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2

Vzgoja za pravilen odnos do sočloveka, narave in planeta

SKOZI ZGODBO PRI POUKU ANGLeŠČINE

Foto: Veronika Frešer

Darja Vtič

Vzgoja za trajnostni razvoj je vseživljenjsko prizadevanje,

ki spodbuja posameznike, institucije in družbe, da gledajo na jutri kot na dan,

ki pripada vsem nam – ali pa ne bo pripadal nikomur.

IZ LISTINE ZDRUŽENIH NARODOV

SODELOVANJE

SOCIALNA IN OKOLJSKA odgovornost

razumevanje medsebojne soodvisnosti vseh ljudi tega planeta

razumevanje nerazdružljivih in občutljivih vezi med človeštvom in naravo

tvorno in odgovorno vključevanje v življenje

TRAJNOSTNI rAZVOJ

PRIJATELJSTVO

VSEBINA

A 12-Year Old Girl Speaks about Sharing 5

Kids Saving the Rainforests 8

Ryan's Wells 11

Red Noses 14

Greg, an Ambassador for Peace 16

Think Green, Live Clean 18

Did You Have to Worry of these Things When You Were My Age? 18

Global Warming 21

Plastic Pollution 24

Paper Recycling Facts 26

Water 28

Rainforests, Lungs of the Planet 31

Pros and Cons of Zoos 34

Can You Make a Difference in the World For One Dollar? 37

Their Greatest Fear – Having to Leave School 41

We Are the 99 Percent 44

Humanity at a Crossroads 47

Synergy – or 'One plus One Equals More than Two' 50

1

A 12-Year Old Girl Speaks about Sharing

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed.”

~ Mahatma Gandhi

“You are lost if you forget that the fruits belong to every one

and that the Earth belongs to no one.”

~ Jean Jacques Rousseau

Is this world okay? Is it fair?

Can people share?

What kind of world would you like to live in?

___________________________________________________________________________

When she was 12, Severn Suzuki and three Vancouver schoolmates raised money to go to the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Her speech to delegates had such an impact that she became a frequent invitee to UN conferences. Here is a part of her speech.

Hello, I am Severn Suzuki speaking for ECO – the Environmental Children’s Organization. We are a group of 12 and 13 year-olds trying to make a difference, Vanessa Suttie, Morgan Geisler, Michelle Quigg and me. We’ve raised all the money to come here ourselves, to come 5,000 miles to tell you, adults, you must change your ways.

I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to speak on behalf of the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard.

In my country we make so much waste, we buy and throw away, buy and throw away, buy and throw away and yet Northern countries will not share with the needy. Even when we have more than enough we are afraid to share. In Canada, we live the privileged life. We have plenty of food, water and shelter. We have watches, bicycles, computers and television sets. The list could go on for two days. Two days ago here in Brazil, we were shocked when we spent time with some children living on the streets. This is what one child told us, “I wish I was rich and if I were, I would give all the street children food, clothes, medicines, shelter and love and affection.“

If a child on the street who has nothing is willing to share, why are we who have everything still so greedy? I can’t stop thinking that these are children my own age, that it makes a huge difference where you are born. And that I could be one of those children living in the favelas of Rio. I could be a child starving in Somalia, or a victim of war in the Middle East or a beggar in India.

I am only a child, yet I know if all the money spent on war was spent on finding environmental answers ending poverty and in finding treaties, what a wonderful place this earth would be.

At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us how to behave in the world. You teach us to not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others and to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then, why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do?

Do not forget why you here today, who you are doing this for. We are your own children. You are deciding what kind of a world we are growing up in. Parents should be able to comfort their children by saying “Everything is going to be all right, it’s not the end of the world, and we are doing the best we can.” But I don’t think you can say that to us anymore. Are we even on your list of priorities?

My dad always says, “You are what you do, not what you say.” Well, what you do makes me cry at night.

You grown-ups say you love us. But I challenge you, please, make your actions reflect your words. Thank you.

Severn Suzuki[i]

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Who is the girl? Who is she speaking to?

• What does she talk about?

• What is life like in Canada (or any other developed country)?

• What happened to her in the streets of Brazil? What did a little boy tell her?

• She says she’s only a child, but what does she know?

• What do adults teach little children?

• Do adults live what they preach? What don’t they do?

• What does she ask the United Nations delegates?

• Do you think her words touched them?

Recommended Online Video:

Severn Suzuki speaking at UN Earth Summit 1992

watch?v=uZsDliXzyAY

2

Kids Saving the Rainforests[ii]

“If you are thinking 1 year ahead, sow seeds.

If you are thinking 10 years ahead, plant a tree.

If you are thinking 100 years ahead, educate people.”

~ Author Unknown

What problems does our planet face today?

Can children do anything? If so, what?

___________________________________________________________________________

[pic][pic]

This is a story about a girl who was only nine when she decided to make a difference in the world. She says:

»My name is Janine and I live in the middle of some of the most beautiful rainforest you can imagine, in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. When I was 9 and a half years old, my friend and I decided that we wanted to create artwork to sell in order to make some spending money, so we set up a roadside stand. Within just a few days, we knew that we should put to use what we earned for something much more important. That's when we had the idea to start saving the rainforest.«

»Ever since we were little, we acknowledged the fact that it is home to many kinds of animals as well as other living organisms such as trees, plants and insects. The rainforest is an amazing place and we vow to do anything and everything we can to save it. It is very important that we preserve the environment because by saving it, we make sure that our future is protected and available for the next generations. If it disappears, then so does our planet.« 

Together with a friend, Janine started a campaign to protect her local environment. They called it Kids Saving the Rainforest.

They have achieved a lot:

• They have raised more than 50,000 dollars.

• They have purchased 4 acres of rainforest property where they built an animal rehabilitation centre in which they care for and release injured and abandoned animals. They have saved and released over 30 animals so far!

