Jan

uar

y 20

13

ISS

N 18

47-6

69

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NEKTARINA

(S)PACE working together towards

a sustainable future

DOLOMITES A world nature heritage site

In this issue: Green Economy, Urban

Sustainability, Home Schooling and more

2

Nektarina

(S)pace

NEKTARINA (S)PACE IS A WEB MAGAZINE PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY NEKTARINA

NON PROFIT, A NON GOVERNMENTAL, NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION REGISTERED IN

CROATIA. WWW.NEKTARINANONPROFIT.COM ISSN 1847-6694

3

The

January

Hues

NEKTARINA (S)PACE IS A WEB MAGAZINE PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY NEKTARINA

NON PROFIT, A NON GOVERNMENTAL, NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION REGISTERED IN

CROATIA. WWW.NEKTARINANONPROFIT.COM ISSN 1847-6694

4

5

6

Nektarina (S)pace, Web magazine

Year 2, Issue # 5, January 2013

Published by Nektarina Non Profit

ISSN 1847—6694

Under Creative Commons License

Working together towards a sustainable future

www.nektarinanonprofit.com

Nektarina Non Profit is a non governmental, non profit organization, and

most of our projects are based on volunteer work. Our articles are a

compilation of data (where we always provide the source(s) at, or opinion

pieces from one of our volunteers, partners or collaborators (in which case

there is a by-line). We come from different backgrounds, and English is not

the first language for any of us, so there might be an occasional language

flop :). If you are using any of our content - it would be really great if you

can link it back to us, and if you are using other people's content that you

found in this magazine, please make sure to copy the source links we

provided. Thank you!

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Publisher: Nektarina Non Profit

Creative Director & Editor-in-Chief: Sandra Antonovic

Lead Researcher & Contributing Editor: Livia Minca

Content Contributor: Yula Pannadopoulos

Journalist: Alyosha Melnychenko

Contributor for January Issue: France Pecovnik

Photography: Sandra Antonovic

Contributors: This could be you!

If interested, email us to space@nektarinanonprofit.com

A bunch of

enthusiasts

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In this

issue:

From our desk:

Enjoy the journey

World Heritage Site:

The Dolomites - Where mountains become poetry

Green Economy

World Economic Forum

The Bookshelf:

Small is Beautiful (E. F. Schumacher)

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Urban Sustainability

Home Schooling

Positive Examples:

Education for Sustainable Development Slovenia

Liveable cities:

Ljubljana

Our Blockbuster:

Yann Arthus Bertrand’s HOME

Birds in Winter

Schools section

Delish!

Recipe of the month

Coming up in February

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From our

desk: By Yula Pannadopoulos

Did you know that Nektarina (S)pace first started in October

2009, as a web portal format of a web magazine? That format wasn’t

really working for us, and in spring 2011 we started exploring ways

and options how to publish a web magazine in a pdf format that

could be read on most devices, but also downloaded for those who’d

chose to read it offline. Once we agreed on a pdf format, we begun

talking about page size. Broadsheet? Berliner? Compact ? Those

sounded really cool, but we weren’t exactly publishing a daily

paper—we decided to go with a monthly edition, and while our at-

tempt to lower our (and yours) carbon footprint shaped our choice of

an online magazine (as opposed to a printed one), we appreciated the

fact that some people might actually want to print out some (or all)

pages. Finally we came to a conclusion that sticking with the good

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old A4 paper format would work best for everyone.

September 2012 issue was our first attempt at such a format, we

liked it, and it seemed to work out for the readers too. You can find our

September, October, November and December 2012 issues at our Issuu

page and also on our Education for Sustainability webpage. None of us

working on the magazine was a professional in that line of work—no

one was a professional writer, or a professional editor, or a designer. All

we were was a bunch of enthusiasts eager to share our ideas, views and

interests, hoping to exchange opinions, get some feedback, learn and

teach, inspire and get inspired, connect people, and get connected.

We are still amateurs in this, but we are also more enthusiastic

than ever. We learned a lot during making the first four issues, we

realized that there are endless ways we can tell our story, share our

thoughts, express ourselves. We also realized that we need some sort of

structure that would be flexible enough to nurture creativity, but also

formal enough to give the reader a sense of continuity throughout the

year. We worked hard on the content plan and schedule, we decided to

increase number of pages (and try to keep them more-less at the same

level in each issue) and we agreed to expand the range of topics (but still

remain focused on environmental and sustainability issues and develop-

ments).

Developing this January issue hasn’t been easy—we had to juggle

our daily (work) activities to find the time for the magazine. We loved

every minute of it! It was and it is a constant challenge, and we keep

questioning ourselves (and hopefully improving our work) in attempt to

compile and deliver interesting (and educational) content.

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We will have 10 monthly issues this year (we’ll have a break in Ju-

ly and August), and we will do our best to bring you about 150 pages of

inspiring content and photography in each issue.

Every month we will explore one World Nature Heritage Site

(UNESCO). We visited some of them last year (and hopefully we will

manage to visit some more throughout this year), we have lovely photos,

we learned a lot, and we’d like to share that with you. This month we are

talking about the Dolomites, an absolutely amazing part of the Alps.

We are introducing several other parts that will be recurring every

month:

→ Sustainable Development and Sustainable Future: In each issue we

will talk about sustainability on different levels, and we will also have

updates from our project Education for Sustainability. This month we

are sharing some information on Urban Sustainability and we are pre-

senting one of our publications, Sustainable Living.

→ Education for Sustainability, Positive Examples: each month we will

present positive examples from countries where sustainability is

(already) a part of schools curricula (in some way). This month we bring

you a positive example from Slovenia.

→ Liveable Cities: we’ll be sharing stories from locals talking urban sus-

tainability, environment, transport, food. This month a young student

France Pecovnik shares his view of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.

→ Our blockbuster choice: every month we share a review of a film

(usually a documentary) that we found particularly interesting,

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educational and/or thought provoking. We will try to address films that

can watched online (legally) without a charge. This January we bring

you HOME, a beautiful, mesmerizing documentary by Yann Arthus

Bertrand.

→ Delish! - Try out one of the recipes we’ll be sharing every month,

bring you different food cultures, regions and experiences.

Finally, in each issue we will share parts of our Schools’ Newsletters,

something we have been issuing for the past two years - we are already

looking forward to continuing our relationship with schools, teachers,

pupils, parents and communities.

We love working on Nektarina (S)pace magazine, we enjoy every

day, as we select content, as we struggle with editing and layout, as we

learn and grow, as we share experiences, ideas and thoughts.

We do hope you will enjoy this magazine, learn something from it,

experience a different perspective on things, or just enjoy photographs.

If you’d like to share your thoughts with us, become a contributor,

have your photos or articles published, don’t hesitate - send us an email

to space@nektarinanonprofit.com.

From our end, we’d like to thank Livia, Sandra, France, Ayesha,

Jessica, Will, Nema, Amanda, Marnie, Lenore, Felicia, Daniel, Philip,

Julika and many others who inspired us, criticized us ;), gave us exam-

ples, learned with us… They all, knowingly or not, left their mark, and

we are grateful for it.

Enjoy the journey!

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16

The

Dolomites:

Where

mountains

become

poetry

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They were named Dolomites after the geologist Déodat de Dolomieu

and in 2009 their unique beauty was recognised by UNESCO which desig-

nated them a world natural heritage property. The inhabitants love their

‘pale mountains’ and not only since they became world famous, for the

majestic rocks have strongly characterised the region and its people since

time immemorial and have made South Tyrol what it is today: a region of

contrasts.

The characteristic rock of the Dolomites consists of fossilised coral

reefs formed during the Triassic Period (around 250 million years ago) by

organisms and sedimentary matter at the bottom of the ancient tropical

Tethys Ocean. The Alps arose as a result of the collision of the African

and European tectonic plates, forcing the rocks at the point of impact to

soar skyward. The western part of the Tethys Ocean, which formerly di-

vided these two continents, disappeared. The Dolomites now stand proud

and distinct from the other limestone Alps. In 1788 the French geologist

Deodat de Dolomieu discovered the properties of this rock, which he

realised was a type of mineral comprising calcium magnesium carbonate

found in varying proportions in the whitish-grey sedimentary limestone

rock of the Dolomite mountains.

The Dolomites have been inhabited since the Iron Age. The Rhae-

tians, Romans and Lombards all left their mark. The oldest permanent set-

tlers are the Ladin people whose vernacular is South Tyrol’s third official

language.

