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Message from Our Chief Mentor
Homo sapiens (“wise man” in Latin) lives on land, even in locations where his economic activities are centered around resources derived from the sea. Human society has, quite significantly, been focused on subjects and issues related to land, and generally negligent of the state of the oceans and seas across the globe. Recently, however, the blue economy, the term employed for resources and economic activities related to the vast volume of water covering the earth, has received increased attention in various countries. The Government of Norway has brought out an extremely useful and well-researched white paper entitled “The place of the oceans in Norwegian foreign and development policy”. This document perhaps reflects growing interest in and concern related to the condition of the oceans and seas across the world. Norway’s direct links with the blue economy are apparent from the fact that 80% of the country’s population lives less than 20 km from the coast, as mentioned in the white paper. Hundreds of millions of people across the globe have similar proximity to the oceans. While the governance of the oceans requires cooperation and coordinated efforts at the global level, much can be achieved through local and regional initiatives as well. The white paper quotes the OECD as having calculated that many ocean based industries have the potential to outperform the growth of the global economy as a whole by 2030. But any such high level of growth would depend entirely on the ability of human society to manage the oceans on a sustainable basis. Norway and many of the Nordic countries are in a position to elaborate on their record of sustainable management of the blue economy and share their experiences with other parts of the world. Keeping this in mind, a major event is planned in Oslo in November, 2017, which would focus on the experience of the Nordic countries in sustainable development and management of the global economy. One area in which inadequate efforts have been made worldwide is in respect of tapping energy resources available in the high seas for the use of human society living on land across the globe. It was in the 1960s that Arthur C. Clarke wrote an intriguing short story with the title "The Shining Ones". This was an exciting story of the US working on technology to harness ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). The story has a setting during the peak of the cold war, when the US is attempting to find the ultimate and unlimited source of energy which can become available by tapping temperature differentials at different levels of the ocean. Despite the pioneering efforts in developing the technology by J Hilbert Anderson, very little has been done in carrying this forward in a manner that would help its large-scale commercialization. Among scientists, Dr. Cyril Ponnamperuma was one great votary of this technology, and he made several efforts to ensure large scale financial support for the development of an OTEC project off the coast of Sri Lanka. In the case of wave- as well as tidal-energy, global efforts have remained generally suboptimal. The one technology, wherein energy production, not from the water of the oceans but the wind above it, is likely to be commercialized on a large scale, is through the establishment of floating wind generators. being developed in several parts of the world. The issue of the blue economy and human activities and their impacts on the oceans are a subject which cannot be ignored much longer, because even for those living at a remote distance from the oceans, the implications would be serious if we continue to deviate from sustainable management of ocean resources. As mentioned earlier, impacts of climate change are particularly serious for the world’s oceans. Not only has 30% of the carbon dioxide emitted since the beginning of industrialization been absorbed in the oceans, leading to a high level of acidification, but the increase in temperature, which has occurred, has led to major impacts on marine ecosystems and marine life. This sadly is epitomized most prominently in the damage to coral reefs all over the world, and most particularly the Great Barrier Reef of the coast of Australia. Dr. R. K. Pachauri Chief Mentor |
What is the POP Movement?
Why is the POP Movement Important?
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The POP Movement's Partner, OMG Addresses the UN on World Wildlife Day
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Carter Ries, co-founder of One More Generation addressed the UN as part of a high-level panel on World Wildlife Day. The Panel discussion "Listen to the young voices - presentations on the role of youth in protecting wildlife" at the high-level thematic discussion, underscored protection of wild flora and fauna and tackling illicit trafficking of wildlife.
Albina du Boisrouvray, POP Movement's IAB Member, Bestowed The Legion of Honor
Albina du Boisrouvray and Jean-Marc Ayrault, French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development
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Albina du Boisrouvray, founder and president emerita of the international development organization FXB, was promoted Officer of the Legion of Honor at the Quai d’Orsay in Paris. Highest decoration bestowed in France, and one of the most well known in the world, the latter rewards the extent of Albina du Boisrouvray's action in the development world since 1989.
For over 25 years, she worked with her staff in the fight against poverty. "The purpose is to tackle the factors responsible for extreme poverty, to establish the foundations of a life based on health, education, training, access to decent housing, while facilitating access to income generating activities to regain independence and dignity. It is neither charity nor philanthropy, it is good governance", explained Albina du Boisrouvray. |
POP Represented at the UNESCO Week for Peace and Sustainable Development
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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO jointly organized the “UNESCO Week for Peace and Sustainable Development: The Role of Education” from 6th to 10th March in Ottawa, Canada.