• They have planted over 5,000 trees.

• They have erected more than 120 monkey bridges that are used by monkeys and other animals so they don’t get hit by cars when crossing roads, nor electrocuted by using power lines.

• They have worked with other schoolchildren around the world. They have Sister Schools and members in countries such as Denmark, Vietnam, England, Pakistan, France, Canada, and USA.

• They have a Gift Shop where they sell artwork made by kids; 100% of the profits go to saving the rainforest.

• They have a public library (the first in the area); with over 2,000 books that people can borrow.

• They have started different projects, such as Adopt-a-tree.

• They have published books that are being sold to the public.

OUR PLEDGE:

We believe that the rainforest is a storehouse of treasures. We vow to do everything we can to save it.

We have to be the generation that makes a difference!

___________________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Why is the rainforest important for this planet and for its inhabitants?

• When did Janine and her friends have an idea to start saving the rainforest?

• What have they achieved so far?

• What have they done for the animals?

• How have they co-operated with other schoolchildren?

• What is their pledge?

It’s your turn:

In your environment, do you see anything or anyone that could use your help? Can you do anything about it? Do it and make a presentation for your class.

Recommended Online Video:

Amazon Rainforest Relaxation Video

watch?v=43yvlrNl3Xc

3

Ryan's Wells[iii]

“God will not come down from heaven to feed the starving.

You and I have to do it.”

~ Desmond Tutu

What do you know about Africa?

What resources has it got? Who owns most of them?

Is the western world in any ways responsible for the poverty in the Third World?

Besides humanitarian activities, what are other ways for solving problems of African people?

How old must you be to make a difference in the world?

___________________________________________________________________________

RYAN HRELJAC was 6 years old when a talk by his grade one teacher, Mrs. Prest, changed his life. She told the class about people in Africa who had a very hard time getting clean water and access to wells. Without this basic human necessity, people, especially children, can get sick and sometimes die. Deeply moved, Ryan persuaded his parents to pay him to do extra chores and finally came up with the $70 he thought was needed to drill a well. But he was in for a shock. WaterCan (a non-profit organization that provides clean water to poor countries) told him that it would actually cost $2,000 to drill a well on another continent. Ryan didn't give up. He got very busy doing more chores and expanding his fundraising. Several months later he had finally collected the $2,000 and the rest, as they say, is history. He sent the money to WaterCan and in January, 1999, they drilled a well beside Angolo Primary School in northern Uganda, with funds raised by Ryan and many others. That was just the beginning of the journey.

- Since he started his mission, he has helped to raise over $2 million.

- He has supported more than 230 water and sanitation projects in eight developing countries, seven of which are in Africa.

- He has helped to provide water for a half a million people.

- More than 100 million people have heard his message – through speaking awards presentations, appearances on talk shows and hundreds of articles in magazines, newspapers, and on websites. 

- Ryan has spoken to small classrooms and to thousands of people at a time at schools, universities, and conferences, always with the message that every person on the planet deserves clean water, and that everyone can help make a difference.

- Ryan has become a passionate voice for water-poor people in the developing world. His story has inspired many to take responsibility for the woes of the world, whether in their own communities, or like Ryan, in far away places.

A teenager once asked Ryan: »If you had the attention of the world for 5 minutes, what would you do?«

Ryan answered: "If I had the attention of the world for 5 minutes, I would ask everyone to think about how much they have. In Canada we have so much stuff. I'd ask people to think about what they want and what they really need. I'd ask them to share just a little bit no matter where they lived. I would tell everyone to believe in their dreams. If you do, you can accomplish anything.”

“Sometimes people think they don't have a lot extra to share but they are wrong. I will tell you why. The kids at Angolo Primary School in Uganda (that's where my first well is) decided after I visited there that they could share, too. They told me that they were going to do like me and make a difference. These kids didn't have anything. But they decided that they were going to spend five days out of every school year volunteering, helping older people or people who had HIV/Aids and other stuff. In Uganda, they learned that you can help others no matter who you are. If everyone thought that way and did something nice every day for someone else, the world would be a much better place. The world would be more equal, too.”

“I would call all the world leaders and I would ask them to think about EVERYONE in this world and not just the people in their countries. I would ask them to do what I learned when I was in kindergarten - and share. I would ask them to spend more time listening to kids, too."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Who is Mrs. Prest? How did she change Ryan’s life?

• How much money did Ryan collect for the fist well? Did it actually cost $50 dollars?

• What has he achieved after that? How many people did he help?

• Who has heard his message?

• What is his message? What does he want to say to people everywhere?

• What did kids at Angolo Primary School in Uganda do?

• What does he want to ask the world leaders?

Recommended Online Videos:

RYAN HRELJAC: Ordinary kid, extraordinary impact. GET INVOLVED!

watch?v=1cpBpIxYh7M&feature=related

4

Red Noses[iv]

Clowns help patients see the funny side of life

“Laughter is a bodily exercise precious to health.”

~ Aristotle

Do you know any proverbs about laughter?

Do you think that happy people are usually healthier?

Is it possible to use laughter in medicine? Has anyone tried that?

___________________________________________________________________________

If laughter really is the best medicine, then an unconventional new workforce doing the hospital round is just what the doctor ordered. Clown doctors yesterday visited children at Christchurch Hospital, trying to put smiles on the faces of patients.

"Once you start with your magic tricks or something, the kids are focused on your work and don't care about the injections," said Thomas Petschner, a Christchurch health scientist turned clown doctor.

The Clown Doctors do magic tricks, they make balloon animals, and tell kids funny stories. Laughter helps children deal with emotions they probably experience in hospital — fear, anxiety, loneliness, and boredom.

