Often we get caught up in the "academic" or "core" subjects as the impetus for good education. Certainly these are very important components to a solid education. But in an online course I am taking on Environmental Education, the reasons for implementing an environmental component into education seem to be powerful, particlarly as we march forward to a future with global warming and increased scarcity of biodiversity and resources. In a recent assignment we were asked to compile a "Top Ten" reasons for implementing an environmentally based education program at schools. Here's what I came up with:
Allows for a practical application of educational concepts across all disciplines and divisions.
Provides opportunities for positive collaboration (both for teachers and students)
Gives students a chance to participate in integrated, cross-curricular education.
Provides a whole-school sense of purpose.
Establishes a framework for whole-school expectation of learning.
Gives students a chance for direct action research and learning.
Provides students with skills and knowledge to become global citizens.
Allows students to apply skills in problem-solving.
Increases leadership opportunities for students.
Applies to all real-life and authentic settings, preparing students for whatever future they choose to follow.
The following article is reprinted (in a slightly adapted form) from the Malaysian Nature Society's (Selangor branch) Pencinta Alam newsletter (October 2009 issue).
FACTS ABOUT PAPER USE AND WASTAGE:
1. The average office worker uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year.
2. Over 40% of wood pulp produced in the world goes towards the production of paper.
3. The costs of using paper (i.e. printing, copying, faxing) can run 13-31 times the cost of purchasing the paper in the first place!
4. It takes more than 1 ½ cups of water to produce 1 sheet of paper (Picture a typical soft drink can).
5. Reducing paper use reduces greenhouse gases. 40 reams of paper is equivalent to 1.5 acres of pine forest absorbing carbon dioxide for one year!
6. Even with recycling efforts, paper makes up approximately 25% of the waste we throw away. We are still throwing away a lot of resources!
WAYS TO REDUCE PAPER WASTAGE: 1. Always make double-sided copies.
2. Set computer defaults to print double-sided.
3. Reuse paper printed only on one side in the fax machine, for draft copies and for internal documents.
4. Preview documents before printing. Use the print preview to spot formatting errors and blank pages.
5. Proofread first and use the grammar & spell-check to avoid errors that will cause documents to be reprinted.
6. Determine the number of copies you need for a meeting, and don't make extras.
7. Print or photocopy only the pages you need, and only the number of copies you need. There is no need to make extra copies for standby. If it is in the disk, it can be reprinted as and only when needed.
8. Save a copy of important documents into your hard disk or e-mail folders. Create folders to keep every thing organised and retrievable. Fix a date every month to review the folders and delete documents you no longer need.
9. Saving documents on soft copy may even make your life easier! You can just copy and paste from documents, than refer to the printed copy and type everything from scratch again.
10. However: Don’t be a pack rat and save everything to disk, especially when the information is readily available elsewhere! Keep your inbox and hard disk tidy and organised. This will save memory/disk space and prevent the need to purchase additional disk storage or thumb drives.
11. Examine the reports and documents you print regularly to see if people still need them. Many times, they are created for someone who has left or who does not need it anymore.
12. Remove printers from desks and move them to a central location where one printer will suffice for many people. This will reduce wasteful printing as people will decide it is too much hassle to print unnecessary and personal items.
13. Have an inter-departmental competition to see which department can save on copies printed over a certain period of time!
14. Impose a fine on those found to be wasting paper, (e.g. crumpling up once-used paper and tossing it into their wastepaper basket when they should be putting it back into the printer tray for drafts. Even crumpled paper can be reused as memo pads.
15. Give members/subscribers/customers/clients the option of going paperless and of receiving newsletters, correspondence, catalogues and other documents via email. Of course, this is not possible where there are legal issues, e.g. acceptance of contract, admission of liability etc, so in those instances, resize and reformat before printing and print on both sides if you can. If a hard copy is going to be sent to you, then don’t print out the email.
16. Unplug the fax machine and request that the sending party email instead. That way, you have more control over whether something should be printed, and you can re-size and reformat it before printing. This will also eliminate junk mail by fax. At least try to unplug the fax machine after official office hours.
