When the so called "Lisbon Strategy" to make Europe the most competitive and socially inclusive economy in the world by 2010 was defined the need to include education and training as a key component of the eEurope Plan was immediately perceived. At the same time it was recognised that the existing education systems in their traditional roles would not be able to cope with this need. An eLearning Initiative was therefore proposed shortly afterwards.
In fact this level of priority given to eLearning was, to a large extent, the result of a certain ambiguity between the never disputed need to provide/develop eSkills to all workers and citizens to face the challenges of information society and the ? much more disputed ? need/opportunity to use ICT to support the learning processes in view of a growing demand for learning. For many "newcomers" in the field - including some first row policy makers - learning ICT and learning through ICT was such a natural combination that eLearning became a star in the policy discourse of the years 2000 and 2001. At that time, by the way, eLearning companies in the USA were reputed to be amongst the most profitable in prospective and very few people were questioning estimated growth rates of the eLearning market of more than 100% per year.
The eLearning Initiative was launched by the European Commission as a strategic effort to integrate the resources of different Directorates General and activate fresh economic resources from the European Investment Bank and European Structural Funds towards this new priority. It was not rare to hear Heads of Government quote eLearning as one of the top priorities in the Information Society Strategy. In reaction, practically the whole education and training world started to consider eLearning as a serious opportunity, or as a serious threat. The practice of eLearning in Europe was still marginal in most EU countries, but a strong impulse came from the policy initiative, especially in those countries in which national developments had not been very substantial up to the year 2000.
More than four years later the situation appears very different: in synthesis we could say that eLearning is up in practice and down in policy discourse. In theory this could be the best possible development. However, we produce this Policy Paper because we think it is not.
eLearning has almost completely disappeared from top-level policy speeches, both as a term suspected of having lost its impact, and - more seriously- as a significant component of educational policy. In part this is due to the fact that education has lost weight on the overall policy agenda due to the increased concerns on security and the need to concentrate resources elsewhere (a significant number of EU countries have decreased the weight of educational expenditure on GNP in the last years). Many encouraging developments have taken place also thanks to EU support, but those who were resisting eLearning from inside the education and training systems had the time to build their case against it, at least partly due to very low quality and simplistic promotional messages associated to first (and second) generations of eLearning provision.
Another ambiguity has developed: on the one hand the term blended learning is used to represent the new awareness of the need to design learning systems which are able to integrate at best different learning strategies including ICT-supported learning, and on the other to hide a resistance to innovation that expresses itself by introducing small elements of ICT based learning to offer the same teaching as before.
The eLearning market has developed - and still develops - at a much lower rate than foreseen some years ago: present estimates converge around an average yearly rate - in Europe - of about 30%, with strong differentiation among market segments and countries.
But this reduction of expectations should not hide the fact that 30% per year is still a very substantial growth rate, and that school, the corporate sector, universities and the training services of the public administration have progressively learnt how to use ICT in learning, to integrate it and, if not completely to build quality into eLearning, at least learnt how to recognise lack of quality.
In fact a growth of quality awareness is probably the most influential factor of eLearning developments in recent years.
At European Union level the ambitious but somehow undefined eLearning Initiative has almost disappeared from the scene to leave ground to the "small and beautiful" eLearning Programme that privileges higher education and school twinning but leaves much of lifelong learning out in the rain for a few years. The proposal for the new "integrated" European programme for lifelong learning after 2007 sees ICT (note that eLearning as a term is no longer used) as part of a "transversal programme" crossing the sectoral lines of COMENIUS, ERASMUS, LEONARDO DA VINCI and GRUNDTVIG. This generates some hope that not only schools and universities will be encouraged to use eLearning in the future, but also other parts of the learning systems.
In our view this approach aiming at society as a whole is important because ICT - supported learning is not an objective in itself but indispensable for bringing about the socio-economical changes in which the European Union has engaged itself.
And even more: this urge is not only based on internal needs. Many countries in the world prefer to look to the European Union/EU-member states as examples for their own socio-economic development and are therefore interested in our education which reflects these values. This is a mission/opportunity we should not overlook or neglect!
