Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

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ESD CONSULTATION FORM - VERSION 1.0-1.1 - MAY 2009
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This consultation on education for sustainable development (ESD) is sponsored by the E-Journal of Solidarity, Sustainability, and Nonviolence (SSNV). UNESCO has defined eight key areas that should be covered in education for sustainable development: gender equality, health care, environmental stewardship, rural development, cultural diversity, peace & security, sustainable urbanization, and sustainable consumption. There are 5 questions in each key area, for a total of 40 questions.

Needless to say, UNESCO is not responsible for any misconceptions that the questions might contain. Same applies to the answers to be entered, collected, and analyzed. Hopefully, this exercise will lead to some useful insights and perhaps even some recommendations about education for sustainable development, but there is no presumption that such results will be useful to UNESCO or any other institution.

You have been selected either because you are a member of the SSNV Google Group, or a participant in one of several fora related to sustainable development, or by another individual who has given us your name, because of your expertise in sustainable development and/or related global issues such as gender discrimination, the gap between the very rich and the very poor, and the deterioration of the human habitat.

The consultation form can be completed in one hour or so. Answer each of the questions to the best of your knowledge. All of your responses will remain anonymous. Complete the survey and press the submit button at the end. When you press submit, your answers are added to the survey spreadsheet. A summary of the findings will be made available to participants who provide contact information.

Version 1 is a significant revision of Version 0. For more information of how the questionnaire was redesigned and rewritten based on V0 feedback and further research, see the following web page:

E-Journal of Solidarity, Sustainability, and Nonviolence, V5 N5 May 2009
http://www.pelicanweb.org/solisustv05n05page1.html

UPDATE (VERSION 1.1)

Version 1.1 is an update to clarify the intent of the multiple choice questions. The intent is not to imply that there is one "best answer" as in academic examinations. There is no such thing as "the" best answer in sustainable development. Rather, the intent is to test participant response when they are constrained to selecting one from a finite set of choices, as often happens due to various kinds of constraints. According to the "precautionary principle," doing nothing is not an option. Thus it becomes a matter of selecting, from among a finite set of options, the one that is "best" in the sense of being the "most desirable" (or, the "least undesirable") in terms of the anticipated positive/negative impacts on sustainable development. Subsequent versions of this survey will test other kinds of questions (such as "select all that apply").

Thank you for your patience and participation.

Luis T. Gutierrez, Ph.D.
Editor, E-Journal of Solidarity, Sustainability, and Nonviolence
http://pelicanweb.org/solisust.html
This is a monthly, free subscription, open access e-journal.

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CONSULTATION FORM VERSION 1.1
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NB: In Version 1, most questions are multiple choice and it is requested that the participant select "the best answer." This does not mean that other answers are wrong. It simply means that, given that only one option can be chosen, the responder must decide which one is "the best."

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Institutional Affiliation * Can be a company, agency, school, church, others

Current Position * Your job title or equivalent

Email Address Enter an email address to receive a consultation summary report.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR GENDER EQUITY This is Section 1 of the Survey

2. In your experience, what is the root cause of gender inequities? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] The ubiquity of religious images portraying God as masculine.
[B] The fact that it is a "men's world" out there, and I am powerless to change it.
[C] The ontological reality that men are superior to women.
[D] The misconception that gender inequities are part of the "natural order of things."
[E] The fact that only women can have babies.

3. What can you do to help overcome gender inequities? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Practically nothing.
[B] Give my unqualified support to patriarchal institutions.
[C] Do research on the full sharing of human nature by men and women.
[D] Elucidate the difference between male human nature and female human nature.
[E] Start at home, showing that husband and wife are equal partners.

4. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to overcome gender inequities? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] The legalization of prostitution with full equality for male and female prostitutes.
[B] The reformation of secular institutions to achieve full gender equity in work responsibility and roles of authority.
[C] The reformation of religious institutions to achieve full gender equity in ministerial responsibility and roles of religious authority.
[D] Making mutual consent the only requirement for having sex at any age.
[E] Both B and C above but not A and D.
[F] Both A and D above but not B and C.

5. What cultural adaptations are required to overcome gender inequities? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Letting go of the patriarchal mindset.
[B] Giving boys and girls the same opportunities for integral human development.
[C] Recognizing that men and women share the same human rights.
[D] Recognizing that God transcends gender.
[E] None of the above.
[F] All the above.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR HEALTH PROMOTION This is Section 2 of the Survey

7. In your experience, what is the root cause of so many people suffering from poor health? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Many people take health for granted until they become sick.
[B] Many people prefer to have fun rather than follow a healthy way of life.
[C] Irresponsible sex.
[D] Excessive eating and drinking.
[E] Seeking inner peace and fulfillment from the outside world.
[F] All the above

8. What can you do to help in the promotion of human health? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Go to medical school and make a lot of money.
[B] Avoid polluting the environment.
[C] Become and advocate for safe and responsible sex.
[D] Do research on how to lower health care costs.
[E] B, C, and D above but not A.

9. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to improve human health? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Reformation of health care systems so as to make health care more accessible and affordable.
[B] Work for social and environmental justice.
[C] Educate people on healthy lifestyles.
[D] Give condoms and contraceptives to everyone (no questions asked).
[E] Support projects that provide health care services to victims of HIV/AIDS.

10. What cultural adaptations are required to improve human health? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Rediscover the family as the basic unity of society.
[B] Recognition that a nuptial covenant is the best way to share the gift of love and the gift of life.
[C] Letting go of some religious taboos (e.g., "menstruation makes a woman dirty").
[D] Come to a mind that we all must fight in the "war on drugs."
[E] Recognition that psychological violence is at least as bad as physical violence in causing mental illness.
[F] A and B above.
[G] A, B, and E above.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP This is Section 3 of the Survey

12. In your experience, what is the root cause of environmental deterioration? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] The limitations of the human condition.
[B] Indulging in extravagant consumerism, especially in the First World.
[C] Greed and the idolatry of money.
[D] The sexual drive that generates explosive population growth in the Third World.
[E] Lack of contact with nature.

13. What can you do to foster environmental stewardship? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Tell my family and friends about our need for the human habitat.
[B] Work for environmental justice.
[C] Work for both social justice and environmental justice.
[D] Remind people about Genesis 2:15.
[E] Take for granted the resilience of the biosphere.

14. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to improve environmental management? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Reform of educational systems to include the synergy between humanity and the human habitat.
[B] Reform of business and tax laws to foster use of the "triple bottom line."
[C] Reform of the international system to include some form of global governance with a "green" mandate.
[D] Reform of the international system to reverse "resources flowing from the poor to the rich and pollution flowing from the rich to the poor" (Vandana Shiva).
[E] Reform of institutional accounting practices that treat environmental costs as "externalities" that don't count in balance sheets.
[F] Reform of tax codes to include environmental impact assessment of institutional activities and apply taxes accordingly.
[G] All the above.

15. What cultural adaptations are required for people to live in harmony with the human habitat? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Let go of idealistic transformational goals and focus instead on formulating economic and other incentives to "think green, act green."
[B] Let go of false hopes for technological breakthroughs that will allow exponential growth of population and consumption to continue without impacting the global ecosystem.
[C] Let go of idealistic transformational goals and focus instead on formulating economic disincentives and other effective disincentives to human activities that harm biodiversity and other natural resources.
[D] Let go of the addiction to cars and other devices that burn fossil fuels.
[E] All the above.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT This is Section 4 of the Survey

17. In your experience, what is the root cause of rural underdevelopment? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Lack of access to good schools
[B] Lack of access to heath care facilities
[C] Lack of opportunities for human development
[D] Lack of adequate compensation for farming work.
[E] Lack of appreciation for living in contact with nature.
[F] The perception that resources and opportunities are concentrated in the cities.
[G] Feelings of isolation and lack of motivation to work the land.

18. What can you do to help promote rural development? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] If you live in a rural area, request courses in agronomy and best agricultural practices.
[B] If you live in a rural area, form cooperatives to work the land in a more cost-effective manner.
[C] If you live in a city, promote the allocation of resources to rural areas.
[D] If you live in a city, promote the allocation of resources to research in agricultural and/or forestry best practices.
[E] If you live in a rural area, select A or B.
[F] If you live in a city, select C or D.

19. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to promote rural development? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] In government, checks and balances to ensure a fair distribution of resources between rural and urban areas.
[B] In education, ensure that rural children understand the positives and negatives of urban living.
[C] In education, ensure that children living in the cities learn about the positive and negatives of rural living.
[D] In the business world, provide incentives for location of agricultural industries in rural areas.
[E] In the business world, provide incentives to the relocation of environment-friendly industries to rural areas.

20. What cultural adaptations are required to foster rural development? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Rediscover the high value of agriculture and forestry for the good of society.
[B] More support to incentives for university graduates to serve in rural areas for at least three years.
[C] Same as B, but extended to both national and foreign rural areas.
[D] Same as B, but targeted to poor rural areas such as sub-Saharan Africa.
[E] General recognition of the need for heavy taxing of human activities that cause soil erosion and/or deforestation.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION ABOUT CULTURAL DIVERSITY This is Section 5 of the Survey

22. In your experience, what is the root cause of resistance to cultural diversity? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Lack of experience in managing cultural diversity.
[B] Delusions about racial / ethnic / religious superiority.
[C] Ignorance that breeds intolerance.
[D] A false sense of patriotism.
[E] Lack of experience in the benefits of cultural diversity.

23. What can you do to help overcome resistance to cultural diversity? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Do research on the correlation between cultural diversity and human development.
[B] Promote acceptance of inter-racial marriage.
[C] Promote acceptance of non-exclusive institutions and neighborhoods.
[D] Promote diversity (including gender balance) in the workplace and other secular institutions.
[E] Promote diversity (including gender balance) in religious institutions and rituals.

24. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to overcome resistance to cultural diversity? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Increase the allocation of resources to research in human sexuality.
[B] Increase financial support for gender studies, ethnic studies, and other studies that help young people gain an appreciation for cultural diversity, the positive value of inclusiveness, and the negative value of exclusiveness.
[C] Zero tolerance for "ethnic cleansing," the massive abortion of baby girls, and other such practices.
[D] Heavy taxation of institutions (both secular and religious) that practice any form of discrimination.
[E] Withdrawal of subsidies to institutions (both secular and religious) that practice any form of discrimination.
[F] All the above.

25. What cultural adaptations are required to overcome resistance to cultural diversity? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Overcoming racism.
[B] Overcoming the "phallic syndrome" (preference for the masculine).
[C] Overcoming collective delusions about any form of superiority or supremacy.
[D] Increased appreciation for the notion of a "global village."
[E] Acceptance of the cultural benefits of globalization.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR PEACE AND SECURITY This is Section 6 of the Survey

27. In your experience, what is the root cause of violence and the resulting human insecurity? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] The desire for wealth.
[B] The desire for power.
[C] Not having experienced the power of nonviolence.
[D] The desire for honors.
[E] A, B, and D above but not C.

28. What can you do to help mitigate violence and improve human security? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Teach and practice the power of nonviolence.
[B] Promote the "economy of enough."
[C] Work for social and environmental justice.
[D] Work to close the gap between the very rich and the very poor.
[E] Accept responsibility and avoid blaming others ("scapegoating").
[F] If you are a Christian, memorize and popularize the "prayer of St. Francis."
[G] If you are religious, do F with a peace prayer in your tradition (search Google).

29. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to mitigate violence and improve human security? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Reformation of the United Nations with a democratic mandate to keep the peace and pursue the Millennium Development Goals.
[B] Democratic reforms with effective "checks and balances" at all levels (principle of subsidiarity).
[C] Create a multi-national force of "blue helmets" with adequate training and resources.
[D] Create incentives for nonviolence and disincentives for violence at all levels.
[E] Educate children on the Declaration of Human Rights, the Earth Charter, and the Hannover Principles.

30. What cultural adaptations are required to promote nonviolence and human security? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Make war and violence "collectively unacceptable."
[B] Make the rich-poor gap "collectively unacceptable."
[C] Choice A with especial emphasis on gender violence.
[D] Choice B with especial emphasis on gender violence.
[E] Both A and B above but not C and D.
[F] Both C and D.
[G] Concede that human civilization is beyond repair.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION This is Section 7 of the Survey

32. In your experience, what is the root cause of unsustainable urbanization? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Excessive congestion.
[B] Lack of experience in city management.
[C] The attraction of urban jobs, resources, and amenities.
[D] Uncontrolled growth.
[E] Crime, especially drug trafficking.
[F] C and D above but not A, B, or E.

33. What can you do to enhance the sustainable development of urban areas? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Do research on incentives for mitigation of urban growth.
[B] Eat only food that can be produced within city limits.
[C] Support developing massive transit systems to avoid commuting.
[D] Try to get a job in a rural area.
[E] Do "ceteris paribus" research on the optimal population of cities.

34. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to foster sustainable urbanization? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Increase property taxes as a nonlinear (e.g., exponential) function of urban population.
[B] Reverse migration from rural to urban areas by making rural living more attractive -- economically and socially.
[C] Increase the cost of new business permits in cities, decrease such costs in rural areas.
[D] Define concentric circles and democratically put in place progressively greater disincentives to live / work / circulate in the inner circles (except for tourists with permits).
[E] Relocate airports to be at least 100 miles away from the outermost circle in choice D.
[F] Democratically set much heavier fines for littering, including jail terms for repeat offenders.

35. What cultural adaptations are required to make progress in sustainable urbanization? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Increased collective desire for more green spaces within cities.
[B] More general recognition of the human need to be in frequent contact with nature.
[C] Increased collective awareness about the negative health effects of congestion and pollution.
[D] Increased awareness of the need for sustainable consumption by those who live in cities.
[E] More toleration for people who start growing fruits and vegetables in their gardens
[F] More toleration for people who start having chickens, pigs, etc., in their backyards.
[G] All the above.
[H] A, B, C, and D above but not E and F.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION This is Section 8 of the Survey

37. In your experience, what is the root cause of unsustainable consumption? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Advertising.
[B] Gluttony.
[C] Everyone else enjoys shopping and having material things, so why not me?
[D] Lack of appreciation for a simple lifestyle.
[E] Consumerism is an escape from looking inside and undertaking the inner journey.

38. What can you do to help foster sustainable consumption? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Support and/or volunteer to work in social and environmental justice projects.
[B] Tell my boss that they are cutting corners in product quality, and lying to customers, for the sake of quick profits.
[C] Do what you can to help the poor and the oppressed.
[D] Be vocal in denouncing the widening gap between the very poor and the very rich, and be ready and willing to face the consequences.
[E] Start by moderating your own consumption habits.

39. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to promote sustainable consumption? * Select the "best" (most desirable or least undesirable) answer:

[A] Establish effective "checks and balances" to ensure compliance with the principle of subsidiarity ("decisions are to be made at the lowest possible level").
[B] Democratically establish heavier taxes for consumption of extravagant goods and services.

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