Summary: The class focuses on the marks that human action is leaving on nature. Some of them cause irreparable damage that is consistent with so-called Ecocide. After reflecting on this, the activities focus on inspiring students to take action for environmental justice and identify people and organizations near them that are working on environmental issues so that they can get involved.
Main age group(s) for activity or activities: 14-16
Time needed: 2×45 min
Objectives
- Discussing with the group the impact of wars on the destruction of the environment.
- Familiarizing adolescents with key terms related to environmental disasters and their impact. Teaching the concept of ecocide, and helping young people to identify examples of recent disasters and their consequences.
- Raising students’ awareness about the effects of environmental disasters on vulnerable populations in general, and their long lasting effects on human lives and peace.
- Promoting reflection on the collective and personal responsibilities and actions that lead to environmental disasters, and on possible actions to defend the environment and vulnerable populations.
- Making visible examples of collective actions in favour of the environment at the local, national and global level.
- Making visible, highlighting and giving value to the environmental engagement of people close to the students. Promoting the engagement of students in actions and organizations linked to environmental justice / environmentalism.
Materials needed: Access to the internet and computer / smartphone / tablet / laptop, cards with names of 3 well known ecocides (available in Annex 1 for printing)