December 2008/ January 2009
New
this month
School Case Studies
Three new stories of interesting global education activities in schools around Australia have been added to the Schools section.
- In South Australia, a young teacher used role play with upper primary students to investigate different perspectives about fishing the Antarctica.
- In New South Wales, people in the Manly community have developed a special connection with people in Manado, Indonesia. Teaching materials have been developed to support this connection in schools.
- In Tasmania, students have been sharing their scientific findings with their sister schools in Thailand and Japan.
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/1765
Global Learning Quest – Languages in a globalised world
In this Global Learning Quest students will develop a perspective about the value of multilingualism in their local and global context. They will work in groups to research a language (Chinese, Spanish, an Indigenous language, another language or just English) and present information to the group in order for a decision to be made as to which language we should learn to be effective global citizens.
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/3728
Calendar
International days
World AIDS Day
1 December
2008 marks the twentieth anniversary of World AIDS Day. Since 1988, efforts made to respond to the epidemic have produced positive results. However, the latest UNAIDS report on the global AIDS epidemic indicates that the epidemic is not yet over in any part of the world. The theme “Lead – Empower – Deliver” highlights the political leadership needed to fulfil previous commitments – particularly the promise of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010. The day highlights the role we all have to play by protecting ourselves and others, welcoming people living with HIV and talking about the issues with others.
http://www.unaids.org/en/
http://www.unicef.org/uniteforchildren/index.html
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/1666
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
2 December
The slave trade is a human tragedy that has affected the greatest number of people for the longest period of time in history. It persists as bonded labour, early and forced marriages, trafficking and exploitative labour.
http://www.antislavery.org
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
3 December
The focus of International Day of Persons with Disabilities is to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disiddp.htm
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/1509
International Volunteers Day
5 December
This day celebrates the efforts of those who have made an important contribution to society by giving their time as volunteers.
http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/184
Human Rights Day
10 December
This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The declaration sets forth the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people in all the nations of the world.
http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/index.asp
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/education/hr_day/index.html
http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/180
International Migrants Day
18 December
It is estimated that some 130 million people live outside their countries of origin. International Migrants Day highlights the need to ensure respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants.
http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/events/migrants
http://www.racismnoway.com.au
2009 International Years
International Year of Natural Fibres
http://www.naturalfibres2009.org
International Year of Astronomy
http://www.astronomy2009.org
International Year of Planet Earth
http://www.yearofplanetearth.org
International Year of Reconciliation
International Year of Human Rights Learning
International Decades
2001-2010
• Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa
• International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World
• Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism
2003-2012
• United Nations Literacy Decade
2005-2014
• Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People
• United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
2005-2015
• International Decade for Action: Water for Life
http://www.un.org/events/
Resources
Australian Human Rights Commission
The Commission’s Human Rights Education Program includes a range of interactive resource-rich, web-based learning intended to assist students and their teachers in the study and understanding of human rights issues. Recent additions include:
Children’s rights
- Rights and wants (upper primary and lower secondary)
- Getting to know the Convention on the Rights of the Child (upper secondary)
- Zarah’s situation: A last resort (upper secondary) which includes activities to consider the rights issues that children in Australian immigration detention centres faced prior to policy changes.
Face the facts 2008
This user-friendly resource provides a snapshot of social, demographic and population data relating to Indigenous Australians, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. There are associated teaching activities.
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/education/resources/index.html
'Couldn't walk away'
SurfAid International offer a number detailed teaching units for upper primary and lower secondary to teachers who register. Through a study of the Mentawai islands in Indonesia, their people and the work of SurfAid International, students develop an understanding of their roles and responsibilities as global citizens and the interconnectedness between Australia and global environments.
For primary teachers and students there is a 10 week integrated unit for ages 9-11 (NSW Stage 3). For secondary teachers and students there is a collection of five week units for English, Maths, Science, Geography, Visual Arts, Technology and Applied Science, Personal Development/Health and Physical Education. Each unit is downloadable separately, generally in Word format to give users the ability to adapt to their own contexts. The units include extensive links and worksheets. Some units include a summary of the content at the beginning of each unit to assist busy teachers find the sections that are most useful to them.
http://schools.surfaidinternational.org
DVD- Peacebuilding in Nigeria
The Imam and the Pastor
Many years of ethnic and religious tension have killed tens of thousands in Nigeria. In the 1990s, Muslim Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Christian Pastor James Wuye men led opposing, armed militias, dedicated to defending their respective communities. Now the two men are co-directors of the Muslim-Christian Interfaith Mediation Centre in their city of Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, leading task-forces to resolve conflicts across the country. This film captures the story of how they made this remarkable transition.
http://www.au.iofc.org/publications
AusAID
updateHot Topics
World Toilet Day
Assistance to Democratic Republic of Congo
Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum 2008
Concrete Outcomes from PNG Visit
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/hottopics
Media Releases
Nov 20 Australia Strengthens APEC
Nov 19 Australia Recognises Importance of Sanitation in the Region
Nov 19 Kokoda Benefits Start to Flow
Nov 12 Australian Support for 2009 Indonesian Elections
Nov 12 Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/media/latest.cfm
Relief web
A photographic display focusing on AusAID’s disaster relief program is travelling around Australia. Teaching notes are available on the website.
http://www.reliefinsight.com.au
Global Education around Australia
Human Rights Arts and Film Festival
Sydney 4-7 December
Brisbane 6-7 March 2009
See the website for details
http://www.hraff.org.au/
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