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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LEARN INTERDEPENDENCE
Nature as an ecosystem of life on this earth has a very important role for all living things on it. If there is damage to nature, it will directly affect all living things....
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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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THE SILENCE OF NATURE
How often do you hear the silence of nature? And why is it growing quieter?...
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ACTS OF LOVING KINDNESS
Hope comes from acts of loving kindness, from slowing down and resting. Let rest be our ultimate resistance in a world that’s moving too fast towards self-destruction....
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SOMETIMES ANIMALS ARE MORE GENEROUS THAN PEOPLE
Humans can be arrogant and selfish. Sometimes, they refuse to do even what’s in their own best interest. Of course, human intelligence may surpass that of any other living being – but it’s essential for every creature – human, animal, or plan...
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LIVE SIMPLY AND GENEROUSLY
Nature has taught me the value of living simply, generously, and in harmony with others. A seed can grow into a tree with merely water and sunlight. This tree spends its life providing shelter, shade, food, and air for others, such as squirrels and b...
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EARTH IS ALL WE HAVE
Earth is all we have and we must learn how to take care of her. Including climate education in today’s educational curriculum will bring the urgency of climate action, discouraging activities that lead to global heating and encouraging our collecti...
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THE CHOICE
If we don’t take meaningful action to protect the environment, this picture will become our reality!...
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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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WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AIR
We are responsible for the air we breathe, for the forest we choose not to cut, and for the clean water in our lakes....
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OVERLOAD
I’m suffocating from all this plastic! Where are the glass bottles, the reusable mesh bags; the durable, high-quality goods that used to last our grandparents for years?...
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HUMANS AND NATURE ARE CONNECTED
Remember that humans and nature are connected. If you make a decision against nature, you’re doing something against yourself too....
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“Alam takambang jadi guru” (NATURE IS A TEACHER)
As the saying goes, "Alam takambang jadi guru" - nature is a teacher. There are many life lessons that nature teaches us, such as always being humble (the rice is getting fuller, the more it bends down), never give up (a river that continues to flow...
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EDUCATION FOR SURVIVAL
We really need to learn about climate because we need to know what dangers will come. We can't underestimate the climate. For example, when there is very heavy rain that doesn't stop for days, it can signal floods or landslides....
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WE ARE ONE SHIP’S CREW
Everything in the world is connected. Every action – every human activity – changes our universe, for we are one ship’s crew....
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WILLINGNESS TO QUESTION
There must be a willingness to question what it means to have a “good life.” It’s frustrating that so many people still very much define a good life in terms of how much they can buy, how lavishly they can live, how many things they can own. Bu...
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SPEAK UP, AND…
We are the first generation to know we’re destroying the world, and we could be the last one to do anything about it. Speaking up is one of the most powerful things you can do. Talk to the people in charge. Talk to your friends, neighbours, and...
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HOLD CEREMONIES, EXPRESS GRATITUDE
My ancestors in Indonesia always taught us that we must care for and protect the universe. Nature and humans live side by side in mutual support of each other. My ancestors have taught us to hold ceremonies to express gratitude for what the universe...
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LIGHT SOMEONE’S DARKNESS
What stops me when I am on the verge of giving up is the fact that one day in the future my voice and words will motivate all those young minds who think that one failure can catastrophically destroy their future. Even in a situation when things make...
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