News

23^rd Benelux Conference to Discuss Work in Progress, November 24-26, 2009

The “Education for Sustainable Development in NME” Conference (NME = Natuur- en milieueducatie - Education on Nature and the Environment)– “Challenges for the Head, the Heart and the Hands” – mainly focuses on the need to translate the principles of ESD in daily practice into the multifaceted NME field of action. Attention is also being paid to what has already been realized in the first half of this ESD Decade and what the Benelux still wants to realize by the end of the ESD Decade in 2014.

More information: http://www.lne.be/themas/natuur-en-milieueducatie/nme-evenementen/nme-beneluxwerkconferentie/nme-beneluxwerkconferentie

 World Conference on Higher Education, July 5-8, 2009

Institutions for higher education go through a whole lot of changes these days. E.g. they are expected to play a crucial role in the approach of global social and economic challenges. One of the objectives of the World Conference on Higher Education is to reconfirm the importance of Higher Education and Research with respect to the global changes in the world today.

More information: http://www.unesco.org/en/wche2009

Exchange Visit to Zeeland’s Aquaculture, June 11, 2009

Have you ever tasted sea lavender with goat cheese? Or would you prefer a standing wrap with stir-fried Zeeland glasswort? These are two new varieties of sustainable sea greens to which the RCE, together with a number of West-Flemish stakeholders, was introduced during the exchange visit of the “Sustainability and Water” Lectureship of the Zeeland University College.

The Centre for Sustainability and Water, better known as Spring, mainly concentrates on both demand-driven and practice-based applied research for the economic activities. The company visit to “De Heerlijkheid van Wolphaarsdijk” was a practical example of how the Zeeland University College proceeds in the field of product and process innovation within the innovation cluster Aquaculture. This family business, located at an idyllic spot on the banks of the Veerse Meer, illustrates how a mainly agrarian farm can successfully adapt itself to a changing environment: the salinization of the Veerse Meer. Apart from the cultivation of glasswort and sea lavender, the clam worm culture is another example of sustainable pioneering work. Did you know, for example, that 3 kilograms of wild food is needed to produce 1 kilogram of culture food?

After an extensive explanation of the different programmes and projects of Centrum Springs, the West-Flemish delegation was given the opportunity to attend the “Saline Aquaculture” course, which is the result of a cooperation between the University College, researchers and pioneering firms and is mainly focused on practical cases and the circulation of knowledge. The switch-over to the sustainable cultivation of the European lobster and innovative aquaculture water transferring systems for the benefit of horticulture are only a few of the projects that were presented to the participants.

More information:
Centrum Duurzaamheid en Water (Sustainability and Water Centre), Spring -  http://www.spring.hz.nl
De Heerlijkheid van Wolphaartsdijk – http://www.heerlijkheidwolphaartsdijk.nl 

Fourth International RCE Conference – May 15-17, 2009

The fourth international RCE Conference took place this year in the Biosphère on the beautiful isle of Sainte-Hélène in Montreal, Canada. Exchange and cooperation were at the centre of this year’s conference. In the World Café, for example, the participants could brainstorm and debate about the different RCE themes in small groups. The thematic sessions were a great success as well. The conference was rounded off with a visit to some local sustainable projects and/or initiatives. The programme included the Montreal Science Centre and AQUA, Montreal’s biodome, the Tohu and the Montreal Centre of Expertise on Waste Management.

More information: www.ias.unu.edu/efsd/rceconference2009

 Flemish ESD Implementation Plan Adopted – May 15, 2009

On May 15, 2009 the Flemish government adopted the ESD Implementation Plan and the ESD Project Index Card as part of the Flemish Strategy for Sustainable Development. This is part of the UNECE strategy that was adopted by the minister of the Environment and the minister of Education in Vilnius on March 18, 2005.

More information: http://www.lne.be/themas/natuur-en-milieueducatie/algemeen/edo/edo-beleid/vlaanderen

UNESCO ESD World Conference Bonn, March 31 - April 2, 2009

Apart from a survey of the realizations of the first half of the Decade, this Conference focused on exchange and cooperation, followed by the challenges and opportunities for the further implementation of ESD in the second half of the Decade. This ultimately resulted in the Declaration of Bonn.

The RCE network was presented as one of the special events under the theme "Regional Centres of Expertise for Education for Sustainable Development - lessons and ways ahead". It was an excellent opportunity to explain the action and the multifaceted activities of the RCEs all over the world to the participants.

More information: http://www.esd-world-conference-2009.org
Photos RCE exhibition: www.saskrce.ca

Youth for a Sustainable Lifestyle – March 6-14, 2009

It has been known for a long time that young people have an important part to play in a sustainable future. But how can one make sure that they can actually develop this knowledge? Although sustainable development is integrated in the school gradually, it would not be realistic to make the individual teacher the sole responsible person. Youth leaders also have an important role here.

Together with RCE East Midlands, RCE Southern North Sea has joined the Youth in Action project “Training Youth Leaders in Sustainable Lifestyles” that took place in March 2009. Twenty youth leaders from Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden and England were given the opportunity to go into the principles of sustainable development in the sustainable environment of the Sustainability Centre of Petersfield in England. The focus was mainly on facilitating youth activities around the sustainable development theme as well as on the exchange of experiences and information. There were presentations on local sustainable projects such as the permaculture and practical activities such as building a campfire and putting up a yurt (a kind of tent). The group was also introduced to the sustainable activities of the centre. Heating on the basis of biomass made up of wood shreds and heating water by using solar energy are only a few examples. Partnership and teamwork were presented as important elements of sustainable development. The night-time walk through the dark woods to the only pub for miles around was genuine teamwork!

More information on the training and the participants: http://lifeshift.ning.com