Graham Allen- Sustainable Education Lecture

Sustainable Education Lecture

Here are notes in which i took from Graham Allen's lecture. From this lecture i was able to gather a lot of information on reports from four different areas and what their exact aims for sustainable education. From these notes i have learnt that there is not only one report or aim for sustainable education, along with there being some very similar objectives. This objective being that education needs to keep progressing for further generations, something in which is crucial. 

• Kofi Annan- "Our biggest challenge in this new century is to take an idea that seems abstract –   sustainable development - and turn it into a reality for all the world's people".
• Brundtland-"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
• Principle 21- "The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized to forge a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for all".
• Agenda 21- "Education is critical for promoting sustainable development and improving the capacity of the people to address the environment and development issues".

"For societies and freely co-operating individuals to be free to choose right actions in relation to sustainability issues, they themselves need to embody the frames of mind, and enjoy the conditions which foster such choice. Thus, schools and universities need to exercise their social responsibility and explore with learners what sustainable development might be - by doing this in ways that make contingent and contextual sense, without prescription or proselytization". Professor William Scott

The benefits of growth in which i have learned from the lecture;
- creates employment
- higher income
- decreases poverty
- improves the standard of living

Activities which add to GDP

Deforestation
War
Divorces
Accidents
Crime

Pollution

Natural disasters

(1989 Exxon Valdez)

Aspects in which i have came across since this lecture from in having carried out research is;

'All definitions of sustainable development require that we see the world as a system—a system that connects space; and a system that connects time.'(gathered from www.iisd.org.sd) 

It is clear without looking to indepth that a strong education system is crucial for the world to maintain its structure. Without education and that sense of progress, very little progress can be made as mankind. Humans need education i feel to be able to develop and become mentally stronger.