Dr Petschner said the clown doctors were not like the "typical" version of a clown, who wore huge shoes and masks, and did juggling. "It is more interacting between partners, we are always a couple, and what we try to create there is a funny situation. We don't go there and say 'hey, we are funny because we have red noses on'. "It's not just about kids, also parents and staff and everybody. It's about spreading a good atmosphere and laughter around."

The goal is for the clown doctors to visit hospitals three times a week.

Dr Petschner said a number of studies showed the health benefits of laughter.

Laughter is a 'drug' that:

• fights against stress,

• reduces pain by releasing endorphins, the body's natural painkiller,

• has a positive effect on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems,

• relaxes muscles,

• improves the immune system,

• helps people cope with difficult situations,

• connects people.

During a visit at Christchurch Hospital yesterday, sick children got up to perform with the clown doctors. "It was a really touching moment also for us."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Who are clown doctors? What do they do?

• What is the purpose of magic tricks and things like that?

• Has studies about benefits of laughter been conducted?

• What do they show?

• What happened during a visit at Christchurch Hospital yesterday?

• What do you think about this type of medicine?

Recommended Online Video:

Nurse TV: Clown Doctors

watch?gl=AU&hl=en-GB&v=OPmWdAasz-E

5

Greg, an Ambassador for Peace[v]

“There really is only one choice.

We must hear the cries of the children and answer their prayers.”

~ Gregory R. Smith

Greg's Short Biography:

At 14 months, he solved math problems, at the age of 2 he read and corrected adult's grammar. At this age he decided to become a vegetarian. At the age of 5 he explained photosynthesis to kindergarten classmates. From the age of 6 to the age of 9 he completed 10 grades of school.

At the age of 9 he graduated with honours from high school. As 10-years old he was a college freshman and he founded International Youth Advocates (IYA). He was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize twice, in 2002 and in 2003 (12- and 13-years old). In 2003, he graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Mathematics and minors in History and Biology.

An Ambassador for Peace

At the age of 13, Gregory Smith already has a career as a motivational speaker and as a world-recognized advocate for children and peace. He is a two-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Oprah Show, Late Night with David Letterman, The Today Show, and all the major network morning news shows.

He has met with Presidents, Nobel Peace winners, religious leaders and educators.

Through his many appearances, Greg appeals to governmental leaders to value their children as their country's greatest resource. He teaches about ending the cycle of violence and has pledged his life to the pursuit of peace. "I believe I've been given a special gift, and I don't know how or why I've been given it, but I want to use it to the best of my abilities to help mankind," he stated for The Washington Post in 1999.

As he goes on to graduate school, Greg will continue to work for peace and for the welfare of children. His organization International Youth Advocates collects educational supplies, clothing, and toys and works with non-governmental organizations and government and business leaders to enhance and protect the rights and well being of children.

His philosophy is perhaps best expressed with these words: »Peace will begin with the children of the world as we reach out to them and educate them before they learn to hate. It is our responsibility to teach others that through love and compassion we can resolve our differences and join together in a world of peace. This is a difficult path to follow but I have pledged my life to this pursuit. For centuries we have repeated the cycles of war, as we walk into a new century we can change this trend and live in a world where no child lives in fear. Let us be the generation that finally puts war in its proper place … in the History Books!”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• In what ways is Greg special?

• What are his most extraordinary achievements?

• What kind of world is he dreaming about?

• Does he do anything about it? What has he done?

• In pairs or groups, read Greg’s quotes below, discuss them, and present them to the class.

 

It’s your turn:

Write your own vision. What kind of world do you want to live in?

6

Think Green, Live Clean

“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors;

we borrow it from our children.” 

~ Native American Proverb

What are the problems of the world today?

Do we still have time to fix it?

Do you often think about these problems?

___________________________________________________________________________

Did You Have to Worry of these Things When You Were My Age?

When she was 12, Severn Suzuki and three of her schoolmates raised money to go to the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Here is a part of her speech.

Hello, I am Severn Suzuki speaking for ECO – the Environmental Children’s Organization. We are a group of 12 and 13 year-olds trying to make a difference. We’ve raised all the money to come here ourselves, to come 5,000 miles to tell you adults you must change your ways.

I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to speak on behalf of the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard. I am here to speak for the countless animals dying across this planet, because they have nowhere left to go. I am afraid to go out in the sun now, because of the holes in our ozone. I am afraid to breathe the air, because I don’t know what chemicals are in it. I used to go fishing in Vancouver, my home, with my Dad until, just a few years ago; we found a fish full of cancers.

And now we hear of animals and plants going extinct every day, vanishing forever. In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and rainforests full of birds and butterflies, but now I wonder if they will even exist for my children to see.

Did you have to worry of these things when you were my age? All this is happening before our eyes and yet we act as if we have all the time we want and all the solutions. I’m only a child and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to realize, neither do you. You don’t know how to fix the holes in our ozone layer. You don’t know how to bring the salmon back up a dead stream. You don’t know how to bring back an animal now extinct. And you can’t bring back the forest that once grew where there is now a desert. If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it.

Here you may be delegates of your governments, business people, organizers, reporters or politicians. But, really, you’re mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles and all of you are someone’s child.

I’m only a child, yet I know we are all part of a family, 6 billion strong, in fact 30 million species strong. I’m only a child, yet I know we are all in this together and should act as one single world towards one single goal.

Severn Suzuki[vi]

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Who is the girl? Which organization is she representing?

• Who does she speak for?

• What is she afraid of?

• What happened once while she was fishing with her dad?

• Has she got the solutions? Have grown-ups got them?

• What does the sentence if you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking it, refer to?

• Who is attending this conference?

• Who are these people in their professional life, who are they in their private life?

• What is the message of her words in the last paragraph?

Recommended Online Videos:

Severn Suzuki speaking at UN Earth Summit 1992

watch?v=uZsDliXzyAY

It’s your turn:

Put some of your ideas down and write a letter to some influential people in your country (a reporter, a journalist, a politician, a member of the Parliament, the Prime Minister, the President …). Write about your fears and concerns, about your ideas to improve things …

7

Global Warming[vii]

“The sun, the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago...

had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands.” 

