Angela Farnish
I am a Learning for Sustainability teacher, Mental Health Officer with a youth charity and outdoor enthusiast.
Location Scottish Borders
Activity
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The EC04 scheme seems to be the route people are taking, if in receipt of certain benefits then it makes solar panels an affordable choice. I'll pop a link in below.
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Angela Farnish replied to Barbara Lister
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/LEZ and really interesting to see the signs up ahead of the LEZ in June.
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Angela Farnish replied to Barbara Lister
It's good to hear about what is happening in London, thanks for sharing @BarbaraLister . I'm just on the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh and have been reminded of how many green spaces are in Glasgow and the difference it makes to the feeling of space and connection.
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Angela Farnish replied to Barbara Lister
Thank you for sharing the link @BarbaraLister , looks really interesting for anyone who is able to get there.
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Angela Farnish replied to Ankita Boral
Welcome @AnkitaBoral to the course! You'll find lots of discussion around education as you work through the weeks, particularly in the second half of each section.
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Angela Farnish replied to Rohab Siddiqui
Welcome to the course @RohabSiddiqui , it's good to hear that you'll be able to use this knowledge in your professional work.
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Angela Farnish replied to Feroza Jafari
Welcome @FerozaJafari , you'll find discussions on most of the topics as you work through the units with some interesting ideas so far, feel free to comment and add your own thoughts.
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Thanks for sharing this @PaulKamill - understanding why is an important first step towards change.
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Angela Farnish replied to Paul Kamill
I've watched this initiative grow locally to me over the last few years
https://www.facebook.com/caferechargeCIC/?locale=en_GB
... it has become a place for all ages to eat at a price they can afford and prevent food waste as well as promoting social inclusion. But I love your idea of a community kitchen @PaulKamill - I've experienced this when travelling... -
Angela Farnish replied to Paul Kamill
@LouisSmardina interesting link!
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Angela Farnish replied to Louis Smardina
Agreed @LouisSmardina reminds me of this story https://moralstories26.com/fisherman-and-his-wife-greed-story/
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Angela Farnish replied to Barbara Lister
@BarbaraLister really interesting links, many thanks for sharing. I wonder if any of our course participants from elsewhere in the world have the same thoughts? Are you in a place where this heritage is more highly valued?
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Angela Farnish replied to Nick Toner
@BarbaraLister thank you for the link!
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@BarbaraLister I love your description of the hedges, we are lucky to have quite a few here and I often just stop to look and listen.
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Angela Farnish made a comment
I teach online to my students, which comes with its own challenges but also allows for some creative ways for anonymous collaboration on Jamboard or Mentimeter for example. I find this can create space for those who may be ordinarily silenced in a physical classroom. What simple tools or teaching methods have you found that work to allow everyone to...
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@HannahCraig it's good to take some time to reflect and think what we could be doing, and for the students to see this in us too. Are you able to put your sustainability issue into your lessons at all to get ideas from the young people?
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Agreed @HannahCraig , there are many initiatives already out there. How much freedom and time do you have with your students to take meaningful action, whether that is local or on a more global scale?
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Angela Farnish replied to Archie Marshall
@ArchieMarshall I agree with your point about avoiding echo chambers and instead operating in multiple systems. I have noticed that for a long time the "green" movement has been very much stuck in an echo chamber but it seems to be permeating to every part of society because of those who cross boundaries.
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Angela Farnish replied to wagdi alqadase
Welcome to the course @wagdialqadase - your post really got me thinking about priorities and what is important in life. It is good to have people who are prepared to stand up for what they believe in.
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@HannahCraig that really is an exciting opportunity, I'm interested to hear how it is being balanced against other subjects and who will be teaching these classes?
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Angela Farnish replied to Saba Majeed
Welcome @SabaMajeed - there are some lively discussions happening already but always room for different viewpoints and questions that haven't yet been answered.
