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Снага појединца – један глас

Едукатор у области образовања одраслих и заједнице Мајкл Кени (Michael Kenny), са Универзитета Мејнут, разматра како образовање одраслих може да нас учини грађанима који су одговорни према својој животној средини и да нам помогне да се прилагодимо климатским променама.

EPALE Climate Change Adult Learning.

 

Едукатор у области образовања одраслих и заједнице Мајкл Кени (Michael Kenny), са Универзитета Мејнут, разматра како образовање одраслих може да нас учини грађанима који су одговорни према својој животној средини и да нам помогне да се прилагодимо климатским променама.

Образовање одраслих још се није суочило са глобалним изазовом који представљају климатске промене. Иако нам више од 97% научне заједнице говори да постоје непобитни докази и да је наука о клими достигла јединствен степен поузданости, дебата у заједници која се бави образовањем одраслих и стуковним образовањем или заобилази ту тему, или даје предност другим „важнијим“ питањима. Да ли ми поричемо да се дешавају климатске промене? Можда грешим?

Иако је време које се посвећује питањима политике у образовању одраслих и струковном образовању, као што су учешће, финасирање, инклузија, напредак, интеграција, итд., од велике важности, напредак у области политике биће сувишан ако наставимо да неразумно загађујемо наш свет. Мене то брине! А вас?

Тешко ми је да размишљам о импликацијама фундаменталних климатских промена. Водим удобан живот и имам позитивна очекивања за наредне генерације. Толико позитивно посматрам будућност да сам посветио свој живот охрабривању других да унапреде своје животе кроз учење и да користе то што су научили како би избегли замку сиромаштва. Сада за мене представља изазов могућност, вероватноћа, заправо и незибежност да ће светла будућност коју сам представљао другима заправо бити будућност пуна изaзова, а можда и суморна будућност.

Као неко ко је дипломирао у пољу природних наука, знам да велики део тог поља указује на глобалне климатске промене. Читао сам књиге и слушао говорнике. Али је био довољан утицај једне особе, Грете Тунберг (Greta Thunberg) [1] (погледајте Гретин TED говор, 11 минута), како би пред мене био постављен изазов.

Грета би могла да ми буде ћерка или, с обзиром на моје године, унука. Она нема других планова осим оних за сопствену будућност, али има храброст да ствари назове правим именом. Она каже шта вреди све ово школско учење, ако они не искористе то што су научили?

Постоји град Беира у Мозамбику и област Нсанге у Јужном Малавију. Провео сам године радећи као хуманитарни радник у том делу света. 1,4 милиона људи, са 0,4 милиона деце у тој области (394 квадратна километра или 152 квадратне миље) Југоисточне Африке изгубило је све због разарајућег циклона и поплава. Ово све обухвата и прехрамбене усеве за наредну годину. Остављени су у оскудици. Пре три године, боравио сам са људима избеглим од поплаве у околини Беире у Мозамбику. Сећам се да су ме питали „Одакле је дошла вода?“.  Тада су били у шоку. Сад је још горе.

Flood_mozambique_0

Обимност поплаве, приказана црвеном бојом, око лучког града Беире у Мозамбику, 19. марта 2019. Eвропска свемирска агенција

 

Где смо ми, као едукатори одраслих, у томе? Имамо ли одговор?

На свом блогу у чланку из новембра 2018. професор Алан Такет (Alan Tuckett) је написао: „Како показују Циљеви одрживог развоја УН, бављење климатским променама обухвата образовање одраслих и прилагођавање понашања“ и „… промене најтеже погађају ниско квалификоване особе, особе које су ван тржишта рада, мигранте који тек треба да науче да течно говоре енглески, као и многе особе са инвалидитетом“. Он даље каже: „… дошло је време за брзо повећање улагања како влада и послодаваца, тако и појединаца.“

Постоји толико тога што бих могао да додам:

  • 62 милиона људи погођено је 2018. године природним катастрофама које се углавном повезују са екстремним временским и климатским дешавањима.
  • 1600 смрти повезано је са таласима врућине и пожарима у САД, Европи и Јапану.
  • Итд. итд.

Али доста о томе! Пост на блогу треба да постави питање, подстакне критичко мишљење, и позове на проналажење одговора – па макар то био и одговор од једне речи.

Грета ми је показала снагу појединца. Честитог појединца са критичким гласом.

Ја поново разматрам свој допринос као појединца едукатора одраслих.