~ Havelock Ellis

What is global warming?

What causes it?

What can you do to make it better?

___________________________________________________________________________

What is global warming all about?

You've been hearing about global warming and some of it probably sounds frightening. It is a very serious situation, but there is hope because there is much we can all do.

Global warming is about the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere (air) warming up. The gases in the atmosphere that prevent heat from leaving the planet act like a greenhouse around the planet. We need some of these greenhouse gases or we would freeze. But now, sadly, we have too much carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that are trapping too much heat and that’s making the Earth get warmer. Most of the carbon dioxide comes from cars, factories and homes.

Is a warmer Earth a bad thing?

Yes. Global warming is slowly melting the ice at the poles and the sea levels are rising. Experts think that by 2080, 25% of coastal towns around the world will be flooded. They also believe global warming is causing our climate to change. Some places will become drier, like Europe, North America, Brazil and Russia. These places grow a lot of the world’s food. It the temperature rises, it will be too hot to grow crops in these countries. Therefore, food will be more expensive and there will be less food for people in poor countries.

What can you do about this?

• You can save energy. Turn down your heat.

• Turn off lights when you leave the room.

• Turn off electronics when you don’t need them.

• If you can, walk to school or use a bike.

• Recycle. Recycling also uses less energy.

• Take a shower, not a bath.

• Learn about renewable energy such as wind power and sun power. Decide what you think is best in your neighbourhood.

• Forests absorb some of the greenhouse gases that warm up our Earth. Plant a tree!

• Take photos of you and your group planting trees. Write an article about it and put it in a local paper.

• Write a poem about global warming. Read it to your family and friends.

• Send letters, emails, and drawings to government and industry leaders.

• A good event to have at school is a Fill up Your Car Tires Day. Properly inflated tires on your family car will use less gas.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What is global warming? Why does it happen?

• What will happen if the temperature rises?

• What can we do to stop it?

• What will you do?

Recommended Song:

Michael Jackson - Earth Song

Recommended Online Video:

Three Point Program of Plant-for-the-Planet from June 22, 2010 @ the Global Media Forum

watch?v=J1sY_Dn-fqc

It’s your turn:

What can you do to help the environment? In groups, think of a project and do it.

Write an article about it and send it to the local newspaper. Or make a video and publish it on You Tube or on your local TV network.

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8

Plastic Pollution[viii]

»When we heal the Earth, we heal ourselves.«

~ David Orr

Why is it useful to recycle?

Do you recycle in your home and school?

Do you know anything about the problem of plastic waste?

___________________________________________________________________________

Quick Facts on Plastic Pollution

• A plastic cup can take 50 - 80 years to decompose.

• Recycled plastic can be used to make things like trash cans, park benches, playground equipment, decks, and kayaks.

• Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.

• Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1 million sea creatures every year.

• Countries like China, Ireland, Australia, and Bangladesh have banned or have restricted the use plastic bags.

• Recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in a special stove.

• Today, people throw away around 10 million tonnes of plastic waste a year but recycle only a few per cent of it.

• The worldwide fishing industry throws into the ocean around 150,000 tonnes of plastic each year, including packaging, plastic nets, and lines.

• Nearly every piece of plastic ever made still exists today.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What have you learned?

• Which of these facts do you find the most alarming?

• Can you change anything in your life? Are you going to? (What?)

• What would be your advice to our politicians about this? What laws would you pass to make the present situation better?

Recommended Online Videos:

Change the World in 5 Minutes - Everyday at School

watch?v=oROsbaxWH0M

It’s your turn:

Learn more about plastic pollution, make a project, and present it at school.

Write a list of ideas how to help the environment with using less plastic. Choose one and realise it.

9

Paper Recycling Facts[ix]

"Just as we cannot blame others for destroying the environment,

so we cannot look to others to protect the environment.

Responsibility for both begins at home."

~ Paul Griss

Why is it useful to recycle paper?

Do you recycle?

___________________________________________________________________________

• If you had a 15-year-old tree and made it into paper grocery bags, you'd get about 700 of them. A busy supermarket could use all of them in under an hour. This means in one year, one supermarket can go through over 6 million paper bags.

• 14 million trees are cut down to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags in one year alone.

• The average person in the western world uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees.

• The amount of wood and paper we throw away each year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 years.

• The average household throws away 13,000 separate pieces of paper each year. Most is packaging and junk mail.

• Each tonne of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons[x] of oil, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons [xi] of water.

• The 17 trees saved (above) can absorb a total of 250 pounds[xii] (113 kilos) of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Burning that same tonne of paper would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide.

"Join the Revolution, Be Part of the Solution."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Which is the most striking fact for you?

• What have you learned?

• Can you change anything in your life?

It’s your turn:

With a group of friends, put down some ideas on saving paper, write an article and send it to the local newspaper.

10

Water[xiii]

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.” 

~ Thomas Fuller, 1732

How much water is there on Earth?

How much of it is usable for drinking?

___________________________________________________________________________

How much water is there on Earth?

There's a whole lot of water on Earth! Something like 1,260,000,000,000,000,000,000 litres of water can be found on our planet. This water is in a constant cycle – it evaporates from the ocean, travels through the air, rains down on the land and then flows back to the ocean. The oceans are huge. About 70 per cent of the planet is covered in ocean.

So what's the problem? Why do they say we should save water?

97% per cent of the water on the planet is in the oceans. This water is salty; therefore it is unusable for drinking. Only 3% is fresh water. But 2% of the world’s water supply is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps. Only 1% of the world’s water supply is fresh water, usable for drinking. It is found as groundwater, with only a small fraction present above ground (rivers and lakes) or in the air.

