Solutions

Increasingly education is gearing toward wide scale social reform of ecological and human dominance of the natural world. The goal of alternative education is to use education as a tool to transform societies to become aware of the need to support alternatives for sustainability. What is required then is to further question our existing approaches and continue to practice alternatives.

“…prepare students to solve dilemmas and larger problems in the world by not isolating them to particular disciplines.” –Source Richard Heinberg Muse letter(Source this-------

"I agree that changing Mental Models/people's paradigms for how things are-- is the most effective place to effect change in a complex system. The challenge is that people hold on to their mental models fiercely - it is what they know. Their thinking can be evolved if they come to the change themselves, experientially. This requires learner centered education." John Sterman, M.I.T. System Dynamicist


"We will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." Baba Dioum, Senegalese Ecologist

"Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own tail. It won't fatten the dog." Mark Twain Speech 11/23/1900

"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe." -H. G. Wells

"If you plan for a year, plant a seed. If for ten years, plant a tree.If for a hundred years, teach the people. When you sow a seed once, you will reap a single harvest. When you teach the people, you will reap a hundred harvests." Kuan Chung (645 B.C.)

Resources

Schools

-New college is an alternative school that does not have the normal school system structure. Depending on your interests they have a planned curriculum that you follow and take as far as you want. It is up to you to be motivated to take the classes to the level you want. New College has no tests or grades; school shouldn’t be based on a letter grade. Other schools like Friends College, Audoubon University and others give students a chance travel changing the setting of their classroom and have a real hands on experience.
http://www.newcollege.edu/

-Gaia University
Gaia University offers a unique approach to higher learning by offering students (called Associates) access to accredited Bachelors and Masters degrees and Graduate Diplomas whilst the Associate is actively engaged in self and planetary transformation. With Gaia University, Associates link their ideals with self-directed practical experience, acting as world changers by working for local and global sustainability and regeneration, justice and peace. Our self-directed action learning methodology enables Associates to study locally, at work or on project, in their own language, supported by Gaia University's Regional Organizers, and a worldwide network of learning providers, tutors and mentors. Read more: http://www.gaiauniversity.org/

-Schumacher College is an international centre educating and inspiring for sustainability, based in the beautiful Devonshire countryside of south-west England. The College welcomes participants aged 20 to 80 from all over the world.
http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/prospect/homepage.html

-Naropa University Offers M.A. in Environmental Leadership
www.naropa.edu/environmentalleadership/index.html

-Berea College
http://www.berea.edu/sens/

-Wilson College
http://www.wilson.edu/wilson/asp/content.asp?id=802-Dakubetede Environmental Education Programs (D.E.E.P.) offers unique academic and experiential opportunities to earn Antioch University credits (graduate or undergraduate) in Natural History, Deep Ecology, Environmental Ethics, Applied Conservation Biology, Community Studies, and Wilderness Education. http://www.envirolink.org/external.html?www=http%3A//www.deepwild.org&itemid=920107195596

-The Traveling School of Life is a network for self directed learning. The members are people who are interested in sharing skills and knowledge in a non-profit way and according to the statutes of TSoLife.http://dominik.valledismeraldo.com/wiki/index.php/Tsolife/Main_Page

-The Audubon Expedition Institute at Lesley University is an academically rigorous alternative to traditional colleges and universities for undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a deeper ecological understanding of environmental education, leadership and advocacy. Our goal is to create experiential learning communities that inspire informed and compassionate ecological leadership. http://www.lesley.edu/gsass/audubon/index.html

-EcoVersity located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, EcoVersity's 11-acre campus serves as a demonstration site and a community building center for the promotion of "hands-on" learning and sustainable living. http://www.ecoversity.org/index.php/site/

-Prescott College is an independent, liberal arts college offering bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as teacher certification. Our educational programs reflect the College's commitment to the environment and social justice. http://www.prescott.edu/


Organizations

-International Society for Ecology and Culture - Promoting locally based alternatives to the global consumer culture, the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) is a non-profit organization concerned with the protection of both biological and cultural diversity. Our emphasis is on education for action: moving beyond single issues to look at the more fundamental influences that shape our lives. Specifically the Roots of Change program of guided community study.
http://www.isec.org.uk/

-The National Service Learning Clearinghouse supports students and community groups in developing service-learning trips. Provides discussion guides, sample curricula, and a book-lending library.
http://www.servicelearning.org/

