UNESCO ASPnet Student
Forum
Leaders of tomorrow
search for solutions to today’s world problems
The Manitoba
schools involved in ASPnet
developed and
hosted a
student forum on December 15, 2005 at The Shriner’s Hall on Wilkes Avenue.
Two of our grade 6 UNESCO students, Alex and Carlyn, accompanied Mr. Udow
to a meeting at River East Collegiate.
They met with grade 7-12 UNESCO student reps and teachers from River East,
Vincent Massey, John Pritchard and Collège
Jeanne-Sauvé to plan this forum.
The 5 participating schools, Brock-Corydon, with representatives from Grades
5 and 6,
College Jeanne Sauvé, John Pritchard, River East Collegiate and Vincent Massey
with representatives from Grade 7 to Senior 4 each
brought
10 students to
participate in this event.
The students
from each school were invited to learn about the UNESCO themes and to
develop projects to address the world issues
confronting us today.
The
schools
used
this student-led forum to try and raise global awareness about the issues that
are severely destroying the world we live in, as well as taking a closer look at
the issues to try and learn more about them, and how to put a stop to them.
Each school
had
student representatives speaking about the four main themes of ASPnet schools,
Intercultural Learning, Human Rights, World Concerns and Environment Issues and
participated
in workshops to plan and organize events and activities throughout the year
including the poverty walk.
Presentations, student speakers and group discussions
took place
throughout the day. Each school
shared
their accomplishments, past events and future plans within their schools’ own
UNESCO group. With all the thoughts, ideas and information shared, at the end of
the day these student representatives
had
lots to take back to their home schools to continue working hard towards the
goals they set out for themselves.
Here are some of the
points they discussed:
Human Rights
 |
The way aboriginals are living on reserves |
|
Money from the Federal government was supposed
to come but hasn’t |
|
Very poor living conditions – no electricity,
no running water, school in disrepair, polluted water |
|
Try to treat people as you would like to be
treated – equally |
|
Stereotyping aboriginals – Sobey’s doesn’t let
Aboriginals buy mouthwash because it contains a small amount of alcohol |
|
Most Aboriginal people are diabetic; the
healthy foods are more expensive than the junk food |
|
1 doctor for 3 reserves |
|
Some women have their babies at home – can’t
travel to hospitals |
|
Chiefs don’t put the Federal money where it
should go |
|
Big houses being built in cities while
reserves need good housing and poor people don’t have houses |
|
There is a lot of littering – people not
putting garbage in the garbage cans |
|
Swiffer wet jet has harmful chemicals |
|
People are wasting water – water consumption |
|
Electrical consumption – schools waste
electricity and keep lights on |
|
The need to recycle is a number one concern –
we can recycle milk cartons – use milk cartons for art |
|
Cars shouldn’t idle for more than 30 seconds
because it pollutes the air |
|
When you throw batteries into the dump, the
acid escapes and is harmful to the people who work there |
|
Greenhouse gases destroying the ozone layer
and one of the reasons why people are getting skin cancer |
|
We can compost here at the school |