In 2009 the Dolomites were included in the Unesco list of landscapes

deemed especially worthy of protection. Along with the Jungfrau-Aletsch-

Bietschhorn and Monte San Giorgio in Switzerland, the pale mountains

have become the third natural heritage site in the Alps.

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The Dolomites are widely regarded as being among the most attrac-

tive mountain landscapes in the world.

Their intrinsic beauty derives from a variety of spectacular vertical

forms such as pinnacles, spires and towers, with contrasting horizontal

surfaces including ledges, crags and plateaux, all of which rise abruptly

above extensive talus deposits and more gentle foothills. A great diversity

of colours is provided by the contrasts between the bare pale-coloured

rock surfaces and the forests and meadows below.

The mountains rise as peaks with intervening ravines, in some plac-

es standing isolated but in others forming sweeping panoramas. Some of

the rock cliffs here rise more than 1,500 m and are among the highest

limestone walls found anywhere in the world. The distinctive scenery of

the Dolomites has become the archetype of a “dolomitic landscape”.

The pale mountains. According to the architect

Le Corbusier the Dolomites are the world’s

finest example of natural architecture.

Dolomites

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The Dolomites are inhabited by Ladin-speaking people. Fleeing from

migrating Germanic tribes, they populated the Dolomite valleys where the

seclusion enabled them to preserve their traditions, customs and language.

Their tiny hamlets comprising farmhouses huddled together on the

mountainsides are called Viles and hark back to the necessity of surviving as

close-knit communities in the face of the hostile elements. On long winter

evenings some farmers developed skills as wood carvers.

Weaving a story

One of the spectacular features of the Dolomites is the way lush Alpine

pastures suddenly give way to sheer limestone and Dolomite rock faces and

towers. The myriad shapes and forms which reveal the evolution of the Dolo-

mites is fascinating. Around 100 natural monuments are protected, including

plants and landscape features such as earth pyramids, caves and Alpine

lakes.

* * *

Extensive areas of natural and cultivated landscapes have long been protect-

ed in seven nature reserves, four of which are located in the Dolomites. The

aims of the nature reserve concept include providing spaces for recreation

and encouraging people to behave responsibly in their relationship with na-

ture. The nature reserve visitor centres provide interesting information on

each region’s geology, history and environments in a lively manner.

* * *

22

After German and Italian, Ladin is South Tyrol’s third official lan-

guage. It is the region’s ancient language which evolved from Vulgar Latin

and is spoken by around 30,000 people in the valleys around the Sella mas-

sif. The people here preserved their language and developed their individu-

al Ladin culture over centuries in the seclusion of their valleys. Ladin is

one of Europe’s tiniest languages. South Tyrol’s 18,000 Ladin speakers live

above all in Val Gardena/Gröden and Val Badia/Gadertal valleys.

* * *

One of the culinary highlights is the typical Ladin cuisine, simple made from fresh, genuine ingredients.

Turtres da erba (spinach pancakes)

Recipe for 4 persons

Ingredients for the dough: 200 gr of rye flour, 100 gr of white flour, 1 egg,

some tepid water, 30 gr of melted butter, salt

Ingredients for the filling: 150 gr of cooked and minced spinach, (or 150 gr

of mashed potatoes), 150 gr of ricotta, salt, pepper, nutmeg, some oil

Preparation:

Mix carefully all ingredients and you will obtain a farely elastic dough, let

it sit (covered) for one hour. Prepare the filling with spinach and ricotta

(add some oil). Add some salt, pepper and some nutmeg, let everything cool

off. Form thin circles (12 cm) with the dough. Fill the circle of dough with

the prepared filling and cover it with another circle, push carefully with

your fingers along the edge. Deep fry the pancake on both sides in abun-

dant boiling oil.

* * *

23

The inhabitants of the mountains never ventured into the area of

barren rock, for it was said that anybody who did would be punished.

Consequently the first rock climbers were from the cities. From 1800 they

conquered peak after peak with the help of Tyrolean mountain guides,

became heroes and brought fame to the Dolomites. The first Alpine club

opened in London. Finally Tyrolean climbers followed.

* * *

The Tyrolean farmers regularly indulged themselves in a spa holi-

day. However, tourism only really gathered momentum after the Brenner

railway opened in the 1860s. In cities physicians prescribed their rich pa-

tients fresh air, best savoured in the mountains. Grand hotels opened,

good-humoured landladies were on everybody’s lips, scenic roads were

built. Theodor Christomannos was one of the driving forces. He built the

road into the Val d’Ega/Eggental and the luxury Carezza hotel, where

guests sat at their windows and marvelled at the mountain backdrop.

* * *

In South Tyrol culture is everyday culture that people live by, not a

souvenir that holidaymakers can pack in their suitcases and leave to

gather dust at home. The question often arises: what is German, what is

Italian? The tri-lingual region unites the best from the cultures living

here: in Italy’s northernmost province Alpine snugness and congeniality

meets the Mediterranean atmosphere; the down-to-earth approach meets

the dolce vita. However, culture in South Tyrol also means history, illus-

trated by the numerous churches, fortified manor houses and castles

found throughout the region. Contemporary art and architecture provide

a wonderful counterpart.

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The South Tyrolean

chestnut experience trail

Ten informative stations line the trail: they focus on the theme of the

chestnut, ranging from history to science to trivia, educating the public

about the significance of the chestnut and the chestnut tree. If you would

like to explore the ten stations in depth, you’ll need about an hour and a

half. The Chestnut Trail is thus suited to hikers of all ages who are inter-

ested in nature. The Chestnut Trail is situated in the middle of Foiana,

above Lana. The starting point of the flat, very manageable path, which is

2 km in length, is visible from a distance: there is an oversized wooden

sculpture of a chestnut casing.

More About Chestnuts

In former, leaner centuries, the noble fruit in its thorny casing served as a

dietary staple: the chestnut and chestnut flour can be used not only for

bread and cakes but also for pasta, gnocchi and polenta. The chestnut was

also used as coffee substitute and its bitter honey is extremely popular to

this day. During times of crisis, the chestnut was used as a protein-rich die-

tary supplement in times, securing the survival of the people. In the nine-

teenth century, there was a disease that killed many of the chestnut trees in

Europe: this led to the decimation of the fruit and to its supersession. The

chestnut became important again only after the world wars.

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Sustainable South Tyrol

South Tyrol sets a high bar for itself when it comes to conscientious

and environmentally friendly recreation. The province is known far beyond

its borders for its foresight in energy efficient solutions. This expertise has

grown out of experiences living in the Alps.

South Tyrol combines a southern lifestyle with Alpine reliability. The

Dolomites, which UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in the summer

of 2009, tower over the province, which is Italy’s northernmost. The land-

scape is also rich in its diversity, encompassing more than 7,400 square kilo-

metres: mountains alternate with valleys, replete with apple trees, mountain

streams give way to mountain lakes.

98% of South Tyrol’s ski areas operate their facilities using electricity

from renewable energy sources. The electrical energy the province obtains

through waterpower not only meets local needs, but is also a major export.

Even the water used for production of artificial snow passes back into the

cycle of nature through the melting of the snow.

In South Tyrol, you can leave the car in the garage. There are numer-

ous alternatives to driving yourself here, since public transport is so well de-

veloped. A single pass is valid throughout the province on trains, buses, and

cable cars so it carries you all the way to your destination.

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The ski area at the Val Senales (Schnalstal) glacier is known for

having snow 365 days a year. It is precisely because of its unique location,

in the heart of alpine nature, that the Val Senales glacier cable cars have

been geared towards the theme of environmental protection for several

years. A combined heat and power unit and hydroelectric power plant sup-

ply the necessary power for the lifts; in peak hours, additional electricity −

produced exclusively from renewable energy − is bought. An Eco Manage-

ment and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certificate, which is the European Un-

ion’s system for community eco-management and auditing, confirms this.

In addition, Val Senales is the only Italian ski area to be awarded with

the 2011 pro natura – pro ski Award by the Lichtensten-based pro natura

– pro ski Foundation. Skiresort.de also honoured Val Senales − out of a

field of more than 100 ski areas in eleven countries − with a major inter-

national award: Environmentally Friendly Ski Area of 2011.

