Living Green

Early someone mentioned about being green, slowing I am making the transition to be GREEN! National Geographic posted some easy how to methods and ways to become green.

http://www.thegreenguide.com/

Teachers' Corner

This site has links to information about climate change, world poverty, human rights and other global awareness issues.

http://www.teacherscorner.org/

Global Awareness for educators

This website has information about global awareness curriculum and other information for educators.

http://www.facingthefuture.org/

Walmart goes for a makeover

http://www.naturalstep.org/en/canada/walmarts-green-business-summit-vancouver This article at The Natural Step website says Walmart is going green in a big way and can bring real change world wide by setting higher standards for production.

Measuring Gross National Happiness

http://www.sightline.org/research/sust_toolkit/solutions/measure_happiness

Yes! Some body else is catching onto this. Here is a link to actual research supporting this idea.

ARTICLE: "Henoko, Okinawa: Inside the Sit-In"

"Henoko, Okinawa: Inside the Sit-In" is an article published in The Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus (8-1-10, February 22, 2010) by Yumiko Kikuno with an introduction by Satoko Norimatsu.

The authors describe their visit to:

"Tent Village," where activists were sitting in to protest against the government's plan to build a new US Marine Corps airbase as a "replacement facility" of Futenma Air Station.

For the full article, see: http://www.japanfocus.org/-Kikuno-Yumiko/3306

Yumiko Kikuno is Editor of “U-Yu-Yu,” a community journal based in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki, (Japan) and works for the city’s community revitalization project.

Satoko Norimatsu leads various peace initiatives in Vancouver, BC (Canada) and beyond, as Director of Peace Philosophy Centre and Vancouver Save Article 9. She is a featured speaker at various events in The Global Forum on the Future of Nuclear Weapons.

WEBCASTS: Feb 23 & Mar 2: International Studies Symposium Speakers

Webster University’s Center for International Education (CIE)
Presents
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SYMPOSIUM SPEAKER SERIES
Live Global Interactive Webcast Events

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Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010

What in the World is: The Global Forum on the Future of Nuclear Weapons?

DR. ROY TAMASHIRO,
Professor, Multidisciplinary Studies, Webster University
12 – 1:15 pm (CST) | UTC / GMT: 18:00 – 19:15

WEBCAST AT: http://eagle.webster.edu/webcast
ON CAMPUS AT: SVER 101, Webster University—St. Louis

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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Japan: Living with the
‘Peace Constitution’ for 63 Years

SATOKO NORIMATSU
Director, Peace Philosophy Centre, Vancouver, BC, CANADA
12 – 1:15 pm (CST) | UTC /GMT 18:00 – 19:15

WEBCAST AT: http://eagle.webster.edu/webcast
ON CAMPUS AT: Emerson Library Conference Room, Webster U.—St. Louis

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Both events are part of
The Global Forum on the Future of Nuclear Weapons:
See http://eagle.webster.edu/TheGlobalFourm

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WEBCAST: Mr. Truman Meets Hiroshima on the Future of Nuclear Weapons, 1945-2020

Webster University and The Holden Public Policy Forum
invite citizens worldwide to participate in:

“Mr. Truman Meets Hiroshima on the
Future of Nuclear Weapons, 1945-2005”

A Live Global Webcast & Open Forum Originating from The Harry S. Truman Library & Museum (Independence, MO) and The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Japan)

Monday, March 1, 2010 7-9 pm (CST) | 8-10 pm (EST) | 3-5 pm (HST)
[UTC / GMT: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 01:00 – 03:00]

Join the live webcast and forum via (1) the web, (2) at “Watch Parties” or (3) at the Meeting Origination Points:

(1) Online at: http://eagle.webster.edu/webcast/

(2) In-person at “Watch Parties”:

• Emerson Library (Room 110), Webster University, 101 Edgar Road, St. Louis, MO 63119, USA

• JCI World Headquarters, 15645 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA
  

• PLEASE CONSIDER HOSTING A “WATCH PARTY” FOR THIS EVENT IN YOUR LOCAL AREA. SIGN UP AT: http://eagle.webster.edu/TheGlobalForum/watchparty.htm

(3) In-person at the Meeting Origination Points:

• Auditorium, Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, 500 W. US Hwy. 24., Independence MO 64050, USA




• The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, 1-2 Nakajimacho, Naka-ku Naka-ku Hiroshima, 730-0811, Japan

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This event is part of a series:
The Global Forum on the Future of Nuclear Weapons
See: http://eagle.webster.edu/TheGlobalForum

All events are free and open to the public

More information:

• http://eagle.webster.edu/TheGlobalForum/MEDIA_RELEASE.pdf

• http://eagle.webster.edu/TheGlobalForum

• http://theglobalforum.ning.com/

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How Green Are the 2010 Winter Games?

