Free Online Course on Climate Change Leadership

Uppsala University is offering free online course on Climate Change Leadership. This course is designed for anyone who wants to take a leading role in tackling climate change.

In this five-week course, applicants will get a view of the leadership challenges associated with climate change, as well as the new arenas that are opening up for climate action. The course will start on November 7, 2016.

Climate change creates a situation of unprecedented urgency, complexity and uncertainty, but also opens up new opportunities for innovation and leadership.

In this free online course, applicants will get a view of the leadership challenges associated with climate change, as well as the new arenas that are opening up for climate action.

Why Take This Course?

This is a free online course. This MOOC will be offered with Video Transcripts in English.  Applicants can get a verified certificate.

Learning Outcomes

In this course, we will explore climate change leadership from a broad range of perspectives. We will take stock of the Paris Agreement – the first-ever legally binding global climate deal – and discuss climate justice and pathways to avoid catastrophic climate change. We will examine the social complexity of climate change, and how it may limit the effectiveness of traditional models of leadership within governance, management and development. And they will discuss how to unpack this complexity and identify climate change leadership opportunities in practical, political and personal spheres.

Requirements

This course is designed for anyone who wants to take a leading role in tackling climate change. Applicant might work in a small business, an NGO, a university faculty, government or municipality administration – or just be curious.

Instructors

Jakob Grandin

Educational coordinator at CEMUS, Uppsala University. Passionate about sustainability, innovation and mountains. Develops the Climate Change Leadership MOOC.

Friederike May

Course Coordinator at CEMUS/CSD, Uppsala University and SLU. Sustainability, education and the importance of putting theory into practice.

Daniel Mossberg

Director of Studies and Acting Program Director CEMUS/CSD, Uppsala University and SLU. Climate, energy and its social dimensions.

Alexis Engström

Course Coordinator CEMUS/CSD, Uppsala University and SLU. Environmental History, ESD and Active Student Participation.

How To Join This Course

• Go to the course website link
• Sign Up At FutureLearn
• Select a course and Join
• Once a course has started, applicant will be able to access the course material
• After the start date, students will be able to access the course by following the Go To Course link on My Courses page.
• Applicants can buy, to show that they have completed a FutureLearn course.
• Statement of Attainment. (These are university-branded, printed certificates that provide proof of learning on the course topic(s)).

Philippine Premiere of Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

If you love burgers, you just might be contributing to the destruction of the world.

Yup, you read that right.

Apparently, animal agriculture is the most destructive industry facing the planet today. This was the main topic tackled by the documentary Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret which had its Philippine premiere last October 22 in Los Banos, Laguna.

Cowspiracy follows filmmakers Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn as they try to uncover the reason why top environmental organizations seem to be ignoring the devastating impact of large-scale factory farming on the planet.

I've listed some of the facts discussed in the film that I personally found interesting (and honestly, profoundly disturbing). These information can also be found on the Cowspiracy website:

1.Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation 

2. Livestock and their byproducts account for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, or 51% of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. ---MORE THAN HALF! 

3. Cows produce 150 billion gallons of methane per day.   (Those cow farts have some serious power behind them.)

4. Even without fossil fuels, we will exceed our 565 gigatonnes CO2e limit by 2030, all from raising animals. 

5. 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce 1 pound of beef. ( Admittedly, I am a carnivore. But I think I need to start rethinking those quarter pounders that I like so much--that's equivalent to 625 gallons :(

6.  477 gallons of water are required to produce 1lb. of eggs;  almost 900 gallons of water are needed for 1lb. of cheese. 1,000 gallons of water are required to produce 1 gallon of milk.

7. We could see fishless oceans by 2048 (I have scuba dived before, I cannot imagine waters without these beautiful sea creatures.) 

8. Animal agriculture is responsible for up to 91% of Amazon destruction. --- YES, NINETY ONE

9. A person who follows a vegan diet produces the equivalent of 50% less carbon dioxide, uses 1/11th oil, 1/13th water, and 1/18th land compared to a meat-lover for their food.   

10. Each day, a person who eats a vegan diet saves 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 sq ft of forested land, 20 lbs CO2 equivalent, and one animal’s life.  

I really, really need to rethink how I eat. 

Vegan couple Frederik and Fiona De Vos organized the showing of this groundbreaking film at the CAS Auditorium of the University of the Philippines in Los Banos. Fiona expressed that while they did not expect people to go vegan, or at least not right away, they felt compelled to share the documentary to raise the awareness of other people. The couple are such strong advocates of veganism that they have created a resource website for vegans in the Philippine. Check out their website, Vegan.ph.

For more information, you can read the infographic below or check the Cowspiracy website.