The village of Plan (Pfelders), located at the back of Val Passiria

(Passeiertal) Valley, has been a soft mobility destination since the year

2007. Its Village Express, a small train on wheels, and two CityBuses al-

low locals and visitors alike to enjoy the picturesque village, which is lo-

cated inside the Gruppo di Tessa (Texelgruppe) Nature Park, free of stress

and with restricted traffic. Thanks to this innovative mobility concept,

visitors can park their cars at the entrance to the village; driving on the

roads is only permitted for residents and guests of lodging establishments

in Plan. No car means no stress: visitors are brought directly to the village

and the slopes. The ski area operates all lifts and snowmaking equipment

using renewable energy from a hydroelectric plant. All of these qualities

together afford the village membership in the Alpine Pearls, an associa-

tion that stands for soft-mobile holidays in the Alps.

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A car-free policy not only makes a holiday in Plan environmentally

friendly, but also guarantees visitors a calming and relaxing holiday.

Carezza Ski, which lies within a UNESCO World Natural Heritage

Site, boasts an average of eight hours of sun every day of winter, making

it South Tyrol’s sunniest ski area. Here, building in harmony with nature

is of the utmost importance: its new reservoir, for example, is the most en-

vironmentally friendly of its kind. The natural sink, with hard and

sometimes rocky bedrock, makes an ideal reservoir from the hydrogeolog-

ical point of view. The water level makes it possible to fill the reservoir

from the small, pre-existing basin, without additional pressure.

Together with Arosa Ski Area (CH), the ski area of Carezza

(Karersee) plans to increase energy efficiency through joint energy-

saving initiatives and measures. Their Alpine Klimaskigebiete project

will mean the introduction of innovative renewable energy sources. Due

to the substantial number of sunshine hours at both ski areas, the project

aims to harness solar energy and implement photovoltaic systems, with

innovative renewable energy sources such as energy carpets or speed

bumps that gather electrical energy.

South Tyrol combines a southern lifestyle with

Alpine reliability. South Tyrol sets a high bar

for itself when it comes to conscientious and

environmentally friendly recreation.

30

Anyone who wants to explore South Tyrol can do so easily, conven-

iently and in an environmentally friendly way. The Mobilcard affords ad-

venturous visitors unlimited use of all public transport in South Tyrol for

three or seven consecutive days. This includes regional trains from the

Brennero (Brenner) Pass to Trento and from Mals (Malles) to San Candi-

do (Innenchen), local buses (municipal bus lines, intercity buses, and City-

Buses), cable cars to Renon (Ritten), Maranza (Meransen), San Genesio

Atesino (Jenesien), Meltino (Mölten) and Verano (Vöran), the Renon

Tram and the Mendola (Mendel) Funicular.

Cyclists can take advantage of the bikemobil card, which is a combi-

nation train and bus ticket and includes a bicycle rental. Whether you

choose a day pass or a pass that is valid for three or seven consecutive days,

nothing stands in the way of unlimited biking fun. Free use of a bicycle is

included for one day. Rental locations can be found at railway stations and

at various satellite stations, which are marked “Südtirol Rad”. Your rental

bike can be returned to any of the participating companies. Many bicycle

rental centres also rent electric bicycles. These can also be obtained, at an

additional charge, with your bikemobil card.

The latest province-wide advantage pass is the museumobil card.

This card allows visitors to explore South Tyrol’s many wonderful muse-

ums, moving from place to place on public transport. Whether to Bolzano

to see Ötzi the Iceman or to Predoi (Prettau Mine), use of public transport

is unlimited. The museumobil Card entitles the holder to one entrance at

each of the various museums. hese advantage cards are available wherever

the Mobilcard is sold, including local tourist offices.

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Sculpture Walk Trail

Anyone looking to combine the pleasure of the countryside with art

appreciation will just love this two-hour-long stroll that passes contempo-

rary art installations along the way.

The South Tyrol Sculpture Path in Lana offers people who love both

nature and art the chance to observe how artists from every continent react

to the landscape and to the different situations they encounter along the

way, as well as how they interpret the landscape of the trail en route from

both an individual and artistic point of view. The resulting art stations

were also conceived as rest stops or places of contemplation and insight:

places that stimulate reflection.

In conjunction with walking—at the natural speed of man—the

Sculpture Trail itself turns into a work of art. The artistic interventions at

particular points, intersections and forks in the road were created in order

to contribute a staged progression and forward motion with the assistance

of art. Be sure to walk slowly and take your time, so to fully appreciate the

interplay between nature and sculpture: a treat for the eyes, mind and

soul.

The Route

The Sculpture Trail stretches for kilometres across the entire picturesque

Brandis Waalweg, along the Ländpromenade to protected habitat of Rio

Valsura/Falschauer and through the Gaulschlucht.

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The

Legend of

King

Laurin and

his rose

garden

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In ancient times when giants and dwarfs populated the Alpine valleys

the dwarf King Laurin reigned inside the mountain which we now call the

Rosengarten (‘rose garden’). He owned vast treasures though his most im-

portant possession was a magic hat which rendered him invisible. Laurin’s

pride and joy was a magnificent garden in front of the gateway to his for-

tress within the rock.

Countless red roses flowered there the whole year round and they were en-

compassed by a golden thread of silk. Woe betide anybody who dared to

break the thread and pick even a single rose! Laurin threatened to chop off

his left hand and right foot. One day Laurin caught sight of the beautiful

blond Princess Simhild in a neighbouring castle. He fell in love and ab-

ducted her with the help of his magic hat. From then on Simhild lived in

Laurin’s mountain kingdom surrounded by gold, silver and precious stones,

served and guarded by petite maidens of court and dwarf knights. In spite of

such riches and luxury Simhild was sad and was homesick for the flowery

meadows of her home.

In fact it is almost an antagonism if a hard, grey

rock has such a lovely and tender name like

Rosengarten. But the well-known South

Tyrolean Dolomites massif bears this name

because of a special and legendary reason.

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Grief and horror reigned in her brother Dietlieb’s castle. While

searching for his sister Dietlieb met Dietrich of Bern, King of the Goths.

Dietrich joined Dietlieb and the two parties set off for King Laurin’s realm.

Dietrich marvelled at the luxuriant roses enclosed by a golden thread,

though his companions broke the thread and trampled on the roses. The fu-

rious Laurin charged at them on his white pony demanding the offender’s

hand and foot. An unequal fight ensued. Initially Laurin was able to pro-

tect himself with his magic cap. However, the knights could tell where Lau-

rin was by the movement of the roses. One of them unhorsed him and in

falling Laurin’s magic hat fell off. He lay on the ground helpless and plead-

ed for his life. Shackled, he was forced to lead the victors into his kingdom

where Simhild was set free.

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Laurin invited Dietrich and his retinue to a banquet. When all had

eaten and drunk their fill a thousand dwarfs suddenly fell upon them and

Dietrich and his company were shackled and locked up in the darkest part

of the kingdom. Dietrich was so angry at this insidious deed that he sum-

moned inhuman power to break open the irons and freed his men. They

broke open all the locks and doors and assailed Laurin’s unsuspecting

dwarfs. Finally they succeeded in capturing the dwarf king. The glory of

the dwarf kingdom had come to an end. The manacled king uttered a curse

to destroy his rose garden. Neither the bright day nor the dark night should

ever again see the magnificence of the roses. Only barren, pale rocks should

remain. But Laurin forgot to include the twilight between day and night.

For this reason, under certain conditions the pale mountains glow red at

sunset.

The alpenglow is called ‘Enrosadüra’ in the

Ladin valleys. Here hundreds of legends tell of

witches, nymphs and moon princesses. The

dwarf king Laurin’s curse makes the

Rosengarten massif near Bolzano glow red in

the evening light. Magical, or a unique natural

spectacle?

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Positive

Example:

Slovenia

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Education for

Sustainable Development

in Slovenia

The topic of sustainable development and education for sustainable

development (ESD) is present on various levels in the Slovene education

debate. Stakeholders involved in ESD come from different institutions

and organisations, like the NGO sector, different ministries, institutes,

schools, out of school education organisations, etc.

Although the debate is almost omnipresent, it does not result in offi-

cial documentation and practice as much as the global situation demands.

The white book on education, which includes most of the topics on ESD,

was drafted and has been in public consultation since spring 2011. Howev-

er, as the government fell in September 2011 and a new one has been in-

stalled only since February 2012, the question regarding what is going to

happen to the procedure is still pending.

Although the debate is almost

omnipresent, it does not result in official

documentation and practice as much as

the global situation demands.

