Green Heart At Work: October 2016

Thursday 6 October 2016

Outdoor Classroom Day

Source: Outdoor Classroom Day webiste

Outdoor Classroom Day is an important and inspiring day for children to go outside, learn and play. Outdoor Classroom Day is a campaign that globally celebrates and inspires outdoor learning and play and provides an opportunity to share experiences with other schools. There are approximately 465 000 children that are involved worldwide.

Teachers are encouraged to get as many children as possible outside on Thursday 6th October for at least one lesson in the school day, and to celebrate playtime.

Outdoor Classroom Day extends from the UK’s Empty Classroom Day and is supported by Unilever’s Dirt is Good movement.

Source: Music Early Childhood Presenter

By playing and learning outside, children experience a myriad of powerful benefits. Play is important for their healthy development. Children also build lasting memories and an awareness of the environment occurs. Children are able to think independently and get excited about learning. Critical life skills, including resilience, teamwork, leadership, and creativity are taught.

From an environmental perspective, outdoor learning assists teachers and children to help solve the world’s most imminent environmental issues.

Source: Erie Insurance

Today, use the hashtag #outdoorclassroomday in a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post.

References

https://outdoorclassroomday.com/

https://outdoorclassroomday.com/about/

Wednesday 5 October 2016

World Teachers' Day

UNESCO declared 5 October World Teachers’ Day. Since 1994, World Teachers' Day (WTD) has been annually held on the 5^th of October. This was the first step in celebrating the momentous step made for teachers on 5 October 1966. Here a special intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO in Paris adopted the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, in cooperation with the ILO. 5 October is also about celebrating the adoption by the UNESCO General Conference in 1997 of the UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel. Since its adoption, it has been a set of guidelines that are important to promote teachers’ status in the interest of quality education.

Teachers can be seen as a normative indicator of social health. Teachers are not only crucial to the right to education, but they are also key to achieving the targets set out in SDG4.

This day is internationally recognized and specifically commemorates teacher organizations globally. This day is about looking at and addressing the numerous issues concerning teachers. Its critical aim is to mobilize support for teachers as well ensuring that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers. A greater spotlight is placed on raising awareness, understanding, and appreciating the contributions that teachers so selflessly make toward education and development. It is about recognising the role of teachers in society. In essence, it is about showing gratitude and appreciation for teachers and saying thanks for all that they so generously do and for the difference and contributions they make in their classrooms and communities.

WTD is an extension of UNESCO's annual work of promoting teachers which is vital to the healthy functioning of society. More than 100 countries observe WTD. Education International (the global union federation that represents education professionals worldwide) annually launches a public awareness campaign to specifically highlight the contributions of the teaching profession. Education International as well as its 401 member organizations have contributed to the widely dissemination of the event and its recognition.

World Teachers’ Day 2016

World Teachers’ Day 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. Moreover, it is the first WTD to be celebrated within the new Global Education 2030 Agenda that was adopted by the world community in 2015. This year’s theme, “Valuing Teachers, Improving their Status”, symbolises the central principles of the fifty-year-old Recommendation while placing a spotlight on the need to support teachers as reflected in the agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A particular education goal, SDG4, pledges to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

The Education 2030 Framework for Action (the roadmap for the new agenda) highlights the fact that teachers are vital for equitable and quality education and must be “adequately trained, recruited and remunerated, motivated and supported within well-resourced, efficient, and effectively governed systems”. However, in order to achieve this goal, it is necessary not only to substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers but to motivate them by valuing their work. By 2030, 3.2 million more teachers will be required to achieve universal primary education and 5.1 million more in order to achieve universal lower secondary education (UNESCO website).

Each and every one can help by celebrating the profession by creating awareness about teacher issues and by celebrating the profession. All over the world there are events that people can participate in.

References

http://en.unesco.org/events/world-teachers-day-0

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/world-teachersday-2016/

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/education-building-blocks/teacher-education/frequently-asked-and-questions/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Teachers%27_Day

Tuesday 4 October 2016

WORLD ANIMAL DAY (WAD)

World Animal Day (unofficially world animal lover day) is a celebratory cause and is annually celebrated on the 4^th of October. World Animal Day is intended to benefit animals. The day is about invoking global concern towards the plight of animals and to globally unite animal lovers. WAD is able to influence many people and is a brand that unites the animal welfare movement.