Online Course about Marine Litter

Marine litter, or marine debris, are human-created waste that has been released in a body of water either on purpose or by accident. This in turn causes damage to marine animals, people and property. 

To combat this, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in cooperation with the Open University of the Netherlands, will be launching a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Marine Litter. The aim is to create leadership and offer professional development opportunities related to marine litter within the framework of the Global Partnership on MarineLitter.

This course will help improve the capacity of students through action oriented learning on how they can apply successful and inspiring activities to combat marine pollution. It will be offered through a series of lectures, case studies and videos, along with additional study materials.

The MOOC is will be available in two tracks:
 
Leadership Track: 8 hours of learning introducing the student to the basic characteristics and concepts of the marine litter issue and various strategies to prevent and reduce marine litter; and
 
Expert Track: 32 additional hours and a final assignment for professionals and students who want to acquire more in-depth knowledge, insights and skills relating to prevention of marine litter.

This will involve topics such as:

·    The environmental impact and societal relevance of marine litter problems;

·    Technical solutions, including alternatives and recycling;

·    The governance of marine litter;

·    Sources, processes, modelling and monitoring of marine litter;

·    Designing and selecting effective strategies for marine litter;

·    Awareness raising, education and outreach, and capacity building;

·    Implementation of policies, laws, and market-based instruments;

·    Skills to develop an action plan to reduce marine litter pollution.

You can check out the brochure here. 

Crowdfunding For River Rehabilitation

Photo by Earth Venture, Inc

It's small but it does the job. 

"Effective Microorganisms" or EM are highly efficient and naturally occurring organisms that are usually used in organic agriculture and wastewater treatment plants to reduce environmental pollution. 

Earth Venture Inc, a biotechnology company has been promoting the use of EM technology, including application of EM Mudballs to dirty rivers and waterways to bring it back to life. They believe that big solutions can come from these tiny creatures of the earth. 

EM Mudballs have been proven effective based on projects that have made use of this technology as in the case of Maningning Creek in Taytay, Rizal. 

Check out this video which explains how it works:

Earth Venture has launched a crowdfunding project dubbed as The Flight of Super Mudball which intends to engage as many participants to make the first 2,000 EM Mudballs for the treatment of Estero de Uli-Uli,  a part of the Pasig River which is located behind the Malacanang Palace. 

“The Flight of Super Mudball” will kick off the rehabilitation of Ilog Pasig starting from Estero de Uli-Uli using EM Mudballs which contain live, beneficial microorganisms - Mother Nature's army of #InvisibleWorkers.


This event will help introduce the EM Technology and EarthVenture’s Throwback Program to partners and stakeholders interested in understanding how EM can help in the bioremediation of Philippine creeks and rivers.  In this event, participants will not only be enlightened on how microbes work wonders for the improvement of our river’s health, they will also be inspired on how they can be part of this solution by joining EarthVenture’s Throwback Program.

This program aims to:

• Raise awareness on the impact of applying EM Mudballs to our creeks and rivers
• Change perceptions about microorganisms
• Kick start the growth of a community of “MUDVOCATES” who will be passionate about how man and an army of invisible beneficial microbes could work together in cleaning Mother Earth

On October 3^rd, there will be a EM Mudball Making and Throwing event for Estero de Uli-Uli, targeting the creation of the first 2,000 EM Mudballs.

Interested? Here's how you can join :) 

1. From August 1 to 31, you can contribute anywhere from Php500 to Php20,000. According to the organizers, it may not be easy to see the possible impact of your contribution at present but your contribution will surely pave the way for the continuous implement of the project in the next six months. 

2. Spread the word. Share this information to your friends and relatives and on social media. Not only is this a fundraising campaign but an education campaign as well. People are encouraged to use this story to help educate other people about the effects of EM and the importance of their behavior and lifestyle on our waterways.

Use the hashtag #InvisibleWorkers 

Project Goals

The whole Throwback Program for Estero de Uli-uli includes the following:

• Development of EM Champions conducted at the Costales Nature Farms
• Application of EM Activated Solution (7,000 liters over 3 months period)
• EM Mudball Making & Throwing Activities (7,000 pieces over 3 months period)
• IEC Materials

The initial goal for the campaign that will run from August 1 to 31 is to fund the first 2,000 pieces of EM Mudballs. Should there be more project backers, this will just be carried over to help achieve the overall aim to complete the 7,000 pieces EM Mudballs required by Estero de Uli-Uli.

For more information, visit their crowdfunding page at Spark Project. 