Information and links about the environmental impact of the Olympic games! Interesting to think about!

http://energypriorities.com/entries/2010/01/bpb_green_olympics.php

Canada: Resistance Casts Pall over 2010 Olympic Festivities

This article is about protests before the opening of the Olympics.

http://www.globalissues.org/news/2010/02/15/4530

PRESS RELEASE: "Mr. Truman Meets Hiroshima on the Future of Nuclear Weapons, 1945-2020"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11, 2010

Webster Hosts Historic Webcast Meeting Between the Harry S. Truman Library and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

“Mr. Truman Meets Hiroshima on the Future of Nuclear Weapons, 1945 – 2020” is a global videoconference / webcast on March 1, 2010 7-9 PM (CST) [or UTC / GMT: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 01:00 – 03:00], originating from the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum (Independence, Missouri, USA) and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (Japan). This historic webcast, presented by Webster University and the Holden Public Policy Forum, will be the first meeting between the museum representing the first head of state to use atomic bombs and the people in the city where the first atomic bomb was used. The live webcast and open channels for audience participation via Chat, Facebook and Twitter can be accessed at: http://eagle.webster.edu/TheGlobalForum, or at other “watch party” locations.

The speakers and participants in this meeting discuss the basis for working toward a common vision about the future of nuclear weapons. For the world-wide citizen audience, this event is an awareness raising forum and opportunity to participate in working toward a secure, peaceful and sustainable future for humanity and the planet.

"Mr. Truman Meets Hiroshima on the Future of Nuclear Weapons, 1945 - 2020" AGENDA March 1, 2010 7–9 PM (CST) | March 2, 2010 01:00 – 03:00 (UTC / GMT) Introductory Video: The Future of Nuclear Weapons: Voices & Images Webster University student video project Opening Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble (President, Webster University) Meeting Moderator: Governor Bob Holden(Holden Public Policy Forum) The Harry S. Truman Library & Museum and The Future of Nuclear Weapons Dr. Michael Devine (Director, Harry S. Truman Library & Museum) Historical Context: Truman, Hiroshima & Nuclear Weapons Dr. John D. Chappell (Associate Professor of History, Webster University, and Author of Before the Bomb: How America Approached the End of the Pacific War (1997)) Hiroshima’s Take On The Future of Nuclear Weapons Dr. Tadatoshi Akiba (Mayor of Hiroshima; and President, Mayors for Peace, NGO) Steven Leeper (Chairman, Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation) Testimonials from "Hibakusha" (A-bomb witnesses) Questions & Discussion Online questions & comments moderated by Satoko Norimatsu (Director, Peace Philosophy Centre, Vancouver, B.C.) and Dr. John Chappell Conclusions and Next Steps

A recorded archive of the video webcast and the online discussions will be available for on-demand playback online.

For more information:

http://eagle.webster.edu/TheGlobalForum
http://theglobalforum.ning.com/
Telephone: 1-314-968-7098

Barb McEwen Ehnes
Director of Media and Community Relations
Office of Public Affairs
Webster University, www.webster.edu
314-968-7174 (w) 314-565-5744 (c)
ehnesba@webster.edu

Webster University, a worldwide institution, ensures high quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.

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Video: We Are The World 25 For Haiti - Official Video

The updated video "We Are The World 25 For Haiti" was produced on Feb 1 2010 and posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI

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Global Awareness Through Hip Hop

This program teaches many different topics through hip hop including world cultures. I thought it was interesting!

http://urbanscientists.tripod.com/theurbanyouthempowermentfoundation/id2.html

Global Voices

This is a collection of videos that give insight to people and cultures around the world.

http://www.hulu.com/global-voices

"Three Cups of Tea"

Greg Mortenson

A man who has helped build 140 schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01152010/watch2.html

This is an interview by Bill Moyers with the Author and founder of the organization.
It speaks to the need to understand a people in order to know how to help them and build sustainable communities.

