Environmental problems increase poverty throughout the world

In early April, the United Nations released its annual Human Development Report for 2013. The report contained multiple statements warning that environmental problems will lead to extreme poverty for billions of people in developing countries. Without the proper provisions to allow developing countries to handle environmental burdens such as water pollution and poor air quality, disease and unemployment will increase exponentially. In turn, the lack of money to fund sanitation and health care systems will force poorer citizens into increasingly detrimental living situations. These environmental issues, including rapid climate change, deforestation and air and water pollution, are often caused by human activities. These problems in developing countries are frequently by-products of activities in developed countries, such as air pollution from automobiles and water pollution from industry and manufacturing. According to the UN report, simple actions like recycling and switching off electronics can benefit the global environment.

Education conference promotes global knowledge among teachers

On Wednesday the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) hosted its second Institute for Global Education Diplomacy. Like the ACEI’s first convention in 2001, this year’s convention aimed to implement change in education centers around the world. According to the ACEI, the convention provided professors and other education professionals with the knowledge to act as catalysts for global education reform and to make improvements to existing educational institutions. Various classes, lectures and activities were available for those who attended. The ACEI plans to institute this educational change through an emerging concept known as Global Education Diplomacy. Through Global Education Diplomacy, the ACEI hopes to encourage teachers to include concepts relating to international relations, human rights and global development in classroom discussions. According to education professionals, past ACEI conferences have significantly affected the education system.