Ecological awareness

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Ecological Awareness

Ecological awareness is also known as environmentalism. It refers to an ideology encompassing the need to conserve the environment and to protect it from any harm. The philosophy also serves to improve the environment through such activities as planting of trees. Environmentalism seeks to include both human and non-human components that make up the environment. This movement advocates for improvement, protection and refurbishment of the innate flora and fauna in their natural environments. People who are in support of this movement are referred to as environmentalists. The movement was first initiated in order to control the spread of pollution in the world that was spreading promptly. Pollution was attributed to the rapid industrialization that has taken place in several parts of the world in the 1940’s. When it comes to ecological awareness, teachers should be at the forefront in advocating it to their students because they are the people who spend the most time with them.

Before the industrialization era, pollution was minimal. This is because the industries were not present to dump wastes in the water bodies or to use the trees as a source of energy to power their industries. In those times, the people depended on small-scale manufacture of items that they required for their survival as opposed to creating goods for trade. This changed when industrialization took root in the European countries. The European countries decided to increase their production in order to sell to the developing countries and reap the profits because such countries could not afford to cater for all their needs. However, after the inception of the industries, pollution started increasing, first gradually then rapidly to the point that it was a worldwide concern especially in countries like china and the United States, which are key industrial giants in the world. Environmentalists noting this problem decided to start movements in hope that they will achieve their purpose to make everyone aware of the significance of the environment. For this reason, the movements have shed light on several aspects of environmentalism such as environmental and land ethics, ecology and biodiversity (Spiropoulou, Triantafyllia, Antonakaki, Kontaxaki & Bouras 2007). It is now a requirement for any industry to comply with these rules and regulations in order to run their organization. Environmentalism has sought to develop a balance between the numerous ecosystems in the world and human kind in order to ensure their mutual coexistence. Environmentalism began as a small awareness group that sought to highlight the effects of effluence on the environment in their individual countries. However, it had developed into a social movement that boasts of several members and supporters. The movement seeks to manipulate politics to support their cause. It achieves this by civil education and activism about the importance of protecting out environment. This movement has been very successful because it has brought about several changes in the industrial sector that have improved the environment and decreased side effects like pollution. Most countries in the world comply with the requirements if these movements unknowingly.

The most prominent organizations that support this cause include Green peace, Friends of the Earth and United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP). Such organisations have facilitated the spread of the message of environmental awareness all over the world. For this reason, they have attained a lot of respect in the world. Methods used to spreads this message include the use of conferences that address matters pertaining to the environment, using print media in the case of books and magazine articles and also the use of the social media which has helped them amass a large number of followers. Greenpeace is probably the most famous environmental organization in the world and it has about three million members with its headquarters in Amsterdam (Bond, 2001).

Conferences that these organizations have set up include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Such conferences are held in order to pass certain crucial bills and motions that are protect the environment (Palmer et al, 2005).Such conferences are always held whenever there is an imminent danger to the environment for example the recent case of global warming. Several meetings have been held to try to control global warming as it has dramatic effects in the climate of the world. Such conferences have come up with many suggestions on how global warming can be stopped.

The magnitude of the issue of environmentalism is imperative and this is why teachers should have a clear responsibility to develop an ecological awareness in their students. Such students will therefore be aware of the value of conserving the environment. This is because the very same students will head the big multinational companies and the industries in the future. By their exposure to the ecology debate, they will be better equipped to tackle such problems if they arise in the future. Teachers are the only people who can instill this responsibility to the students effectively. Ordinarily, lessons take about eight hours everyday and all this time is spent with the teachers. The school year also takes up most of the months of the year with very few left as holidays for the students.

Time spent with the parents is minimal compared to that spent in school with the teachers. This makes the teachers the most appropriate people to inculcate this conscientiousness in the students. The main reason why teachers should encourage this sense of responsibility in their students is that it is their moral responsibility. Students attend school to gain knowledge, and the teachers as expected provide this information to them. It is the teachers’ responsibility to do this because they are morally bound to do that. The issue of environmentalism is no different; the teachers are obligated to instruct the students about matters relating to the environment. This will enable the students to get to know the issues concerning the environment, why coexistence is important and the plausible effects of pollution on the environment.

By educating the students concerning this, the teachers have fulfilled their responsibility of providing information to the students as required of them. Another reason they should instill this responsibility is to make sure that the environment will be protected (Valli & Buese, 2007).

Social movements that have come up to fight for ecological environment have one major cause, to protect the environment. Several things may damage the environment and expose it to contamination. Some human activities like mining are an example. Mining leaves large gaping holes in the earth that make the earth’s crust susceptible to tremors and earthquakes. Such events claim many lives and destroy property worth a large amount of money.

By the knowledge of such an effect, the students will be able to identify and relate other problems caused by similar procedures. They may also come up with ways to stop or control the outcomes they have on the environment and the population as well. The facts the teachers have passed down to them enables them to make certain that the environment is protected. To understand the value and the worth of the environment is another reason why teachers should educate the students concerning this issue. Initially, the environment is taken for granted by several students. They expect the natural resources to exist without any input from human beings.

