Edit form - [ Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) ]

ESD V1 Summary Report

129 Responses

Participants' Role in Sustainable Development

Executive Authority	5	4%
Governance (e.g., legislator)	2	2%
Planner	22	17%
Researcher	77	60%
Evaluator	16	12%
Educator	64	50%
Volunteer	37	29%
Financial Supporter	5	4%
Expert Consultant	31	24%
Other	20	16%

People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR GENDER EQUITY

Section 1

1. What is the importance of gender equity for sustainable development?

Irrelevant

Critical

1 -	Irrelevant	1	1%
2		0	0%
3		1	1%
4		1	1%
5		3	2%
6		9	7%
7		21	16%
8		24	19%
9 -	Critical	69	53%

2. In your experience, what is the root cause of gender inequities?

[A] The ubiquity of religious images portraying God as masculine.	10	8%
[B] The fact that it is a "men's world" out there, and I am powerless to change it.	17	13%
[C] The ontological reality that men are superior to women.	14	11%
[D] The misconception that gender inequities are part of the "natural order of things."	84	65%
[E] The fact that only women can have babies.	4	3%

3. What can you do to help overcome gender inequities?

[A] Practically nothing.	3	2%
[B] Give my unqualified support to patriarchal institutions.	1	1%
[C] Do research on the full sharing of human nature by men and women.	55	43%
[D] Elucidate the difference between male human nature and female human nature.	14	11%
[E] Start at home, showing that husband and wife are equal partners.	56	43%

4. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to overcome gender inequities?

[A] The legalization of prostitution with full equality for male and female prostitutes.	1	1%
[B] The reformation of secular institutions to achieve full gender equity in work responsibility and roles of authority.	39	30%
[C] The reformation of religious institutions to achieve full gender equity in ministerial responsibility and roles of religious authority.	7	5%
[D] Making mutual consent the only requirement for having sex at any age.	2	2%
[E] Both B and C above but not A and D.	79	61%
[F] Both A and D above but not B and C.	1	1%

5. What cultural adaptations are required to overcome gender inequities?

[A] Letting go of the patriarchal mindset.	9	7%
[B] Giving boys and girls the same opportunities for integral human development.	35	27%
[C] Recognizing that men and women share the same human rights.	22	17%
[D] Recognizing that God transcends gender.	0	0%
[E] None of the above.	2	2%
[F] All the above.	61	47%

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR HEALTH PROMOTION

Section 2

6. What is the importance of health promotion for sustainable development?

Irrelevant

Critical

1 -	Irrelevant	1	1%
2		0	0%
3		0	0%
4		0	0%
5		0	0%
6		9	7%
7		20	16%
8		27	21%
9 -	Critical	72	56%

7. In your experience, what is the root cause of so many people suffering from poor health?

[A] Many people take health for granted until they become sick.	48	37%
[B] Many people prefer to have fun rather than follow a healthy way of life.	12	9%
[C] Irresponsible sex.	2	2%
[D] Excessive eating and drinking.	8	6%
[E] Seeking inner peace and fulfillment from the outside world.	7	5%
[F] All the above	52	40%

8. What can you do to help in the promotion of human health?

[A] Go to medical school and make a lot of money.	0	0%
[B] Avoid polluting the environment.	29	22%
[C] Become and advocate for safe and responsible sex.	1	1%
[D] Do research on how to lower health care costs.	13	10%
[E] B, C, and D above but not A.	86	67%

9. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to improve human health?

[A] Reformation of health care systems so as to make health care more accessible and affordable.	70	54%
[B] Work for social and environmental justice.	30	23%
[C] Educate people on healthy lifestyles.	28	22%
[D] Give condoms and contraceptives to everyone (no questions asked).	1	1%
[E] Support projects that provide health care services to victims of HIV/AIDS.	0	0%

10. What cultural adaptations are required to improve human health?

[A] Rediscover the family as the basic unity of society.	20	16%
[B] Recognition that a nuptial covenant is the best way to share the gift of love and the gift of life.	1	1%
[C] Letting go of some religious taboos (e.g., "menstruation makes a woman dirty").	24	19%
[D] Come to a mind that we all must fight in the "war on drugs."	3	2%
[E] Recognition that psychological violence is at least as bad as physical violence in causing mental illness.	40	31%
[F] A and B above.	6	5%
[G] A, B, and E above.	35	27%