-Second Nature Resources for greening your college campus
http://www.secondnature.org/

-The Bioneers annual conference is a prime gathering of leading scientific and social innovators who have demonstrated visionary and practical models for restoring the Earth and communities. Other Bioneers programs include satellite activities in many cities, a syndicated radio program, a book series, and a youth initiative. http://www.bioneers.org/

-Rocky Mountain Institute is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1982 by resource analysts L. Hunter Lovins and Amory B. Lovins. It is dedicated to research, publication, consulting, and lecturing in the general field of sustainability, with a special focus on energy production, use, and conservation. The Institute is based in Snowmass, Colorado.
http://www.rmi.org/

-The Center for Ecoliteracy is dedicated to education for sustainable living. http://www.ecoliteracy.org/index.html

-Jane Goodall Institute founded by renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, JGI is a global nonprofit that empowers people to make a difference for all living things. We are creating healthy ecosystems, promoting sustainable livelihoods and nurturing new generations of committed, active citizens around the world.
http://www.janegoodall.org/default.asp

-Ocean Arks International was founded in 1981 by John Todd and Nancy Jack Todd. Our goal was to create an ecological design science and practice adaptable to both rich and poor regions of the world. Our motto is, "To Restore the Lands, Protect the Seas and Inform the Earth's Stewards".
http://www.oceanarks.org/about/intro/

-Sustainable Settings Is an entrepreneurial non-profit organization that inspires people and communities to embrace integrated solutions for sustainable development.To accomplish this mission we research, design and demonstrate whole-systems strategies in sustainable agriculture, green development, micro-enterprise, land stewardship and art for daily life.
http://www.sustainablesettings.org/wholesystems.html

-The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 to advance learner-centered approaches to education. AERO is considered by many to be the primary hub of communications and support for educational alternatives around the world.
http://www.educationrevolution.org/

-Resources for Alternative Break Away: the Alternative Break Connection provides training and information about alternative break programs for students and citizen groups. http://www.alternativebreaks.org/ 850/644-0986

-Sustainable Settings is an entrepreneurial non-profit organization that inspires people and communities to embrace integrated solutions for sustainable development. To accomplish this mission we research, design and demonstrate whole-systems strategies in sustainable agriculture, green development, micro-enterprise, land stewardship and art for daily life. http://www.sustainablesettings.org/wholesystems.html

Internships and Volunteering

-WWOOF- World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or Willing Workers On Organic Farms is an incredible resource to travel to another place and receive tons of education; Physically and culturally WWOOFing is a great experience. There are many others that are traveling around doing the same thing so you never know who you will meet when you arrive to your destination. WWOOFing allows you to live free on a farm in exchange for some hours of work. There are many choices of what the farms can entail. You might be interested n working in an olive farm in Italy or working with alternative energy and goats in California. There are opportunities all over the world and all it cost is the plane ticket for your destination.
http://www.wwoof.org/


-Habitat for Humanity connects student and community groups with low-income families that need manual labor to build or rehabilitate simple homes. www.habitat.org/ccyp, 715/392-2118


-North American Alliance for Green Education is a student-inspired consortium of environmental colleges and organizations with a commitment to environmental studies programs. Our mission is to combine institutional strengths to maximize educational opportunities for students and faculty. http://www.naage.org/

-Communications for a Sustainable Future
Provides links to national and international volunteer organizations, an on-line discussion group, and examples of service-learning syllabi used at various schools.
http://csf.colorado.edu/