However, this is contrary to popular belief because man has to play a role in the sustenance of the environment. Students need to learn this at an early stage of their lives to guarantee the environment is always kept from harm. Watering of plants and avoiding littering are examples of how students can help to take care of the environment after gaining education from the teachers (Palmer et al, 2005).It is commonly stated that the children are the future of the nation. Students after studying and attaining their degrees will join various careers, which play a key role in the economies of several countries. This is why they require being educated about environmental awareness.

Some of them will head the big industries that play a major role in pollution. However, since they have obtained information about the importance of the environment and the effects of its pollution, they may change the policies of such industries in order to conserve the environment. Such policies will enable the firms to abide by the regulations and laws set by the environmental organizations. All countries in the world are required to abide by the formulated policies in order to protect their ecosystems from harm. However, some industries ignore them making their countries susceptible to pollution and several other adverse effects involved with their activities (Chi-Chung Ko & Chi-Kin Lee, 2003).

If the students keep environmentalism, in mind, occurrences like these will not occur. This will be beneficial to the country, as it will not be exposed to the dangers that are associated with pollution and to the citizens too because they will be protected. Students, therefore, should be educated about the importance of environmental conservation and awareness. In the case that the teachers ignore their responsibility to provide the needed information to their students, several dramatic effects may occur in the countries in question. It may not be deemed important initially when the students are still in school but after they join their career choices, the effects will be gargantuan. Effects associated with destroyed ecosystems are many and vary greatly. These consequences are related and they consequently affect all aspects of the lives of the people in question. This means that the effects will not be restricted to only one area but they may spread to other areas as well. In turn, the outcome will be severe and may paralyze the operations of the country n question (Valli & Buese, 2007). An example of such a situation is for example several industries resulting in the cutting of trees to provide them with coal. Coal is an important source of energy that was preferred because of its affordability. Continued deforestation will reduce area of the country covered by forests and if this area goes below 10%, it is dangerous. A forest cover under 10% will affect the rainfall in the country (Oli, Hammill & McLeman, 2007)

Trees help to attract rainfall because of the role they play in the vapor density of a particular area. Transpiration enables the vapor density in an area to increase causing rainfall. Continuous deforestation makes the vapor density much lower making the rainfall to reduce as well. Reduction in rainfall has other effects on the country such as drought and famine (Oli, Hammill & McLeman, 2007). This is particularly dangerous for countries that rely on agriculture as their main source of income. Developing countries especially in Africa have encountered this problem. Drought reduces the income and the productivity of the country. Mostly, such countries end up depending on foreign aid in order to feed its own population. From the above example, it has been proven that ecological malfunctions spread out their effects to other aspects of the country. In this case the issue of cutting trees has affected the economy of the country as much as there two sectors are not directly related. It is imperative that the environment is taken care of in order to avoid such matters that may plunge countries in crisis.

Teachers are the most appropriate people to instill ecological awareness since they spend the most time with the students during the school year. It is for this reason they are required to educate the students on the matters of environmentalism. Therefore, as much as ecological awareness is expressed in many places, teachers should take it upon themselves to educate the students from a young age in order to make it second nature for them to protect the environment. This will make them appreciate nature from a young age and develop a sense of responsibility. In the end, they education will pay off as they will not be exposed to the dangerous effects of environmental pollution.

References

Bond, M. (2001). Between the Lines: A New Environment for Greenpeace. Newsweek, 1 (127), 66-67

Chi-Chung Ko, A., & Chi-Kin, L. J. (2003). Teachers’ Perceptions of Teaching Environmental Issues within the Science Curriculum: A Hong Kong Perspective. Journal of Science Education and Technology 12(3), 187-204.

Oli B, Anne, H., & Robert, M. (2007), Climate Change as the ‘New’ Security Threat:Implications for Africa International Affairs 8 (6), 1141-1154

Palmer, M. A. Emily S. B., Elizabeth, A. C., Scott L. C., Andrew, P. D., Clifford,. S. D., Barry, D. G., Robert, B. J., Sharon, E. K., Rhonda, H. K., Michael, J. M., Luisa, M., Fiorenza, M., Jennifer, L. M., Michael, L. P., Mercedes, P., Stephen, .S. P.,. Reichman, O. J., Alan. R. T. & Monica, G. T. (2005). Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 3(1), 4-11

Spiropoulou, D., Triantafyllia, A., Sophia K. & Sarantis B. (2007). Primary Teachers’ Literacy and Attitudes on Education for Sustainable Development Journal of Science Education and Technology, 16 (5), 443-450.

Valli, L. & Daria B.(2007), The Changing Roles of Teachers in an Era of High-StakesAccountability. American Educational Research Journal 44,(3), 519-558.