Global warning to absent teachers

GLOBAL warming as detailed by the recent reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has potentially serious consequences and poses a very real challenge to each one of us in this country and internationally.

So-called ‘peak oil’ is a related but separate issue with equally far-reaching effects for everyone living in an oil-addicted economy such as ours, and the effects of this are even more imminent. Our young people, who are going to experience these effects most of all, need to be educated, forewarned and challenged regarding the issues and the possible options, but most of all of the need for changes in everyday life.

A recent information meeting held here in Bandon, under the joint auspices of the Rotary and Soroptomist clubs, was very poorly attended by both primary and second-level teachers who had been individually invited a month in advance. No second-level pupils attended. Perhaps the teachers are adequately informed, perhaps they are logging on to the European Commission website with a special section for teachers and pupils, www.climatechange.eu.com

If so, there is little evidence of which I am aware that they are bringing it effectively to the classroom. ‘Green schools’ have been worthy efforts to develop environmental awareness, but we urgently need to develop a curriculum which will reflect the reality of global warming and peak oil — a paradigm shift — so that our pupils are in some way equipped to deal with real life in a low-carbon economy. Delayed action now could have catastrophic consequences in the not too distant future.

It has been said that we are sleepwalking towards a precipice — we all need to wake up NOW.

Dr Philip Michael

Chairman

Irish Doctors

Environmental Association

Bandon

Co Cork