And more links for Education, Research , Universities

A collection of (mainly) special search engines
Antioch University Seattle Program in Environment and Community
Asia Pacific Higher Education Research Network (APHERN)
ASSISI NATURE COUNCIL
Australasian Virtual Engineering Library (AVEL)
Australia New Zealand Society for Ecological Economics
Boundary Institute nonprofit scientific research organization - USA
BRAIN FOOD TABLE OF CONTENTS
BRIDGES to Sustainability, implementing sustainable development
Building LCA Project Life Cycle Assessment Tools (RMIT) - Australia
Bureau for International Research and Technology Cooperation
Can China Feed Itself? - A System for Evaluation of Policy Options
Centre for Air Transport and the Environment (MMU) - UK
Center for Environmental Citizenship - Green Campus - USA
Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE) - USA
Center for Ecological and Environmental Studies (Akamai University)
Centre for Economic & Social Studies on the Environment - Belgium
Centre for Education in the Built Environment - UK
Centre for Development and Environment Berne - Switzerland
Centre for Human Ecology - Scotland
Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies (ANU) - Australia
Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) - USA
Centre of Urban Planning & Environmental Management - HK
Community Research and Development Information Service
Context Institute a nonprofit research organization
Corporate Sustainability Project (UTS) Publ. & Resources - Australia
CSIRO Australia - Scientific and Industrial Research
Defining Sustainability Research for Next-Generation Innovation
Design and Ecology > University Research Program - France
Earth Awareness Educational Resources
Earth A Graphic Look At The State of the Planet
EarthTrends: The Environmental Information Portal
EcoHotline Environmental Knowledge (Griffith EcoCentre) - Australia
Ecological Design Education Network (EDEN) - USA
Ecological Design Institute - California
Ecological Design The Unstoppable Wave (SFIA) - California
Ecosa Institute - Sustainable, ecological, regenerative design - USA
Eco Schools – Environment Education and Sustainable Development
Eco-Schools implementing Local Agenda 21 - International
Eco Times paradise in the city > Organic Youth Garden - Canada
Education for Sustainable Development Tool Kit
Education for Sustainability (Second Nature)
Education for Sustainability (NCSE) - USA
Education World® Educators Best Friend
Energy Research Institute (TERI) > energy, environ.... - India
EnviroEducation.com - Finacial Aid for Students of the Environment
Environmental Education Directory of New Zealand
Environmental Education Exchange
Environmental Education Station
Environmental Ethics Education (EEI) - USA
Environmental Practice at Work Environmental eLearning - UK
Environmental Programs (Melbourne University) - Australia
Environmental Science Online Courses (WorldWideLearn)
Environmental Technology Centre (Murdoch University) - Australia
ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION - UNESCO
Environment Research Projects - CSIRO Entomology - Australia
Environment, Society and Design Division - New Zealand
Environment and Sustainable Development (UN University)
European Educational Forum (EEF)
Evergreen, bringing nature to our cities - Canada
Facing the Future - People and the Planet
Faculty of the Built Environment (The University of NSW) - Australia
Findhorn Foundation College - inner growth & outer action
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft - Institute
Future Australia environment and community education directory
German Network Environmentally sound Development of Universities
GIANT Global Information Access Net
Global Information Access Net GIANT (University of Pittsburgh)
Global Sustainability @ RMIT - Australia
Global Terrestrial Observing System Data Access (GTOS)
Green Alliance Thinking, Talking, Acting on Environment - UK
Green Teacher Education for Planet Earth
Harvard University Center for the Environment
Higher Educational Network for Sustainability and the Environment
Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) - USA
Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko-Institut e.V.) - Germany
Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development - UK
Institute of Environmental Studies enviroLinks - Australia
Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) - Nederlands
Institute for Environmental Studies (KNAW) - Nederlands
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) - Japan
Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)
Institute of Noetic Sciences - USA
Institute of Social and Ethical AccountAbility - UK
Institute for Sustainable Regional Development - Australia
Integrated Building Technology Teaching - Hong Kong
International Education for Sustainable Development - Projects
International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)
International Society for Environmental Ethics
International Student Org. for Sustainable Economics and Manag.
International Student Travel Confederation
Knowledge for a Compassionate and Sustainable Future
Leading Edge International Research Group
Learning for a Sustainable Environment - LSE
Learning to Create a Sustainable World - PI Projects International
Life Cycle Engineering at IKP (University of Stuttgart) - Germany
Life Cycle Engineering Software and Database
Linkages - Resource for Environment & Development Policy Makers
Living Routes, offers accredited college programs - USA/International
Long Island University - Southampton College - Enviro Resources
Millennium Institute - computer modeling for holistic planning
Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide
Monash Environment Institute - Australia
National Centre for Environmental Design at RMIT - Australia
National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) - Japan
National Wildlife Federation - Environmental Education - USA
Nature connected biophilia activities, courses and degrees
Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability
New College of California for a Just, Sacred and Sustainable World
New Earth Foundation, grants to projects that... - USA
Norwegian Centre for International Coop. in Higher Education (SIU)
Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment & Security
P.E.R.U. - Peruvian Eco-Sustainable Research & Understanding
Presidio World College - MBA in Sustainable Management
Projects & Activities Sri Aurobindo Society, Pondicherry - India
Projects International - Learning to Create a Sustainable World
Regional Institute of Environmental Technology (REIT) - Asia
Research Institute for Sustainable Energy (RISE)
Research-It! - Your one-stop reference desk
Rocky Mountain Institute an entrepreneurial nonprofit organization
Sai's Health Centres - Institute of Higher Medical Sciences
Sathya Sai Education in Human Values - UK
School of Environmental and Information Sciences (CSU) - Australia
School of Resources, Environment and Society (ANU) - Australia
Schools for a Sustainable Future (Eco Recycle Victoria) - Australia
Schoolzone - the school support site - UK
Schumacher College International Centre for Ecological Studies - UK
Selected Internet resources covering all academic subject areas
SRISTI (...sustainable technologies and institutions) - India
STOCKHOLM ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE
Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) - USA
Students for Environmental Action - Zimbabwe
Students Partnerships Worldwide (SPW)
Sustainable Learning Community Demonstration
Sustainability and Environmental Management (UWA) - Australia
Sustainability Information (UNSW Built Environment) - Australia
Sustainability Institute understanding ...unsustainable behavior
Sustainable Development on Campus A Toolkit
Sustainable Development Research Institute (UBC) - Canada
Sustainable Economic and Educational Developement - India
Sustainable Ecosystems Institute
Sustainable Projects Tokyo Zokei University - Japan
Sustainable Universities Initiative - USA
Teachers Internet Links - Solar Matters
Tellus Institute - non-profit, environmental research and consulting
The Buckminster Fuller Institute
The Centre for Biodiversity and Bioresources - Australia
The E.F Schumacher Society and Library on The Net
The Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS)
The Environmental Education Directory
The Environmental Education Television Project for China
The Environmental Study Center - Cyprus
The Erice Statement - World Federation of Scientists
THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTER
The Graduate Programme in Enviro. Leadership (THIERRY) - Belgium
The Greenhouse School (Volunteer Solutions) - USA
The Growth Management Institute - USA
The GW Green University Initiative - USA
The Hannover Principles > Environmental Advisory Group - USA
THE MILLENNIUM PROJECT - GLOBAL FUTURES STUDIES & RESEARCH
The Natural Resources Institute (NRI)
The Natural Step Environmental Institute - Australia
The Resource Centres for Participatory Learning & Action Network
Tools of Change - Outils de changement - Canada
Treshold 21 Integrated Computer Development Model
Union of Concerned Scientists
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
United Nations University
Universities and Colleges all over the World
University Leaders for a Sustainable Future RESOURCES (ULSF)
University of Edinburgh Environmental Agenda
Water Sacrality & Lore Wells, Springs, Pools, Lakes - Mything Links
World Future Society Creating Global Strategies.......
Worldwide Universities Network
Worldwide University Index - BRAINTRACK
Wuppertal Institute > Climate, Environment, Energy - Germany