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There are also several documents on ESD that are all non-binding,

such as guidelines for ESD or the cross-curricular subject called Environ-

mental Education, which is defined as one of the additional non-obligatory

subjects on the web page of the Ministry for Education and Sports, etc. In

the elementary education it appears as an inter-subject field, meaning the

teachers include it in teaching specific subjects, daily activities and other

activities in schools.

Elements of environmental education are present in all the three pe-

riods of elementary schooling. In the third period (grades 6 to 9) it can be

taught as a separate, optional subject, which is designed in an interdiscipli-

nary way: It connects and expands knowledge gained in different compul-

sory natural science and social subjects. But it is still optional and not

compulsory, which means it depends on the teacher how much and what to

incorporate in his/her classes. Therefore, not all pupils get this kind of edu-

cation.

In the NGO community, ESD is called also Global Education (GE).

GE is understood and presented even more broadly than traditionally un-

derstood ESD. It focuses on skills and even more on values, topics are pre-

sented as interlinked (development cooperation, peace studies, human

rights, environmental education, climate change, etc), it involves also con-

temporary teaching methods, like the open space methodology, learning by

doing, blurring the border between teachers and students, participatory

learning, research and critical thinking.

However, GE is still implemented on the level of out-of-school activi-

ties or on special occasions, where individual teachers invite speakers to

carry out workshops.

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Despite its presence in official educational documents, like the curric-

ula, sustainable development is rarely understood with all the three compo-

nents (economic, social and environmental) and it is mostly linked to envi-

ronmental education. Even this theme is mostly related to noticing prob-

lems, rarely encouraging pupils to active engagement in the field. Important

features, such as climate change, are also missing.

A two years educational program for educators was developed by the

University of Ljubljana and it included several topics of sustainable devel-

opment from the three perspectives. The topics were presented using various

methods, in line with ESD and many teachers attended the program. How-

ever, since its end in 2011, no further similar projects emerged.

A cross sector working group led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

the Group for Global Education, is operational. It was established in 2010,

influenced by the NGO community dealing with GE, and, despite some bot-

tlenecks in its functioning, the mere existence and formation of the group is

a positive sign.

It connects and expands knowledge gained in

different compulsory natural science and social

subjects, but it is still optional and not

compulsory, which means it depends on the

teacher how much and what to incorporate in

his / her classes. Therefore, not all pupils get this

kind of education.

62

There are also various voluntary

initiatives and networks of schools,

linked to ESD. These are eco schools

network, UNICEF schools, UNESCO

schools, healthy schools, etc. They de-

pend on individual actors in the

schooling community, the level of en-

gagement and inclusion and the way

sustainable development is incorpo-

rated into educational processes, both

as methods and as contents.

In Slovenia, the ESD is still not

perceived as an integral part of

(formal) education as such, but as an

additional element. In the textbooks,

the elements of sustainable develop-

ment are mentioned as a separate, ad-

ditional part of different chapters. The

trend of strengthening ESD is noticea-

ble, but it is still in the early stages.

Source:

http://www.enjoined.edupolicy.net/files/

SLO_ESD_eng.pdf

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64

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66

Urban

Sustain

-ability

67

The Philips Center for Health

and Well-Being

Olivier Piccolin, a senior vice president

in charge of Philips's commercial

lighting division:

“Today, new factors demand we urgently change our view of cities

and how they should evolve. First, the urban growth surge, spawning

mega-cities in Asia and other emerging economies, is unlike anything ex-

perienced in history. Secondly, the ecological imperative of reducing ur-

ban consumption of carbon and other resources forces us to find accelerat-

ed solutions. And there's intense pressure on budgets to support the in-

creasing demand for public services in cities, So we must find new defini-

tions of what makes a successful city.

The Center's Livable Cities think tank has begun the task of defin-

ing how a fit-for-the- future city can be created and sustained, in emerg-

ing markets. So 'success' will not be judged solely in terms of economic

growth and efficiency, but will include more subjective factors including

social, economic and environmental resilience, and inclusiveness for all

parts of the population and diversity--as well as remaining authentic dur-

ing transition. Perhaps 'equal opportunity' or 'percentage of green spaces'

will one day sit alongside GDP as a component in future rankings of suc-

cessful cities. “

68

Liveable

Cities:

Ljubljana

69

70

By France Pecovnik

Did you know that Ljubljana classifies as Slovenia's only large

town? It seems as if both the location of the city - in the very centre of

the country - and it's symbol (the Ljubljana Dragon) symbolizes the

same thing - power, courage and greatness.

Ljubljana is very "citizens and environment" oriented city, and sev-

eral years ago, in co-operation with Siemens, the city launched a pro-

gramme Ljubljana, pametno mesto (Ljubljana, smart city). The web site

is in Slovenian only, but you can still check it out at

www.ljubljanapametnomesto.si

71

Ljubljana is also a cyclists' oriented city, for decades, and most people

use bicycles as their main mean of transport, even in the winter months. The

city also provides the possibility to rent a bike. Since mid 2011 a self-service

bicycle rental system offers the residents and tourists about 300 bicycles and

600 parking spots at 31 stations in the wide city area. The daily number of

rentals has amounted to about 2,500 (Ljubljana has about 280,000

inhabitants). The city centre has been closed for car traffic for over five

years now.

Another low carbon way of transport that Ljubljana (and the entire

Slovenia) is very in favour of are trains, connecting Ljubljana to it's suburbs

and the rest of the country. There are numerous programmes, weekly,

monthly and annual passes to ensure people stick with trains as their second

preferred (after bicycles) way of transport.

Still, there is always some room for improvement, especially for the cy-

clists - many cycle lanes are in poor condition and constructed in a way that

privileges the motorized traffic.

Also, contrasting some of the European capitals, cycling is banned

from some of the main streets and there are many one-way streets making it

difficult to cycle in the city centre. The city government and the cyclist

groups are working together to improve those things.

Ljubljana is very "citizens and environment"

oriented city. The city centre has been closed for

car traffic for over five years now.

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82

Green

Economy

83

These articles are reproduced without modifications from their respec-

tive sources, which will be indicated at the end of each article. The purpose

of this excercise is not to reinvent the wheel and come up with things that

have not been said before about green economy, but rather to gather together

a large spectrum of information and make it available for everyone who does

not have the time for an extensive research, in order to highlight the im-

portance of this concept in the current global context.

Defining Green Economy

UNEP has developed a working definition of a green economy as one

that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while signif-

icantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its sim-

plest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low

carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.

Practically speaking, a green economy is one whose growth in in-

come and employment is driven by public and private investments that re-

duce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource effi-

ciency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. These

investments need to be catalyzed and supported by targeted public expendi-

ture, policy reforms and regulation changes. This development path should

maintain, enhance and, where necessary, rebuild natural capital as a criti-

cal economic asset and source of public benefits, especially for poor people

whose livelihoods and security depend strongly on nature.

84

WRI Managing Director Manish Bapna

responds to some of the most commonly-

asked questions regarding Green Economy

What is a Green Economy?

A Green Economy can be thought of as an alternative vision for

growth and development; one that can generate growth and improvements in

people’s lives in ways consistent with sustainable development. A Green

Economy promotes a triple bottom line: sustaining and advancing economic,

environmental and social well-being.

The prevailing economic growth model is focused on increasing GDP

above all other goals. While this system has improved incomes and reduced

poverty for hundreds of millions, it comes with significant and potentially

irreversible social, environmental and economic costs. Poverty persists for as

many as two and a half billion people, and the natural wealth of the planet

is rapidly being drawn down. In a recent global assessment, approximately

60% of the world’s ecosystem services were found to be degraded or used un-

sustainably. The gap between the rich and poor is also increasing – between

1990 and 2005, income inequality (measured by the gap between the highest

and lowest income earners) rose in more than two thirds of countries.

85

The persistence of poverty and degradation of the environment can be

traced to a series of market and institutional failures that make the prevail-

ing economic model far less effective than it otherwise would be in advanc-

ing sustainable development goals. These market and institutional failures

are well known to economists, but little progress has been made to address

them. For example, there are not sufficient mechanisms to ensure that pol-

luters pay the full cost of their pollution.

There are “missing markets” – meaning that markets do not systemati-

cally account for the inherent value of services provided by nature, like wa-

ter filtration or coastal protection. A “market economy” alone cannot pro-

vide public goods, like efficient electricity grids, sanitation or public trans-

portation. And economic policy is often shaped by those who wield power,

with strong vested interests, and rarely captures the voice and perspectives

of those most at risk. A Green Economy attempts to remedy these problems

through a variety of institutional reforms and regulatory, tax, and expendi-

ture-based economic policies and tools.

