There can be no environmental justice without Social justice

How often has the dialogue around climate being couched in the language of hero and villain? Could part of the issue be that we often separate the environment from people? I don't think anything has brought the intersectionality between environmental justice and social justice home more than when a colleague from India shared this video about sandmining. It is an environmental issue that I wasn't familiar with previously, the single thing that impacted me most when watching this was hearing the man working in this dangerous and destructive industry describing how he hasn't seen his family for months and whose only wish is that his children won't have to do the same work. Thank you Revathy for sharing this video on our course!

From a teaching perspective this video is the ideal thing to base a lesson around which looks at the link between environmental justice and social justice, especially in the wake of today, UN World Social Justice Day. Even without the opportunity to play videos like this in class, we can be conscious of the narrative we use and ensure we recognise and give a voice to those who may suffer injustice, and see that the root causes of this suffering and environmental destruction are often the same.
More about World Justice Day
http://www.un.org/en/events/socialjusticeday/  

At this point I want to mention that eltsustainable.com will soon be moving from wordpress.com, the gigantic corporation that currently hosts it, to a new home in Serbia. Not only will this mean a much better site for you, but a small business in Serbia gains a customer, which I think is a good thing all round. Thank you Milica for supporting me with this move!

Music on the topic

A friend, Ginny, shared this song with me earlier this week just before World Social Justice Day and this helped inspire me to write this newsletter. A very strong case is made for a universal income in a four minute song, and it forcefully puts forward the benefits it will bring. All this on top of great music from one of my favourite bands ever! if you are in need of inspiration or some good sounds, try this. If you are lucky enough to have the means to share it with your students, you might want to include it in a lesson soon!

Massive Attack and their powerful song:

What are you doing on March 7th?

Why not join tutor Ben Crompton and a group of wonderful environmentally conscious language teachers on the flagship ELTsustainable course Language Teaching for the Planet? If you want to take your knowledge and skills in adding a green twist to your teaching to a new level, then this two-week course is one of the best things you could do. The course has so much in it for you:

• Stimulating and useful content delivered through a state of the art Thinkific learning platform
• Interaction and collaboration with the tutors and the other participants who are like-minded English teaching professionals from a wide variety of contexts both as forum discussion on Slack and video link-up on Zoom
• An assignment in which you showcase your learning and get feedback from the tutors and other participants
• A beautiful certificate of attendance upon course completion

ELTsustainable and IATEFL Global Issues Special Interest Group have teamed up to offer scholarships for teachers in Africa who are members of Africa ELTA places on this course. This brings a wonderful diversity of perspectives and teaching backgrounds to this course which is something participants really value.

• Knowledge of environmental issues coming from many years of experience  first as an environmental activist and  experience creating lessons on the theme for https://eltsustainable.com on environmental issues and presenting at conferences such as IATEFL on integrating sustainability matters into the language classroom
• A love of online learning supported by experience creating and delivering online courses.
• years of teaching and teacher development experience.
• Collaboration with like-minded professionals utilising Zoom and Slack to create an amazing, transcontinental learning community for two marvelous weeks and beyond.
  
  Here's what previous participants have said:
   

"A refreshing way to consider how climate change could be part of everyday teaching. A must for any educator!"
Sylvia Goetze
Language Teacher and Teacher Trainer

"I'd really like to endorse this course. It was excellent. We were encouraged to share our ideas and discuss solutions in a non-threatening and positive environment. The group was excellent and full of inspiring participants. And Owain's manner and form of delivery were constantly supportive, encouraging, and positive. Go for it!"
Kate Cory-Wright
International Teacher Trainer and Materials Writer

Visit here to read glowing testimonials from course participants!

Find out all about this course:

Try the online mini-course

• Stimulating video lessons that make a case for addressing issues such as the climate emergency in our teaching, the principles of how to do this and an appraisal of a lesson plan that already does this.
• Questions to encourage you to reflect on your practice
• The opportunity to leave comments and read the comments of others