Paryavaran Mitra Earth Day Campaign
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year.
Paryavaran Mitra in association with Earth Day Network (EDN) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) has launched a month long campaign on this year's theme 'Mobilize the Earth.'
While CEE regional offices have planned a variety of activities with Paryavaran Mitra Schools in many states, students have responded with Hand Print pledges and campaign plans for the day.
To test and enhance our knowledge about the beautiful planet that we live in, an Earth Day Online Quiz would remain open for this entire month of April. Nature camp vouchers and other Earth Day material would be offered as prizes.
In addition to the online quiz, a 'Earth Snapshot' photography competition on the theme has been announced for children below 15 years of age. Entries can be mailed to [email protected]
CEE invited to contribute to Horizon 2015
CEE was represented at the conference by
Mr. Pramod Sharma, Programme Coordinator.
International Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Workshop 'Horizon 2015' was held at Bonn, Germany on February 27–28, 2012 The workshop was organized by the German Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to assess the implementation of ESD during the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (UN DESD), as well as to develop perspectives for ESD beyond the end of the Decade in 2014.
At the workshop it was highlighted that the DESD 2014 vision will not be achieved fully and thus it is critical to identify, extend and promote good ESD practices in order to ensure the absence of a gap between the end of the Decade and the beginning of follow-up initiatives in 2015.
The key recommendations that emerged from this workshop were to mainstream and integrate ESD at the core of all educational and learning activities and also to maintain the momentum that the Decade has provided to ESD initiatives across the globe.
CEE is the nodal agency for the implementation of DESD in India.
Exploring Collaborative Learning Opportunities with Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
CEE and the College of Sustainability at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada completed the exploratory visits by faculty to one-another's institutions. Following the visit by a three person team from the College of Sustainability to CEE, CEE's Programme Directors, Mr. Atul Pandya and Ms. Madhavi Joshi were at Dalhousie from 19-24 March to interact with the faculty and to discuss opportunities for collaboration. They met with the Director, senior faculty and key persons managing curriculum and financial matters of the University, observed class-room sessions, and went on a field visit to see activities related to fair trade issues and organic farming.
A detailed discussion on possible synergies was held, following which a proposal for a joint programme is being developed by the two institutions. Some of the ideas include internships, faculty exchange, and development of course modules.
The College of Sustainability provides an interdisciplinary and team taught sustainability course at an undergraduate level, which can be taken up by students of any discipline.
Through this collaboration, it is hoped that CEE would work in cooperation not only with the students and the faculty of this course but also with the University as a whole.
The visits were supported through the Indo-Shastri Canadian Fund.
Director, CEE at the Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, Canada
Mr. Kartikeya V. Sarabhai, Director, CEE was invited to deliver the 2012 President's Lecture at the Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, Canada on March 21.
Mr. Sarabhai shared his learning and views on the challenges that we face in India while moving towards sustainable development.
He explained how India had recognized almost 20 years ago that if it is important for its citizens to protect the environment; then people need enviromental education. He added that children in India are introduced to environment related concepts starting from grade one. He also spoked about different programmes that reach out to over 150,000 schools in India.
Agro-biodiversity Exhibition in Pune showcases over 1000 Varieties of Crops
This event was held in association with Kirloskar Vasundhara International Film Festival to build public awareness for conservation and promotion of indigenous seeds, wealth and knowledge.
An Agro-Biodiversity Exhibition and Seminar was organized in Pune by CEE Central, Global Environment Facility (GEF) / United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Small Grants Programme (SGP) and Richaria Campaign, Chhattisgarh on February 22-23, 2012.
The splendid display of diverse crops and agricultural practices from different parts of the country featured about 1000 varieties of Bajra, Corn, Jowar, Nachani / Raagi, Rice, Wheat, and other minor millets and vegetables.
Around 150 children from five schools participated in a quiz on agro-biodiversity at this event. The students also interviewed a tribe from Bastar, Chhattisgarh called 'Bison Horn Maria' who performed the 'Gedi' folk dance at the event.
Farmers groups and NGOs working on agro-biodiversity issues attended the seminar on February 23. Issues such as unfavourable policies as regards conservation of traditional crop varieties, lack of access by farmers to formal Gene Banks, need for market linkages for organic farming etc. were discussed. The work being done by some of the participating groups for agro-biodiversity conservation was shared.
CEE