Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

okay, kind of continuing on from viewtopic.php?f=5&t=6974 this thread... I need to work out a fun way of educating groups of 17-24 year olds into sustainable living and ways of reducing their impact.

They will be doing audits of our work place, possibly of their own homes (social implications in this activity, so may not happen). They need to learn about knock-on effects of their actions, eg throwing out a water bottle, what happens to it, to nature etc

Does anyone have any sensible ideas that we can use for this activity?

Doesn;t seem like their are many sensible suggestions. Is it possible to educate 17-24 year olds?

no....they know everything..... just ask them

Good question... certainly in relation to environmental awareness... despite the current global warming debate, water restrictions, depleting fish stocks, whaling etc...

The current generation just doesn't seem to have either a great interest... or knowledge...

Only if it's been on Austar.. in a rap song... or in a celeb mag...

great, thanks for that guys

How about telling them about the great floating plastic island in the sea. Any plastic they throw in the sea ends up there - the impact is evident given these photos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbqJ6FLfaJc

Educate them that the impact of plastic bags is not greenhouse gasses, but turtles thinking their jellyfish and eating them.

I guess educate them on the enivoronmental cost that goes into production of a water bottle - if they reuse the bottle how much they save in a week/month/year as well as the monetary value.

It is a tough ask Jaymie. Only thing I could come up with was some aspect of saving money, but at that age, I certainly remember thinking I was doing well if I could almost make it to next pay before running out and that everything was fine.

Anyway you can create a competition around it ????

Link's like gemmel's always touches a nerve and if linked with the financial returns of reusing water bottles and such may help. Viral emails with such links and power points that also show the financial and the positive feelings of doing something for the environment helps. I find the most difficult paradigm to overcome is that of financial class separation. Many kids do not want to be looked upon as cheap or poor. I believe that is the root of consumerism. Although the lazy part of throw it away instead of cleaning it and reusing it, I think plays a close 2nd.

Jaymie, have you seen "The Story Of Stuff" ? I highly recommend it to everyone. Covers consumerism and why we as a society buy and use a lot more crap than we need. Then dicusses the advantages if we don't consume as much.

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Awsome link Chili

thank you I'll have a proper look at the links later on

Many Adults too

I just thought of something. There are a heap of videos and DVD at TAFE in the library.
My favourties are the "Private life of Plants" by David Attenborough but there are many others like a 10 minute one showing water plants that can take over water ways in a short space of time. It highlights the cost and detrimental effects to the environment. I'm sure there are many others. I then preapred a question sheet that they had to answer and we followed it up with a discussion. Hope it helps.

good luck jaymie, haven't found a way of educating that age group yet,