No previous knowledge or study background in Environmental Studies is necessary. Learning occurs in dialogue. Discussions will show introduction, focus on basic facts about materials dealing with living on earth and provide educative information about sustaining natural resources.
The instructors at the seminars will invite participants to take part in forums to discuss and provide insights into questions such as: Who is an advocate and seeks the welfare of the earth we live on and the quality of our lives within where we live? Is it interesting to find out who looks at or plans our community’s economic development, garbage removal, political relationships, community schools, and children’s safety, laws, crime and residential housing? What about the purity of the air we breathe or the water we drink and its distribution in the inner city and the suburbs?
The response to any of the above questions is the ultimate calling and role of every sensible human to accept and be committed to the concerns of a sustainable environment. The seminars are designed to explain and meet the educational needs of everyone willing to know about sustaining the natural resources of our planet. Every topic of the seminar prepares each participant to become a knowledgeable advocate and successful community leader committed to employing better practice and the ethics of a good citizen to educate others.
GI ES seminars are not faith-restricted or discriminatory. They serve everyone as a valuable reminder of our obligation towards the survival of the earth, in as much as we transform and restore its natural economic equities and ecological well-being.
Download a Seminar Registration Form Here:
Staff
GIES uses local professionals (volunteers) as guest speakers and instructors. We provide them with transportation and instructional materials. Occasionally, expatriates from special higher learning institutions are invited to lecture at the seminars. We are therefore confidently proud of the highly qualified staff that teaches the seminars. Their selection is based not only on their knowledge of the subjects and experiences but also on their interest in promoting a better living condition in our communities.
Additional Staff Members and coordinators
BENIN
GHANA
LI BERIA
TOGO
U.S.A.
Introduction (to seminars)
In order to assist participants explore materials that are related to the environment, one must also examine the basic similarities of every creature’s needs: land, air, water and the sun (laws). GIES seminar is designed to help anybody conduct discussions to recognize the urgent need of understanding the connection between our environment, humans, politics, social problems, and the economics of the world we live in presently. No society lives without “LAWS” (Laws is the Acronym for land, air, water, and the sun.) The “LAWS” is the foundation of our eco-system . The environment (Earth) encompasses natural and human-altered systems. Population growth is the number one contributor to the degradation of the natural environmenIt is important to explain and understand the concept of international trading and organizations like WTO, NAFTA, AU, EU, etc, import, export, EPA, Tariff, customs duty, prices, VAT, and the interaction of supply and demand in both local and international market-economy. For example, the supply and cost of fossil fuel may be adjusted due to market decisions as a direct or unforeseen cause of war or advert weather conditions like floods and droughts.
– Emphasize the probability that one day, oil from underground might run out. With the threat from global warming, we may need alternative energy sources like renewable resources that are less damaging to the earth.
– Compare Natural Resources Economics (NRE) to Environmental Economics (EE).
– State the benefits of environmental economics in terms of sustainability.
Sustainable Goals For Farmers’ Groups
(Co-operatives) Point of Focus
Suggest or encourage use of local simple (action) mechanism to achieve long-term results in Environmental Economics.
Form Cooperatives
To take practical steps in designing strategic plans to seek funds for the implementation of the needed resources, i.e. purchase solar energy equipment or wind will for a community (cooperative) for the energy supply.
Construct and Promote
strong team effectiveness. Know the skills and behaviors of your team members for appropriate assignment of tasks.
Each one must be a positive team player
to work cooperatively to finish tasks, seek solutions and set new goals.
Show love and demonstrate respect
for others’ religions, feelings, rights, culture and points of view.
Explore Individual Strengths
for the benefit of your team, identify and avoid causes of conflicts. Dialogue, negotiate, and reach consensus and compromise when working with a group.
Take a positive attitude
and contribute your talents and knowledge by taking personal responsibility in group dif needed.
Summary of Key Concepts
Apply the above framework to any topic selected for discussion.
Keep a record of every seminar you attended.
Suggested Topics for Discussion
Farmers’ Group s or Cooperatives
-Farming/Agriculture
-Crops: sugar cane, palm trees, corn etc. -Poultry
-Pig farming
-Fishery
-Credit Unions
-Woodwork shops -Block making shops -Sewing/Dressmaking and Tailoring shops -Masonry/Stonework -Barbering/Hair dressing -Restaurant
-Vegetable garden
Community Development
-Housing
-Street/Roads -Education/School
-Public transportation/Train
-Marketing
-Energy/Solar -Water supply -Democracy Economical
– Freedom and globalization
-Rural Development
-Electricity
-Water treatment
-Stress and distress in modern society -Supply and disposal
-City sprawl
Public Health
-Hygiene
-Aids prevention
-Malaria
-Nutrition
-Water purification
-Pre-natal care
-Family planning
-World food supply
-Food from Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers.
-Drug and Alcohol abuse
-Domestic violence
-Child Labor
Environmental Studies
-Re/Deforestation
-Organic farming
-Recycling
-Solar energy supply
-Air/water pollution
-Land fields
-Wind farms
-Wetland
-Environmental economics
-Natural resources economics
-Natural resources conservation
-Ecosystem
-Population Dynamics
-Agricultural land
-Mineral use
-Resources
-Forestry
-Grassland
-Wildlife management
-Pest and Pest control
-Toxic and Hazardous wastes
-Solid and liquid wastes
-Pesticides
Can we discuss issues of development, sports, or entertainment if we are facing complex problems of survival? Rivers are drying, species of plants and animals are vanishing, soil erosion and city sprawl are common these days and yet, God is not making any more land. Is the earth shrinking or expanding with population growth?
Dialogue Boxes
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| Claude Martin, director general of the WWF, through the Inter Press Service said: “we need 1.2 planets to sustain our collective lifestyles.” According to the World Wildlife Fund, North Americans waste many resources; and the average US adult citizen needs ten hectares (24.7 acres) of the earth to support his/her lifestyle. Besides the American, an average European requires not less than five hectares, while a poor African only needs about one hectare. We see many lifestyles through private jet planes, Sport Utility Vehicles, space-crafts, air conditioners, fast food and its garbage, green lawns for the suburbia, sludge or sewage from mega cities, acid rain from factories, toxic waste, corruption, fraud and secret energy meetings…are some of the problems with our lifestyles. GIES thinks everyone has a personal moral responsibility to be a decent public servant to protect the welfare of our only planet. T he only way to reverse global warming is to reduce what we waste. Our sense of responsibility must include sustainability in all aspects of our lives. Global Warming, drought, and flooding are the by-products of our global lifestyles. |