Calling All Educators for the Environment

The air we breathe; the water we drink; the plants that nurture life. All these and more make up the one earth we all share, a planet that is now threatened in many aspects.

Raising awareness about our environment is not only the work of a few, for a select group of scientists and experts. Educators of all forms hold an important role in getting everyone involved.

The Center for Environmental Awareness and Education is proud to announce the birth of the first Philippine Educators for the Environment Conference to be held on October 22 to 23, 2004, at the ISO Building, Ateneo de Manila University. Sponsored by Ford Motor Company, Nestlé Waters Philippines, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Philippine Indian Seva Foundation and Philstar.com, this conference will be a venue for all educators around the Philippines who are concerned with our environment, to interact and exchange ideas on their efforts and experiences with Environmental Education (EE).



The 2004 Conference theme is "How Are You, EE?" reflecting the variety of initiatives underway by different groups and institutions in the country as well as new partnerships and collaborations by CEAE.

Among the topics to be discussed are Programs for Schools and Communities, Educational Materials and Practical Applications of EE.

Our keynote speaker, Elenida Basug, is Chief of the Environmental Education and Information Division of the Environmental Management Bureau. She will discuss their current projects for various Philippine communities. Sonia Mendoza of Mother Earth will hold a session on ecological waste management. A more back to basics and earth-friendly way of life will be shared by Ed Guevarra of Earth Haven. Vida Vergel of International School Manila will highlight ways of integrating environmental topics into the mainstream curriculum.

An Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) volunteer, has been working on research and curriculum development for Philippine watersheds. She will illustrate the current issues in this area. Dr. Nina Galang of Miriam PEACE will point out the latest trends in environmental education for those who want to specialize in this sector. Roy Cabonegro brings the participants outdoors, as he demonstrates a form of outdoor education. World Wide Fund’s Lissa Lesaca talks about "Project L.I.F.E." (Learning Interdependently For the Environment), an environmental education program on wheels. She also touches on Tropang I.S.D.A (Isang Sikat at Dakilang Alagad ng Dagat), a training program that promotes marine conservation awareness in the Sulu-Sulawesi marine eco-region.

Other exciting plenary and concurrent sessions by guest speakers await the participants.

CEAE’s EE programs, Project Water Education for Teachers, Project Learning Tree, Watershed in Your Hands, and the Municipal Solid Waste Management Curriculum will also be highlighted.

The aim of the conference is to give participants a solid definition of EE and concrete ways of bringing it to different audiences such as schoolchildren, adults, communities and corporate citizens.

Government and non-government institutions, private and public schools, pre-service educators, students and interested individuals are all welcome to attend the event.

All educators interested in joining the PLT and WET family are invited to take part in the open house sessions on October 22 – 23, 2004. There will be sessions specifically for certified PLT and WET Facilitators and Educators from October 20 - 24, 2004,

Open House Registration
is P1800. For provincial participants, accommodations may be arranged separately at the ISO Bldg of the Ateneo de Manila University (tel 02-4266001) or the University Hotel at the University of the Philippines (tel 02-9205301).

To register or for more details on the PEEC, log on to www.peec.ceae.org or call the Center for Environmental Awareness and Education at 02-7217360.

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