and Global Educationbegins with me...

Peace

bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=6214

Preservethe planet

“We’re in a giant car, heading towards a brick wall, and

everyone’s arguing over where they’re

going to sit.”— David Suzuki

Earth Democracy

“Earth Democracy” is both an ancient worldview and an emergent political movement for peace, justice, and sustainability. An 1848 speech attributed to Chief Seattle of the Suquamish tribe states, “How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them? …This we know; the earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites our family. All things are connected.”

Earth Democracy is the awareness of these connections and of the rights and responsibilities that flow from them.

Ten principles of Earth Democracy1. All species, people, and cultures have intrinsic worth.2. The earth community is a democracy of all life.3. Diversity in nature and culture must be defended.4. All beings have a natural right to sustenance.5. Earth Democracy is based on living economies and

economic democracy.6. Living economies are built on local economies.7. Earth Democracy is a living democracy.8. Earth Democracy is based on living cultures.9. Living cultures are life-nourishing.10. Earth Democracy globalizes peace, care, and

compassion.

Three-pillar marketing—economy, community, environment

Traditionally, marketing has looked at the five Ps: profit, place, people, price, and promotion. Bottom-line businesses focused on profit, and all aspects of business were tweaked and strategized to ensure that the largest profit possible was made. More recently, the SRI or Socially Responsible Investing and Social Responsibility in business, has become a common theme in annual reports, mutual funds, and new business ventures. The three-pillar approach extends the business model to a triple bottom line of profit (economy), people (community), and place (environment). Balancing all three, in development and in ongoing operations, is crucial for preserving our earth and ensuring that we leave for future generations the resources they will need.

Peace and global education begins with me: Preserve the planet

Committee for Action on Social Justice (Peace and Global Education Action Group)

Peace and global education begins in your classroom

There are many things a teacher can do to encourage students to preserve the earth. Creating an atmosphere of inclusion and significance is probably the most important. As well, inclusion means access, agency, advocacy, and action. Inclusion means participation, ownership, responsibility, and accountability. Preserving the earth is a social justice issue. When people feel included, they are much more likely to act as stewards for our planet. It starts with honouring our past and learning from it, honouring the people on earth by sharing and striving for equity, and honouring future generations with sustainable lifestyles and practices.

Lesson plan1. Have students pick one common household item or

food and research its manufacture, transportation and distribution, general sales and profits, trade route, sustainability, and recyclability. This activity can be done by individuals or groups and presented to the class.

2. Have students chart the negative impacts of the product according to the three pillars: economy, community, the environment.

3. Brainstorm other possible impacts of the product and chart these according to the pillars.

4. Lead a class discussion on strategies to reduce the negative impacts and create positive and sustainable solutions for this product or a substitute product.

Check this out:• http://storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-stuff/,

20-minute online video• www.thecorporation.com, documentary• www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHJPSLgHemM,

Noam Chomsky, Discussion on globalization• Vandana Shiva. A Women’s Economy, Earth Democracy:

Justice, Sustainability, and Peace. South End Press. Cambridge, MA, 2005. http://www.earthlight.org/2002/essay47_democracy.html

• www.ussif.org/sribasics, Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment.

...“Whenever we engage in consumption or production patterns which take more than we need, we are engaging in violence.” Vandana Shiva, Earth Democracy (p. 116)