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Angela Farnish replied to Alex C
I'm not unfortunately @PaulKamill - but it makes this list https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/mar/27/10-sustainable-festivals-in-the-uk-and-europe
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Angela Farnish made a comment
Now we are in Week 4, what are your thoughts on the bullet points above? Where has your knowledge come from?
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If only everyone took responsibility for their own actions @SadiaSheikh . How do you see these individual efforts in comparison to global corporations or governments? You'll find more discussion on this in 4.3/4.4.
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Agreed @SadiaSheikh - do you have any thoughts about how this can start to become more equal? Have you seen any good examples of where this is happening already?
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Angela Farnish replied to Sarah Austin
Thank you for sharing your thoughts @SarahAustin , and I can totally identify with the conversation with your teen and the need for self-compassion. You've also described really well that difficult balance between encouragement, teaching and giving space when trying to engage with those who are currently not taking action.
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Agreed, great starting points for conversations, and what an amazing opportunity to meet Arun Ghandi @NickToner .
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Angela Farnish replied to Barbara Lister
Welcome (back) @BarbaraLister - it's good to have you here!
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Angela Farnish replied to Alex C
Really interesting discussion here @AlexC @BarbaraLister and @PaulKamill thank you for sharing your thoughts. I had a similar investigation into the Winter Olympics with my online class, looking at the choice of venues (often with no snow!) the use of snow machines and the impact on local communities.
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Absolutely @ArchieMarshall - "critical (eco)literacy" is such an important skill. If pupils leave school with little factual knowledge but the ability to evaluate, question and have the confidence to speak up, then we have done our job.
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So interesting to hear the comments above on Philosophy, I've incorporated some of these ideas into my teaching, I am lucky enough to teach Learning for Sustainability as a subject so I can weave these concepts into my lessons. I've found using Plato's Cave as a stimulus for discussion really useful in the context of sustainability and the truth of...
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Angela Farnish replied to Nick Toner
That's a really interesting point @NickToner - I've just done a quick search and have varying percentages quoted as "non-human", but even that as a discussion point could be a useful angle to take. Human beings as ecosystems....
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It's so nice to find others on the same wavelength through this course - sometimes it feels like we are alone in our opinions and hopes.
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I'm glad you mentioned mindfulness @SarahAustin , there is such a link in my opinion to this ethos and sustainability. I also love your honesty in your reasons for being here, I think we all face our fears every time we learn more about this topic. Thank you for sharing.
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Angela Farnish replied to Rahina Kogi-Enweliku
@RahinaKogi-Enweliku that's a really good point about COVID 19 and how it changed community interactions. Does anyone else have examples of how community has changed for them?
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Angela Farnish made a comment
It would be really interesting to hear from you all about how you are managing to apply this model to your own situation - and for you to help each other with next steps?
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Angela Farnish replied to Paul Kamill
@PaulKamill so using the model above, follow the causes as far as you can...why are they unfriendly? It may be that by tackling this issue or its root as a completely separate "project" that you can become more of a community that can work together?
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Angela Farnish made a comment
A discussion in week 2 about community and if it has to be physically close got me thinking about this first question above:
"What connections and relationships are valued by you, by your community, by the governance structure?"
I think these could be three very different answers - what or who is important to you?
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What I find interesting about this task is how different locations across the world offer vastly different opportunities for buying local. Or is it just that your breakfast is made from local produce and I should be adapting my preferences to those I can easily source within the UK?
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Thanks for sharing those thoughts @LouiseMelville - totally agree that early education is key. I have found amazing examples of this embedded learning in individual schools but have also seen the stark difference in approach between schools, for instance in transition from Primary to Secondary. Have you had any experience of this?
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I think they do @ArchieMarshall - I suppose the frustration from some people is about this personal impact being minimised by the greater evils of corporations or governments.
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Sorry to hear that @ArchieMarshall and totally agree about our revisiting our value systems. So much is measured in financial gain. I think this links to the conversation about loss of community in the discussion about values. Community doesn't have to be made up of people physically close to you with the technology we now have, but however it is formed it is...