 

[1] Грета Тунберг је ученица из Шведске позната по томе што је иницирала школски штрајк у оквиру покрета за борбу против климатских промена основаног у новембру 2018, који је постао глобалан након конференције COP24 у децембру 2018.


Michael Kenny.
Mајкл Кени је едукатор у области образовања одраслих и заједнице, који се посебно бави ангажованим учешћем. Одрастао је у руралној земљорадничкој породици миграната са запада Ирске. Што се тиче високог образовања, он је дипломирани инжењер пољопривреде од 1980. године, магистрирао је у области руралног развоја 1990, а поседује и вишу диплому у високом образовању (HDHE) коју је стекао 1998. Стицао је искуство у раду са младима, раду у заједници у Ирској и Африци (7 година), и био је ангажован у бројним формалним, неформалним и волонтерским руралним и урбаним организацијама.
Likeme (9)

Коментари

I mentioned (See previous post: As an update: On Monday 29th) that elected Councillors/Municipal Authority elected representatives in Wicklow (a county in the East coast of Ireland) will debate on April 29th a motion to declare a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency.

Please note that Wicklow County Council has become the first local authority in Ireland to declare “a biodiversity and climate-change emergency” (See https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/wicklow-council-declares-bi…). This motion recognises the need to respond more urgently to the threat of climate breakdown and the global decline of species.

The unanimous decision of municipal councillors was taken on April 29th coincides with similar declarations made in the UK, Scottish and Welsh parliaments – and by cities such as London and Manchester.

Councillors were gently pushed to adopt this motion after they were briefed by local students who participated in recent school strikes for climate action in Wicklow and all over Ireland. The students recent school strikes for climate action was inspired by Greta Tunberg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFkQSGyeCWg) speaking out on climate justice.

We are seeing one of the benefits of being part of Europe, of having a global perspective, and of learning from each other.

I made my own contribution to the understanding of elected Councillors/Municipal Authority elected representatives in Wicklow by writing to each councillor in advance of the vote. Here is the text of what I wrote:
 *************** 
I write to you in relation to the upcoming debate on Monday 29th April, on a motion to declare a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency prompted, I understand, by Wicklow youth recent Global Climate Strike on March 15th, which urged our politicians to start acting. I understand your motion is a first step in recognising that Wicklow, Ireland and the world is facing ecological challenge of great import, which threatens life on the planet. If the motion was passed it would urge Wicklow County Council to act to protect and re-wild Wicklow as if there is an emergency. If passed, it would also be the first local authority in Ireland to do so – a brave step.

I am an academic in the Department of Adult & Community Education, Maynooth University (Ollscoil na hÉireann Má Nuad). As you will see from my attached biography I am a rural farmers’ son and I have extensive experience in Africa where I see the horrible effects of climate change. I am an adult educator in Ireland and indeed have engaged with some of the elected officials and staff (Deirdre Whitfield, Margaret Malone) of Wicklow County Council.

Being informed for this debate is essential. I wish to refer you to a readable paper by my colleague Dr Conor Murphy of ICARUS in Maynooth University. This paper from dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/s/s6z3cm1f2qbm1ub/Conor%20Murphy%20Final1.pdf?d… and the associated video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-o5bpLmXJk from the Citizens Assembly will provide relevant information for you.

Dr. Conor Murphy - Session 1: The Science of Climate Change - Citizens' Assembly Session 1:The Science of Climate Change - Dr. Conor Murphy, Maynooth University - Eighth Meeting of the Citizens' Assembly - How the State can make Ireland a leader ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-o5bpLmXJk 

As a former town councillor (http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/roundup/articles/2012/06/13/4010852-k…) I know the leadership impact of an adopted County Council motion.

Lastly, I have no hesitation in saying I worry for my grandchildren.

I hope this information guides you and I wish you well.

Yours sincerely
**********
This may be of assistance to EPALE Blog readers. 

Comment and feedback welcomed.

Michael 
Likeme (0)

What is striking for me, writing from the perspective of citizen of Poland and EPALE Ambassador, is the very difference of the basic experiences of adult educators. In the central Europe (and it is still Europe) the every day life experience of climate change is far more difficult and urgent than in the Western countries. So I could not write "I have a comfortable life and I have positive expectations for my next generations", because I have not theese, and in my everyday life I breathe very bad, polluted air, and eat very bad food (although trying to find a good one). My conclusion is, that depending on what place on the Earth we live, we have very different basic experiences about a climate change and these determine tools of adult environmental education and its basic critical categories we construct. Sometimes we have to refer or even create some kind of environmental imagination, and sometimes we don't have to do this, because we deal with very hard everyday experience of polluted environment. Education based on experience and education based on imagination - maybe as critical educators we should build coalitions to exhange these perspectives in Europe?
Likeme (0)

Dear Marta, Apologies for my delay in replying.

