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Resources DVD’s. “An Inconvenient Truth: a global warning.”
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ResourcesDVD’s “An Inconvenient Truth: a global warning.” • One might think that everyone has seen this documentary by now and understands the climate crisis and the human interaction that is involved. This documentary helps to get everyone on the same page and provides fertile ground for questions and further inquiry.
“The Lorax” • This is a cartoon by Dr. Seuss. It was originally released in 1957. The lessons are so incredibly pertinent to what we are experiencing in 2010. It might cause one to pause and wonder if Dr. Seuss didn’t have a looking glass that could see into the future. It also makes one question that, if he could see the ecological issues in his time, what was everyone else looking at? Have we been Oncelered?
“The Story of Stuff” • Download for free online • A simple, free, cartoon documentary, follows manufacturing from the “harvest” of natural resources, through the manufacturing process, distribution, advertising and sales, acquisition, and then waste stream of our culture’s “stuff”. This film empowers individual consumers “not to buy”.
Sevrin Suzuki’s Address to the Plenary Session Earth Summit in Rio. • This clip is so moving, I cry every time I watch it. This young woman is still an activist. Any one of your students has the potential to inspire change for the better. Feed the fire! • Youtube
“The Corporation” • Corporations have created great wealth and prosperity for the more developed nations of the world. Corporations also have an unchecked power globally in creating wealth at the expense of the health of the public commons, clean air, clean, free flowing water, land and natural resources. This documentary does not demonize corporations so much as it exposes them in their true form.
Remove the advertising that convinces the public that corporations are looking out for our best interest and one sees that their primary purpose is not the good of the people but rather the good of the corporation. They come off as self-serving, unhealthy, and extremely powerful. This documentary shakes the very roots of our perspective that there is anyone “out there” looking out for our well-being.
I have found that this particular documentary is very disturbing for my students and this is where they begin their self-examination and social responsibility. It is quite long and definitely needs previewing and to be broken down into units. There is a curriculum online that is very helpful with follow-up questions for discussions.
“The Persuaders” • Frontline examines the $500 billion advertising industry and how sophisticated market research methods and exploitation of consumer psychology has infiltrated our, culture, politics, policies, and decisions as a society.
“Who Killed the Electric Car?” • Great follow-up to “The Persuaders” and/or “The Corporation” providing a primary example of whom, how, and what drives our economy and our public policy.
“World in the Balance” • Nova explores exponential growth and the world population and how different cultures and governments are dealing with issues of aging populations and population explosions. It looks at how education and poverty and politics affect distribution of goods and sustainable futures in a variety of cultural settings. It took all of human history until 1800 AD to reach the first 1 Billion humans. It now takes about 12 years for each additional billion people and we will likely be at 9 billion by 2050. What will be the environmental and social strains?
“Food Inc.” • “Food Inc.” will change what you consume and eat, so be prepared. This documentary emphasizes corporate control of our food sources and once again makes the point that corporations are bound by law to make decisions that best protect the shareholder, not necessarily the consumer. Profit is more important than the quality of the product. After viewing this film one can start to understand how this scenario can be repeated in any area of manufacturing for consumer acquisition. Do you know where your products come from? Are they responsibly manufactured?
“Human Footprint” • National Geographic follows the progression of one human being from birth to death and provides a visual display of that one beings consumption of common goods through a lifetime. It begins with diapers and formula, bananas, auto fuel and oil, toothbrushes, water, milk, etc. in visual displays of what one would consume in a lifetime. • I don’t watch this documentary in its entirety. It is redundant and simple and eye-opening and great fodder for questions and self-examination. The students “get it” very quickly. I try to preview and hit the ages most important to the students..
“Trashed” • This is an excellent documentary about our waste stream. Is there such a place as “away” when we throw things away? Where does it go? This film examines the American waste stream and its implications for the biosphere. It is very well done and one of my favorites.
“Crude Awakening” • This documentary provides a stark look at “peak oil” and the political and economic pinch that will accompany the decline in extraction of this finite resource. The facts presented are daunting and real and even a bit scary yet turns the corner in the end to point out the sustainability imperative. My favorite fact is, take on average a barrel of oil at $150 and divide by 25,000 human work hours. This is the productive capacity of oil, .6 cents per equivalent human work hours.
How do we replace the cheap and productive capacity of this resource and keep the cost of living at a comfortable level. What does our stuff really cost? Has oil provided us a false sense of the value of things? What if a human rather than a machine made your socks? What would they cost, and how many would you have, and how would you take care of them? The cheap productive source of energy has trained us to devalue our “needs” and to overvalue our “toys”. If one had to pay the real price for socks, could we afford the second TV, iPod, or car?
Books“The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight”, by Thom Hartmann. • Whether one chooses to use this book in the classroom, I find this a very important resource for the teacher. The beginning of the "The Last Hours…, Hartmann paints a fabulous picture of how we got to where we are now; and addresses population growth, deforestation, carbon sinks, diversity/extinction, climate change, desertification, fair trade/sweatshops, peak oil, and shortage, in terms that a none scientist can understand.
The second portion of the book attempts to look at causes for our shortsightedness as a culture. It does not set-up the reader for self-reflection as much as self-defense. Some readers from different cultural backgrounds could get very turned off by this portion yet I found it valuable as long as I stayed open to the author’s final point, of the need to change the attitudes and values that got us into this mess.
Finally, Hartmann places a personal challenge to the reader. With a new understanding of the “real cost” of goods and a new understanding of exponential growth, it is very important for the reader to choose a few small and doable ways to achieve sustainability and to become a part of the exponential reduction process. He points out that some of our issues are the unconscious consumption of goods by a few billion people and by the same laws of mathematics, every step towards sustainability can bring us closer to an exponential reduction in greenhouse gases and resource misuse. Every small step taken climbs the mountain of sustainability until we reach the top. He gives useful methods for courageous steps for all ages and all classes to become more sustainable.
