Make environmental, social justice a concern of youth, educators urge

IBON NETWORKS | Education for Development| 10 May 2012 | They emphasized that people should take an active role in reaching for their aspirations and waging their struggles with social justice at the center

Puerto Princesa, Palawan -- Educators together with environmental advocates vowed to push for the integration of environmental and social justice in their respective schools' vision-mission, curriculum and academic programs in conclusion of the 15th IBON Partnership in Education for Development National Educators' Conference held here last May 2-3. 

The conference delegates, composed of over 50 public and private school teachers, principals and administrators from 15 provinces nationwide, expressed plans to develop learning modules reflecting "aspirations for a progressive Filipino society, where the environment and people's rights and welfare are given the primary importance over unbridled commercialization and market-oriented economy and culture". 

In a conference statement, the educators decried the plunder of the country's rich natural resources that resulted in widepsread deforestation, degraded coasts, diminished mangroves, increasing number of threatened species and crisis in the nation's water resources. "Mining and other extractive industries have caused damage to our shores, rivers, forests and biodiversity and vulnerability to climate disasters," the participants said. 

In line with the conference's commitment to instill the value of "standing up for our national patrimony" through the curriculum, the statement made manifestations on the specific issues of indigenous peoples and mining, climate justice in disaster risk reduction and Rio+20 and the green economy. 

The educators declared support for the struggle of indigenous peoples and affected communities against the adverse effects of mining distressing their land and livelihoods. They emphasized that people should take an active role in reaching for their aspirations and waging their struggles with social justice at the center and to not "passively wait for transnational corporations and domestic elites to have a 'change of heart". They also called on local negotiators and world leaders in the Rio+20 "to make environmental justice as the framework in the negotiation". 

The conference statement outlined as well the educators' plan of action for the year which included regional and city-based joint seminars and educational festivals themed on nationalist economics, climate change and Andres Bonifacio's 150th birthday in 2013. 

"We look forward to the 16th IPED National Educators' Conference next year," the statement concluded.