There is a Tide ~ The latest edition of Elephant Times from Tide~ global learning focuses on climate change. Contributors include: Katie Riley – describing her climate strike experience; Hannah Boyden – exploring a learning journey responding to the SDGs; and Margaret Barnfield – reflecting on a primary science project ‘Why on Earth?’
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Wildlife Crime – The latest newsletter of the Wildlife Trusts of India is here. It includes features on combating wildlife crime in Assam, and on compensation for damages to crops caused by elephant raids.
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Rising Red Admirals – A study published by the Zoological Survey of India reports that around 50 species of Himalayan moths and butterfly, have moved 1,000 metres in altitude in search of new habitats, with some shifting much farther. Butterflies are a good indicator of long-term changes in climate as they are very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, and the Indian Zoological Survey has followed many species since the mid-1800s. The retreat of glaciers throughout the Himalayas has caused water shortages and a movement of vegetation to higher altitudes. Expanding human habitation is also blamed.
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Greta, Alexandria, and Licypriya – Thursday this week is Earth Day – April 22nd – and three days of action are planned. It begins with a global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising. On April 20th, a global youth summit will consist of panels, speeches, discussions, and special messages with today’s youth climate activists including Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Villaseñor, and Licypriya Kangujam. On April 21st, Education International will lead the Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit focused on the crucial role that educators play in combating climate change and why we need transformative climate education now. On the 22nd, EARTHDAY.ORG will have its second Earth Day Live digital event with workshops, panel discussions, and special performances will focus on Restore Our Earth™.
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Rights of Nature – This week is Fashion Revolution Week whose aim is to create a better fashion industry. It centres around the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, which killed 1,138 people and injured many more on 24 April 2013. This year, 8 years since the tragedy, Fashion Revolution Week will focus on the interconnectedness of human rights and the rights of nature. To coincide with this, in Scotland there’s a #pollutionispants fashion waste campaign with a focus on second-hand school uniforms.
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Wood and Trees – The Woodland Trust has published State of the UK’s Woods and Trees 2021. It says that this is the first report of its kind laying out the facts and trends on the current state of the UK’s native woods and trees. Analysis has identified four significant findings: [1] Woodland cover is gradually increasing, but woodland wildlife is decreasing. [2] Woods and trees are vital for a healthy, happy society. [3] Woods and trees are subject to a barrage of coinciding threats. [4] Not nearly enough is being done.
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BBC Balance – The BBC has had to change its go meat-free messaging for its Blue Peter green badge initiative after farmers complained. The programme had been offering green badges to young “climate heroes” who made a pledge not to eat meat. The criteria on its website now say that children should “choose a couple of vegetarian meal options during your two weeks as part of a healthy balanced diet.
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Outdoor Summer School – The government has recently published guidance for secondary schools to help planning for their summer schools using funding announced in February. Summer schools will aim to help pupils who have experienced the most disruption as a result of the pandemic. Guidance will provide advice ranging from academic support to sports and activities, and mental health and wellbeing. A range of online resources are available for the summer term and throughout the summer holidays. These will be provided by Oak National Academy, to help give pupils the confidence they are ready for the next academic year. More details here.
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Dinosaur Redux – Our knowledge of what dinosaurs looked like keeps on evolving as more fossils are discovered and analysed in new ways. In this week’s episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, two palaeobiologists talk about how new discoveries have changed our image of dinosaurs – from giant lizards, into colourful, feathered and warm-blooded creatures of all sizes. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Bitcoin Hoofprint – Unlike a normal currency (pound /euro / dollar / etc) which can just be whistled up out of thin air, a bitcoin has to be ‘mined’ electronically by means of a computer solving a hard maths problem. And the more bitcoins are mined the harder subsequent problems become. The Times reports that according to Bank of America, a single bitcoin purchase worth $50,000 has a carbon footprint of 270 tonnes. This is a lot but its defenders say that bitcoins could mop up surplus energy just as battery storage linked to wind farms does. The plausibility of that might is open to question. However, given that over half of the bitcoin made are mined in China which has a heavy reliance on coal for its electricity, it’s certainly not happening yet.
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Remember Hula Hoops – A Limits to Growth game is being promoted by CASSE which says it “is a refreshing addition to primary education [where] kids won’t be forced into high school economics without first grasping limits”. You’ll find our more here including about hula hoops.
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Building a Collaborative Community – The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) has announced the launch of Earth Action Hub. This is a 3-day virtual climate event from May 21st to May 23rd that is dedicated to engaging everyone “from youth to elders”, in learning about and promoting sustainable solutions to climate change! You can sign up here. Earth Action Hub is the creation of FEEE’s international, youth-led organizing committee made up of seven dedicated members who “share the vision of building an online collaborative community that will serve as inspiration and support for continued environmental action across the globe.”
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Another 50 Years – The Call for Presentations was announced last week for NAAEE’s 50th Annual International Conference in October. It’s another virtual meeting and you can submit proposals at conference.naaee.org Like NAEE, NAAEE is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
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A weec is a long time in Prague – The 11th WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CONGRESS [WEEC] will take place in Prague between 14-18th March 2022. The organisers say: “How can environmental and sustainability education contribute to overcoming the disjunction that is separating people from nature? How can we support a more sustainable, equitable, and relational way of being in the world? This Congress will help us to build bridges for all: between different approaches to environmental education and education for sustainable development, across international boundaries, between formal, non-formal, informal, and community education, as well as between researchers and practitioners around the world.”