“Flat, Hot, and Crowded” by Thomas L. Friedman. • I suggest this book for the individual who is excited by the challenges we face and who is ready to act on the “Green Revolution”. Friedman motivates the reader by exposing where the United States has a new frontier in the Greening of the Global Market and the race is on to capture the greenest technologies and the best practices with an ever more competitive and capitalistic approach. He points out that globally, we all need to take a tight corner at high speed in order to avert the worst of the possible climate crises scenarios.
I use it as a personal reference and I like it because it is hopeful for most readers. Friedman does not require our culture to change its economic stance too much. He lights a fire under our old principles of ingenuity and competition. He makes it seem like we can have our cake and eat it too. As I move down my own path of sustainability I find he isn’t far from the truth. Everything I have done to become more sustainable has made me healthier, wealthier and happier.
He believes that not only can we get wealthier; we can get healthier, smarter and more efficient at the same time and climb back on top of the Global Market. For the United States he sees the green market as a path to economic redemption as well as a path to our own survival. He calls upon corporations, politicians, and every individual to “build a million arks” and to utilize every tool available to reduce our carbon output. I do not use this book in the classroom. It is too dry for most of my students.
“Low Carb-on Diet: A 30 Day Program to Lose 5000 Pounds” by David Gershon. • Gershon provides a “diet plan” for the individuals to reduce their carbon footprint to zero over time. He provides mini lessons and direct instruction. I love this workbook! I can adapt it to any age. I’ve used the exercises in my classroom and in my own home and saved money. The students get excited about the changes they can make at home and they can see the results. They can sometimes get their parents to commit the savings to other projects or to add the savings to their allowance. This is hands-on conservation with guaranteed success.
“Storms of My Grandchildren”, by James Hansen. • James Hansen is the Lead Climatologist for NASA. He has shed his natural skin, the skin of a scientist, to become an activist in the writing of this book. He leaves all of his scientific instincts and comforts of the laboratory, to speak as a grandfather that knows too much about climate change and how close we are to a climate crisis, and he essentially pleads for the life of his grandchildren. Be sure to read the Afterward.
The science presented by Jim Hansen is undeniable and as all good scientists, delivered with a degree of caution. He presents honestly and with care for details and documented research.After reading this book I find myself awake nights, 50% of the time worrying and wondering if we’ll make it; and 50% of the time passionately seeking solutions so that I can behave like we will make it.
“Right Relationship” by Peter G. Brown and Geoffrey Garver. • This is the first book that addresses fully the present economic system, which spirals toward “endless growth and limitless wealth”, and does not factor the natural limits of the earth’s capacity to sustain life into the equation. The economy is presented as more fluid and adaptable than our ecosystem and the authors present remedies to the economy that reflect “an acute awareness of ecological limits. This is a great book for social studies teachers.
Books to stimulate ideas for projects: • “Be the Change You Want to See In the World: 365 Things You Can Do for Yourself and Your Planet”, by Julie Fisher-McGarry. • “How To Make the World a Better Place”, by Jeffrey Hollender. • “Hey Mr. Green”, by Bob Schildgen • “It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living”, by Crissy Trask.
Websites 350.org Bill Mckibben uses the research of Jim Hansen and other concerned scientists to harness the power of the web to create an international and grassroots movement focused on reducing planetary CO2 emissions to 350 ppm. Green Your School • http://www.earthday.org/greenyourschool
A Different World: An Educational Toolkit for Building Social Justice. Created for teachers in lesson plan form. Age adaptable lessons. Thought provoking and age appropriate. • http://www.s-j-c.net/main/english/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=78&Itemid=67 Earth Day Network Educators’ Network • http://earthday.org/education
Audubon Together Green • http://www.togethergreen.or/People/Default.aspx Conservation Economy Map • http://www.conservationeconomy.net/pattern_map/noflash/index.html Creative Change: Educational Solutions • http://www.creativechange.net
Guest Speakers/Fieldtrips • These are suggestions for your classroom and you may need to research similar people and entities in your geographical area. • My undying thanks to these professionals who take the time to interact with young people and promote sustainability.
Julie Jackson—Allied Waste • Julie Jackson—Allied Waste • Julie Jackson provides an excellent and age appropriate presentation of the waste stream, effective recycling programs, and toxic waste collection. On a personal level, she is committed to conservation and as a professional she continually works with Allied Waste to provide better and more sustainable services to the communities they serve.
Kathleen Nickerson—3 degrees representing Blue Sky • Kathleen Nickerson explains the Blue Sky commitment to renewable Wind Energy. She explains how power companies work and the intricacies of Pacific Power, Blue Sky, Oregon Energy Trust, and Renewable energy.
Jonathan Carroll—How To Get Off The Grid! • Great presentation on powerpoint. Jonathon takes you through his journey to get off the grid using solar power, conservation, very little water and an attention to details and simplicity in living. He’s doing it! No question that it can be done. Jonathan enjoys his presentation and making a positive impact on young people. His presentation is geared for the high school or college level. Contact: joncarroll@cluemail.com (541) 250-0199
Starker Forest Tour/Georgia Pacific Mill • Great tour! Call Starker Forest Products (541)929-2477 and they’ll set you up. They also have grants that can help with transportation and cost of your Sub. • After looking at the importance of our forests for Carbon sinks, clean water, topsoil, bio-diversity and aesthetics, my students were not prepared to witness the attention to conservation reflected in this particular mill and forest products company. We all walked away with a greater understanding of the complexity of conservation and resource management.