The Red Cross Disaster Relief

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/02/02/chernoff.red.cross.cnn?hpt=C2This is an interesting video on the Red Cross, it's role in some of our most recent disasters and some of the controversy the organization has faced. There is also discussion (from the Red Cross) about how they disperse the funds they receive and where the money earmarked for Haiti has gone so far. I think this speaks specifically to the global issue of disaster relief and assistance. It is important that there are globally recognized and respected organization who are able to guide people in times of crises. It is worrisome that an internationally respected organization like the Red Cross has problems such as the ones raised in the clip, because without an organization such as this it would be very difficult to mobilize disaster efforts in times of crisis.

Global Awareness Days

This website has a list of days that the UN has designated to raise awareness of global issues. It also has ideas for activities that students can in class to learn about these issues.

http://www.concernusa.org/Public/GCP/GlobalAwarenessDays.aspx

http://www.join1goal.org/

This is an organization about education for all (global education).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jessica-alba/walking-the-halls-for-glo_b_359475.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jessica-alba/getting-educated-about-ed_b_301714.html

The Huffington Post is a liberal news site.

The two articles above are about Jessica Alba and her take on education including global education.

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

If you have not heard about this movie, you need to! It is an awareness about where our food comes from. I think it fits into global awareness because Americans eat so differently from the rest of the world and that we receive many of our products for other countries.

Announcement: The Global Art Project 2010 Exchange

- 9th Biennial International Art Exchange for Peace -

Join in a Multicultural Celebration of global peace and goodwill through art. Anyone can participate - adults and children, individuals and groups. Add your energy... Register now!In March/April 2010, participants will create, exhibit and exchange art expressing their ideas of a peaceful global community - resulting in thousands of messages of peace and goodwill simultaneously encircling the Earth during the week of April 23-30.2010.
Global Art Project for Peace Time-Line

• February 28: Registration deadline.
• March: Creation of art expressing global peace (any
  medium-visual, literary, performance, etc.)
• April 1-22: Local community exhibitions/performances of art created.
• April 23-30: Worldwide art exchange.
• Ongoing after April: Community exhibitions of art received.

Since its beginning in 1994, the Global Art Project for Peace has linked 90,000 participants on seven continents. Nominated for a UNESCO Peace Prize for Tolerance and Non-violence, the Project connects people of diverse cultural backgrounds, providing exposure to new ideas and a feeling of connection to the Whole. 200 Regional Coordinators are helping to organize Global Art Project activities in their area of the world. Participating groups include artist cooperatives, performance groups, churches, corporations, community groups, hospitals, women’s clubs, youth and senior programs, and YMCAs. Schools in locations around the world are participating and involving thousands of students from kindergarten through graduate programs.The purpose of the Global Art Project is to joyously create a culture of peace through art. The Project gives participants in local communities an opportunity to join together to create a cooperative global community.

It's an opportunity for people to join their energy together to seed the future with visions of peace.

The Global Art Project for Peace is a 501(c)3 non-profit, grass-roots organization. For additional information about the Global Art Project for Peace and how to get involved by participating, volunteering and/or funding the Project, visit www.globalartproject.org,
or email us at peace@globalartproject.org.

Many of you have been great supporters of the Global Art Project and I hope you can assist by sending this email to as many people as you can to help raise the visibility of the Project... Registration deadline is February 28th... Register Now.

Thanks for your help!

Katherine Josten
Founder/Director

Global Art Project
PO Box 40445
Tucson, Arizona 85717 USA

Charlie Simpson, age 7, raises over $100,000 for Haiti

7 year old Charlie launched a website asking for people to sponsor his bike ride for Haiti. Read his story on cnn.com and visit his website ( http://www.justgiving.com/CharlieSimpson-HAITI )


http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/01/25/uk.boy.charity.haiti/index.html?hpt=T2

5 Ways to Teach About Haiti Right Now

Ideas to help teachers incorporate what is happening in Haiti now.


http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/5-ways-to-teach-about-haiti-right-now/

Global Awareness Project

This in an article, from Education World, middle school students take an interest in global issues through interaction with students from countries using email.


http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues332.shtml

The Center for Teaching International Relations @ The University of Denver

Even though it says they support teachers in the content area of International Relations (they are a university...so saying "Global Awareness Education" would be a faux pas...), there are many resources we can use to teach Global Awareness to our students. The most helpful resources, in my opinion, are listed under "Books & Resources."

http://www.du.edu/ctir/

They have some fabulous global awareness quizzes that I'd love to share, but I am waiting for permission to post the links here.... I'll update this post with the links when I have permission.