It provides a unique opportunity for everyone who cares about animals to show their enduring support. On this special day, it is about drawing attention to animal issues and making it front page news. This is an imperative catalyst for change. It is about making the world a kinder, more compassionate place. It is about raising important awareness among people about the ethical treatment of animals. The day commemorates our love and respect for animals by highlighting their importance. It is about sensitising communities by making them aware of the needs of animals and how to improve their lives. It provides a central platform to promote animal welfare issues and to facilitate and momentously improves progress being made. All animals are celebrated, no matter what shape or size, from an elephant to a mouse.

HISTORY

WAD commenced as a result of an idea by Heinrich Zimmermann, a German publisher of the magazine Mensch und Hund/Man and Dog. He organized the first World Animal Day on 24 March 1925 in Berlin and moved it to 4 October in 1929. In May 1931 at a congress of the world’s animal protection organizations held in Florence Italy, his proposal to make 4 October World Animal Day universal, was unanimously accepted. World Animal Day was particularly chosen to be on 4 October as it is the day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, including animals. Since 2003, the WAD animal protection movement is sponsored by Naturewatch Foundation.

MISSION

WAD is about globally improving welfare standards by raising the status of animals. It is about uniting the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into an international force in order to make the world a much better place for all animals. WAD is about celebrating ALL animals and people’s relationship with the animal kingdom. It also acknowledges the diverse roles that animals play in our lives and to be grateful for animals as they enrich our lives. If an increased awareness and education are utilised then we are able to create a world where animals are treated with the utmost respect. It is about establishing a world where there is a harmonious co-existence between people and animals. Their ultimate aim is for people to continually participate until WAD reaches and connects animal advocates in all corners of the world.

WHY CELEBRATE WORLD ANIMAL DAY?

The lives of animals are overwhelmingly affected by people and effective animal protection is required. Building the celebration of World Animal Day mobilises people for action now for a better future for animals. With the help of WAD, a fairer and kinder place for living creatures has been established.

Because of WAD people now understands the myriad reasons why we must take care of animals. Being a voice for animals is important because they do not have a way to advocate for their own welfare.

With its #WorldAnimalDay, there has been a significantly lasting contribution to improve animal welfare standards. Its influence continues to grow exceptionally.

HOW IS THIS DAY CELEBRATED?

This day and its associated events are organised under the World Animal Day Umbrella. It is also being publicised on www.worldanimalday.org.uk and advertised using the WAD brand and logo. Fortunately, every year the WAD logo becomes more broadly recognised as a global brand for animals. Everybody can join and be part of this momentously memorable day. The last couple of years, involvement in this particularly important day has grown exceptionally. WAD is celebrated by a myriad of welfare organisations, businesses, individuals, schools, and community groups, participating in different organisation in celebration of this wonderfully important day.

Many inspiring events are annually and globally held. You can participate in events including awareness & educational, shelter open days & pet adoption events; fundraising events such as concerts and sponsored walks through to gala balls; conferences & workshops; school events to teach the younger generation such as animal-related competitions, concerts & film shows; spay & neuter marathons and veterinary treatment camps; radio & TV interviews to raise awareness of animal issues & World Animal Day and its mission; fundraise for a local animal welfare organisation or charity that's doing great work. Increased awareness for adults and children to treat animals in a humane and compassionate way. Also, peaceful protest marches can also be partaken in. Moreover, donate tins of cat and dog food to local shelters or adopt an animal.

You can also raise the status of animals by making use of social media to get this important across, by using the #worldanimalday. You can publish a personal and valuable pledge for the animals on the World Animal Day website.

No matter the extent of your participation, large or small, it will help mobilise people for action for a better future for animals.

The message is clear: Animals matter! Be an animal advocate, every one of us can make a difference. Together we make change happen. So get involved in this great cause and show that you care!