There is a need to highlight, to involve, and to use in a systematic way the experience, professional pedagogical and technological methods, quality and organisational standards, that have been developed and validated in professional environments. Distance/eLearning is now certainly presenting itself as a distinct, autonomous, multidimensional professional discipline and resource of coherent experience, increasingly producing and demonstrating its values, integrating theoretical aspects and system approach with valuable practical experience, strategy issues, implementation and management solutions. This experience at the same time forms a valuable collection of progressive visions, which serve as basis of educational modernisation, positioning the human factor as the focal element of innovation.
Posted on January 25, 2012 Filed under:
Education,
Learning For any entrepreneur or businessman who wants to launch a new, brilliant idea, it is critical to be familiar with the business framework used by strategy consulting firms known as product life cycle development. There is a great PowerPoint presentation describing this in detail on LearnPPT.com. Here is the direct link to the Product Life Cycle document on that site.
To conduct proper product life cycle analysis, there are 5 phases to perform.
1. Define the industry.
This first phase is all about defining the scope of analysis. First, be clear what industry we are evaluating, as this drives the scope. To be more specific, define the SIC code for this industry. Once the SIC code is known, we can construct a time series of industry sales volume.
2. Determine the level of life cycle performance metrics.
Business and product performance across 7 externals must be assessed. These range from relative growth rate to number of competitors to technology innovation. All must be carefully analyzed, which can be done through focus interviews and secondary research.
3. Identify the life cycle stage.
To identify the product life cycle stage, we need to create a matrix that maps the company’s performance to relevant life cycle stage across various performance metrics. This matrix represents a life cycle scorecard against which your company’s performance is measured.
4. Forecast sales based on life cycle stage.
The Bass Diffusion Model can be used for this step. Different growth parameters for the Bass Diffusion Model are determined by the industry (as determined in phase 1). This step is critical, as it drives the financials that will drive business decisions.
5. Develop strategic hypotheses and action steps.
Finally, with all your ducks in a row, you can form your strategic hypotheses and accompanying recommended actions. Clearly, the life cycle stage has specific implications for strategic and tactics selected by your organization.
The video below quickly runs through the framework.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuUJV7fFDzM
The product life cycle framework can also be extended and applied to the BCG Growth-Share Matrix.
In fact, the strategic actions implied by Life Cycle Development depend on both the current stage, as well as the competitive positioning of the business or product in the market. Using both frameworks, we can create a Strategic Positioning Matrix.
Tags: product life cycle, product lifecycle analysis, product lifecycle management, product lifecycle stages
Posted on January 24, 2012 Filed under:
Education Education is not restricted by boundaries any more. With, the advent of Internet and faster communicating software to browse the web, listening to a lecture online or understanding appliance working, everything is made easy. Conventional ways of teaching are being replaced with newer and advanced teaching models. A classroom is not restricted to a single room; it is crossing all boundaries and covering all topics.
No more carrying books, or going to library, as everything is available at a click of the mouse. Learning has been influenced by technology in many ways. From ways of finding a study institute to enrolling or paying fee for an online course, everything has changed. Earning a degree online is easier and has its advantages. First being, timing convenience, where lectures are easy to attend and one can download the video and have it for future reference. There’s no need to take down notes when the tutor is teaching. All that’s needed is downloading the study material. Whenever you have time, you can hear lectures and study materials. Interacting with an online professor is also possible, when ones to get a clear picture of concept.
Online video need not always teach bookish knowledge, you find many “how to” videos online these days. Now, consider a company offering operational guide to an appliance, online, which makes it easier, to visit this company website after bookmarking and find ways of troubleshooting, in case there is trouble handling it. Educational videos are not restricted to classroom studies, they are available for a wide variety of topics, from using a coffee maker or automatic litter box, to getting a right Yoga pose or. Use them to learn a great deal.
