Scott Edward Moran, Ph.D.
moran.scott1@gmail.com 210-269-7531
On this page, you will find...
Reference: The Secret to Talking about Climate Change
Action for the Climate Emergency https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHPZw0zbHNE
For some, this is an issue they do not wish to discuss. They may have formed opinions based on misconceptions, false information, political views, etc. The secret to opening a discussion is to ask open-ended questions and listen to the other person. Don't attack them; just listen. See what drives their thoughts. Then, have an open dialogue based on facts.
Complete the following:
1. Consider each of the seventeen SDGs. Which one do you believe may be of interest to you in terms of research and the creation of products meant to teach others about it? What did you observe that made you want to choose the SDG you chose?
2. Technology Competition-Presentation of your chosen SDG
3. Complete the Carbon Footprint activity (bottom of the page). Respond to the prompt under it using the CER format in your daily journal. Alternatively, respond to the prompt in a visual representation of your understanding.
4. Complete the Facility Assessment. Reflect on what you determined.
Tasks
With regard to saving the planet, many people think
sustainability refers to climate change only. They may buy electric cars to cut down on the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air, install solar panels on the roof of their house, or even start a recycling program at a school.
In reality, sustainability
is so much more. The United Nations has established seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that could radically change our planet for the better while dramatically improving people's lives. When you think about these goals, think about how you could cause positive changes in your community.
PDF of SDG Flipbook
SA Climate Ready Website
Information related to the 17 SDGs from the U.N. website includes the following:
Please explore each of the 17 SDGs below. Become familiar enough with each of them that you are able to discuss them and substantiate your views. Which SDG strikes you as one that students would want to investigate more? Respond using the TREQSL method. You may also respond with a visual or audio presentation.
SDG #1-3
-
700 million worldwide people live in poverty. That's almost 1/8 of the population of the planet.
-
20% of children worldwide live in extreme poverty.
-
In America, 37 million people, including 1 in 6 children, live at or below the poverty line.
-
17.6%-San Antonio poverty rate (www.census.gov)
-
In San Antonio, 27.2% of children under 18 live in poverty(www.sanantonio.gov).
-
690 million people worldwide are hungry
-
135 million people are food insecure because of conflicts, climate change, the pandemic, etc.
-
21.3% of children are stunted because of lack of food.
-
375,000 people in the San Antonio area are food insecure.
-
Less than half of the global population has access to essential health services
-
Only 64% of San Antonio residents are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (covid19.sanantonio.gov).
-
52 hospitals serve the population of San Antonio-2,368,000 residents (www.vitals.com/hospital).
SDG #4-6
-
260 million children worldwide are not enrolled in school.
-
Remote learning remains out of reach for 500 million students.
-
80% of San Antonio high school students graduate.
-
9.7% of students in San Antonio do not continue school beyond the 9th grade (www.opendatanetwork.com).
-
Women represent only 28.2% of managerial positions.
-
1 in 3 woman has been subjected to physical or sexual violence.
-
10 million girls will be at risk of child marriage over the next decade.
-
Women make 72 cents for every dollar men make in San Antonio.
-
26% of the world population lacks safe drinking water.
-
46% of the world population does not have proper sanitation.
-
2020-San Antonio lost 14,419,977,256 gallons of water through main breaks, leaks, etc. (San Antonio Water Systems website).
SDG #7-9
-
759 million lack access to electricity
-
Only 66% of the global population has access to clean fuel and technology.
-
62% to 77% of San Antonio residents in the center city and South Side have internet access and cannot learn more about their energy needs.
-
Job losses as a result of the COVID-1.6 billion people without livelihoods
-
Loss of $8.5 trillion in global output – the sharpest contraction since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
-
San Antonio Unemployment rate-6.5% in March 2021
-
26%-San Antonio residents with a BS degree or higher (www.census.gov)
-
The U.N. wants to develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
-
It hopes to promote inclusive and sustainable industry.
-
San Antonio has invested in major green infrastructure and natural resource projects (sacompplan.com).
SDG #10-12
-
Much of the world’s wealth is held by a very small group of people.
-
Equality and prosperity must be available to everyone, regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs or economic status.
-
San Antonio-high poverty rates and low education particularly prevalent in the Hispanic and black communities (sanantonioreport.org).
-
Supporting neighborhood businesses keeps people employed and circulates money back into your community.
-
Commute in a sustainable way – bike, walk or take public transport.
-
San Antonio is one of the only cities in the nation to incorporate green practices into parades and events (www.sanantonio.gov).
-
Be conscious of packaging – the less the better!
-
Choose reusable products-Use an eco-bag for shopping, a reusable water bottle or a cup to reduce your plastic waste.
-
Recycle computers and devices responsibly.
-
San Antonio has a goal of 60% recycling rate by 2025.
SDG #13-15
-
Through education, innovation, and adherence to our climate commitments, we can make the necessary changes to protect the planet.
-
Calculate your carbon footprint and purchase climate credits from Climate Neutral Now.
-
Reduce your use of paper.
-
Much of the waste that we produce on land ends up in the oceans.
-
Usage and wrong disposal of plastic is a major cause of marine pollution.
-
Never buy bottled water – boil, filter, chlorine, rainwater, do what you can.
-
The SAWS main system received no violations in 2020 (www.saws.org).
