TURN IT
AROUND!

How to

TURN IT AROUND! is a toolkit to help us radically reimagine education in response to the climate and ecological emergency.  There is no one right way to use them, but here are some ideas that may get you started in turning this emergency around.

 

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MATERIAL OR SPIRITUAL VALUE?

It is through the development of spiritual values – not material ones – that we can truly preserve our planet: ‘In the traditions of nomadic culture, there has always been a deep reverence for Nature and its forces. Respectful and careful treat...

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STUDENTS ORGANIZING FOR SUSTAINABILITY

What do students think about sustainability and education?  We asked just under 7000 students from around the world. Here are a few of the results from our survey Students, Sustainability and Education 2020: 92% agreed that sustainable development s...

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FIND CONNECTION IN DREAMS

My relationship with indigenous ancestry is through connection in dreams. Through dreams I feel the energy of Mother Earth. When I observe nature, it brings me signs of rhythm, gives me firmness with the pecking of the woodpecker, transmits to me lon...

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NATURE–OUR GREATEST TEACHER

To ensure the survival and flourishing of our planet, we must remember: nature is not an infinite resource, but a fragile ecosystem dependent on our actions. Nature is our greatest teacher. Forests teach patience and interdependence, oceans remind us...

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EARTH IS A GIFT

The trees they teach me That to breathe It means you need To not just take but give That the Sun Is life’s sustenance And the Earth Is his gift to us The animals They speak to me In languages more sophisticated Than our own chattering They see sign...

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ECO-ACTIVISM

I see how actively young people are fighting climate change – and it inspires me! We are transforming our present, correcting the mistakes of the past, and fighting for a better future – for a world where we no longer have to worry about the cons...

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TURNING EDUCATION INTO CLIMATE ACTION IN CENTRAL ASIA

Education is more than knowledge – it is empowerment. Climate change education (CCE) equips young people with the skills, values, and mindsets to become changemakers in their communities. Yet CCE remains under-prioritised in national strategies, bu...

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WHAT WILL I SHOW MY CHILD?

You might be surprised that a 14-year-old cares about environmental issues but it scares me to see how few of my peers still do. We are the future, yet we don’t take care of the Earth we’ll be living on. I asked my friends what they think about g...

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ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

What impact can youth-led environmental initiatives and efforts have on the planet? At first glance, their actions may seem small. Yet it is through the persistent efforts of young people that a new environmental consciousness is being shaped in soci...

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DON’T BE SELFISH. SCALE DOWN

Overfishing endangers food webs and ocean ecosystems by disrupting the balance of all sea life. How to fix it? Change our fishing method by catching fish with large populations. Today's version of large-scale agriculture drives deforestation that wor...

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Finding connection in Conversations with Rain

Cup your hands over your ears, pause. listen. Notice overlapping sounds of sea, cave, sense, time, r a i n Now pick up two pencils, one in each hand, and use them to make the Sound of Rain with repeated marks falling onto the page. What if listening...

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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Facing an uncertain future, I find hope and resilience in my family. My mom and I talk about everything and when we talk I feel inspired and she warns me and teaches me a lot because she has been through a lot and she doesn’t want me to make th...

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EVERYTHING ON EARTH HAS ITS OWN PURPOSE

Human ego tends to think of things in nature as being useful for us or useless in general. It’s a pretty incredible conceit. Truly observing nature teaches us that everything on Earth has its own purpose and we should value what each creature d...

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BREAK TOXIC CYCLES

It is important that we break toxic cycles. Whatever decisions you make now will not only affect those who are still growing up, but will determine what trends they will carry forward. The future can be bright, if we all work together to unlearn and...

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NATURE IS THE SECOND MOTHER

Nature is the second mother from whom I learn the lessons of four elements essential to life. Water teaches me how to calm and keep going when meeting any obstacles. Fire teaches me how to be a burning star. Earth teaches me how to be patient. Air te...

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BLACK SNOW IS NO LONGER SCIENCE FICTION

Black snow is no longer a fantasy – it’s our daily reality. It’s not a natural wonder, but a desperate cry for help from nature. This crime is man-made. Black snow is the air you and I breathe. But it’s not a sentence – it’s a challenge w...

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LEARN TO COEXIST

Many species are in danger of extinction. This black-faced spoonbill was originally a common species in the wetlands of East Asia, but its habitat has been destroyed by humans for their convenience. Our life is already convenient enough, so please do...

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TWO COMMON SAYINGS USED IN MY FAMILY

There are two common sayings used in my family. They are the lessons from my ancestors: 1. जो प्राप्त है, वो पर्याप्त है (Whatever we possess, is what is enough) 2. ये दुनिया चलती...

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A VAST WORLD OF PHILIPPINE MYTHOLOGY

One of our popular local myths involves Maria Makiling, the resident diwata (fairy) of the namesake mountain in Laguna. She once walked among humans but was distraught by the environmental destruction they’ve caused and was never seen since. I like...

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