17. Keep copiers and printers in good repair and make it policy to only buy copiers and printers that make reliable double-sided copies. Let your copier maintenance person know when a copier is performing poorly (toner is low, jams frequently, etc.). Regular copier maintenance is important, especially if the toner is low. Copiers are often used until all the toner is gone and that wears down machines. A copier that works well is less likely to jam and this helps save paper.
The following is reprinted from an informational email sent out by James Housgo, our in-house community organizer for the home-based composting program. I am sure you will find it interesting. Please consider taking part!
Hey ISKL! These are the numbers on composting so far:
12 - bins of waste we have composted so far this year 360 - kilos of ISKL organic waste composting right now on Ivan's organic farm 27 - ISKL families that have a compost bin RIGHT NOW 950+ - ISKL families who COULD be composting (read below if you want to start composting)
The second drop off/pick up for the compost bins will be on Thursday, October 1st.
• Ivan (the director of City of Hope, the organization we work with) will pick up your full compost bin from where the motorcycle parking spaces in the back parking lot meet the awkward and steep ramp up to the Blue Top; the ramp on the art-room-side of the Blue Top.
• When you drop off your bin, please bring RM10 to James Housego (MS music) and he will pass it to Ivan (you can also put the RM in James' mail box in the main faculty lunch room). • Pick up your new empty bin and your bag of composted soil at the end of the day from the MS music room - how's that for instant gratification? :-) • If you would like a second bin, so that you never run out of space, there are more bins in the MS music room (deposit RM40 is required)
THIS IS WHY YOU WANT TO COMPOST:
The background on Ivan - our compost contact:
Ivan grew up in the jungle and learned sustainable environmental practices during his upbringing. He is knowledgeable about the processes of composting, farming, and restoring ecosystems to a point where they are totally sustainable (bugs, plants, the whole sha-bang). Now Ivan runs an organic farm in PJ where he trains people with physical disabilities to produce sustainable ecosystems, composting etc. THEN the trainees are sent to orphanages or other non-profit organization where there is a plot of land that has been let go to waste. His trainees regenerate the earth around the orphanage and train the staff there how to compost and keep their ecosystem sustainable. Ivan also works with schools, government agencies or anyone else who just wants to learn how to do what he does; he is currently consulting with the HS Earth Club. Composting at home reduces your waste, reduces smelly odors in your trash bin, and helps to support Ivan and his progressive program for the regeneration and sustainability of Malaysian gardens and non-profit lands.
Do you have questions on how it all works? Ask these people who are already composting:
HS Earth Club * Laurence Myers * Julie James * Jeffrey Samson * Lisa Mangelsdorf * Joan O'Donnell * Brian Foudy * Mark Walsh * Kenny Peavy * Angus Carmichael * Jay Peters * Pamela Smith * Richard Petersen * Malia Bodhaine * Rob Whiting * Ann Whiting * Kendra Gonnerman * Billy Thomas * Jaime Thomas * Linda See * Alex Smith * Lynne Smith * Sinbald Cheng * Adria Rosendale * Doug Woodward * Diana Greer
GET YOUR NAME ON NEXT MONTH'S LIST BY COMPOSTING NOW.
By now the routine should have started settling in. Students are finding it harder to wake up in the morning. Teachers are madly rushing about trying to make sure that their lesson plans are set and ready to engage in education. Administrators are roaming the halls ensuring a high quality education is being offered. Parents are busy making sure their little ones are up and running for another academic year of vigor and rigor.
The search is on, as I write this, for a new Green Team Coordinator who will engage our community in introspection, reflection and action of the "green" sort. In the process, things are happening...
A growing number of teachers and administrators are taking on a new environmental task this year: Home composting. Working in conjunction with "City of Hope" (Bandar Harapan) based in Subang, these people have promised to store their vegetable and fruit left-overs in blue 35 lt bins (provided for a deposit of RM 40) which, once filled, will be exchanged for a new empty bin, and the process will continue. City of Hope, in turn, takes all the left over flora and adds it to their compost heap with which they provide much-needed nutrients to their organic garden, run by a small force of volunteers. At ISKL Mr. James Housego (MS Music) has taken on the task of being coordinator of this program. Any families want to join in? Just talk to James.