Everybody needs water

Without water even the healthiest of humans would die within a week. Dehydration is a cause of death of almost two million people a year. In Africa and Asia many people must walk at least three hours to reach water. To prevent these shortages and economize limited supplies, countries are privatizing their water resources. But this is criticized by many arguing that water is a right and not a marketable commodity.

Water down the drain

Yet people in the developed countries think little of the amount of water they let go down the drain. It may seem like we have an endless supply of water but it is actually a limited resource and we need to use wisely.

[pic]

What can you do?

• Take short showers. Every minute less in the shower saves one bucket of water.

• If you leave the tap running while you clean your teeth, you waste nine litres of water; instead fill a glass for rinsing.

• Don’t let the tap run while cleaning fruits vegetables either.

Leaks can waste 14% of all the water we use in our homes. One drip per second wastes around 4 litres a day, that’s around 1400 litres of water in a year.

• A third of all household water use is from the toilet alone. The average person flushes over a 100 litres down the drain daily!

A water saving device in your toilet cistern can save up to three litres per flush.

• In half an hour, a garden sprinkler uses as much water as a family of four does in one day.

• While you are waiting for the shower to get hot, put a bucket underneath and save the water for pets cleaning or watering plants.

• When boiling vegetables, use only enough water to cover the foods. Steaming uses even less water while conserving more nutrients.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• How much water is there on our planet?

• How does water cycle?

• How much of the planet is covered by ocean?

• How much of all the water is usable for drinking?

• Where do people suffer most because of water shortages?

• What is happening to them?

• Do people in rich countries respect water? Why (not)?

• How can we save water?

It’s your turn:

Learn more about it, think of new ways to save water, put down some ideas, write an article and publish it in a child magazine.

Recommended Online Video:

19287211

[pic]

11

Rainforests, Lungs of the Planet[xiv]

“The rainforest is an important element on Earth. 

Its trees purify the oxygen we breathe.

People get medicine from its plants. 

And it gives different animals a place to live. 

We should do anything we can to save it.”

~ Janine Licare, age 13,

What do you know about rainforests?

Where are they found?

Why are they important for the planet?

___________________________________________________________________________

Where are they found?

The largest rainforests are found in the Amazon Basin of South America, in Western African countries that skirt the equator, as well as South Pacific countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines.

Bio - diversity

Amazingly, the tropical rainforests cover just 2% of the Earth but they are home to two-thirds of all the living species on the planet. The intensity of life forms is extraordinary: 1,000 species per square kilometre. By comparison, in North America, we might only find 100 species in the same area. The tropical rainforests are home to between 50 and 70 million different life forms.

A typical four-mile square mile of rainforest contains around 1,500 species of flowering plants, 750 species of trees, 125 mammal species, 400 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles, 60 species of amphibians, and 150 different species of butterflies.

There are more fish species in the Amazon River system than in the entire Atlantic Ocean.

A single rainforest reserve in Peru is home to more species of birds than the entire United States.

By estimates, 9,000 species are going extinct each year, most of them from the rainforests.

Medical potential

Also, nearly half the medicinal substances we use every day come from plants endemic to the tropical rainforest. If a cure for cancer or AIDS will one day be found, it will almost certainly come from the tropical rainforests.

70% of the plant species identified by the US National Cancer Institute as holding anti-cancer properties come from rainforests.

90% of the rainforest plants used by Amazonian Indians as medicines have not been examined by modern science.

Lungs of the planet

Rainforest play a significant role in so called "greenhouse effect ".

Rainforest accounts for 20-25% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere by man. A hectare of rainforest absorbs one tonne of CO2 per year.

Rainforest destruction

Tragically, the tropical rainforests are being destroyed very quickly. According to Rainforest Action Network, more than an acre-and-a-half is lost every second of every day. That's an area more than twice the size of Florida that goes up in smoke every year!

Almost half of the world's original four billion acres of rainforest are now gone. The lost area equals the combined size of Washington, Idaho, California, Nevada and Arizona.

If this continues, half our remaining rainforests will be gone by the year 2025, and by 2060 there will be no rainforests remaining.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Where are the largest rainforests found?

• What does a word bio-diversity mean?

• In what ways are rainforests important medically?

• Why are they called Lungs of the planet?

• What is happening to the rainforests today?

• How quickly are they disappearing?

• Do you think that the prediction in the last sentence will come true?

Recommended Online Videos:

Young Environmentalists Challenge U.N. Climate Delegates: "Stop Talking. Start Planting"

watch?v=ne2AKyMzXtU&feature=related

Felix Finkbeiner the 13-year-old tree ambassador on CNN

watch?v=KJxECiafB1U&feature=related

It’s your turn:

1. On the Internet, find out why they are cutting down so much of the rainforests. We are not doing it. Are we in any way responsible for it?

2. Plant a tree! Or better yet, find volunteers and plant more.

12

Pros and Cons of Zoos

“If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is Nature's way.” 

~ Aristotle

What do you think about zoos?

Do we have the right to keep animals in cages?

___________________________________________________________________________

The word zoo is an abbreviated form of 'zoological garden' and was made in the nineteenth century.

A zoo is a collection of various animal species found in nature. The different reasons behind keeping animals in captivity may be education, research, recreation, and conservation. The 'zoo' culture can be has its roots in the civilization of China, Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Zoos say that they protect endangered animals; however more and more organizations are talking about the animal rights, so people are becoming aware of the truth behind the zoos.

Pros and Cons

Is it moral and ethical to keep wild animals in captivity? Let’s look at that from different perspectives.

Animal Rights

• Pros: Some say that animals don't have rights. So there is nothing wrong in keeping them in captivity.

• Cons: Animals have natural rights and capturing them is breaching their rights.