While the prevailing economic growth model focuses on increasing

GDP above all other goals, a Green Economy promotes a triple bottom line:

sustaining and advancing economic, environmental and social well-being.

A Green Economy promotes a triple bottom line:

sustaining and advancing economic,

environmental and social well-being.

86

What does a Green Economy look like?

The transition to a Green Economy has a long way to go, but several

countries are demonstrating leadership by adopting national “green growth”

or “low carbon” economic strategies.

There are many examples of successful, large-scale programs that in-

crease growth or productivity and do so in a sustainable manner.

For example:

→ The Republic of Korea has adopted a national strategy and a five-year

plan for green growth for the period 2009–2013, allocating 2 per cent of its

gross domestic product to investment in several green sectors such as renew-

able energy, energy efficiency, clean technology and water. The government

has also launched the Global Green Growth Institute which aims to help

countries (especially developing countries) develop green growth strategies.

→ In Mexico City, crippling congestion led to a major effort to promote

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a sophisticated bus system that uses dedicated

lanes on city streets. Significant public investment in the BRT has reduced

commuting times and air pollution and improved access to public transit

for those less able to afford private cars. This remarkable success is now be-

ing replicated in cities across Mexico and has led to investment from the

federal government in urban public transit for the first time.

87

→ China now invests more than any other country in renewable energy. Its

total installed wind capacity grew 64 percent in 2010. This growth is driven

by a national policy that sees clean energy as a major market in the near fu-

ture, and one in which China wants to gain a competitive edge.

→ Namibia is managing its natural resources to generate economic, social,

and environmental benefits. Local communities across the country are

granted the right to use and capitalize on the benefits of using wildlife and

other natural resources within the boundaries of “communal conservan-

cies.” With an economic incentive to sustainably manage these areas, food

and employment is being provided for hundreds of thousands of Namibians

in rural areas. More than half of the jobs are filled by women, and wildlife

populations have increased.

→ Businesses are increasingly leading progress toward a Green Economy.

For example, the carpet company Interface FLOR is improving its compet-

itive positioning in this normally petroleum-intensive industry by focusing

on how sustainability can enhance its business model. The company is

working towards a closed loop system, meaning that its waste products are

also its manufacturing inputs. Its company culture reinforces its goals –

when employees know they are making a difference in the world, they tend

to work harder and be better at their jobs, making the enterprise more pro-

ductive. Interface’s CEO, Ray Anderson, has said “If we can do it, anyone

can. And if anyone can, everyone can.”

The transition to a Green Economy has a long

way to go.

88

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How does Green Economy differ from pre-

vious efforts to promote sustainability –

what is new?

In many ways, Green Economy objectives simply support those already

articulated for the broader goal of sustainable development. But this new

framing responds to two recent developments.

First, there is a deeper appreciation today by many governments, com-

panies, civil society and the public that we are reaching planetary limits,

not just in terms of greenhouse gas emissions but also in our use of water,

land, forests and other natural resources. The environmental and social

costs of our current economic model are becoming more and more apparent.

Second, and perhaps even more important, the global recession has led

to a reconsideration of key tenets of the current economic model – such as

the primacy of growth and the belief in light-touch regulation. In openly

questioning the strength of the status quo, many public- and private-sector

leaders are seeking:

A Green Economy attempts to remedy problems

through a variety of institutional reforms and

regulatory, tax, and expenditure-based economic

policies and tools.

91

→ Policies and regulations that can identify and manage financial and

other risks more effectively

→ New markets and industries that can create good, long-term jobs

→ Public support for innovation to position a country to compete in to-

morrow’s markets.

These developments point to the need for new sources of growth that

are environmentally sustainable – for example, employment in high-

growth sectors such as clean energy. Past sustainability efforts have not

focused sufficiently on fixing the failures of economic policies such as

pricing pollution. But we now have a chance to tackle these challenging

problems given the policy openings created by the response to the finan-

cial crisis. A good example is Korea’s adoption of a national green growth

strategy (described before).

Some see marrying sources of new growth with sustainability as the

future. Why is China investing in wind? To win tomorrow’s markets, not

necessarily to compete in today’s. As the late C. K. Prahalad – a visionary

on corporate strategy ―was fond of saying, “we need to move from seeing

sustainability as a cost or hindrance to realizing that it’s a key driver of

innovation”.

These developments point to the need for new

sources of growth that are environmentally

sustainable.

92

What are some of the concerns and

tensions with the concept of a

Green Economy?

One question people ask is “can we afford this?” We’re still in the wake

of the global financial crisis and many people perceive Green Economy solu-

tions as expensive. The United States is asking itself whether it can afford to

put a price on carbon today. Developing countries are concerned that transi-

tioning to a Green Economy will hinder economic growth and the ability to

reduce poverty.

Moreover, there will be short-term, nontrivial losses associated with

changes in industry and market structure (e.g., a decline of the coal industry

and related job losses.) Supporting those actors who will bear the brunt of

the transition will be critical to building broad ownership for a Green Econ-

omy.

Some countries feel that they are lagging in green technology

know-how and therefore will be at a competitive disadvantage in the race for

future markets. Others feel that the Green Economy is a pretense for rich

countries to erect “green” trade barriers on developing country exports. These

are all legitimate concerns that deserve attention.

Ultimately, a hard-nosed economic analysis should inform decisions on

what policies and investments to promote today. When the full costs and ben-

efits over time are taken into account however, many Green Economy solu-

tions will be seen as more attractive. Nevertheless, there will still be difficult

choices and tradeoffs.

93

For example, should India aggressively promote grid-connected, relatively

expensive solar power when hundreds of millions in the country still have

no access to electricity? And even where Green Economy solutions make

economic sense, they may be politically challenging. The transition to a

Green Economy will not be easy.

We are still in the wake of the global financial

crisis and many people perceive Green Economy

solutions as expensive.

94

What are the challenges to

a transition to a Green Economy,

and what will make it possible?

The principal challenge is how we move towards an economic system

that will benefit more people over the long run. Transitioning to a Green

Economy will require a fundamental shift in thinking about growth and

development, production of goods and services, and consumer habits. This

transition will not happen solely because of better information on impacts,

risks or good economic analysis; ultimately, it is about politics and chang-

ing the political economy of how big decisions are made.

The problem is vested interests. Those who benefit from the status quo

are either overrepresented in or have greater access to institutions that

manage natural resources and protect the environment. U.S. climate legis-

lation, for example, was defeated in no small part by resistance from fossil-

fuel based energy advocates.

Transition to a Green Economy will require a

fundamental shift in thinking about growth and

development, production of goods and services,

and consumer habits.

95

The following steps would help create a more level policy-making palying

field:

→ Increase public awareness and the case for change. Greater visibility on

the need for this transition can motivate voters and consumers - not just be-

cause of the costs but also the economic benefits generated by a Green Econ-

omy, such as new jobs and new markets. People will not adopt policies be-

cause they are green. They will do so when they believe it is in their inter-

est.

→ Promote new indicators that complement GDP. Planning agencies and

finance ministries should adopt a more diverse and representative set of eco-

nomic indicators that focus less exclusively on growth and track the pace

and progress of development.

→ Open up government decision-making processes to the public and civil

society. This would help ensure policies are accountable to the public and

not to vested and well-connected interests

→ Identify and take advantage of political leadership when available as

this will be crucial in order to limit the undue influence of “dirty” economic

holdouts.

Timing is everything when it comes to big policy reforms. Green

Economy advocates will need to be ready when that window of opportunity

presents itself. Ultimately, the widespread transition to a Green Economy

will depend on whether or not the long-term public interest is reflected in

today’s economic policies.

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98

World

Economic

Forum

99

A very special event is taking place these days (23-27 January) in Da-

vos, Switzerland. It is the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting and

important international figures from the political and economic world are

meeting to discuss the hottest topics of the moment relating to how the

world economy is advancing and what solutions can be tackled in the fu-

ture for the problems that we are facing. On the event’s webpage the follow-

ing statement is given:

“For over 40 years, the mission of the World Economic Forum – com-

mitted to improving the state of the world – has driven the design and de-

velopment of the Annual Meeting programme. The Annual Meeting re-

mains the foremost creative force for engaging leaders in collaborative ac-

tivities focused on shaping the global, regional and industry agendas. To-

day, we live in the most complex, interdependent and interconnected era in

human history. We are increasingly confronted by major adaptive chal-

lenges as well as profound transformational opportunities. This new lead-

ership context requires successful organizations to master strategic agility

and to build risk resilience.”