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@SONIAPRIETOGONZÁLEZ I love your words here : "it is difficult to develop activities with deep impact in our community if our neighbours are not committed" - they really made me think. I wonder where people are feeling this loss of community and the factors we think are causing it....is it something we can prevent?
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Agreed @DianeBeveridge it is so difficult to pick just one. But I really like your thinking around your choice and how it connects everything together. Do you have any specific ideas around the positive impact on a local level?
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Angela Farnish replied to Sasha Young
Welcome @SashaYoung, so nice to see people with these responsibilities here together to learn and share ideas.
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Angela Farnish replied to Alex C
@AlexC that is such an interesting setting to be looking at sustainability - is there something in particular that has led you to look into this?
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Angela Farnish replied to Sarah Austin
Welcome to the course @SarahAustin
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Absolutely @ArchieMarshall it's a fantastic way for pupils to connect with others of the same age and really see some of these differences. I wonder what the pupils in Malawi say? Do you have any feedback as to how they are impacted by this partnership?
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You have described that really well @LouisSmardina - it seems as least where I live taking the time to do something (cooking from scratch, making bread, walking to the shops and not driving, getting the bus to town) is looked down upon or seen as "quirky" and the joy of these activities and the necessary slow living of being more sustainable seems to have been lost.
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Where are you based @AneeqaFatima ?
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@PaulKamill - I should have known! I am very aware of the Meyers Briggs personality types, it has actually now become a huge thing in youth culture and I have been "tested" by the young people I work with many times!
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Angela Farnish replied to Hannah Craig
Welcome @HannahCraig you will find a wealth of information and support here, particularly in Week 2 around the SDGs.
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Angela Farnish replied to Hidden user
Welcome @Hiddenuser - it's so nice to have people join from such a variety of sectors.
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It would be really interesting to hear your views here about the usefulness of the SDGs within your settings. Does it help to anchor conversations with others? Is it something you might use going forward?
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Angela Farnish replied to Zahida Batool
@SörenLairdSörries I always remember this slogan the wrong way round, and totally agree that it makes sense either way depending on the point to be made.
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That sounds like a very powerful idea @NickToner
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@PaulKamill just gone down the 52 Hz whale rabbit-hole....how interesting!
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@PaulKamill @LouiseMelville totally agree, with scope for local case studies and relevant examples we can encourage learners so much more easily to understand the complex relationships and ecosystems.
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Angela Farnish replied to Louise Melville
@PaulKamill @LouiseMelville I was thinking about Duke of Edinburgh too, it really depends how it's organised and delivered as to how experiential it is but it is a potentially a really good vehicle for introducing these concepts in an extra-curricular activity. I'm an assessor for DofE and always make sure to include these conversations when meeting up with...
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I listened to them already @PaulKamill :) (Via podcast not at 6am!) I'm off to Orkney next month. What always amazes me about the islands is that by watching the ferries you can tangibly start to comprehend the sheer volume of goods shipped over and try to extrapolate that to international trade.
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A very good question @LouiseMelville - it will be interesting to see if anyone else has any thoughts on this topic as the week progresses.
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What an inspirational and inter-connected project with a real focus on involving everyone in the community including the partner schools to ensure the next generation has an understanding of why things need to change.
I slightly despair when taught examples of sustainable action are so far removed from the community that there is no relevance or enthusiasm...
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Angela Farnish replied to Louise Melville
@LouiseMelville Forest Schools is definitely worth taking a look at if you have local providers or want to take part in the training yourself to become a Forest School leader. Another idea is to look at the John Muir Award https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/john-muir-award
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Absolutely @MatthewNye , every time I complete this exercise or read about other people's experiences I find myself asking if I really need a certain item in my life.
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Angela Farnish replied to Olivia S
Welcome @OliviaS - what are you studying?
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@LiuboviBurla what are the main problems in Moldova with recycling?
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What a powerful picture @ZahirRaihan, thank you for sharing.