Causes of Poverty

I know Poverty is the subject that affects a large number of our students as well as students around the world. The link below is from a global issues website. The article discusses different causes of poverty and shares other information on the subject.

Anup Shah, Causes of Poverty, Global Issues, Updated: December 07, 2009

Link Party

1.) The first link is for teachers. Jane Hart runs a blog and is the founder of the Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies. She has compiled a list of learning tool links:

Learning Tool Directory 2010

2.) I've already posted about Worldometers on the Blackboard site, but this is worth posting. Every month the site chooses something new to do statistical research on. You can find the data here:

Statistics of the Month

Here is a link to the main page (which gives real-time updates on world statistics about births, deaths, clean drinking water, suicides, etc.):

Worldometers

3.) ScienceRoll is a blog run by Bertalan Meskó. He is work on a Ph.D. in genomics. Bertalan takes the global issues of medicine, genetics, and the human genome project and makes information about them available for those of us not working towards a Ph.D. in gene study.

ScienceRoll

4.) Two links with similar goals- Fundacion Alas and Fundacion Pies Descalzos are both interested in making life better for children in Latin America (PD focuses on Colombia primarily, but they have done things in other countries). PD mainly focuses on education; Alas focuses on education, health care, and nutrition ("early childhood development").

Fundacion Alas

Fundacion Pies Descalzos

Teaching Method: Include Maps for Geographic Awareness

Almost every lesson, discussion or conversation about global or international topics refers to a location or place, local or distant. All participants in the lesson or discussion may not be familiar with this location. One method for bringing geographic awareness to every lesson, discussion or conversation is to use an electronic map (e.g. http://maps.google.com ) to plot the location for the topic under discussion.

Every news report, history lesson, study of literature, biography, science, book report has a geographic reference point. Even personal introductions, auto-biographies and narratives of personal experiences and dreams involve places that can be mapped.

Teachers and students can follow the steps below to embed an electronic map on a web page, email message, or blog posting:

1. Go to http://maps.google.com
2. Type your street address, city & state in the “Search Maps” field; then click the “Search Maps” button
3. Click on “Map,” “Satellite” or “Terrain” for your preferred view.
4. Click “Link to this page”: Click in the field marked “Paste HTML to embed in website.” Copy the HTML code.
5. To display your map on a web page, blog posting or email message, open a new post, or page.
   
6. Select the "HTML" editing or formatting mode. In some tools put a checkmark in the “Use HTML” box.
7. Paste the HTML code you copied into the message field.
8. Add other information to your message and click "Publish", "Send" or "Post."

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Here is an example of an embedded map post:


View Larger Map

Is It Time to Kill Off the Flush Toilet?

Is It Time to Kill Off the Flush Toilet?

An interesting article in Time magazine about the World Toilet Summit and Expo. Many organizations are taking a stand against the flush toilet...

Journal Entry: Fuel Efficiency & Cost Comparisons

As I flew from Honolulu to back St. Louis last week, I noticed some intriguing information in the Continental Airlines magazine in the airlines' seat pocket. There was a description of the aircraft I was flying in: a 767-400ER. It said:

"Cruise speed: 540 mph

Capacity: 235

Propulsion: Two General Electric CF6-80C2B High Bypass Ratio turbofan engines,

rated up to 63,500 pounds thrust each

Wingspan: Up to 170 feet, 4 inches."

-- “Continental Fleet,” Continental magazine, December 2009 p. 113.

The magazine did not include information about how much fuel was consumed or how much carbon dioxide was being discharged on this 4,000 mile trip. Even with the impact divided / shared among the 235 passengers, air travel must be, I speculated, one of the most fuel-inefficient and most polluting forms of travel. But here are some sources that examined this question:

1. "Energy Efficiency of different modes of transportation": http://bit.ly/6pi551
   
2. "Transportation Cost - Benefit Analysis": http://www.vtpi.org/tca/
   

In Article #1, the 767-400ER is not listed, but a smaller aircraft, the 737 may be used for comparison. The 737 requires 547 liters of fuel for 100 meters carrying 137 passengers. Ont the other hand a Toyota Prius, requires 4.6 liters of fuel for 100 meters typically carrying 1 or 2 passengers (counting the driver). Thus on the 737, each passenger is responsible for less than 4 liters of fuel for the 100 meters. The bottom line is that a 737 aircraft flying at full capacity (137 passengers) is more fuel efficient on a per-person basis than a single-occupant driving a Toyota Prius!