Good and Bad Zoos

• Pros: It is true that there have been zoos treating animals in a cruel manner. However, this has changed a lot. It won't be fair to shut down all the zoos for mistakes made by few zoos in the past. Animals in zoos today have proper diet and enough space.

• Cons: No matter how well animals are taken care for, they are not free and they suffer.

Role of Zoos in Education

• Pros: Today's zoos educate people. Many schools visit zoos to know more about endangered species and the ways to conserve them.

• Cons: People don't visit zoos for educational purposes. It is just a means of entertainment for them. Moreover, if the people get used to see animals in zoos, they start to think that a cage is the ideal place for animals.

Conservation of Endangered Species

• Pros: The zoos say that, conservation of endangered animals is their main goal. Free animals face constant threat of poaching, while zoos are safe places for them.

• Cons: People and activists opposing the zoos, say that despite the zoos taking efforts for conserving animals, the success achieved in protecting animals is less. Also it is not necessary to exhibit the animals for recreational purpose, if the sole objective is to conserve them.

The debate over the conservation of wildlife is an endless one. No doubt, we should do our best to study, protect and preserve animals; however we should make sure that they suffer the least in the process.

Shashank Nakate [xv]

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What are reasons for keeping animals in zoos?

• What do zoos say?

• What is your opinion about that?

• Do you think that animals have got rights or not?

• Can zoos provide a suitable environment for wild animals (so they can feel happy and free)?

• From an educational point of view, are zoos useful? What is the danger of getting used to seeing animals in cages?

• Can zoos conserve endangered animals?

• What rules would you set regarding zoos?

13

Can You Make a Difference in the World For One Dollar?

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little

– do what you can. 

~ Sydney Smith

You are only children. In what ways can you help other people?

Who can you help? What can you do?

___________________________________________________________________________

Last spring students at West High School in Bakersfield joined students at four high schools in the area to raise money to build a school in Kenya.  Each of the schools ran a fundraiser called “One Dollar for Life” or ODFL for short.  The idea is simple but powerful. 

Every student is asked to give just one dollar.  There’s no pressure, just an invitation:  are you willing to do something to make a better world?  [pic]

“It’s so easy for kids to be cynical and isolated,” says a mother of three sons at Bakersfield High School. “I wanted to find a way for them to get connected to their world and to understand that they could actually do something to improve it. The funny thing is we thought we were just helping others.  Our students found out they could actually make a difference in the world.”  

Robert Freeman, a teacher and the founder of ODFL said, “The secret of ODFL is that it’s not really about the dollar.  It’s about whether a teenager wants to choose to create a better world.  Once they do that, they become bigger people and anything becomes possible.”  

“If every high school student in America gives just one dollar, we can build over 1,000 schools a year in the developing world,” says one of the parents.  “And in the process, we’re going to create a whole new generation of American teenagers.” 

What has ODFL done since its first year of operation? (Here are only a few examples.)

• In 2007, it built a new school for 45 students in the village of Naro Moru in Kenya.

• In 2008, it built a 3 room school in Nepal for 84 students who went to class under a tree. 

• In 2008, it bought 60 desks for the Kisimu village primary school in Malawi.

• In 2008, it built a new classroom for the Ngenia Mixed Secondary School in Timau, Kenya.

• In 2008, it bought 2 milk cows to feed protein to 120 orphans in Nanyuki, Kenya.

• In 2008, it collected and sent 452 bicycles to Africa.

• In 2008, it sent 350 used but still working calculators to high school students in Kenya.

• In 2008, raised $3,000 to help student victims of the 2008 China earthquake.

• In 2008, it bought 20 piglets to save 20 Nepalese girls from being sold into slavery.

• In 2008, it built a three-room school, funded desks for 72 students, a set of toilets, and a playground for the children in Nepal.

• In 2008, it sent 250 pairs of tennis shoes to students in the village of Manyesa in Malawi.

• In 2009, it built a new classroom for the village of San Martin in Nicaragua.

• In 2009, it renovated a classroom and community centre in the village of Ban in Indonesia.

• In 2009, it built a new classroom for 40 students at the Mureru District Day School in Kenya.

• In 2010, it raised $20,000 for relief projects for the victims of the January 2010 Haiti earthquake.

• In 2010, it built a new classroom for the Gakawa District Day School in Nanyuki, Kenya.

• In 2010, it built a new classroom for the Santa Isabel village in El Salvador.

“All of this was made possible by one-dollar donations from tens of thousands of American students, and the volunteer efforts of many teachers.  We’re building a better world out there and better people here at home, students who are connected, compassionate, cooperative and competent.  We literally are changing the world.  You can, too!” says Robert Freeman.

Margaret Lewis[xvi]

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What is the idea of ODFL? What do they do?

• Are these children just helping others?

• Who was the founder of ODFL?

• He said that the secret of ODFL is not really about the money. What is it really about?

• What have they achieved so far?

• When children participate in activities like that, what kind of people are they becoming? What qualities are they developing?

Recommended Online Video:

2007 One Dollar for Life Kenya Project

watch?v=GdUjLFe0-Go

It’s your turn:

In the last paragraph, Robert Freeman has got an invitation for you. What is it?

What do you think? Have you got an idea what to do? Good luck!

14

Their Greatest Fear – Having to Leave School[xvii]

“As a young girl I was told by my mother that I should not dream the impossible,

like going to school. Yet today the gods have surprised me

with the chance to hold a book, and to read and write.

Now I dare to dream the impossible."

~ Teenage girl, Bihar, India

Do you ever feel grateful to live in a country where every child can go to school? (Probably not.)

Why is it useful to go to school?

___________________________________________________________________________

When she was only 10 years old, a little Chinese girl called Meili had to leave school to help her parents in the fields.

"Parents often think if they take their girls out of school, they can save some money," says Mr. Cheng, the principal of Meili's school in Guyuan, in west China.