Posted on January 24, 2012 Filed under:
Education,
Learning 
Most people have used Cordycepsin several occasions but have never noticed it. Others may even be using it currently but have no elaborate idea on what they are all about. However, it is important for everyone to know the origin and the reason behind his or her reason for using Cordyceps. This kind of knowledge is very vital and can be of much benefit in several areas.
In the education on Cordyceps, one has to first determine what Cordyceps really is. It refers to a type of fungi or mushroom that enhances the growth of a caterpillar that is of several health benefits. Originally, it used to grow wildly in fields; however, various people are today cultivating most of them for commercial purposes. Cordyceps can today be grown based on the submerged culture whereby the mycellium is grown in liquids.
Cordyceps have been in use for several decades now in the treatment of several diseases that affect humans. This fungus is known for being able to cure a variety of ailments including sexual dysfunction in males, immune boosting, anti-aging among others. They can also work as an aphrodisiac, however to date it is still not clear, the mechanism of Cordyceps in the human body. Cordyceps education or knowledge is important in that every person is able to understand its benefits, the best form to use it and any effects that can arise from its use.
Cordyceps is ground into a powder form and made into capsules that can be taken the same way as tablets. This fungus has different properties that are beneficial to people with various health concerns. It has a notable effect on the blood condition of the body of the person using it. This is due to the oxidant qualities of Cordyceps, which help in the internal body cleansing. This property is very important in reducing incidences of problems arising from hypertension and other life threatening illnesses.
Posted on January 20, 2012 Filed under:
Learning Today, it is not unusual anymore for a business to have its own websites. Majority of successful entrepreneurs have venture to online visibility to become competitive among their rivals. The online industry promises a brighter future with added earning, that’s why most websites are doing their best effort to come up with strategic ways and SEO tools, as well as a Photoshop free download to enhance their site and increase traffic from their online visitors. Having a website doesn’t always guarantee quick turnaround of desired traffic due to a fact that most prospective clients have limited time coping with their busy schedules and the continually changing trends in the industry.
Based on the conducted surveys from online marketing services, among the top 3 positions that are unpaid on the Google’s search first page results get around 58% by all clicks while some websites on the second page acquire an average of 1.5%. The best method considered to be an attention grabber for target consumers without spending much on allotted marketing budget is the use of relevant articles that can be a good source of information and creative ideas.
Here are some examples of well proven tactics in publishing website content that could help you achieve your goal to be on page one ranking of search engines and have remarkable percentage of an increase in website visitors:
A lot of website owners are using this kind of strategy. Providing online users with unique articles are considered to be cost-effective and ideal even to the lowest budgeted site. Top quality articles can truly increase a company’s brand awareness through the use of giving out valuable ideas, answers to questions or maybe a view of one’s personal experience can be a good lead for better feedback analysis. There are numerous types of presenting articles either in the forms of essays, interviews, guidebooks, checklists or articles giving out tips can attract the attention of the readers. To fully utilize the benefits of these content creations, use topics that are well-sought for search engine keywords. Make your content as brief and clear as possible to eliminate boredom.
- Relevant videos and podcasts
Anyone can create a one of a kind video with the use of latest gadgets like webcams or digital cameras and USB microphone. Here are some ideas to consider when making a video or podcast:
-Real life documentaries
-Testimonials of satisfied clients
- Personal interviews with famous celebrities or leaders
- Videos featuring the development of in-demand skills
- Group talks
When finalizing your video, be sure to include your company’s logo and other important data for your advertisement to groups like Metacafe, YouTube and Vimeo. See to it that your video is downloadable and it can be accessible to all online users without any difficulty. The best move now is to enter a specific niche and focus on that group for a page one ranking of search engines.
Posted on January 13, 2012 Filed under:
Education Education and Entry Level Jobs
You made a choice to go to school because you’re eying a dream job. Pursuant to this goal, people find themselves treading the path of the academe to earn their rightful license for professional life. If you are wondering what you need for that extra mile, consider the following educational requirements as matched to entry level jobs on different fields and of course, potential payout.