Global Youth Video Competition on Climate Change

Photo from UNFCCC

Deadline : August 17, 2015 

Open to: young people between 18 and 30 years old

Think about a project or campaign you are involved in to combat climate change, an action which convinced your parents, school or college to take climate action, a lobbying of your elected members of parliament or your city leaders. Whatever is making a difference, turn it into a snappy concise video and join the competition. Some key questions to answer are:

• Why did you choose to engage in this climate action?
• What were some of the key things that took place?
• What were some of the successes?
• Where did these successes occur (locally, nationally or internationally)?
• How can youth from similar countries replicate the activities that have been implemented?

Eligibility:

This content is open for people between 18 and 30 year old. Tvebiomovies is looking for creative inspirational stories about your action on climate change. The winning entries being judged by our panel will take into account the following criteria:

• Content: clearness and effectiveness of the video in documenting a story about climate change, promoting action and/or offering new solutions;
• Innovation, originality, and impact: telling a climate story in a fresh and unusual way, appealing to a broad and diverse audience and encouraging further thought and action;
• Technical expertise: quality of camera and audio work, effectiveness of editing and strength of script.

Prizes:

• Round trip to COP21/CMP11 in Paris, France from 30 November to 11 December 2015 (including accommodation and other expenses);
• Position as a youth reporter for COP21/CMP11, responsible for assisting UNFCCC Newsroom team with videos, articles and social media posts.

There will be two winners:

• One winner will be chosen based on the most number of views on tve‘s You Tube channel during the voting period;
• The other winner will be selected by members of the UNFCCC Secretariat, UNDP-SGP and others.

How to Apply?

• Make a three minute film about the action you are involved in to combat climate change;
• Complete your entry using online form;
• The videos may be recorded in any language, but English subtitles must be provided;
• Films which meet the criteria will be uploaded to tve’s You Tube channel and a shortlist of entries will be viewed by the judging panel.

United Nations Environment Programme Publications

Everybody loves free stuff. Including greenistas.

Check out these free publications from the United Nations Environment Programme Publications to learn about new research and knowledge about the environment have cropped up. This allows environmental information available to everyone and therefore we are all accountable in creating a sustainable future for this planet and the next generations.

Tree Hugging Couple Asks for Tree Seedlings As Wedding Gift

Photo by One Love Photography

Our days are numbered here on earth and we only have so little time to make it work, to make it worthwhile, to live to the full.  It makes it important that we realize that our lives are not made up of days but of moments. Tiny, sporadic little splashes of emotion wrought in full color to be remembered forever.  And on certain days, when God and His universe choose it, the path your driving down is about to take a hard left, it leaves a mark. And when that happens, for some reason, time chooses to slow down, ticking down to a standstill. One special day, ten years ago, that happened - the moment when Sweet Mylyn Reyes and Jaworski Valencia first met.  At that moment, neither knew what turmoil and joy the other would bring. Everything had suddenly changed. But it was that moment that would give birth to many more moments. Tender moments, sad moments, happy moments, funny moments. Most romantic movies would cover oceanic eyes, stars in the skies, elevator music and cheesy one liners. Their love story is one filled with Starbucks coffee, Timezone games, with laughter, reggae beats, with a deep friendship forged through years of togetherness and yes, of cheesy one liners.  Life  fades as easily as rose blooms and then withers away . So while we are here, we make it matter, we live with purpose and share it with the one we love the most. 

Two special people in my life have chosen to live and love with purpose, my friends Sweet and Jawo. They are soul mates and best friends drunk on love and happiness. And they will be getting married this coming Sunday, November 16! 

Aside from hugging each other, they also like hugging trees. Yup. Aside from the usual wedding gifts, they have offered their guests the opportunity to bless the Earth by purchasing seedlings and joining a tree planting activity. Here's the transcript of the message that's written at the back of their wedding invitation: 

We love the Earth as much as you do, it is our home after all. 

As a tree hugging couple, we dream of becoming certified "Friends of the Forest".

It is our vision to make a difference by planting at least 300 trees. 

In cooperation with Paradise Ranch, an organization dedicated to promoting environmental conservation, we have pledged thirty seedling as our first act as a married couple. We wish that you help us achieve 300 seedlings and you may do so by purchasing at least one. The good news is that each seedling is worth Php50 only! So you can pledge for more!

If you wish to join us on the actual tree planting day, feel free to do so! We'd love to have you on board.

How many seedlings do you pledge to help us with?

While only close family members and friends are invited to their fabulous beach wedding this weekend, anybody is free to help out with their greening activities. Please contact the bride here:

Contact Sweet

0949.729.5565

0917.548.3362

To my awesome friends, lovebirds and newlyweds to be: May you always find refuge in the shadow of your love, may your friendship be a haven of comfort and security.  To Sweet and Jawo, to the rest of their lives, to all the precious moments they will create.  To live is to love.