mauverney

Gland CH-1196

Switzerland

Youth Conference on Biodiversity

Biodiversity on The Edge (COP9)

What ? International Youth Conference for the Protection of Biological Diversity (Download Flyer.pdf)

When ? 13th – 19th May 2008

Where ? Bonn, Germany

In face of the 9th Conference of Parties (COP9) for the Convention of Biological Diversity, the German Youth Association for the Protection of Nature (NAJU) and Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) are planning an international youth conference. Young environmentalists from Europe, Africa, South America and Central Asia, who are interested in dealing intensely with the protection of biodiversity, are cordially invited to participate. The aim of this conference is to deal with this complex topic in a critical manner and to compose a resolution at the end of the meeting. The conference is also intended to emphasize the intercultural exchange among the participants.

The program contains:

• Discussions around the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD)
• Full range of different workshops (e.g. climate change and biodiversity; WTO and fair trade; threat of the oceans etc.)
• Intercultural evening and live music
• Excursions in Bonn and surroundings
• Handing over of resolution to COP9
• Making of a conference movie
• Open space and planning of actions

and much more…

To apply, please:

Download Application-Form_English.pdf

Download Bewerbungsformular-Deutsch.pdf

Download Application-Form_Russian.pdf

The deadline for application is 15th of March.

Part of your travel costs will probably be reimbursed. Accommodation and food is free.

For sending the application form or for questions please contact:

Juliane Rosin

Charitéstraße 3

D-10117 Berlin

Email: Juliane.Rosin@naju.de

phone: +49 30 - 284 984 1924

Collapse (Jared Diamond)

Review by Christian Tena

Bottom up Management Approach as opposed to Top Down

p 277-278 "Small societies occupying a small island or homeland can adopt a bottom-up approach to environmental management. Because the homeland is small, all of its inhabitants are familiar with the entire island, know that there are affected by developments throughout the island, and share a sense of identity and common interests with other inhabitants. Hence everybody realizes that they will benefit ... Thats bottom-up management, in which people work together to solve their own problems."

p313 par 2 "I came to discuss the difficulties that regularly confront societies trying to reach agreements about environmental disputes... disputes could be, and frequently were, solved in the course of conflict (this didnt mean that it favors murder as a means of settling disputes). Instead ... its a mere observation that environmental problems often do create conflicts among people ... which can either be resolved thru coutroom process (like in the US or Phils) or nastier forms like that in Rwanda"

p320 2nd par "Friends of mine who visited Rwanda in 1984 sensed an ecological disaster in the making. The whole country looked like a garden and banana plantation. Steep hills are being farmed right up."

p469 p2 "Water transpiration from trees returns water to the atmosphere, so that deforestation tends to cause diminished rainfall and increase desertification."

This reminds me of living here in Mozambique where bush areas are transformed into machambas (gardens) where they plan corn and alot of stuff. On top of the cutting of trees they also (still do) slash and burn practice... very widespread. Which is sad because damages Mozambique's environment.

p450 par 2 "Chevron employees in several countries told me independently that every month they are every other Chevron employee around the world receive from the CEO an email about the state of affairs in the company... the authors (Peters and Walters) found that if managers want their employees to behave in a certain way , the most effective motivation is for the employees to see the managers themselves behaving in that way."

Christian Tena