High School Graduate
This may include a qualifying GED. Some of the listed entry level jobs on the following fields are classified as high paying roles.
Lifestyle: Event Specialist, Pet Stylist
General: Diesel Mechanic, Customer Service Representative
Banking and Finance: Field Sales Representative, Consulting Representatives, Technical Sales, Digital Marketing Consultant, Cost Recovery Advisor, Bankcard Sales Agent, and Account Manager.
Associate’s Degree
You may not have enough resources or time to finish college but your calling should not stop there. Obtaining an Associate’s degree means you can also be competitive in your earnings. Consider these jobs for you:
Lifestyle: Fashion Designer
Law: Law Research Associate
General: Wind Turbine Technician
Information Technology: Network Administrator
Finance: Personal Financial Advisor, Investment Banking Analyst, Assistant Actuarial Analyst
Health and Social Services: Dental Hygienist, Registered Nurse, Diagnostic Medical Sonographer, Occupational and Physical Therapists, Social Service Assistant
Bachelor’s Degree
You think there is a lot of competition with the diplomas being flashed everywhere. Heads up: some entry level jobs listed here you may not have heard of.
Education: Teacher
Law: Forensic DNA Analyst
Health: Healthcare Research Analyst
Tax and Accounting: Paralegal, Tax Associate, Auditor
Engineering and Architecture: Quality Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Systems Engineer, Landscape Architect, Software Engineer
If you waited long enough because you think you’ve lost your place, guess again. The right time to start is now. In a country where you can be anyone you want, the opportunities are numerous and are waiting for your call. So get to the computer, print that winning resume, collect your bearings, and welcome yourself to the diversity of the workforce.
Tags: education, entry level jobs
Posted on January 13, 2012 Filed under:
Learning There is no doubt that in most Western countries having a computer and an internet connection is no longer considered an option for the privileged or wealthy. In fact it access to the internet has sometimes been considered a human right which perhaps has more resonance in countries like Iran or Syria who control and monitor internet gateways.
The problem is that even in the most advanced countries the cost of maintain an internet connection is not cheap. Many families on low incomes or welfare benefits are unable to afford these charges and so are locked out of this electronic world. Now in many countries this might not seem such a problem after all having a home, place to sleep and food to eat are the priorities. The problem is that internet access is almost presumed – if you look at children’s homework there is often a large component online. In my son’s school all homework tasks can be downloaded from the internet and the completed tasks uploaded directly to their teachers.
This of course puts children who don’t have access at a huge disadvantage, relying on libraries and friends to even complete their homework. It’s kind of sad that probably the greatest educational resource of the last century is actually creating an educational under class based on wealth.
If you travel abroad and see where economic inequalities are even larger then the results are even more profound. As an extreme example I saw some children in Turkey whose parents were expats had a huge advantage over local children. They had access to the internet at home and some parents had even invested in proxy software to allow them access to content that was normally blocked or filtered. They’d do their homework on the internet then watch UK TV from the BBC afterwards!
We must all be vigilant that the internet doesn’t become yet another economic advantage enjoyed by some as an advantage to others. The internet has the potential to equalize and level the playing field especially for citizens of poorer countries. The potential of a single connected PC in a small African village should not be underestimated, potentially opening a world of knowledge.
Tags: education, online education, uk education, uk tv
Posted on January 11, 2012 Filed under:
Uncategorized Thousands of Americans fill out a Walmart application and get hired to work for the company every year. In fact Walmart is the single largest private employer in the united States. But contrary to what some people might think Walmart is no longer just a US based phenomena and has spread out all over the world.
It does not operate in all countries under the same name though. In the UK Walmart is known as Asda, while in Mexico it operates as Walmex. In India the stores are called Best Price and in Japan as Seiyu. In one of its newer markets, China though it is still called Walmart although Chinese Walmarts are, as you might expect rather different to the American ones.
In all the Walmart corporation, under its various different locals names operates 4,263 stores and employees 660,000 workers in 15 countries outside the United States.
