The word “sustainability” has never been more present in our lives. However, why is it so urgent to think about sustainability and the actions society should take to protect the environment?
According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, sustainability means the “avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance”. In simpler words, to be sustainable is to use natural resources carefully and wisely. The United Nations (UN) released the “UN Sustainable Development Goals”, which consists of 17 goals that aim to help turn the World into a better place regarding economic, social, and environmental aspects. These goals include ending poverty, ensuring gender equality, and many other fundamental human needs.
Being sustainable is about ensuring that all people have access to what they need to live a good, long, and dignified life. This starts with our neighbor. If we look around carefully, we should be able to notice several problems that need attention.
In that sense, it is viable to mention what we, as an active society, can do to make sure that the UN goals are met, and sustainability is achieved. Considering that, the Marist school created several projects that involves the whole school. Kindergarten kids, have worked on the awareness of the right trash disposal, and the right care with the environment, energy, and water. Every year, students from Elementary School develop the Social Intervention Projects (PIS). Throughout this year, learners worked on projects to raise awareness about the correct disposal of specific materials, such as batteries and plastic bottle caps, and the importance of healthy habits towards food.
Secondly, it is necessary to be active. That is why in Marist School for example, the Internationalization department guarantee that students learn English whilst focusing on the means to access other areas of knowledge, such as entrepreneurship, society and, of course, sustainability. As part of this action, students from Marista Idiomas participated on the “Fish Tank” project. Over the course of the year, students from secondary school have created products that fit the 2030 UN Agenda, integrating at least one of the 17 goals previously mentioned. Besides that, the Internationalization department also brings international projects as the Creativity Marathon, where the main subjects are related to sustainability through small, yet impactful actions. This project is directed for high school students, who take part with many other countries in a competition promoted by an American University.
Students, teachers, and all employees from Marist School are also encouraged to take an active part in the change that needs to happen in our World. In conclusion, being sustainable goes from learning theory to hands on experiences. After all, changes come from actions, and small actions towards such a big issue, are an assertive way to positively impacting the world.
Glossary
Environment – meio ambiente
UN – ONU
Enhance – melhorar, aumentar
Encouraged – encorajados
Patrícia Cristine Bretzke Leu, é formada em Letras – português e inglês pela Universidade Regional de Blumenau (FURB) e professora do Colégio Marista São Luis.