An overview of the event can be consulted at:

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/AM13/EF_AM13_ExecutiveSummary.pdf

Today we live in the most complex,

interdependent and interconnected era in

human history.

100

But how does this and the Forum in general relate to our issue at hand, sus-

tainability? Does it, indeed?

Well, for one thing, we are promoting our “Education 4 Sustainabil-

ity” project in the spirit that today’s young people – tomorrow’s adults and

decision-makers – should learn in school about sustainability in all its

forms (environmental, social and, yes, economical). So that when they grow

up they are not only able to live in a world where all natural resources that

we have enjoyed are still available, but also to understand the mechanisms

of an economy that undoubtedly is already changing and will continue to do

so in the future. And the way it will be shaped will influence the very core

of their lifestyles.

So yes, organisations and events such as the World Economic Forum

Annual Meeting should be watched closely because they have the potential

to change the course of future sustainability. In the last years the ever-so-

present dispute ”environment vs economic developement” has been continu-

ously diminnished by the intriguing cohabitation of the two notions into

the “Green Economy” syntax. So far it does seem that this tandem is work-

ing, as the sector of Green Economy is increasing its share every day, but

only time will say if this has been the miracle sustainability option that

everyone was hoping for.

This year’s theme: Resilient Dynamism, speaks

to a more balanced world, one that continues to

innovate without creating bubbles and achieves

widespread prosperity without consuming more

natural resources that the planes has or can

generate.

101

In the meantime, an article on GreenBiz.com by Aron Cramer

(president and CEO of BSR , recognized globally as an authority on corpo-

rate responsibility by leaders in business and NGOs and by his peers in the

field) talks exactly about our topic: “Davos 2013: The building blocks for a

sustainable future?” Below are some excerpts from the article, that is availa-

ble in full at: http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2013/01/23/davos-2013-building-

blocks-sustainable-future.

“The World Economic Forum’s 2013 meeting in Davos kicked off this

week amidst ongoing stagnation in the world’s economy. This will be the

fifth Davos since the global financial crisis took hold. And while 2013’s

stagnation is far preferable to the fear and loathing that permeated Davos in

2009, the leaders who gather here this week continue to grasp for answers.

This year’s theme, Resilient Dynamism, speaks to a more balanced

world: one that continues to innovate without creating bubbles and achieves

widespread prosperity without consuming more natural resources than the

planet has or can regenerate.

Each Davos is different, and it is impossible for one person to truly

understand the entire event: After all, there are 2,500 official attendees and

probably twice as many aides circling the perimeter.

Government leaders who actually make sustainable growth a priority.

With the U.S., E.U., and Japan caught in a low-growth trap, and Brazil and

India slowing, growth at any cost appears high on the agenda. In fact, there

are some governments slightly off the main stage making green growth a

priority, namely the South Koreans and the Danes, who are spearheading

the Global Green Growth Initiative. It’s time for the biggest players, though,

to get off the sidelines and revitalize their efforts to catalyze investments in

green infrastructure, technology transfers and renewable energy.

102

Collaborations that can go to scale: While Davos has the image of al-

pha males and females strutting their stuff, it is actually partnership cen-

tral, with many interesting collaborations developed and showcased. I’ll be

participating, for example, in efforts to advance WEF’s New Vision for Ag-

riculture, which has powerful partnerships up and running in 10 countries

to align nutrition, sustainability, and economic development at the farm

level. This is but one example of the kinds of collaborations that are need-

ed, with renewed collaboration needed most around climate, to jump-start

policy discussions.

103

An understanding of how empowered individuals are part of the sys-

tem represented in Davos: Davos is in some ways the original social network,

though certainly not on the scale of Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Inter-

esting efforts have been made in the past couple of years to broaden the net-

work, namely, including the establishment of a community of ‘Global Shap-

ers:’ social entrepreneurs, activists, artists, and thinkers under the age of 30.

For many, Davos appears to be a top-down event in an increasingly bottom-

up world.”

104

The

Bookshelf:

Small is

Beautiful

105

106

By Jonathon Porrit / abridged

“Small is beautiful” is forty years old. When it was first published,

there was no instant fanfare, no rave reviews. To begin with, sales were

very modest, but increased steadily every quarter until both the book and

its enormously popular title were suddenly everywhere.

And they still are, forty years on. Countless people in dozens of dif-

ferent countries have been deeply inspired by this little book, impressed

by the clarity of its key ideas, and moved to do more in their own homes

or work places as a direct consequence of it.

The achievement is all the more astonishing in that “Small is beau-

tiful” is essentially a collection of essays and speeches written and given

over a number of years, more or less cobbled together as a series of over-

lapping snapshots. But even the repetition seems to work, re-presenting

the same issues from quite different perspectives depending on the target

audience or literary outlet.

Overall, Fritz Schumacher was a great synthesizer, bringing many

disparate concerns within the same frame of reference. He was the first of

the “holistic thinkers” of the modern Green Movement.

Everything he wrote forty years ago is just as relevant today, and the

refusal of contemporary economists and politicians to take it on board re-

mains all but inexplicable. As he argues so passionately, the cardinal er-

ror of our whole industrial way of life is the way in which we continue to

treat irreplaceable natural capital as reserve.

“Fossil fuels are merely a part of the “natural capital” which we

steadfastly insist on treating as expendable, as if it were income,

107

and by no means the most important part. If we squander our fossil

fuels, we threaten civilisation; but if we squander the capital

represented by living nature around us, we threaten life itself” .

On this and many other matters, Fritz Schumacher blazed a trail that

still provides the only alternative to the anachronistic advocacy of full

employment in an age of robotisation and “mobile capital” pursuing ever

cheaper labour costs.

On some other issues, however, his views have not weathered quite so

well. Like every other environmentalist writing in the early seventies,

Schumacher was convinced of the imminence of serious oil shortages and

deeply fearful of the economic and social dislocation that these would

cause. Forty years on, the emphasis now is not on oil running out , but ra-

ther on the environmental damage that will be done if they continue to be

used up at current rates.

* * *

It is intriguing to remember that small wasn’t always beautiful in

Schumacher’s eyes:

“ What I wish to emphasise is the duality of the human requirement

when it comes to the question of size: there is no single answer. For his

different purposes man needs many different structures, both small ones

and large ones, some exclusive and some comprehensive. For constructive

work, the principle task is always the restoration of some kind of balance.

Today, we suffer from an almost universal idolatry of giantism. It is

therefore necessary to insist on the virtues of smallness—where this

applies.”

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Our

Blockbuster:

HOME

109

110

By Polly Cook

When you sit down to watch a documentary on climate change you ex-

pect pretty much the same thing. Impressive computerised images used to

show where our planet might be in ten year's time. Crammed with science

and graphs. Clever, and shocking but rarely doing anything different. This

film however, is in a different league.

Most of the footage is shot from above - which makes for quite simply,

awesome viewing. Yann Arthus-Bertrand, a French photographer famous

for his ‘Earth from above' footage, filmed the documentary in 54 different

countries all over the world, managing to reach and capture even the most

remote of places.

Home is gracefully narrated by Glenn Close, the script is straightfor-

ward and content heavy, yet beautifully written, giving just the right about

of information exactly when you want it. It gradually unfolds a story, start-

ing with the birth of Earth, and then moves onto how it developed, how it

flourished, and at the rate we're going, humanity becoming the eventual

death of it.

But what sets this film apart from others, is how much material it co-

vers. It didn't stop at filming polar bears swimming in vast open water or at

someone taking a chainsaw to the roots of a tree in the middle of the Ama-

zon. Bertrand used bird's eye view footage of the frozen lakes in Siberia,

the practically non-existent River Jordon, the cultivation of soya in the

rainforests and mass cattle herding.

111

He captured the intertwining crammed roads in Los Angeles, the ro-

botic ‘invention' of Dubai, and the soaring sky scrapers in China, built on

land that only forty years ago was a fishing village. It is these shots, among

so many others, makes Home the all encompassing, innovative film it is.

Bertrand looks at the bigger picture - not just what is happening, but

how and why. He explores our greed for meat, oil, wealth and the utter ig-

norance that surrounds development. He presents information people

wouldn't know from just watching the odd TV programme. Sure, we all

know oil is running out. But Home confronts the problems with eucalyptus

monocultures, shrimp farming and how climate change is creating more so-

cial divides between rich and poor than ever before. In fact, there isn't

much this film doesn't touch on.