Tags: online job application, walmart application
Posted on January 09, 2012 Filed under:
Learning The days when you were limited in what you could achieve due to college course choice restrictions is pretty much at an end. This is especially true for courses in the fashion field.
There are a number of areas you can target within fashion such as pattern cutting, design (want to be the next Jimmy Choo creating designer shoes?), CAD operation, sewing, marketing and merchandising as well as a ‘Social Media for Fashion’ course at www.fashion.arts.ac.uk.
This way of learning is fantastic for those that work full time or are based in an area where the schools cannot provide these kind of courses. They can be less time draining and in some cases require only a one hour online lesson along with ‘home work’ assigned for you to complete before the next weeks lesson.
If you are interested in fashion as career then this could be a great way to get your foot on the ladder, either for the dream job or a more advanced course.
Tags: E-Learning For Fashion
Posted on January 09, 2012 Filed under:
Learning Business can really be tough. As I read newspapers and articles in the internet, I am well aware of how the competition is getting tougher and more cut throat for business executives. And since you are reading this blog, I believe you are interested in this topic as well. So let me give you my two cents worth on this topic.
Establishing and maintaining a strong presence in the World Wide Web will definitely be a great help for business. With the proliferation of small time and big time businesses in various fields, it cannot be denied that, indeed, the competition is getting fiercer and more cut throat. Thus, as I can see it, it is the duty of a business executive to find ways by which his or her business can have an edge over the competitors and eventually reach a wider share of the potential customers and clientele.
For that purpose, here is my advice to you: try internet marketing. The fact is, while the competition in business is getting more cut throat, more and more internet marketing companies are also getting into business.
Essentially, an seo agency will help you boost your sales and establish your presence in the World Wide Web. So as their name suggests, these internet marketing companies market or sell your products, services and companies through the internet. They can create website content, do search engine optimization or tap social media for you.
Actually, they have a lot of means to do so. And depending on your needs, you can hire their services for such ways. The fact is, you yourself can also make and employ your own internet marketing strategies. But if you do not want to go through so much hassle and at the same time, you want guaranteed results, then it will be best to hire the services of the experts in the field—the internet marketing companies.
Tags: marketing
Posted on January 08, 2012 Filed under:
Learning Some people choose a fire pit just for its visual and entertainment value. Fire pits make an attractive addition to any landscape and they can extend the time you can entertain (or just hang out and chill) outside for several months both in the spring and in the fall.
More adventurous souls though may want to give fire pit cookery a shot. Not only can it be a lot of fun but the food, especially if yours is a wood burning fire pit, when cooked right is often some of the tastiest you will ever have eaten, especially meats.
Whatever you choose to cook the real key to successful firepit cookery is being able to keep a nice hot fire burning for several hours. The beast way to build a long lasting fire is to start small – with dry kindling and firelighters (solid firelighters not lighter fluid) and then build up the fire gradually. Piling on too much wood right away will simply result in a fire that burns bright for a few minutes and then abruptly dies.
If you are using a wood burning fire pit to cook with the type of wood you use will make a difference to the taste of almost anything that you are cooking. Apple, cherry, mesquite, maple, red oak and peach woods, or wood chips,are all popular cooking woods but they each produce food with a very distinct flavor.
For example, mesquite is great for producing a strong smoky flavor when cooking red meats while apple wood produces a lighter flavor that is perfect for white meats like chicken or pork. If you want to try your hand at pizza red oak is a great choice and it is normally the wood chosen by fine dining restaurants to cook their wood fired pizzas.
Posted on January 06, 2012 Filed under:
Uncategorized Unless you’re lucky enough to live within driving distance of one of the world’s great wine regions, the liklihood of being able to take high quality wine classes in person, is well, just not very good.
Online classes for wine work well, because when set up well everyone can be in a video chat while drinking and talking about the exact same wines. My wine of the month club does something similar where everyone in the wine club can get together and enjoy a glass of wine together online while learning about the winery, winemaker and wine region which produced what happens to be in all of our glasses. For those of us without a lot of wine drinking friends, this makes a ton of sense!