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@AlwynReid it is good to hear from your perspective that things are going in the right direction. I was living there when the original LEZ (low emission zone for those reading this who aren't Londoners) came into force in 2008(?). There was much doubt about the enforcement and quite harsh media backlash about dictatorships at the time.
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@KimberleyCooper agreed, it is a really interesting starting point, and although I have completed this exercise myself many times I always see things from a different angle every time and take away a new dilemma to ponder. We are lucky here in the Scottish Borders to have a milk delivery service as an option, and local bakers who sell products in accessible...
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Angela Farnish replied to Diane Beveridge
Welcome @DianeBeveridge - I think some really interesting discussion happens when you compare sustainability in planning or industry with that happening in education.
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That is such an important question @ZahirRaihan - in some places we seem to be so far removed from the "ideal model" of sourcing resources locally. It would be interesting to post this in the Community Discussion thread to get the thoughts of others?
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Angela Farnish replied to Zahida Batool
Welcome @ZahidaBatool and again it is so interesting to have people from all over the world and in such influential settings coming together to share thoughts and discussions about this.
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Angela Farnish replied to Louise Lord
@LouiseLord it's so nice to hear more and more stories of sustainability being embedded into the curriculum and that they are people passionate about the subject leading the change.
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Angela Farnish replied to Kimberley Cooper
Welcome @KimberleyCooper that is really interesting to hear and so nice that through your research it won't just be a tick-box exercise as I have seen in many other settings. I would love to hear more about how this is implemented.
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That sounds like a fascinating project @SONIAPRIETOGONZÁLEZ - can I ask who is backing this project and where the drive is coming from?
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@PaulKamill it's actually from Suffolk but I feel my heart is in the islands!
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@PaulKamill absolutely, I've been to Harris many times, learnt a lot about the importance of the brand to the islands and also recently noticed that "most" of the wool comes from Scotland. The Act of Parliament gives this definition that Harris Tweed must have "been handwoven by the islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides, finished in the Outer...
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Yes @LouiseMelville - your points struck a chord with me, I can also appreciate the feeling of guilt about not doing the right thing. Regarding your last point, I wonder how we can start to tackle the further inaction of the masses who feel they have "done their bit" by turning off lights or doing the recycling?
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Your reference to value as a product of time has really got me thinking! What if that was the basis of our economy rather than supply and demand....
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A really good point made here @RahinaKogi-Enweliku - the closer we can get to the sources of our produce the more we can understand the impact of our actions. I wonder how this is possible within the society and systems that many of us now live in?
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Angela Farnish replied to Stephanie Holbein
It's the weather that makes it all the more special @StephanieHolbein !!
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Absolutely @EveArmstrong - your point made me contemplate the media reaction to a recent suggested solution to vegetable shortages. "Let them eat turnips" may not have been well pitched or received but would be the reality if we used a seasonal produce model.
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Angela Farnish replied to Carl Rushton
Welcome to the course, it is so interesting to see it is bringing together people with so much experience and different perspectives.
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13 years ago....
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Thanks for the link to the article @PaulKamill - bias aside it makes some potentially points, particularly "Keep in mind, the most sustainable gear is always what’s already in your closet". Do you think that we need to re-evaluate how we measure the sustainability of materials because of the ridiculously complicated processing for some of the more "natural"...
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Angela Farnish replied to Evghenia Danici
Really interesting viewpoint @EvgheniaDanici - I've often shown this video to classes when introducing Sustainability for exactly these reasons, to give a glimpse of the ephemeral nature of human borders https://youtube.com/watch?v=uxDyJ_6N-6A&feature=shares
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Angela Farnish replied to Esther Asiimwe
Hi @EstherAsiimwe good to see you here! Hope we can have some good discussions going forward about ways to link your subjects to Sustainability, particularly with the challenges of online teaching in this setting.
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Angela Farnish made a comment
Hi, I live in the Scottish Borders and have decided to use the extra time on my hands to learn a language. Apparently I learnt some Chinese when I was about 7 years old but I don't remember it! Looking forward to working towards something useful and seeing where it takes me.