However, for the wealth of information given to the audience in this

documentary, it is not surprising that there are moments (for me it was

when I saw a shanty town being shadowed by an oil plant) it seems there is

no hope, and you feel like jacking it all in and giving up trying.

That is, until the dystopian mood of the film mutates into something

quite different, declaring over and over 'It is too late to be pessimistic'. It

concludes presenting a whole reel of things humanity has done in an at-

tempt to stop climate change: responsible consumerism, wind farms, solar

power and climate change education. But most importantly, the fact that

most of the world is now at least recognising we have a problem.

When the credits start rolling, you come away with these fantastic

images floating around in your head, reminding you of how beautiful this

planet actually is. What's more, you want to do your bit to save it. At least,

that is the hope.

112

HOME has a very clear message. We have a greater impact on the

Earth than it can bear. We over-consume and are depleting the Earth's

resources. From the air, it's easy to see the Earth's wounds. So, HOME

simply sets out our current situation, while saying that a solution exists.

The film's subtitle could be It's Too Late To Be A Pessimist. We

have reached a crossroads; important decisions must be taken to change

our world. Everybody knows about what the film says, but nobody wants

to believe it. So HOME adds its weight to the argument of environmental

organizations that we need to revert to a more commonsensical approach

and change our consumer way of life.

113

In the past 200,000 years, humans have upset the balance of planet

Earth, a balance established by nearly four billion years of evolution. We

must act now. It is too late to be a pessimist. The price is too high. Humanity

has little time to reverse the trend and change its patterns of consumption.

Through visually stunning footage from over fifty countries, all shot

from an aerial perspective, Yann Arthus–Bertrand shows us a view most of

us have never seen. He shares with us his sense of awe about our planet and

his concern for its health. With this film, Arthus-Bertrand hopes to provide

a stepping-stone to further the call to action to take care of our HOME.

HOME is the first film that has been made using aerial-only footage.

The film marks artist-activist Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s feature film direc-

torial debut.

HOME the movie is carbon offset. All of the CO2 emissions engendered

by the making of the film are calculated and offset by sums of money that

are used to provide clean energy to those who do not have any. For the last

ten years, all the work of Yann Arthus-Bertrand has been carbon offset.

HOME is available online for free:

www.homethemovie.org

www.youtube.com/user/homeproject

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(2009_film)

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Birds in

Winter

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What to do and what not to do

when caring about birds in wintertime

During cold winter months water starts to freeze, and berries be-

come scarce. Other food is hidden and trapped by ice, snow and hard

ground. But it's easy for you to attract birds to your garden, and help

them get through the tough winter months, by following these easy tips.

Do’s

Do put out food containing saturated fat

Do put out fatballs, dried fruit, sunflower hearts, peanuts, mild cheese,

soft fruit, porridge oats and unsalted nuts

Do put out mealworms, soft fruit, seeds and grain, cooked rice, cooked

pasta, inside of cooked potato and pastry

Do put out water for birds to bath and drink, with a twig or ping-pong

ball in to stop it freezing

Do clean the bird feeder or table regularly to avoid bacteria build-ups

Do set feeders up in quiet areas close to trees

Do try to fill the feeders around midday

Do plant a prickly bush either around the bird feeder or table or nearby

to stop other animals taking he food and for birds to hide in

Do put up a bird box for smaller birds to shelter in and for birds to mate

later on

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117

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Don’t’s

Don’t put out the remnants and leftovers of your Christmas turkey

Don’t put out stale bread as it lacks nutrients

Don’t put out food with lots of wheat if you would rather not attract wood

pigeons

Don’t use antifreeze products to keep water for birds from freezing

Don’t panic if you notice a change in bird’s behaviour, this is normal

Don’t let any food spill on to the ground near feeders as it attracts unwant-

ed pests

Don’t put salt or sugar in to water to stop it freezing

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Make your own bird cake

What you need:

Good quality bird seeds

Raisins

Peanuts

Grated cheese

Suet or lard

String

Yoghurt pot

Orange halves

What to do:

1. Carefully make a small hole in the bottom of a yoghurt pot. Thread

string through the hole and tie a knot on the inside. Leave enough string

so that you can tie the pot to a tree or your bird table.

2. Allow the lard to warm up to room temperature, but don’t melt it. Then

cut it up into small pieces and put it in the mixing bowl.

3. Add the other ingredients to the bowl and mix them together. Keep

adding the seed/raisin/cheese mixture and keep squeezing it until the fat

holds it all together.

4. Fill your yoghurt pots with bird cake mixture and put them in the

fridge to set for an hour or so.

5. Hand your bird cake from the bird table.

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Sustainable Living

A compilation of info

Free e-publication

In September 2012 we published a compilation of information on

Sustainable Living. On thirty something pages we bring you a mélange

of photographs and some basics about Sustainable Living - its defini-

tion and dimensions, among which:

Shelter & Energy

Food

Transportation

Water

Waste

The publication is available online, and is free for download as a

pdf, hence suitable for most portable devices:

http://www.issuu.com/nektarinapublishing/docs/sustainable_living

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Home

Schooling

125

Homeschooling or homeschool (also called home education or home

based learning) is the education of children at home, typically by parents

or by tutors, rather than in other formal settings of public or private

school. Although prior to the introduction of compulsory school attend-

ance laws, most childhood education occurred within the family or com-

munity, homeschooling in the modern sense is an alternative in developed

countries to attending public or private schools. Homeschooling is a legal

option for parents in many countries, allowing them to provide their chil-

dren with a learning environment as an alternative to public or private

schools outside the individual's home.

Parents give many different reasons for homeschooling their chil-

dren. The three reasons selected by parents of more than two-thirds of stu-

dents were concern about the school environment, to provide religious or

moral instruction, and dissatisfaction with the academic instruction avail-

able at other schools. From 2003 to 2007, the percentage of students whose

parents reported homeschooling to provide religious or moral instruction

increased from 72 percent to 83 percent. In 2007, the most common reason

parents gave as the most important was a desire to provide religious or

moral instruction (36 percent of students). This reason was followed by a

concern about the school environment (such as safety, drugs, or negative

peer pressure) (21 percent), dissatisfaction with academic instruction (17

percent), and "other reasons" including family time, finances, travel, and

distance (14 percent). Other reasons include more flexibility in education-

al practices and family core stability for children with learning disabili-

ties or prolonged chronic illnesses, or for children of missionaries, mili-

tary families, or families who move often, as frequently as every two years.

(NB All percentages are for USA only)

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Numerous studies may suggest that homeschooled students on average

outperform their peers on standardized tests. Homeschooling Achievement,

a compilation of studies published by the Home School Legal Defense As-

sociation, supported the academic integrity of homeschooling. This booklet

summarized a 1997 study by Ray and the 1999 Rudner study. The Rudner

study noted two limitations of its own research: it is not necessarily repre-

sentative of all homeschoolers and it is not a comparison with other

schooling methods. Among the homeschooled students who took the tests,

the average homeschooled student outperformed his public school peers by

30 to 37 percentile points across all subjects. The study also indicates that

public school performance gaps between minorities and genders were virtu-

ally non-existent among the homeschooled students who took the tests.

A study conducted in 2008 found that 11,739 homeschooled students,

on average, scored 37 percentile points above public school students on

standardized achievement tests. This is consistent with the Rudner study

(1999). However, Rudner has said that these same students in public school

may have scored just as well because of the dedicated parents they had. The

Ray study also found that homeschooled students who had a certified

teacher as a parent scored one percentile lower than homeschooled students

who did not have a certified teacher as a parent.

In 2011 Martin-Chang found that unschooling children ages 5-10

scored significantly below traditionally educated children, while academi-

cally oriented home schooled children scored from one half grade level

above to 4.5 grade levels above traditionally school children on standard-

ized tests (n=37 home schooled children matched with children from the

same socioeconomic and educational background).