Mr. Cheng and others try to persuade parents to let their girls return to school, but with little success. Meili 's father, like many others, believes girls are better off getting married. "I was crying behind the door when I heard my father say these words to my teacher," Meili says.

But five years ago, Meili's luck changed. A non-formal education project for teenage girls came to their area, teaching such skills as tailoring, embroidery, and special techniques for growing corn, wheat and watermelon in areas where it is very cold and little rain falls.

"We invited local experts to train the drop-out girls, giving them a ticket to get out of poverty," says Mr. Cheng.

Over the past two years, the training programmes in the region have helped 1,800 girls. Meili has learned tailoring. Every day, after helping her mother with household chores, she practises her skills. She already earns some money for the family by making clothes for villagers.

Meili says that when she helps put food on the table, she feels a sense of hope. "And when you see hope, your sense of humour returns. You can even tease your parents."

Meili 's dream is to set up a tailoring shop like her friend Yang Yan.

Yang Yan is 22, and she has a young son. She had only two years of basic education. But a few years ago, thanks to the development programme for girls, she set up the first tailoring shop in the village and has been able to contribute greatly to her family's income.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Why did Meili’s parents take her out of school?

• What does her father think about it?

• How did it make her feel?

• What kind of programme came to the area? Who is this programme for?

• What has Meili learned?

• How has it changed her life?

• What is her dream for the future? Who is her role model?

• What are your goals? What do you want to achieve?

Recommended Online Video:

UNICEF: Schools for Africa - Mozambique - Thank you

user/unicef?blend=1&ob=4#p/search/4/RSJ4UFQVQ0c

UNICEF: For Every Child

watch?v=dPWr6Eg_dC4

15

We Are the 99 Percent[xviii]

“You are lost if you forget

that the fruits of the earth belong to all

and the earth to no one!”

~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Explain the Rousseau’s quote above. What does it say?

Are the fruits of the earth distributed fairly in the world today?

What does the slogan We are the 99 percent mean? Who is the 99 percent and who is the 1 percent?

Do all people in our country have a job?

Can anyone afford to go to university?

Do people who work have enough money for a secure and decent life? If not, why is that so?

How should it be changed?

What can people do about it?

___________________________________________________________________________

Here are three letters that are published on the website We are the 99 percent:

1.

I’m on an internship for school. I’m not getting paid for it. I’m in a strange city. I don’t know anyone here. I have applied at almost every fast-food restaurant, retail store, gas station, and whatever else I can think of, but have heard nothing back. My bank account is almost completely empty. I’m writing this on the laptop I can’t sell because I need it for school, and while I write, I eat the last of my groceries. My car is almost out of gas. I don’t even have enough money to pay rent on the first of the month. I don’t have a lot of personal possessions that I can sell, and the ones that I can, I probably won’t get much for. I don’t have health insurance, and I dread getting sick or having an accident that leaves me in the hospital. If I give up now and go home, I won’t graduate. I’m already several thousand dollars in student loan debt, I hope to at least have something to show for it. But how long can I last at my internship when I have to choose between putting gas in my car and doing laundry? My life is a ticking time-bomb, and the last few seconds are counting down before my eyes.

I am the 99 percent. And I am out of ideas.

2.

[pic]

3.

I am a 24 year old college graduate. I have a B.A. in English. After 5 years of work to better myself, I am now working 40-50 hours a week making barely more than I did when I graduated from high school 6 years ago. I work 2 jobs and can’t afford to move out of my parents’ house even with a roommate. I have $33,000+ to pay in student loans. (I’m barely paying the interest.) I can’t find a full time job because I have no experience…no one will hire me so I can gain some! I’m stressed out and depressed. I feel trapped. The American Dream is dead for my generation. I AM THE 99%!!!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• What do these letters have in common?

• Do we find out their names? What do they write instead of the name?

• Draw a mind map for each letter. What problems do they talk about?

• Have you heard of different movements that are now taking place all over the world (Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Europe, Occupy Together, We Are the 99 Percent …)? What is their purpose?

• They want social and economic justice, they want more and better jobs; they are against greed and corruption. Can goals like that ever be achieved? How?

• Can you find examples of that in history?

Recommended Online Video:

Occupy Wall Street: A Short Documentary

watch?v=VkBMrFE9p0g&feature=related

16

Humanity at a Crossroads[xix]

“Without sharing there can be no justice;

without justice there can be no peace;

without peace there can be no future.”

~ Maitreya

What are the three most serious problems of humanity today?

In one sentence for each problem – how can these problems be solved?

___________________________________________________________________________

Humanity is at a crossroads. One path leads to growing social and economic division, environmental destruction, and war. The other path leads to growing social harmony, economic and environmental balance, and an era of peace. There is no other way.

Let us look at the state of the world today from the point of view of those who have and those who don't have:

• The world's 225 richest people have a combined wealth of over $1 trillion, which is the same as the income of the poorest 47 per cent of the world's people in a year.

• Among the 4,4 billion people who live in poor countries:

• nearly three in five live without basic sanitation,

• nearly one in three are without clean water,

• one-quarter do not have a roof over their heads,

• one in five live do not have the access of modern health services,

• one in five children are undernourished,

• one in five children do not get past grade five in school.

• Even in the US, the world's wealthiest country, 12 million families are at risk of hunger, and at least 700,000 people are homeless.

This growing abyss between the rich and the poor threatens us all. Its results are crime, social unrest, civil war, illegal immigration, and environmental destruction.

The answer is in sharing, justice and peace.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• Do you find this article positive, negative or realistic?

• According to the article, which two paths are there for humanity?

• What are the given statistics about?

• How rich are the 225 richest people in the world?

• How many people live in developing countries?

• How do they live? What are problems they are facing?

• According to the text, which is the richest country in the world?

• Does this country take care of its population? Explain your answer.

• What does the sentence this growing abyss between the rich and the poor threatens us all, mean? Explain it.

