Non Verbal Communication in Our Daily Life

Environmental education

Environmental education (EE) refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to post-secondary. However, it is sometimes used more broadly to include all efforts to educate the public and other audiences, including print materials, websites, media campaigns, etc. Related disciplines include outdoor education and experiental education.

Environmental education is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action (UNESCO, Tbilisi Declaration, 1978).

Focus of EE

EE focuses on:

* Awareness and sensitivity about the environment and environmental challenges

* Knowledge and understanding about the environment and environmental challenges

* Attitude concern for the environment and help to maintain environmental quality

* Skills to mitigate the environmental problems

* Participation for exercising existing knowledge and environmental related programs.

THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

By Prof Paul Pace, director, Centre for Environmental Education

In his infamous verses entitled ‘First They Came, Pastor  Martin Neimoller muses on the inaction that met the Nazi’s destruction of targeted groups during the Second World War.  The final verse of this touching piece concludes “... then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak.” You would be forgiven for asking what on earth this touching verse about inaction in the face of the Nazi’s destruction of targeted groups, has to do with the need for environmental education. The answer to that question lies in...