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Section 3

11. What is the importance of environmental stewardship for sustainable development?

Irrelevant

Critical

1 -	Irrelevant	0	0%
2		0	0%
3		0	0%
4		1	1%
5		2	2%
6		1	1%
7		9	7%
8		28	22%
9 -	Critical	88	68%

12. In your experience, what is the root cause of environmental deterioration?

[A] The limitations of the human condition.	11	9%
[B] Indulging in extravagant consumerism, especially in the First World.	65	50%
[C] Greed and the idolatry of money.	26	20%
[D] The sexual drive that generates explosive population growth in the Third World.	2	2%
[E] Lack of contact with nature.	25	19%

13. What can you do to foster environmental stewardship?

[A] Tell my family and friends about our need for the human habitat.	18	14%
[B] Work for environmental justice.	16	12%
[C] Work for both social justice and environmental justice.	95	74%
[D] Remind people about Genesis 2:15.	0	0%
[E] Take for granted the resilience of the biosphere.	0	0%

14. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to improve environmental management?

[A] Reform of educational systems to include the synergy between humanity and the human habitat.	16	12%
[B] Reform of business and tax laws to foster use of the "triple bottom line."	3	2%
[C] Reform of the international system to include some form of global governance with a "green" mandate.	10	8%
[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).	9	7%
[E] Reform of institutional accounting practices that treat environmental costs as "externalities" that don't count in balance sheets.	7	5%
[F] Reform of tax codes to include environmental impact assessment of institutional activities and apply taxes accordingly.	6	5%
[G] All the above.	78	60%

15. What cultural adaptations are required for people to live in harmony with the human habitat?

[A] Let go of idealistic transformational goals and focus instead on formulating economic and other incentives to "think green, act green."	19	15%
[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.	12	9%
[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.	12	9%
[D] Let go of the addiction to cars and other devices that burn fossil fuels.	2	2%
[E] All the above.	84	65%

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Section 4

16. What is the importance of rural development for overall sustainable development?

Irrelevant

Critical

1 -	Irrelevant	1	1%
2		0	0%
3		1	1%
4		1	1%
5		4	3%
6		10	8%
7		23	18%
8		29	22%
9 -	Critical	60	47%

17. In your experience, what is the root cause of rural underdevelopment?

[A] Lack of access to good schools	5	4%
[B] Lack of access to heath care facilities	3	2%
[C] Lack of opportunities for human development	60	47%
[D] Lack of adequate compensation for farming work.	19	15%
[E] Lack of appreciation for living in contact with nature.	2	2%
[F] The perception that resources and opportunities are concentrated in the cities.	37	29%
[G] Feelings of isolation and lack of motivation to work the land.	3	2%

18. What can you do to help promote rural development?

[A] If you live in a rural area, request courses in agronomy and best agricultural practices.	3	2%
[B] If you live in a rural area, form cooperatives to work the land in a more cost-effective manner.	9	7%
[C] If you live in a city, promote the allocation of resources to rural areas.	23	18%
[D] If you live in a city, promote the allocation of resources to research in agricultural and/or forestry best practices.	25	19%
[E] If you live in a rural area, select A or B.	17	13%
[F] If you live in a city, select C or D.	52	40%

19. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to promote rural development?

[A] In government, checks and balances to ensure a fair distribution of resources between rural and urban areas.	73	57%
[B] In education, ensure that rural children understand the positives and negatives of urban living.	9	7%
[C] In education, ensure that children living in the cities learn about the positive and negatives of rural living.	6	5%
[D] In the business world, provide incentives for location of agricultural industries in rural areas.	10	8%
[E] In the business world, provide incentives to the relocation of environment-friendly industries to rural areas.	31	24%

20. What cultural adaptations are required to foster rural development?

[A] Rediscover the high value of agriculture and forestry for the good of society.	50	39%
[B] More support to incentives for university graduates to serve in rural areas for at least three years.	18	14%
[C] Same as B, but extended to both national and foreign rural areas.	22	17%
[D] Same as B, but targeted to poor rural areas such as sub-Saharan Africa.	11	9%
[E] General recognition of the need for heavy taxing of human activities that cause soil erosion and/or deforestation.	28	22%

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION ABOUT CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Section 5

21. What is the importance of cultural diversity for sustainable development?

Irrelevant

Critical

1 -	Irrelevant	1	1%
2		1	1%
3		1	1%
4		1	1%
5		6	5%
6		11	9%
7		32	25%
8		25	19%
9 -	Critical	51	40%