In the 1970s Raymond S. and Dorothy N. Moore conducted four fed-

erally funded analyses of more than 8,000 early childhood studies, from

127

Their reason was that children, "are not mature enough for formal

school programs until their senses, coordination, neurological development

and cognition are ready." They concluded that the outcome of forcing chil-

dren into formal schooling is a sequence of "1) uncertainty as the child

leaves the family nest early for a less secure environment, 2) puzzlement at

the new pressures and restrictions of the classroom, 3) frustration because

unready learning tools – senses, cognition, brain hemispheres, coordina-

tion – cannot handle the regimentation of formal lessons and the pressures

they bring, 4) hyperactivity growing out of nerves and jitter, from frustra-

tion, 5) failure which quite naturally flows from the four experiences

above, and 6) delinquency which is failure's twin and apparently for the

same reason." According to the Moores, "early formal schooling is burning

out our children. Teachers who attempt to cope with these youngsters also

are burning out." Aside from academic performance, they think early for-

mal schooling also destroys "positive sociability", encourages peer depend-

ence, and discourages self-worth, optimism, respect for parents, and trust

in peers. They believe this situation is particularly acute for boys because

of their delay in maturity. The Moores cited a Smithsonian Report on the

development of genius, indicating a requirement for "1) much time spent

with warm, responsive parents and other adults, 2) very little time spent

with peers, and 3) a great deal of free exploration under parental guid-

ance." Their analysis suggested that children need "more of home and less

of formal school" "more free exploration with... parents, and fewer

they published their original findings in Better Late Than Early, 1975.

This was followed by School Can Wait, a repackaging of these same find-

ings designed specifically for educational professionals. They concluded

that, "where possible, children should be withheld from formal schooling

until at least ages eight to ten."

128

limits of classroom and books," and "more old fashioned chores – children

working with parents – and less attention to rivalry sports and amuse-

ments

John Taylor later found, using the Piers-Harris Children's Self-

Concept Scale, "while half of the conventionally schooled children

scored at or below the 50th percentile (in self-concept), only 10.3% of the

home-schooling children did so." He further stated that "the self-concept

of home-schooling children is significantly higher statistically than that

of children attending conventional school. This has implications in the

areas of academic achievement and socialization which have been found

to parallel self-concept. Regarding socialization, Taylor's results would

mean that very few home-schooling children are socially deprived. He

states that critics who speak out against homeschooling on the basis of

social deprivation are actually addressing an area which favors home-

schoolers.

In 2003, the National Home Education Research Institute conducted a

survey of 7,300 U.S. adults who had been homeschooled (5,000 for more

than seven years). Their findings included:

Homeschool graduates are active and involved in their communities.

71% participate in an ongoing community service activity, like coach-

ing a sports team, volunteering at a school, or working with a church

or neighborhood association, compared with 37% of U.S. adults of sim-

ilar ages from a traditional education background.

Homeschool graduates are more involved in civic affairs and vote in

much higher percentages than their peers. 76% of those surveyed be-

tween the ages of 18 and 24 voted within the last five years, compared

with only 29% of the corresponding U.S. populace.

129

Opposition to homeschooling comes from some organizations of teachers

and school districts. The National Education Association, a United States

teachers' union and professional association, opposes homeschooling.

Criticisms by such opponents include:

Inadequate standards of academic quality and comprehensiveness

Lack of socialization with peers of different ethnic and religious back-

grounds

The potential for development of religious or social extremism/

individualism

Potential for development of parallel societies that do not fit into stand-

ards of citizenship and community

Stanford University political scientist Professor Rob Reich (not to be con-

fused with former U.S. Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich) wrote in The

Civic Perils of Homeschooling (2002) that homeschooling can potentially

give students a one-sided point of view, as their parents may, even unwit-

tingly, block or diminish all points of view but their own in teaching. He

also argues that homeschooling, by reducing students' contact with peers,

reduces their sense of civic engagement with their community.

Homeschooling is legal in many countries. Countries with the most

prevalent home education movements include Australia, Canada, New

Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some countries have

highly regulated home education programs as an extension of the compul-

sory school system; others, such as Sweden and Germany, have outlawed it

entirely. Brazil has a law project in process. In other countries, while not

restricted by law, homeschooling is not socially acceptable or considered

undesirable and is virtually non-existent.

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131

132

Delish!

Pasta e

Fagioli

133

There are probably zillion of variations to this great staple (and comfort)

food, but here is how we did it: cook pasta (any kind, just not spaghetti or

other "long ones" like fettucine, or tagliattelle) al dente, set aside. While

the pasta is cooking, chop thinly one small onion (we tried this also

without onion - just as tasty), simmer on a bit of oil until it looks "glassy",

then add beans (cook them beforehand or buy in a tin - always better if you

cook the yourself), season (we added just a dash of black pepper, bay leaves

and three spoonfulls of home made tomato paste) and continue to simmer

for another 15-20 minutes (cover the pan to save on energy). Add pasta, stir

well, taste - add more seasoning if you'd like, and enjoy!

January Recipe of the month

Pasta e Fagioli

(Pasta and Beans)

Traditional meatless Italian dish. Like many

other Italian favorites including pizza and

polenta, the dish started as a peasant dish, being

composed of inexpensive ingredients.

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135

136

Low Carbon and Delicious

Explore the Mediterranean

E-cookbook

(free for download)

In May 2011 we published Low Carbon and

Delicious e-cookbook, with a great set of recipes

from every country on the Mediterranean.

Whether you are a vegan, a vegetarian or an

omnivore, you will find something delicious (and

simple) to make.

While we are working on our next cookbook,

do browse this one, read it and use it online, or

download it for offline use. Its pdf format should

make it easy to use on most portable devices as

well.

The e-cookbook link:

http://issuu.com/nektarinapublishing/docs/

low_carbon_and_delicious

Enjoy!

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138

Coming up

In

February

Issue

139

The Alps and Sustainability

The Bookshelf: Bill McKibben / Eaarth

Glacial Lakes

Liveable cities:

Stockholm

World Heritage Site:

Primeval beech forests of the Carpathians

and the ancient beech forest in Germany

Positive Examples: The Netherlands,

The Programme “Learning for Sustainable

Development”

The Alliance of Civilizations

and much more!

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141

142

Notes and Acknowledgments

Content /

Green Economy Compiled by Livia Minca

Sources: www.unep.org/greeneconomy

www.wri.org/stories/2011/04/qa-what-

green-economy

World Economic Forum Compiled by Livia Minca

Positive Examples: Education

for Sustainability in Slovenia Compiled by Livia Minca

Sources: www.enjoined.edupolicy.net/files/

SLO_ESD_eng.pdf

The Dolomites (until page 43) Compiled by Sandra Antonovic

Sources: www.altabadia.org

www.suedtirol.info

www.south-tirol.com

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1237

Our Blockbuster Compiled by Yula Pannadopoulos

Sources: www.homethemovie.org

Polly Cook article source: www.theecologist.org/reviews/

films/272468/

home_by_yann_arthusbertrand

143

The Bookshelf: Small is

Beautiful Abridged introduction by

Jonathon Porrit

Source: Small is Beautiful

Published by Vintage Books

ISBN 0-099-22561-1

Delish! By Yula Pannadopoulos

Birds in Winter

Source: www.countryfile.com

Homeschooling

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Home

schooling

Urban Sustainability

Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/

international/archive/2011/04/

sustainable-cities-what-makes-

urban-areas-around-the-world-

successful/237668/

http://www.philips-thecenter.org/

144

Notes and Acknowledgments

Photos /

The Dolomites, photo essay Cover photo

Pages 4/5

Pages 14/15

Pages 18/19

Pages 24/25

Pages 32/33

Pages 34/35

Pages 36/37

Pages 38/39

Pages 44/45

Pages 46/47

Pages 48/49

Pages 50/51

Pages 52/53

Pages 54/55

Pages 140/141

All photography by Sandra Antonovic

Slovenia Pages 58/59

Pages 64/65

All photography by Sandra Antonovic

145

Ljubljana, photo essay Page 71

Pages 74/75

Pages 76/77

Pages 78/79

Pages 80/81

Pages 82/83

All photography by Sandra Antonovic

Nektarina Non Profit does not own the following photographs:

Page 42

Page 95

Pages 98/99

Pages 104/105

Page 107

Page 111

Page 114

Page 120

Sources:

www.yannarthusbertrand.org

mexicotooday.org

commons.wikimedia.org

stconsultant.blogspot.com

haringeygreens.blogspot.com

www.shannonbusta.com

www.countryfile.com

All other photos and images by Sandra Antonovic

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147

148

149

150

NEKTARINA (S)PACE IS A WEB MAGAZINE PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY

NEKTARINA NON PROFIT,

A NON GOVERNMENTAL, NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION

REGISTERED IN CROATIA.

WWW.NEKTARINANONPROFIT.COM

ISSN 1847-6694

www.nektarinanonprofit.org

www.education4sustainability.org

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