Everything is interconnected; that is the principle of ecology. This group exercise is about learning what this means in your particular context.
Purpose
To help a local activity with an eye toward the three components of sustainability: the economy, society, and the environment.
Time needed: 90 minutes or longer if required.
Materials:
- Three large sheets of paper for each group
- Tape
- One marking pen per participant.
Directions
[numbered list]
Divide participants into groups of two to four.
Ask each group to identify an annual local activity (e.g., local festival, parade, or sporting event).
Design a concept map (see below) using this activity as the point in the center.
Think of ways in which the activity affects the local economy, society, and the environment. For example: A football match might help the local economy by generating work for people running the food stalls and those selling the food to them. However, in terms of environmental impact, the event produces waste that might pollute the waterways, etc.
Divide participants into groups of two to four.
Ask each group to identify an annual local activity (e.g., local festival, parade, or sporting event).
Design a concept map (see below) using this activity as the point in the center.
Think of ways in which the activity affects the local economy, society, and the environment. For example: A football match might help the local economy by generating work for people running the food stalls and those selling the food to them. However, in terms of environmental impact, the event produces waste that might pollute the waterways, etc.
If you had several groups, let the different groups report on their maps now.
In order to summarize the findings, prepare a chart on the remaining sheet of paper. Write the headings “Environment,” “Economy,” and “Society” across the top. Write “Local” and “Global” on the left-hand side of the page. Write down the keywords that you have come up with as in the following example:
In order to summarize the findings, prepare a chart on the remaining sheet of paper. Write the headings “Environment,” “Economy,” and “Society” across the top. Write “Local” and “Global” on the left-hand side of the page. Write down the keywords that you have come up with as in the following example:
| Environment | Society | Economy | |
| Local | Use of fertilizers Use of pesticides Groundwater Landfill Reservoir Urban sprawl Waste Traffic Riverfront park |
Public health Education Landmarks Heritage Culture Migrant workers Events Values |
Tourism Shipping Service industry Government subsidy Seasonal jobs Private support Taxes Property values |
| Global | Acid rain Ozone depletion Logging Fishing Air |
Source community Workers Child labor Disease Poverty Government |
Big business International trade Agreements farming Wages Cost of living |
General discussion
- What are the most problematic factors for your local community?
- What are the most problematic factors at the global level?
- Do you have any ideas as to how these can be addressed?
(Adapted from: http://www.esdtoolkit.org/community_goals/sust_lens.htm)