Indeed those of us who live in Western Europe and particularly those of us living on the most Westerly island (Ireland) fanned by moist South-Westerly prevailing wind and kept warm by the North Atlantic Drift current are not concientised fully about the impacts of climate change. Many of us think this is an issue for others to solve. Further, many adults, even parents, thank that they can pass this issue on to the next generation with no guilt for having done so little. This was said to me on a number of occasions.

I note that there are a small but powerful group in Ireland who are getting increasingly angry that there is no much talk about climate change because they are deniers. I presume many others are seeing the same.

Martha, you are living with day to day consequences of environmental degradation. You say “In the central Europe (and it is still Europe) the every day life experience of climate change is far more difficult and urgent than in the Western countries.” You also say “… I could not write ‘I have a comfortable life and I have positive expectations for my next generations’".

The recent Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) See https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/03/climate-crisis-is-about-to-put-humanity-at-risk-un-scientists-warnand the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Seehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warming-must-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-reportwarnings add greater urgency to our task.

In defence of balance and positivity I say we must focus on what we can do. You say “… maybe as critical educators we should build coalitions to exchange these perspectives in Europe?”. I agree.

As educators we are leaders. We must be ahead of the population and, in this case, be ahead of the politicians. We must know our data/information. We must insert the information in the courses we teach and we must educate a critically conscious people who will lead the response.

Thank you for your post Martha.

Likeme (0)

As an update:

On Monday 29th April, elected Councillors/Local authority elected representatives in Wicklow (a county in the east coast of Ireland) will debate a motion to declare a Climate And Biodiversity Emergency. This is largely due to the amazing efforts by County Wicklow young in the recent Global Climate Strike on March 15th, which have urged our politicians to start acting.

Supported by President Higgins and former President Mary Robinson, this motion would be a first step in recognising that Wicklow, Ireland and the world is facing ecological collapse, which threatens all life on the planet. If passed, it would force Wicklow County Council to act as if there is an emergency and to start protecting and rewilding Wicklow. If passed, it would also be the first local authority in Ireland to do this, and would put pressure on other councils to follow.

This is a very important step - Councillors need to know they have our support.

You will find a very succinct and interesting paper from my colleague Conor murphy of ICARUS at short paper to the citizens assembly
The associated video is also online 

Michael
Likeme (0)

Very thought-provoking blog Michael! I am wondering whether climate change as such should be a central topic, or whether this should be dealt with in a more holistic way under critical thinking: interpret information about the world around us; question your own views and beliefs; and change your behaviour to match with what you - after critical analysis - think is best. This would apply to climate change, but also to how people behave on social media, think about society and democratic values.
Likeme (0)

If you'd like to connect with adult education practitioners who teach about the environment (and/or STEM), you can join the Community Practice Group called "Environment and Stem learning", set up by EPALE UK Ambassador, Alison McLachlan - find out more about Alison on the UK NSS page (under the 'About EPALE' - 'EPALE in your country' tab). 
Likeme (0)

Dear Aisha, Greetings I apologise for my delay in responding to a year post. Indeed I would be keen to link with the Community Practice Group called "Environment and Stem learning". It is these kind of linkages that are very important for our collective success as educators. This is evidence of the important networking role of EPALE.

Do you have a direct link as I did not understand your directions above?  Thank you. Michael 

Likeme (0)

Thank you for your comment Simon. I had considered developing your train of thought in the blog post but it is better now that you have taken it up. A more holistic way under critical thinking and interpreting information about the world around us is always better. Indeed our approach should be based on problem pausing and problem solving saw that education for adults is about the here and now problems that people face. Theoretically I agree. But I am concerned that we years adult educators are not taking this challenge adequately seriously or urgently. We need a mass mobilisation of adult educators who will place our understanding critical assessment of the impact of climate change within every module we teach formerly, non formerly, and informally. I suggest “… climate change as such should be a central topic” but embedded within philosophy, sociology, cultural learning, agriculture, engineering, music, physical education, etc. We do this anyway because we bring our norms to learners unconsciously.  So why not do this with one of the greatest present challenge to humanity.

Thank you.

Michael

Likeme (0)