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Most young people now have a global
context to their lives. They may have family origins in
another country or they may live or study alongside people
from all over the world.
Every decision that we make as consumers
has an impact on global society. Students need to learn
about these impacts and what role their actions can have
on society.
By looking at global citizenship
we become aware of the wider world and can understand our
role in that world. It enables us to respect and value diversity
and encourages us to act to make the world a more equitable
and sustainable place.
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Conpas
The Commonwealth
Institute's website has information and ideas
on global issues to help with the teaching of global citizenship
in Schools.
Citizenship:
the global dimension is a website which contains
resources and information specifically designed for teachers.
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There are a range of factors that
will affect the way in which most of us will shop such as:
- Advertising
- Friends/Peer pressure
- Fashion
- Quality of goods
There are, however, other factors
that we should also start thinking about when making our
decisions, as these have an effect on our world at large.
Examples:-
- the human rights of those making
our goods
- have the goods been made with
environmental sustainability in mind?
- have the goods been tested on
out animals?
There are many practices that we
may consider to be ethically wrong but actually know very
little about.
Lots of organisations provide information
on consumer issues that enable individuals to act ethically
in the market place when making their decision about purchasing.
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The Commonwealth Institute has created a resource to give
teachers ideas about how to use the Commonwealth Games as
a resource in secondary schools. The resource, called 'The
Spirit of Friendship Education Pack' explores
themes of cultural diversity, lifestyle choices, interdependence,
human rights and the influence of the media in the context
of sport.
The following websites all contain educational
resources and information on a wide range of global issues:
United
Nations - schools education section is called
Cyber School Bus.
Oxfam
schools education section is called Cool Planet.
Friends
of the Earth
Greenpeace
Just
Business - This web site has been developed
to provide information and activities about global and ethical
issues for students and teachers of Business Studies and
Economics.
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Fair Trading is concerned with the
fact that there are many people throughout the world who
live in poverty or work in unacceptable conditions.
Various organisations in the UK now support
different ethical trading initiatives, which are designed
to provide producers in developing countries with a fair
share of the returns from the sale of their products.
The problems experienced by poor producers
and workers in developing countries differ from product
to product.
Eg - Small independent farmers
may grow coffee and cocoa on their own land, therefore the
most important aspect of fair trading for them is receiving
a fair price for their produce. In contrast to this, tea
is usually grown on estate and the main concern about fair
trade in this circumstance is that the workers on the estate
are paid a fair wage and have decent working conditions.
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The Department for International
Development is the UK government department responsible
for promoting development and the reduction of poverty.
They produce various publications and a list of these is
available at www.dfid.gov.uk
under the 'publications' heading.
The British Red Cross has developed a
range of education materials designed to look at range of
humanity issues. A magazine is also available which includes
teaching materials, ideas and suggestions.
Contact Youth and School Unit - 020 7235 5454
The World
Bank Group has developed a schools section on
their website which is designed to help teach about different
poverty issues
The Citizens
Connection website links to ideas and resources
for teachers.
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Sustainable development requires
a balance between economic prosperity, social equity and
the environment to ensure quality of life now without damaging
the planet for the future.
Sustainable development isn't just about
achieving a 'clean' environment and preserving nature: it
is also about social justice and access to resources, as
well as reducing the overall throughput of resources at
a global level.
The future or our world is unknown but with sustainable
development, we can try to ensure a better quality of life
for everyone and becoming an informed citizen is as a key
element in making it happen.
The QCA website contains information
on Education
for Sustainable Development
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Through the development of wwflearning
website, the WWF provides information and resources
to support teaching about sustainable development.
Christian
Aid has developed a range of on-line practical
classroom materials for secondary school teachers. Their
website also contains details on their 'Trade Rules!' game
which has been designed to teach students about the workings
of the World Trade Organisation and to have an insight into
the frustrations of an unjust trading system.
Why not get your students to visit the Global
Footprints website - which is designed to help
young people to take steps towards a sustainable future.
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