Ms. Sara V. González Troncoso represented the POP Movement in the week-long event that provided a space to discuss the implementation of Target 4.7 of Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Education - to ensure that by 2030 all learners will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. It also enabled the exchange of best practices and experiences in the fields of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED). The event was attended by 400 experts, practitioners and policy makers from across the world along with teachers of UNESCO’s Associated School Network (ASPnet) and 50 young delegates chosen to represent all regions of the globe. Amidst the various discussions, interaction and networking opportunities, there were a few observations that clearly stood out. The Review Forum for the UNESCO Global Action Program (GAP) on ESD saw educators and experts shift their voices to the action side of the table and understand the need of an education revolution which begins with the students wanting to change the concept of charity with those of social justice and fair trade. This is generated by the awareness of the impacts that their decisions have on people around the world and a growing respect for others and nature, thus becoming the engine of this new educational revolution. A related concept of global citizenship was also put forth. It implies raising and educating citizens who integrate sustainability in their daily decisions and understand it’s inevitability on a cognitive level, a behavioral level and a socio emotional level. This can be nurtured with a wider understanding of the repercussions these decisions have on themselves, their locality, their region and the whole world. To overcome the obstacle of reach, several innovative practices were discussed, such as the vast use of internet platforms, social media, and gamification techniques, which make learning accessible and entertaining. One important challenge in sustainable development education is its dissemination in regions and localities that lack basic necessities such as food, water, clothing and shelter. There are communities that do not, yet, have a lifestyle in which these basic resources are guaranteed. This makes education for sustainable development difficult and forces us to equate the conditions of these communities in order to be able to involve them. Although, it implies more funding and human resources, it gives us the opportunity of forming communities within the scope of sustainable development from the very foundations of their development. |
Sara V. González (above, right) represented the POP Movement at the UNESCO event
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Message from Dr. Kevin Trenberth
Dr. Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished, Senior Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research urges youth to take action on climate change.
Dr. Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished, Senior Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research urges youth to take action on climate change.
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MoU and Conference in Tamaulipas, Mexico
In the experience we have had with the POP Movement since it was launched on Earth Day 2016, we have now arrived at a strategy which would consist of the following.
Under this strategy specific institutions are being identified with which the POP Movement would work in partnership to achieve outstanding results, which would be disseminated on a large scale across the globe. But, most significantly, a decision has been taken to work with the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico where educational institutions will become the torch bearers of the POP Movement. The state has a total of 5600 schools, and in phases each one of these will get involved in the POP Movement whereby:
The Chief Mentor of the POP Movement spent extensive time covering by road the entire state of Tamaulipas in the month of March, 2017, with the support of the Governor; the Secretaries of departments of Education, Environment, and Development; the Energy Commissioner; and the entire state apparatus, including the Mayors of several cities. Apart from a meeting with the Governor of Tamaulipas, H.E. Francisco Javier García Cabeza de Vaca, the Chief Mentor signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Issues with the Energy Commissioner of Tamaulipas and another one jointly with the Secretaries of Education and Environment respectively for implementing the POP Movement in Tamaulipas. Tamaulipas has been adopted by the POP Movement as the state in which it will carry out a saturated campaign for implementing the Movement in every school of that state and in its prominent municipalities. The pictures provided here indicate audiences addressed and efforts made to create the conditions and preparatory arrangements for launching such a Movement in the state of Tamaulipas.
In the experience we have had with the POP Movement since it was launched on Earth Day 2016, we have now arrived at a strategy which would consist of the following.
- Spread of knowledge, information and awareness through the POP Movement to newer geographical areas across the globe
- Establishing partnerships with like-minded organizations, so that the POP Movement works in synergy with other initiatives which have similar goals.
- Creating models of excellence in implementing the POP Movement in specific academic and educational institutions, which would establish and demonstrate significant co-benefits at the local level.
- Creating models of success in large geographical areas covering nations, sub-national regions, states, provinces and cities, and
- Disseminating information on examples of success and achievement through the use of conventional media as well as the social media.
Under this strategy specific institutions are being identified with which the POP Movement would work in partnership to achieve outstanding results, which would be disseminated on a large scale across the globe. But, most significantly, a decision has been taken to work with the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico where educational institutions will become the torch bearers of the POP Movement. The state has a total of 5600 schools, and in phases each one of these will get involved in the POP Movement whereby:
- Energy consumption in every school will be reduced through a series of efficiency gains, and thus energy bills for each school would be reduced significantly.
- A shift brought about to the extent possible towards greater use of renewable energy.
- Progress achieved to harness sustainable transport options for students attending each school
- Students adopting lifestyles which are sustainable, including shifts in diets, which initially would focus on at least one meatless day a week.
The Chief Mentor of the POP Movement spent extensive time covering by road the entire state of Tamaulipas in the month of March, 2017, with the support of the Governor; the Secretaries of departments of Education, Environment, and Development; the Energy Commissioner; and the entire state apparatus, including the Mayors of several cities. Apart from a meeting with the Governor of Tamaulipas, H.E. Francisco Javier García Cabeza de Vaca, the Chief Mentor signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Issues with the Energy Commissioner of Tamaulipas and another one jointly with the Secretaries of Education and Environment respectively for implementing the POP Movement in Tamaulipas. Tamaulipas has been adopted by the POP Movement as the state in which it will carry out a saturated campaign for implementing the Movement in every school of that state and in its prominent municipalities. The pictures provided here indicate audiences addressed and efforts made to create the conditions and preparatory arrangements for launching such a Movement in the state of Tamaulipas.
Click the image above to go to a slideshow of pictures of the POP Movement's Tour of Tamaulipas
Video Message for "Earth Hour" by the UN Secretary General
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POP Movement on An Interactive Map
Click the markers on the map to glance at the POP Movement's activities in different parts of the world