22. In your experience, what is the root cause of resistance to cultural diversity?

[A] Lack of experience in managing cultural diversity.	19	15%
[B] Delusions about racial / ethnic / religious superiority.	27	21%
[C] Ignorance that breeds intolerance.	46	36%
[D] A false sense of patriotism.	3	2%
[E] Lack of experience in the benefits of cultural diversity.	34	26%

23. What can you do to help overcome resistance to cultural diversity?

[A] Do research on the correlation between cultural diversity and human development.	24	19%
[B] Promote acceptance of inter-racial marriage.	3	2%
[C] Promote acceptance of non-exclusive institutions and neighborhoods.	28	22%
[D] Promote diversity (including gender balance) in the workplace and other secular institutions.	69	53%
[E] Promote diversity (including gender balance) in religious institutions and rituals.	5	4%

24. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to overcome resistance to cultural diversity?

[A] Increase the allocation of resources to research in human sexuality.	3	2%
[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.	41	32%
[C] Zero tolerance for "ethnic cleansing," the massive abortion of baby girls, and other such practices.	14	11%
[D] Heavy taxation of institutions (both secular and religious) that practice any form of discrimination.	1	1%
[E] Withdrawal of subsidies to institutions (both secular and religious) that practice any form of discrimination.	9	7%
[F] All the above.	61	47%

25. What cultural adaptations are required to overcome resistance to cultural diversity?

[A] Overcoming racism.	13	10%
[B] Overcoming the "phallic syndrome" (preference for the masculine).	4	3%
[C] Overcoming collective delusions about any form of superiority or supremacy.	61	47%
[D] Increased appreciation for the notion of a "global village."	28	22%
[E] Acceptance of the cultural benefits of globalization.	23	18%

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR PEACE AND SECURITY

Section 6

26. What is the importance of peace and human security for sustainable development?

Irrelevant

Critical

1 -	Irrelevant	1	1%
2		0	0%
3		0	0%
4		1	1%
5		1	1%
6		3	2%
7		10	8%
8		26	20%
9 -	Critical	87	67%

27. In your experience, what is the root cause of violence and the resulting human insecurity?

[A] The desire for wealth.	5	4%
[B] The desire for power.	40	31%
[C] Not having experienced the power of nonviolence.	16	12%
[D] The desire for honors.	1	1%
[E] A, B, and D above but not C.	67	52%

28. What can you do to help mitigate violence and improve human security?

[A] Teach and practice the power of nonviolence.	36	28%
[B] Promote the "economy of enough."	9	7%
[C] Work for social and environmental justice.	48	37%
[D] Work to close the gap between the very rich and the very poor.	26	20%
[E] Accept responsibility and avoid blaming others ("scapegoating").	10	8%
[F] If you are a Christian, memorize and popularize the "prayer of St. Francis."	0	0%
[G] If you are religious, do F with a peace prayer in your tradition (search Google).	0	0%

29. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to mitigate violence and improve human security?

[A] Reformation of the United Nations with a democratic mandate to keep the peace and pursue the Millennium Development Goals.	19	15%
[B] Democratic reforms with effective "checks and balances" at all levels (principle of subsidiarity).	33	26%
[C] Create a multi-national force of "blue helmets" with adequate training and resources.	3	2%
[D] Create incentives for nonviolence and disincentives for violence at all levels.	48	37%
[E] Educate children on the Declaration of Human Rights, the Earth Charter, and the Hannover Principles.	26	20%

30. What cultural adaptations are required to promote nonviolence and human security?

[A] Make war and violence "collectively unacceptable."	28	22%
[B] Make the rich-poor gap "collectively unacceptable."	10	8%
[C] Choice A with especial emphasis on gender violence.	9	7%
[D] Choice B with especial emphasis on gender violence.	6	5%
[E] Both A and B above but not C and D.	43	33%
[F] Both C and D.	31	24%
[G] Concede that human civilization is beyond repair.	2	2%

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION

Section 7

31. What is the importance of urban growth for sustainable development?

Irrelevant

Critical

1 -	Irrelevant	3	2%
2		2	2%
3		4	3%
4		2	2%
5		21	16%
6		13	10%
7		23	18%
8		17	13%
9 -	Critical	44	34%

