Eco Comment – International Education Day 2025

24 January 2025

On January 26 of every year, International Environmental Education Day is celebrated and utilised to be the day of support and service to our mother nature. This day is an opportunity to assert and analyse the issues and questions that pertain to helping the environment, specifically the world that we currently live in. It reminds us to understand and acknowledge the interdependence of man and the environment itself, which is the very reason why we can’t be complacent. As human beings, we need to take the initiative to take care of our homes. 

This day dates back to June 1972, when the United Nations held a conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on Human Environment. At this conference, it was discussed that certain common principles and standards should be followed so that we can preserve and improve the environment today. Following that, many countries gathered in the International Workshop on Environment, held in Belgrade, wherein the “Belgrade Charter” was published to illustrate the essential demands of environmental education. https://nationaltoday.com/international-environmental-education-day 

Given the current global situation it might be said that we definitely need a day as described above. Sadly, when most people think of education they have schools and children in mind. There is a bit of a blank when it is pointed out that we are all in need of education and that it has to come from as broad a number of sources as possible to ensure that people can fully consider the implications of their actions. Currently we in the UK are fortunate in that we do have freedoms to consider what might be termed the ‘bigger picture’ and hope that the public as a whole will be supportive of continuing the drive to live in an environmentally friendly way.  

The aims of the day are quite doable for many of us. 

  1. Be aware of climate change – think about and try to understand the causes and effects and how this affects our way of life both now and in the future if we carry on as we are.
  2. Join events that promote the environment – this can be small things like reading this comment to joining the Eco gardening group or doing the iNaturalist survey mentioned last week.  It’s still possible to join the local tree planting initiatives (Wakefield Council’s Woodland Creation programme wakefield.gov.uk). Have you booked to take part in the RSPB Bird Count this weekend? You might also consider signing one or more of the many online petitions organised by environmental groups trying to persuade both government and businesses/organisations to act in a more environmentally friendly way.
  3. Make small environment-friendly acts. These can be car sharing, doing better recycling, carrying your own recyclable cup/water bottle. All of these actions help raise awareness. 

The website continues to explain why this day is important. 

  1. We learn more about our home (as in the earth) 
    With this holiday, the environment is promoted, and people feel motivated to learn more and do something to help. It’s so humbling to realise that the earth is a beautiful place and one that should be preserved.
  2. We can be part of the action-taking
    Once we are more aware, we can take steps to act according to the benefits of the environment. It’s always good to convince others, but it is more meaningful when we walk the talk.
  3. We help our home help us
    As there is interdependence between humans and the environment, it does us more good to connect and come up with solutions to the issues our environment faces. When given more thought, it’s just like making sure our home is a liveable and safe space to reside in. 

This is where I want to point out that the text of this article was written in American English and I have tweaked it in places to suit those of us who might like to be thought of as ‘for English read British grammar nerds’. I point this out though as a question pertaining to the future. Given the new world order, will such articles continue to be published in certain parts of the world or will the alternative view become the norm? Let us hope and pray that what so many of us see as the path that has to be followed is allowed if not encouraged. 

Susan Morgan
Eco Group

 

Want to know more about the Eco Group?

Wakefield Cathedral’s Eco Group brings together members of the congregation, volunteers and staff to work towards making the cathedral a greener place to work and worship.

The Eco Group achieves its goals through a variety of activities, including partnerships with local community groups.

We invite anyone and everyone to reach out if they are interested in joining the eco group, or simply finding out more about what we do.

 

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