‘”Turning Conscience into Action!”
– Earth Charter Secretariat. Earth Charter International holds the UNESCO Chair for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
The Earth Charter is a document with sixteen principles that drive a global movement towards a more just, sustainable and peaceful world. To support the movement, our Education Center offers courses, resource materials and network opportunities to turn conscience into action.’
As an aluma of the Earth Charter International Education for Sustainable Development ( ESD) Earth Charter programme (courtesy of a 2020 Irish Arts Council Professional Development award), I’m delighted to share that I have been asked by the Earth Charter International Secretariat to be the 🍀 Irish Focal Points Communicator.
Earth Charter Focal Point Communicators is a new development by the Earth Charter International Secretariat to tailor supports and news relevant to diverse nations. National Focal Points communicators will further grow international awareness of the UNESCO- endorsed people and planet expanded values framework that is the Earth Charter. Agreed in 2000, the Earth Charter and many decades development, helps all citizens think about the systemic– the shared and interconnected – values that must guide actions for sustainability, social justice and enduring peace.
This means I will be sharing relevant international Earth Charter news relevant to Ireland for our followers.
The ECI Secretariat functions as the coordinating hub for the worldwide movement. Based at the United Nations-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica, the ECI Secretariat promotes the mission, vision, strategies and policies adopted by the ECI Council.
The Secretariat guides and make connections with individuals and organizations to bring the Earth Charter to people from different fields, such as education, youth, business and religion. It manages communications with the larger Earth Charter movement, and promotes the use of the Earth Charter as an international soft law document.
https://earthcharter.org/about-the-earth-charter/secretariat/
Earth Charter International, in return, will share Irish Earth Charter news of how past Haumea Earth Charter learners (stars every one of them), creatives, educators, curators, law and cultural policy workers – are beginning to use the inspiring UNESCO-endorsed Earth Charter framework to help people understand the expanded integrated ecosocial values and vision for a better world. With over 30 years of development, the Earth Charter (and the childrens’ Little Earth Charter) is recognised as an inclusive learning tool to increase systems literacy (ecoliteracy) across communities, education institutions, youth programme, schools and universities, cross-governmental departments and nations.
🌀 Haumea Earth Charter learners, do feel free to email me your Earth Charter updates (to cathy@haumea.ie) or alert me on social media by tagging posts #EarthCharterIreland
🍂At Haumea Ecoversity we’ll be offering our next popular Earth Charter course in Autumn 2022 – for all adult learners: for creative workers, art & general educators, curators, policy writers, law students, local authority staff – see our Earth Charter course page to add your name to our waitlist, see bio link above
I’m also delighted to share that I will be sharing the Earth Charter as an introductory, accessible and inclusive ecoliteracy (systems literacy) values learning framework for creatives, Local Authority staff, community and other stakeholders for the 2022-23 Irish Arts Council Invitation to Collaborate Award: the 3-county Carlow Arts Services, arts-led Gnáthóga Nádúrtha (3 Habitats) creative community wetland restoration engagement programme.
Acknowledgements:
A big thank you to Haumea learners, especially Lisa Cahill, Tom Duffy, Paola Catizone and many others, who inspired by the values module in the Haumea Ecoliteracy course, propelled me to develop the Haumea Ecoversity Earth Charter pilot course.
Sincere thanks also to the Irish Arts Council for the 2020 Professional Development Award that allowed me to gain my accreditation as an Earth Charter – ESD educator.
Hello! Kia Ora! Dia daoibh!
I’m Cathy Fitzgerald, an ecological artist, educator, and founder of Haumea Ecoversity. Originally from Aotearoa New Zealand, I’ve lived in rural Ireland, the home of my ancestors, for over 30 years. Together with my philosopher colleague Dr Nikos Patedakis (USA), we’ve guided over 400 creative professionals worldwide in transformative ecoliteracy training since 2019.
Haumea Ecoversity Community Membership is the next chapter of this work—a vibrant space for lifelong learning, collective wisdom, and creative transformation for a more beautiful, just, and life-sustaining world.
Dr Cathy Fitzgerald
“In these times of great challenge, I’m passionate about bringing ecoliteracy—including new ecological thinking, values, language, and head-heart-body practices—to creative, sustainability and cultural sectors. These areas have a crucial leadership role: they can inspire communities to embrace new values and actions for living well on Earth, together with all life.”
About Cathy
- Ecological Artist: Creator of the ongoing Hollywood Forest Story with new-to-Ireland continuous cover forestry (begun 2008).
- Educator & Advisor: Accredited ESD Earth Charter educator, Creative Drummin Carlow Bog project ecoliteracy advisor.
- Researcher & Mentor: Specialist in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at Haumea Ecoversity.com
In 2022, I was honoured to be nominated by Earth Charter International and UNESCO Chair for ESD as Earth Charter Focal Point Communicator for Ireland
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