TOPIC: Ecological Literacy EDUC.

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Subtopics:
1. Eco-literacy and Sustainable Development
2. The Seven Environmental Principles
3. Making Schools Dark Green Schools

What is Ecological Literacy?

 It is a term first used by American educator David W. Orr and physicist Fritjof Capra in the 1990s, in order to
introduce into educational practice, the value and well-being of the Earth and its ecosystems.
 It is the ability to understand the organization of natural systems and the process that maintain the healthy
functioning of living systems and sustain life on earth.
 It is a way of thinking about the world in terms of its interdependent natural and human systems, including a
consideration of the consequences of human actions and interactions within the natural context.
 It equips students with the knowledge and competencies necessary to address complex and urgent
environmental issues in an integrated way, and enables them to help shape a sustainable society that does not
undermine the ecosystems upon which it depends.

What is Sustainable Development?

 It is the ability to exist and develop without depleting natural resources for the future.
 There are many benefits to sustainability, both short-term and long-term.
 If more sustainable choices are not made, people cannot maintain the Earth’s ecosystems or continue to
function as they do.
 If harmful processes are maintained with no change, it is likely that the society will run out of fossil fuels, huge
numbers of animal species will become extinct, and the atmosphere will be irreparably damaged.
 Clean air and nontoxic atmospheric conditions, growth of resources that can be relied upon, and water quality
and cleanliness, are all benefits of sustainability.
 Three pillars of sustainable development:
1. Environmental Protection
- It is the most frequently discussed element. It is concerned with the reduction of carbon footprints,
water usage, non-decomposable packaging, and wasteful processes as part of a supply chain.
2. Social Development
- It is about treating employees fairly and ensuring responsible, ethical, and sustainable treatment of
employees, stakeholders, and the community in which a business operates. This may be achieved
through more responsive benefits, like better maternity and paternity benefits, flexible scheduling, and
learning and development opportunities.
3. Economic Development
- It is probably the simplest form of sustainability. To be economically sustainable, a business must be
profitable and produce enough revenues to be continued into the future. The challenge with this form
of sustainability is achieving an equilibrium. Rather than making money at any cost, companies should
attempt to generate profit in accordance with other elements of sustainability.
  Principles of Environmental Sustainability
1. Biodiversity conservation
- It is the preservation of biodiversity and energy resources.
2. Social needs
- These refer to the availability of basic needs, products, and services for present and future generations.
3. Regenerative capacity
- It protects the depletion of natural resources and keep the harvest rate of renewable resources within
the capacity of regeneration.
4. Reuse, recycling

5. Limitations of nonrenewable resources and waste generation

- It means that the human economic system should be within the carrying capacity, the emissions should
be within the assimilative capacity of the ecosystem.

What are the Seven Environmental Principles?

 The seven environmental principles are the following:

1. Nature knows best.
- Humans have to understand nature and have to abide by the rule nature dictates.
2. All forms of life are important.
- Each organism plays a fundamental role in nature. It is easy to appreciate the beautiful organisms like
butterflies, especially if one knows their important role in pollination.
3. Everything is connected to everything else.
- In an ecosystem, all biotic and abiotic components interact with each other to ensure that the system is
sustained. Any intrusion from outside may cause an imbalance and collapsing of the system.
4. Everything changes.
- The environment is constantly changing. Organisms also develop through time. However, with our
current technology, we have affected these natural changes that these changes now cause problematic
events to us. Humans should rethink of their relationship with the environment.
5. Everything must go somewhere.
- Everything ends up elsewhere. It doesn’t just disappear. For example, if you throw a piece of candy
wrapper away, it disappears from sight but does not cease to exist. It ends up elsewhere.
6. Ours is a finite earth.
- Earth’s resources can be classified as either renewable or non-renewable. Renewable resources are
those that can be easily replenished by natural cycles.
7. Nature is beautiful and we are stewards of God’s creation.
- Humans, being the most intelligent and gifted with reason, they are capable of manipulating creation to
their own advantage. Yet, creation exists not to be ravaged or abused but to be taken care of. Humans
cannot exist without nature. They are co-natural with the environment they live in.

What is a Green School?

 Laws
1. DepEd ORDER NO. 52, S. 2011 Strengthening Environmental Education in Public and Private Schools
- This urges all public and private schools to lead the role on environmental awareness by enhancing
environmental education and by pursuing effective school-based activities that seek to preserve and
protect the environment.
 2. Republic Act No. 9512 on National Environmental Awareness and Education Act, 2008.
- It articulates that the state shall promote national awareness of the role of natural resources in
economic growth and the importance of environmental conservation and ecological balance towards
sustained national development.

 Green School is visualized as a school guided by the principles of environmental sustainability.

 Promoting Green Schools: Objectives

- To encourage schools/academic institutions to become more actively involved in environmental issues
at a practical and local level;
- To develop skills and understanding among the students, faculty and school administrators in initiating
active responses and increasing community awareness and participation on environmental concerns.

 Example of a Green School

- Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU), Koronadal City, South Cotabato
 NDMU as an innovative institution advocates Life-giving Environment, Ecologically Balanced
Ecosystems, and A Healthy Planet
 NDMU Policies and Programs
1. No smoking
No cigarette selling and/or smoking anywhere inside the school premises.
2. NDMU keeps the campus clean and green.
All student, personnel and visitors should keep it clean and green by orderly segregating and
disposing garbage properly. The use and sale of Styrofoam-packed and other unrecyclable
packaging for foods and drinks are strongly prohibited.
3. NDMU encourages everyone to be healthy.
Selling of junk food and carbonated drinks in the campus is prohibited.
4. NDMU practices conservation of water, electricity and other resources.
Air conditions must be turned on starting 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to
5:00PM only.
 Green University Credo
I believe that the earth is my only home. I believe that Notre Dame of Marbel University is a place on earth
that nurtures and empowers me to secure and save the environment for all to live life to the fullest. I
believe along with my fellow students/personnel and the thousands of others who care for life, I have the
right and duty to protect what is inalienably mine. I believe that this starts with me, that from this day on,
I will make the earth, my home, become greener, more peaceful and a better place to live.