Greening with Goethe - Status Report and UNESCO commendation for the Environmental Project
Greening with Goethe just started but has already been recognized by UNESCO as a major contribution to the UN Decade 2011-12 of the World Decade of the United Nations Organization. This international initiative aims to spread awareness about the principles of sustainable development, simultaneously attempting to make it a part of the school curriculum. The time frame of 2005 to 2014 has therefore been declared as world decade of “Education for Sustainable Development”. To be noted is the fact that this relatively “young” project, “Greening with Goethe”, has been acclaimed at its outset.
Currently, young students all around India and Germany are working on their environmental projects and examining the pollution of air, soil, rivers and lakes. Over all 31 Projects from 8 different cities have been handed in. Around 300 students are involved, guided by scientists from the University if Bremen. And the participants are aiming high: spreading awareness among the citizens, talking to government officials, cleaning entire areas, stopping further pollution, keeping the biodiversity of entire areas intact are only a few examples of ambitious projects. While saving natural habitats and learning about sustainable development the participants are already preparing for the conference in December. The students will gather to discuss environmental problems and to commit to the areas they have taken responsibility for.
Partners:
ARTEC; Zentrum für Nachhaltigkeitsforschung an der Universität Bremen, Indian Institute of Science and Technology, Bangalore, 29 PASCH schools in India and Germany
www.goethe.de/india/greening-with-goethe