And so, as the search continues for the new Green Team coordinator (we will keep you posted on that one) we hope that your travels were good and that you are looking forward to a happy new "green" academic year!
This Annual Report is generated by the ISKL Green Team as a reflection on the year as it pertains to environmental education and literacy. It is presented to the Director of the School and Administrative Council as a component of the on-going evaluation of environmental and sustainable practices.
The format follows that of the document “Bold Thoughts: Toward an Environmental Ethos at ISKL”, presented in May, 2008 to the Administrative Council as a blueprint for future direction.
Written Documentation
·Green Team recommendation to take part in the Green Schools Alliance Climate Commitment as a “Climate Steward” (committing to a reduction in carbon emissions over the next five years). (www.greenschoolsalliance.org)
·Director’s explicit statements regarding environmental practices in school-wide communication.
·Student-based projects have taken place this year involving:
oReduction in water bottle usage
oReuse of plastic containers at Connie’s
oThermostats set to 22 degrees Celsius
oComposting pilot program
·Global Issues club and classes participated in Earth Week Eco Expo and Orangutan Rock.
·Earth Week 2009 included 12 outside organizations visiting ISKL, two visitng speakers, community events and Orangutan Rock events that generated funding of over RM 25,000 for Orangutan Appeal UK.
·Introduction of Global Issues Courses at the MS level.
·Plans to establish a Global Issues course requirement for students starting in 2009-2010.
·Proposal (pending) to introduce a Sustainable Future course at the HS, proposed to begin in 2010-2011.
·Introduction of HS Geography course which includes issues of environmental sustainability.
·Increase in experiential learning opportunities for 7th grade science curriculum.
oForest Research Institute of Malaysia
·Grade 1 initiated two new units:
o“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” with culminating Earth Week assembly.
o“Field to table” focusing on environmental impact of food choices.
·Tree-Planting stewardship program initiated with Global Environment Centre with an optional participation of ISKL students in two tree-planting expeditions, totalling over 100 trees.
·Introduction of environmental components to the newly established Global Action Program at the HS.Environmentally-oriented trip options include:
oBali: Adventure and Art on the Island of the Gods
oLaos: Jewels of the Mekong
oThailand: Reefs to Rainforests
oThailand Eco-village Sustainable Living Adventure
oMESCOT reforestation program in Borneo.
ISKL as a “living, carbon-neutral campus”
·Using The Carbon Neutral Company website (www.carbonneutral.com) a baseline carbon assessment of ISKL was made. Results indicate that operations at ISKL have resulted in the following carbon emissions:
oPremises Total: 1,788.48 tCO2
oCompany vehicles total: 30.19 tCO2
oBusiness Travel total: 46.33 tCO2
oTOTAL: 2,063.47 tCO2
·ISKL has hired a new gardening/landscaping contractor
·ISKL has hired a new cleaning company, using more non-toxic, environmentally appropriate cleaning products.
·Development of monthly reports and displays relating to energy usage and photocopying.
·Energy audit by outside consultant to determine ways to reduce energy use.
·Set up of in-class thermostats is all classrooms.
·Technology Department plans to re-use computers that will be replaced across the school. Recipients have not yet been identified.
·Using the Energy Star website (www.energystar.gov) we developed a baseline assessment of energy use at ISKL Ampang campus. Results indicate that ISKL Ampang campus has reduced annual energy use by 1.1 % in the period going back 12 months from April 2009 in comparison to the previous 12 months.
·Discussions regarding ensuring the use of environmental best-practices in determining what/where/how to build a new campus.
Financial Support
·The Green Team has generated funding from PTA Grants for the development of a composting system at ISKL
oRM 5400 has been established for the purchase of chippers and composting bins.
·The Green team Grant Program provides funding (up to RM 1,000) to school groups who need funding for on-going, self-sustaining, environmentally-appropriate programs or activities.
·Conversations have been broad for the development of a full-time Environmental Coordinator at ISKL.