Other relevant topics and links
Environment and Sustainability Tools (Exchange Page)
Environment & Sustainability Search Engines (Search Page)

Problems

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"-George W. Bush, Florence, S.C. Jan. 11, 2000

Currently, conventional education does not fully support a sustainable way of life for our civilization. There are ramped problems occurring in the world and education should present and challenge these issues. Unfortunately, industries conduct controversial scientific research and major corporations support and sponsor our schools and institutions today. Media that supports excessive consumerism leading to child health problems, and large corporations those continue to fuel the Industrial Revolution.

“The environmental crisis originates with the inability to think about ecological patterns, systems of causation, and the long-term effects of human actions. Eventually these are manifested as soil erosion, species extinction, deforestation, ugliness, pollution, social decay, injustice and economic inefficiencies.”- David Orr Book: Earth in Mind

Origin of Public schools:

-Influenced, created and funded by industrialist leaders such as Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan.

Theories

Conservative

-Purpose: Use young people to fulfill the needs of the capitalist industrialist system
-Design: Create a class based system, use standardized tests to determine intelligence based on the " bell curve" system.

Liberal

-Purpose: Prepare students to solve dilemmas and larger problems in the world by not isolating them to particular disciplines
-Result: Allows greater self awareness, critical thinking skills, responsibility and cooperationHelps to create a better democratic society