Posted on January 05, 2012 Filed under:
Education Occupational therapy is a field for which you may think in-person education is needed; after all, occupational therapists work to improve many physical disabilities for their patients. However, thanks to advances in online education, many occupational therapy schools now offer a Master’s in occupational therapy via the Internet.
The programs are typically designed for practicing occupational therapists who are looking to expand their education and career options. One such program is offered by the Arizona School of Health Sciences. It is a 42 credit hour program that is divided into four areas of study, including an Electives section that allows students to pursue their own interests within the occupational therapy field. Some areas of the online program do require students to apply teachings to in-person clinical experiences in their own area, so the program isn’t entirely online in that respect. However, students are able to complete the rest of the program on their own schedule and in the comfort of their home.
If you’re looking for a Master’s degree in occupational therapy and aren’t sure if you’ll be able to attend classes in person, consider looking into online options to complete your degree. More and more accredited institutions are starting to offer distance learning options — be sure to take advantage of it!
Tags: distance learning
Posted on January 03, 2012 Filed under:
Education,
Learning Some people resist it, but eLearning is the way of the future. Not everyone has access to the top notch universities such as Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, or Harvard and Yale in the United States. No matter how much money fine institutions like this have in their budgets, there is always going to be a limit to how many people can benefit from their expertise in person.
Online and distance learning, on the other hand, provides the potential for people around the world to gain access to the very best professors via the internet. Now a boy or a girl in a small town in India or China can potentially watch lectures taught by the finest professors in a field online.
While it is early days yet, support for this kind of content delivery is slowly spreading amongst colleges and universities worldwide. Even students preparing for college have opportunities to learn from the best online.
Not every high school or secondary school student has access to the best teachers where they live. If they find themselves struggling with a particular subject or concept – let’s say Geometry – they can simply tap the abundance of resources on the subject available for free online.
Many school teachers post information about the subject they teach simply out of a passion for teaching. The type of teacher who has this kind of enthusiasm is very likely to be able to engage with their viewers with their passion for the subject in a way an average teacher may not.
With ever growing budget problems for a growing number of educational systems around the world, I have no hesitation in predicting that we will see more people turning to eLearning resources to enhance – or even replace – traditional classroom based learning techniques. We should not fear this change, but rather embrace it an opportunity to better educate our children – something which is surely need.
Posted on January 03, 2012 Filed under:
Education There are three primary treatments for sleep apnea: CPAP therapy, oral appliance therapy, and oral surgery. Now if you are someone who has a moderate to severe case of sleep apnea you will more than likely need one of the above sleep apnea treatment options. However there are some things that can be done to help stop the snoring associated with sleep apnea if you have a mild case. One such answer is to learn a new sleeping position. The best position to avoid snoring is on your side; when sleeping on your back gravity will naturally allow your tongue to collapse into your airway causing the snoring. Another thing is to lose weight, this will clear up extra space in your throat which could cure the snoring as well; these are methods you could try first before spending thousands on seeing a sleep apnea specialist.
Tags: medical, sleep apnea
Posted on January 03, 2012 Filed under:
Education,
Learning Right now the debt epidemic is in full swing both on a governmental level and consumer level here in the USA. With so many people stranded not having any idea how to get out of debt it can be quite frightening. While there are numerous options available for debt relief in which you can hire a company to handle the problem for you; there are also options of debt relief in which you can try to do it yourself. Many of these plans can be found for free online, the downside is the learning curve, time, and discipline that will be involved for you to personally accomplish this feat. But it can be done and will in the long run save you the consumer money that you would otherwise be paying out in fees to a debt relief company.
Tags: debt relief, money
Posted on January 03, 2012 Filed under:
Education Education in America has been declining steadily for the last 30 years. All studies show that kids in public schools are lagging behind their counterparts in other countries. This is a real concern and just part of the big problem with the economy and the future of the country.