·Environmental Coordinator Position job description has been created (currently in draft form) and presented to the Administrative Council and SILC Board Committee.
·Funding has been ear-marked for an environmental coordinator to begin in 2010-2011
Behaviors & Practices
·Online survey completed by staff members regarding their perceptions of environmental needs at ISKL.
·Draft of “Looking Forward” plan developed for consideration in 2009-2010.
·Administrative decisions include the elimination of commercial water bottles and the provision of healthier food service options.
·Positive steps forward have been made in terms of economic benefits of environmentally-appropriate practices.
·Established environmental component to be part of ISKL’s overall annual report to the community.
·Further measures need to be established.
·Establishment of water stations in both Ampang and Melawati campuses in lieu of commercial water bottle use.
·Posting of energy usage advertised around school.
·Establishment of the Green Team Environmental Ethos Award, given annually (only if appropriate) to deserving students in the MS and HS.
·Discussions regarding financial incentives to participate in environmentally-appropriate behaviors.
The now traditional Rockin' for the Environment took place on Saturday, this time in support of Urangutan Appeal UK, an organization that provides funding and support for the Sepilok Urangutan Sanctuary in Sabah, Borneo. For those who have had the chance to visit, this sanctuary provides an opportunity for our Malaysian apes to be rehabilitated and - hopefully - returned to a wild that is becoming smaller by the day. Urangutan Rock, organized by Lois Powell, Steve Northcott and Kenny Peavy, and supported by hundreds of adults and students alike, was another big success. Apart from generating necessary funds (RM 20,922 and counting) the event was able to bring together many stduent groups and visiting organizations and fun opportunities for our younger members of the community as well. This, of course, was in addition to the many musical groups (student, visitors and adults) who were the highlight of the event!
For the record, each year a specific organization is chosen to be the recipient of the Rockin' for the Environment fundraising. Starting small two years ago, the first Rockin' for the Environment, then named Turtle Rock, generated funds for SEATRU, a turtle research and conservation program based in Terengannu. Last year's recipient was MYCAT, a consortium of several NGOs dealing with the conservation of the Malayan tiger. Next year, who knows?
Eco Expo 2009 was a smashing success! All told ten student groups, companies and non-government organizations were represented, bringing a wealth of knowledge and resources to ISKL's Ampang campus. Whether visitors were browsing reusable shopping bags, sustainable diapers, the large variety of orang asli wares, adopting trees or turtles, purchasing photos of Borneo or discussing home composting and water assessment options, the event allowed our community a chance to take a closer look at sustainable initiatives and lifestyle choices. Thank you to all the groups and organizations who participated!
The MS Global Issues Club invested much time in promoting reusable water bottles on campus and generating a signature drive regarding water bottle use on campus.
Bandar Harapan Organic Farm offers composting solutions for homes and (maybe) ISKL! Home-based composting bins are available for a small deposit.
Tetra Pak has been a regular participant at Eco Expo for three years now. Creating a playful display that allows students to participate and win recycled Tetra Pak prizes, this company has a highly recognized environmental ethic.
Gerai Orang Asli sells traditional crafts made by Orang Asli communities in Malaysia. Each item sold is identified by its creator and 100% of the proceeds go directly back to the artist.
Wild Asia promotes environmental education and the re-establishment of natural corridors where palm plantations have made a negative impact on local ecology. They also provide adoption of trees.
The WWF is widely known around the world. At ISKL's Eco Expo they were promoting their turtle initiative in Malaysia.
Noah of Jungle Voices has a wide array of high-quality photos of Borneo. Proceeds from the purchase of the photos go towards sustainable practices in East Malaysia.
Global Environment Centre promotes sustainable use of water, conducts water assessments for businesses. The Green Team hopes to establish a partnership with them allowing ISKL's carbon emissions to be partly offset by their tree-planting programs!
From cloth diapers to reusable bags and pencils made of recycled newspaper, Tiny Tapir is a small but veritable sustainable shopping paradise in KL!
TrEES has been integral in the creation of the Selangor State Park and also is ISKL's long-time recycling partner.