32. In your experience, what is the root cause of unsustainable urbanization?

[A] Excessive congestion.	11	9%
[B] Lack of experience in city management.	12	9%
[C] The attraction of urban jobs, resources, and amenities.	24	19%
[D] Uncontrolled growth.	44	34%
[E] Crime, especially drug trafficking.	2	2%
[F] C and D above but not A, B, or E.	36	28%

33. What can you do to enhance the sustainable development of urban areas?

[A] Do research on incentives for mitigation of urban growth.	52	40%
[B] Eat only food that can be produced within city limits.	9	7%
[C] Support developing massive transit systems to avoid commuting.	43	33%
[D] Try to get a job in a rural area.	9	7%
[E] Do "ceteris paribus" research on the optimal population of cities.	16	12%

34. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to foster sustainable urbanization?

[A] Increase property taxes as a nonlinear (e.g., exponential) function of urban population.	5	4%
[B] Reverse migration from rural to urban areas by making rural living more attractive -- economically and socially.	99	77%
[C] Increase the cost of new business permits in cities, decrease such costs in rural areas.	7	5%
[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).	12	9%
[E] Relocate airports to be at least 100 miles away from the outermost circle in choice D.	2	2%
[F] Democratically set much heavier fines for littering, including jail terms for repeat offenders.	4	3%

35. What cultural adaptations are required to make progress in sustainable urbanization?

[A] Increased collective desire for more green spaces within cities.	14	11%
[B] More general recognition of the human need to be in frequent contact with nature.	4	3%
[C] Increased collective awareness about the negative health effects of congestion and pollution.	13	10%
[D] Increased awareness of the need for sustainable consumption by those who live in cities.	12	9%
[E] More toleration for people who start growing fruits and vegetables in their gardens	1	1%
[F] More toleration for people who start having chickens, pigs, etc., in their backyards.	1	1%
[G] All the above.	42	33%
[H] A, B, C, and D above but not E and F.	42	33%

QUESTIONS ON EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION

Section 8

36. What is the importance of moderating consumption rates for sustainable development?

Irrelevant

Critical

1 -	Irrelevant	1	1%
2		0	0%
3		1	1%
4		1	1%
5		3	2%
6		7	5%
7		17	13%
8		23	18%
9 -	Critical	76	59%

37. In your experience, what is the root cause of unsustainable consumption?

[A] Advertising.	22	17%
[B] Gluttony.	8	6%
[C] Everyone else enjoys shopping and having material things, so why not me?	17	13%
[D] Lack of appreciation for a simple lifestyle.	55	43%
[E] Consumerism is an escape from looking inside and undertaking the inner journey.	27	21%

38. What can you do to help foster sustainable consumption?

[A] Support and/or volunteer to work in social and environmental justice projects.	25	19%
[B] Tell my boss that they are cutting corners in product quality, and lying to customers, for the sake of quick profits.	3	2%
[C] Do what you can to help the poor and the oppressed.	4	3%
[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.	16	12%
[E] Start by moderating your own consumption habits.	81	63%

39. What institutional (systemic) reformations are required to promote sustainable consumption?

[A] Establish effective "checks and balances" to ensure compliance with the principle of subsidiarity ("decisions are to be made at the lowest possible level").	5	4%
[B] Democratically establish heavier taxes for consumption of extravagant goods and services.	9	7%
[C] Manage R&D resources so as to maximize human and social benefits (rather than just quick profits).	9	7%
[D] Advertise the negative individual, social, and ecological impacts of various forms of excessive consumption.	5	4%
[E] Undertake a radical rethinking of educational systems (starting with kindergarten) to stress "learning by doing" in addition to "learning by listening."	11	9%
[F] Establish incentives to follow standards and best practices such as ISO 9000 (quality management), ISO 14000 (environmental management), and ISO 26000 (social responsibility, to be released in 2010).	6	5%
[G] Establish incentives for shifting to renewable energy sources and disincentives for the consumption of fossil fuels.	8	6%
[H] All the above.	76	59%

40. What cultural adaptations are required for sustainable consumption to prevail over consumerism?

[A] Greater recognition of the value of knowing and practicing the principle of human solidarity.	7	5%
[B] Greater recognition of the value of knowing and practicing the principle of environmental sustainability.	30	23%
[C] Greater recognition of the principle of nonviolence as normative in human affairs.	2	2%
[D] Greater recognition that what really matters is to be more human, not to have more things.	10	8%
[E] All the above.	80	62%

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