• What are the results of the growing differences between the rich and the poor?

• Can you see it in your country? How does it make you feel?

• Are there any movements in the world today against injustice?

• What can you do about it?

• What can you do about it when you are an adult?

• What solution does the text give for all these problems? What do you think of it?

• Will humanity ever live a world of justice and peace?

Recommended Song:

John Lennon: Imagine

It’s your turn:

Take a look at the following photographs. Write about its message. What are the people saying?

17

Synergy – or 'One plus One Equals More than Two'[xx]

“We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.”

~ Martin Luther King

Do you know anything about wild geese?

How do they fly? Why?

___________________________________________________________________________

What is synergy?

We can learn from geese.

As the geese lift off from the ground, in a matter of seconds, they start forming a line. This line straightens and then, as on cue, bends sharply to form a perfect “V” shape. They fly in “V” formation for a very practical reason: a flock of geese flying in formation can move faster and maintain flight longer than any one goose flying alone. Synergy is a law of nature.

• By flying in "V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

• Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it immediately feels a higher air resistance and quickly gets back into formation.

• When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies to the point.

• The geese from behind honk from behind to encourage the geese up front to keep up their speed. 

• Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshot, and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follow him down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with another formation until they catch up with their group. 

Synergy is best explained as, 'One plus one equals more than two'.

Today's world needs a critical mass of people who will work in true co-operation. This way we can reach a new level of social, economic, organizational and spiritual success.

Synergy helps you realize the value of others, and secondly, encourages you to find the right people. If we don't use it, and we have to work four times as hard for half the results.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• How does a flock of geese fly? Why do geese fly that way?

• Does a goose feel when it falls out of formation? What does it do?

• What does the lead goose do when it gets tired?

• Do the geese from behind support the lead goose? Why? How?

• What happens if a goose is hurt and can no longer fly?

• Is this really an article about geese?

• What can we learn from these birds?

• Co-operation with other people may have some unpleasant sides. Can you think of any?

• What are the advantages of co-operation?

It’s your turn:

1. On the Internet, find three quotes about working together or co-operation. Copy them into your notebooks and translate them into your language.

2. Write a short story that shows that working together is more effective than working on your own. Think of an example from your life.

-----------------------

Viri besedil in slik:

[i] Povzeto po:

Vir slik: blog/severn-suzuki/

[ii] Povzeto po: (Kids Saving the Rainforest)

Vir slike:

[iii] Povzeto po: ryanswell.ca (Ryan’s Wells)

[iv] Povzeto po: Jarrod Booker in e- (E-bility) index.php?id=530

Vir slik: rednoses.eu

[v] Povzeto po: (Starwheel Mandalas)

Picture taken from: page.php?pagename=gregorysmith

[vi] Povzeto po: Severn Suzuki, ECO (Environmental Children’s Organization)



Viri slik: hands-holding-globe

learners.in.th

[vii] Povzeto po:

Viri slik: @AFQTOZIR/Global-warming, pin/294493263110525115/

[viii] Povzeto po: (Green Feet)

Viri slik: say-no-to-plastic-bags/

[ix] Podatki povzeti po: (Reuse it), recycling- (A Recycling Revolution)

Vir slike:

[x] Galon je 3,78 litra. 380 galonov je 1438,3 litra.

[xi] 7000 galonov je 26495,08 litra.

[xii] Funt je 0,45 kilograma. 250 funtov je 113,4 kilograma.

[xiii] Povzeto po: (About My Planet) in science. (How stuff Works)

Viri slik: wiki/Water_resources in wiki/Water

[xiv] Povzeto po: (Save the Rainforests)

Viri slik: en.wiki/Rainforest

[xv] Povzeto po: articles/pros-and-cons-of-zoos

Viri slik: wiki in wiki/Zoo_de_Howletts

[xvi] Povzeto po: wiki/One_Dollar_For_Life in

Viri slik:

[xvii] Povzeto po: (UNICEF)

Viri slik:

[xviii] Povzeto po:: wearethe99percent. (We Are the 99 Percent)

Viri slik: wiki/We_are_the_99%, waltsearch. in wallpaper/feed-the-need-not-the-greed-335931.html

[xix] share- (Share International), (Share the World's Resources)

Vir slik: waltsearch., and wearethe99percent.

[xx] Povzeto po $&šÞàäæèê2dxîÝ̵ Ž|eU=U-UhÕ

ÂB*[pic]CJOJPJQJph&&&.jh4h¸}üB*[pic]CJOJPJQJU[pic]ph&&&h4B*[pic]CJOJPJQJph&&&,h:Xßh¸}ü;?B*[pic]CJ"OJPJQJaJ"phJD*"h¸}ü;?B*[pic]CJ"OJQJaJ"phJD*"hI+M;?B*[pic]CJ"OJQJaJ"phJD*(h:XßhI+M;?B*[pic]CJ"OJQJaJ"phJD*,h:XßhI+M;?B*[pic]CJ"OJPJQJaJ"phJD*!h[pic]d,hI+MB*[pic]CJOJQJph&&&: theleadership. (Leadership in Perspective

Vir slike: 2013/09/lean-leadership-lessons-we-can-learn.html

Učimo jih sreče 2

Vzgoja za pravilen odnos do sočloveka, narave in planeta

skozi zgodbo pri pouku angleščine

E- gradivo

Avtorica: Darja Vtič

Recenzentka: Veronika Frešer

Oblikovanje: Darja Vtič

Kataložni zapis o publikaciji (CIP) pripravili v Narodni in univerzitetni knjižnici v Ljubljani

COBISS.SI-ID=288911360

ISBN 978-961-92876-3-7 (ibooks)

Izdalo: Ekološko-kulturno društvo za boljši svet

Način dostopa (URL):

: Microsoft Word

Datum prve objave: 15.2.2017

Maribor 2017

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