Homepage

 Shop What you can do Water-testing Groundwater Contact Links Froggy page Wildlife
Newsletters Library Maps Catchment Areas Birdwing Butterfly Awards Native revegetation Pests Reveg Projects

 

Maroochy
Water Watch

Petrie Creek Catchment
Care Group

Qld Environmentally
Sustainable Schools
Initiative

Paynter Creek
Catchment Care

Florabunda
Bushcare

Volunteer
River Patrol

Splash

Maroochy Catchment
Services
 
 

KNOWLEDGE

The door to~

MINDFULNESS
 

 

Tread Gently upon The Earth
 
 
 
 
 

 

       

  Qessi  Sunshine Coast
Qld Environmentally Sustainable Schools Initiative
 


The vision of the Queensland Environmentally Sustainable Schools Initiative (QESSI) is for all schools in Queensland to be Environmentally Sustainable

 The mission of the Queensland Environmentally Sustainable Schools Initiative (QESSI) is to establish a network of environmentally sustainable schools that demonstrate curricula connections and environmental action based on ecological sustainable development principles

 The Sunshine Coast QESSI Hub is operating through the Maroochy Catchment Centre and is one of 13 QESSI Hubs across Queensland helping a cluster of schools in each region build on the their sustainability outcomes.
 


 Sustainable Living

To live Sustainably
is to live Simply!
It is being aware of the impacts
of our lifestyle choices.  It is
making better choices in
sharing the earth’s natural
resources with each other
and all living things

It is a journey of fun
and discovery


 


Some ideas to explore and actions to take:

♦   Establishing a fruit and vegetable garden at home and school.  
♦   Using locally grown produce farmed sustainably
 ♦   Buying what is needed rather than shopping
      impulsively.
♦   Using reuseable products and packaging
 ♦   Installing water tanks and other water saving devices.  
♦   Being an active participant &/or supporter of your local
      local catchment care group   
♦   Purchasing renewable energy, eg joining Energex
      Earthchoice Program - ph: 131252 
♦   Living near and using public transport
 ♦   Developing wildlife friendly and waterwise gardens.



The Earth Charter

The Queensland Environmentally Sustainable Schools Initiative (QESSI) Alliance Strategic Plan is based on the Earth Charter philosophy.

The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful global society for the 21st century. Created by the largest global consultation process ever associated with an international declaration, endorsed by thousands of organizations representing millions of individuals, the Earth Charter seeks to inspire in all peoples a sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The Earth Charter is an expression of hope and a call to help create a global partnership at a critical juncture in history.

The Earth Charter website is http://www.earthcharter.org/ and includes the full set of principles, resources and how to get involved.



           
                     Tread Gently upon The Earth            
 

THE EARTH CHARTER
PRINCIPLES ARE:
Respect and Care for the Community of Life

1)
Respect Earth and life in all its diversity   
2)
Care for the community of life with
understanding, compassion and love.
 3)
Build democratic societies that are just,  
participatory, sustaninable and peaceful.
 4) 
Secure Earth's bounty and beauty for
present and future generations


Ecological Integrity
 

5)
Protect and restore the integrity of Earth's ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life.
 6)
Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach.
7)
Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth's regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being.
 8)
Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired.


Social and Economic Justice
 

9) 
Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative.
 10)
Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.
 11)
Affirm gender equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity.
 12)
Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities.

Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace

13)
Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice.
 14)
Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skillsneeded for a sustainable way of life.
 15)
Treat all living beings with respect and consideration.
 16)
Promote a culture of tolerance, non-violence, and peace.

 

Top of page

 

 


Environmental education for sustainability is for everyone, at whatever stage of life they find themselves.  The aim is to enable the learner to adopt practices and behaviours which foster sustainable development individually and collectively.


 


Ecological Footprint



 "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need
but not every man's greed."
 - Mahatma Gandhi www.gdrc.org/uem/footprints/


The ecological footprint is a measurement of the area of land needed to provide the necessary resources and absorb the wastes generated by a community.

 Calculating our ecological footprint as an individual or school shows the share of the earth’s natural resources we are using with our lifestyle choices. It can then be used as a guide to making wiser choices. Ecological footprint calculators can be found on the following websites:
 

www.powerhousemuseum.com/
 ecotude/index.asp

 www.footprintnetwork.org/

 www.gdrc.org/uem/footprints/
 


 

Qld Environmentally Sustainable School Initiative (QESSI) – Sunshine Coast

 As the Sunshine Coast Hub for the Qld Environmentally Sustainable Schools Initiative (QESSI), we are working with the following school cluster:

 Eumundi State School
 http://www.eumundiss.eq.edu.au

North Arm State School
 http://www.ntharmss.eq.edu.au/

Gympie East State School
 http://www.gympeastss.qld.edu.au/

Glenview State School
http://www.glenviewss.eq.edu.au
Chancellor State College
(Primary & High Schools)
http://chancellorsc.eq.edu.au/wcmss/


All of the schools in the cluster  have been undertaking or involved  in some great initiatives
in the area of sustainability education. They include:

ýSchool and community gardens
 (permaculture/organic)                       

ýComposting; worm farms and chooks

ýLitter free lunch programs

ý Waste reduction

ýIntegration of permaculture design
  principles  into the curriculum   from Years 1 - 7

ýWater & Energy Saving and   Auditing
   Initiatives

ýWater tank installation

ý Establishing or maintaining natural habitat areas to improve biodiversity in the school grounds including planting Birdwing Butterfly vines

ý Student led Environment Committees

ý Involvement in the Green & Healthy Schools and Reef Guardian Programs

ýCooloola Kids Zone Expo

ýAdopting the Earth Charter Principles.


 Funding for the QESSI Hub has come from Education Qld, SEQ Catchments and Maroochy Shire Council. We have a particular focus on renewable energy through our SEQ Catchments funding.

Schools in our cluster are developing School Environment Management Plans (SEMP) and setting up Sustainability Committees to ensure broad involvement of the whole school community in their sustainability initiatives.

 We have been networking with people throughout the region who are involved in providing various aspects of sustainability education to schools.

A representative from the University of the Sunshine Coast is on our QESSI Working Group and we have been liaising with the University to have sustainability education mainstreamed into teacher training courses.