When kids graduate from high school they should either be prepared to enter college or be able to go out and find jobs for 18 year olds. Getting a higher education is preferable but not every kid is cut out for that. For those students that don’t go on to college, they need real training to be able to compete in the workforce and today’s schools aren’t helping enough with that.
This is especially problematic now that colleges cost so much which means fewer students are able to afford them. It is a real dilemma for many students who wonder whether they should risk going into debt for that college degree or whether they should just try to get a job straight out of high school. With little being taught in schools today about how to get a job, what will be expected of them, how to deal with a manager, and other things like that, they are ill quipped to prosper in the work force even if they are lucky enough to get hired.
Public schools should start teaching what kids need: the solid basics like math, English, science, and history as well as real life job skills and information for those that might not go on to college. We have to start giving our kids better tools to deal with the real world before we turn them loose in it!
Tags: Jobs, jobs for 18 year olds
Posted on January 03, 2012 Filed under:
Uncategorized Last weekend I was looking for a personalised christening gift for a niece of mine and I got to wondering whether I would like to be a child in today’s world. My niece is just about to start school – the christening is a tad later than is normal, no idea why – and my mind went back to my schooldays. How different the learning environment is today: in my time school consisted of a drab building, well thumbed school books, and strict teachers. Fast forward to today and my niece will enter an environment reliant on computers and the Internet.
The buzzword today is eLearning, where students sit in front of a computer screen and learn at their own pace. Taken to its extreme, the teachers in the eLearning system can be anywhere, even in a different country, which is about as different to what I experienced as a child as it can get. My first thought is that eLearning is too similar to producing eggs from battery hens, but I suppose as long as students are given plenty of opportunity to interact with others, the ability of students to work at their own pace has considerable advantages.
Maybe I should have chosen a christening gift that fits better into this electronic age, but my niece has an unusual name and wanted something with her name on it.
Posted on January 04, 2012 Filed under:
Education We’ve read many different accounts of everyday citizens getting involved in a grassroots environmental movement, simply because for once somebody just told them what was really going on, and they didn’t like it. This is how revolutions happen! These days scientists know so much – and industry may know even more – but the rest of us are left in the dark. If only everyone could fully understand what’s going on, the “Wise Use” movement wouldn’t stand a chance.
So why is that? Why isn’t everyone aware of the crisis our earth is facing? If you ask me, it’s absolutly injust. That our president can censor (and yes, he has) the EPA’s pollution warnings – that’s injust. They aren’t properly teaching schoolchildren about environmental issues and it’s not covered sufficiently in our news. So it seems it’s up to people like us. Scientists are working hard to find solutions and to create new technology, just as policy experts are working their butts off trying to crush industrial criminals, but obviously something is missing because the whole country still is not working together to overcome this. They don’t have enough support behind them, and that’s the real problem. We all know apathy will melt in the presence of true knowledge, and that the public is the most powerful entity in a democracy like ours. So, in my opinion, the most important place we need environmentalists right now is not in science, but in public education – of adults and of children.
We need people in the grassroots, leading campaigns to raise public awareness. We need passionate teachers in our schools who can communicate the emergency to the next generation. We need people in communications, so that we can create a greater voice than all those empty commercials you hear on the television and the radio. But most of all, we need everyday advocates – people who aren’t afraid to be called treehuggers, who can spread the word with their actions as well as their mouths, these people will be thanked at some point for their contribution for better environment that will be vital for our children’s future & their health. Sure we can let our kids breathe dirty smoke & eat high cholesterol foods, but is that really the world we want to live in?
Anyone who is really interested in grassroots environmental work should think about applying with Greencorps after graduation. It’s really hard core, but after you “graduate” from their program, you’re near invaluable in the field. It’s a fantastic way to launch a career. And for those of you going into communications, as many of you are, I encourage you to remember this class in future decisions you make when you are given the choice to cover an environmental issue. Sometimes it seems easier not to, since it can give you some enemies, but remember how important it is. And if this kind of stuff really interests you, there are environmental media organizations, such as the Environmental News Network. Okay, I’m done. Sorry about the advocacy, haha.