Article #2 reviews other variables for the cost-benefit comparisons, and concludes that private automobiles are probably the most cost inefficient mode of transportation.

Resources (Video): What is Global Awareness Education?

This video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0XjCHoin30] was produced (2007) by Catalina Foothills School District (Tucson, AZ, USA) to illustrate how they have defined and implemented a global awareness curriculum in their schools.

Resource (Slideshow): Infusing Global Awareness Through Technology

Infusing Global Awareness Through Technology by Silvia Tolisano is a downloadable slideshow giving examples of teaching strategies involving technology tools on the web that raise global awareness among learners.

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Infusing Global Awareness Through Technology

View more presentations from Silvia Tolisano.

Resource (Television; Web) CNN Student News

From: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/studentnews/11/04/sn.how.to/index.html

CNN Student News is a ten-minute, commercial-free, daily news program for middle and high school students produced by the journalists and educators at CNN. This award-winning show and its companion Web site are available free of charge throughout the school year."

Go to http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/ for the daily show information and transcript, program archives, teaching materials (including discussion questions, multimedia resources, learning games and puzzles, downloadable maps, etc.) related to each day's program.

Resource (Social Network) The Global Education Collaborative

The Global Education Collaborative [http://globaleducation.ning.com/] is "a community for teachers and students interested in global education." This social networking area contains media, conversation, and collaborative project ideas contributed by members. All teachers and students are welcomed to participate in this network.

Blog Posting Types

News and resources blog postings

The news / resources blog postings include:

• academic resources (e.g. books, journal articles, professional conference proceedings)
  
• international news media (newspapers, magazine articles, television and radio programs, Internet based news media)
  
• cinema, videos, and documentaries (streaming videos, DVDs, video blogs (YouTube, Google Videos, etc.)
  
• web sites and documents about "teaching and learning for global awareness educaiton." The sources may bes schools and other educational organizations, private companies, corporations, governments (local, regional, national), NGOs and IGOs.
  
• references to other blog postings (other than those in this class) pertinent to "teaching and learning for global awareness educaiton."

Blog postings involving news and resources are usually very brief. Give the source and URL or other link to the resources.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not copy and paste text, video or images from other sources without permission in any blog posting. Include source citations when referring to any information from other sources.

Experiences and Reflections blog postings

The blog may include your experiences, reflections and interpretations as you progess through the course. You may include original photos or video clips of your experiences.

2.1 For the experiences, reflections and interpretations blog entries

• Focus on a specific topic involving a first
  hand-experience relevant to "Global Awareness Education." The experince may be based on an a structured experience like a class, a personal experience, or an observation. The posting may include original photos or video clips.
  
  
• Describe your experience, and summarize the lessons you learned or your recommendations for others. Optionally, you may link the experience to issues or topics in the readings, resources or discussions in this course. (about 100 - 200 words)

2.2 For the overall reflections on the course blog posting:

• Reflect on the entire experience in the course, including the seminar format, the independent research you conducted, and the collaborative components of the course.
  
• Consider the following questions in your reflections:
  
  
  
  • Did the course experience result in a significant change in your thinking or perspective? Please explain.
    
  • To what extent was this course applicable to working with your students (or other learners)? Please explain.
  
  

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Welcome to "Global Awareness Education" Blog

This blog enables participants to explore the issues, philosophies, and methodologies in teaching global awareness education. Topics arising from the present nuclear-age, interdependent civilization, including population, values, the environment, diplomacy, and international economics are addressed. The inclusion of these issues in elementary and secondary school curriculum is also examined. The blog will serve as a learning journal and resource guide for a Webster University class and other interested educators to work as a learning community. It enables participants to:

1. keep a log of resources (books, articles, web sites, videos, news articles, etc.) pertinent to this course, and
   
2. to document and self-assess experiences and reflections exploring the topic.

To post a blog article, "Sign In" (in the blue menu bar above) with your username & password; then click "New Post" next to your username.

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