-
Humans have caused severe damage to land through deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation.
-
Preserving biodiversity is not a cause. It is the key to our own survival.
-
Composting food scraps can reduce climate impact while also recycling nutrients.
SDG #16-17
-
Persecution, injustice and abuse still run rampant and tear at the very fabric of civilization.
-
We need to ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.
-
Know your rights at work.
-
Elect the leaders in your country and local community.
-
San Antonio has had issues with human trafficking, equity.
-
We need to be supportive, empathetic, inventive, passionate, and above all, cooperative.
-
The Ethical Network of San Antonio brings together ethically minded businesses & individuals to create change through community based events (https://www.ethicalnetworksa.org).
All images purchased from Wix.com or obtained with permission from the U.N. Sustainability website. All citations from www.un.org or are listed under images.
Assignment
Technology Challenge-SDGs
"
Feynman Technique
Reference: SDG Ratings by Country, in the U.S., and in Texas
SDG Progress Report PDF
Assignment
Improving Understanding-Carbon Footprint Activity
Getting kids to understand the impact of their activities in relation to the environment can be challenging. However, by allowing them to calculate their carbon footprint, some ideas that seem abstract become measurable and concrete. The document below explains what a carbon footprint is and includes graphs, charts, statistics, etc. Any number of additional activities could be planned based on this document. To start, though, have students respond to the following:
Do you have any idea how much your daily habits impact our environment? Use the information in the resource below to help you complete a calculation of your carbon footprint (a link to this can be found below the resource). What actions could you take to reduce your carbon footprint?
Now that you have calculated your carbon footprint, what are your thoughts? Did you have any idea that your daily activities could contribute to climate change like this? How does living in the U.S. contribute to your score? What do you think needs to be done to motivate people in the U.S. to reduce their carbon footprints? Please respond with your thoughts in your daily journal. When you click on the link for the journal, please make a copy of the document before responding.
You will have three primary goals for this unit.
First, you will be working to research your chosen SDG and consider a scenario-based lesson. Second, you will need to determine how you will educate others in terms of your SDG, for most people know very little about the SDGs. Finally, you will be creating a multimedia presentation and persuasive letter meant to convince people to take action regarding your SDG. Be thinking about these three aspects of the project at all times.
Alternatively, you can
construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, the occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity OR you can evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces the impacts of human activities on natural systems.
Extension: Enter your multimedia project in the worldof8billion video contest.
Extension: Use the Five Thinking Hats Method when reading: Five Thinking Hats is a simple, effective parallel thinking process that helps people be more productive, focused, and mindfully involved.
You and your team members can learn how to separate thinking into six clear functions and roles. Each thinking role is identified with a colored symbolic “thinking hat.” By mentally wearing and switching “hats,” you can easily focus or redirect thoughts, the conversation, or the meeting.
Assignment
Walking Tour
Have you ever thought about the amount of waste in this building? How about the amount of waste being released by this building? What about whether or not anyone has (or is) doing anything about these issues? We are going to go on a walking tour of this facility. You are to document any waste (or potential sources of waste) by taking pictures, making notes, or recording your thoughts. Choose either Set one or Set two. Some issues to consider include the following:
Set one
-
E-waste-Are computers recycled? Are they repurposed? What about other electronics?
-
Plastic waste-Is it prevalent? Are measures in place to reduce its use?
-
Paper waste-Is it recycled? Are measures in place to reduce its use?
-
Wasted opportunities for change-Are windows sealed? Are light dimmers used?
-
Alternative fuels-Are there solar panels in use? Wind power?
-
Things that are (or have been) thrown away that could have benefitted those living in poverty (food, clothing, educational materials)
-
Things that have (or have been) thrown away (or ignored) that could have benefitted those with food insecurity (food, information available about how to access support services)
-
Access to health facilities or items (access to these on-site, in the area)
-
Improvements that could be made to the curriculum (Is sustainability taught? Researched?)
-
Ways the facility is (or is not) making an attempt to champion the ideas of women (Equal pay, ways to report concerns)
Set two
-
Water waste or sanitation issues (leaks, low water toilets, faucets that shut off automatically)
-
Ways the facility is emphasizing the rights that individuals should have (posting information)
-
Internet access (or the lack thereof)-(Dead spots, intermittent access)
-
Ways the facility emphasizes a no-tolerance policy for discrimination (posting information)
-
Access to sustainable transportation (bikes, electronic cars)
-
Use of reusable items (reuse of paper, plastic, electronics)
-
Use of eco-friendly products (bought locally)
-
Whether the facility has a composting initiative or uses native plants to decrease energy costs
-
Whether the institution buys products from developing countries
-
Is the distance products must be shipped to the facility considered when purchasing? How about the packaging of the products?
-
Are there any organizations on the site dedicated to sustainability? How often is the sustainability of the site reconsidered?
-
Consider the notion that inaction is poison for the planet. How is inaction represented on the site?
Categorize your images. Create a short Google Slides, PowerPoint, Canva, etc. presentation related to what you documented. Suggest alternative ways these issues could have been handled. Consider looking into how similar issues are being handled successfully in other cities. What are people doing at other organizations or in other cities to cut down on waste? Could those things be done here? What gaps do you see between how climate change and the SDGs are handled properly and how they are handled here? How could you help to close those gaps?