This paper begins by providing a thorough history and review of the diffusion of innovations research tradition. It then focuses on undesirable, indirect, and unanticipated consequences of innovations based on the dominant paradigm of development. In the case of high-input agriculture, the consequences have affected the quality of the environment…

Given its being at the eastern boundaries of Igbo land in Nigeria, Ohuhu clan was among the last areas to be conquered by British imperialists. It was also among the last areas in Igbo land to have the impact of white missionaries. Thus, in terms of modern education, commerce, industry, and civil service administrations as dictated by the colonial…

Review of environmental issues in India concludes that educational institutions can contribute to sustainable development by promoting understanding of the ecosystem; assessing a community's natural wealth; developing strategies; and promoting participation in environmental preservation projects. (SK)

The Dearing Report emphasized the idea of a 'learning society' as the new context of UK higher education, but conceived this on a model of adaptivity to economically- and technologically-driven change. While there are real shifts in social relations with which universities have to reckon, they can be understood on a much richer model of…

Discusses whether the concept of education for sustainable development fosters reform in schools. Bases the discussion upon reflection on social challenges in education, a brief presentation of three concepts of environmental education (OECD Project 'Environment and School Initiatives' (ENSI), Action Competence Model, Socio-ecological…

Free-choice learning and, derivatively, free-choice environmental learning emerges as a powerful vehicle for supporting diversity in learning styles (Falk and Dierking, 2002). In this article, I argue that free-choice environmental learning holds great potential for enabling us to understand what is at stake in environmental learning and thus help…

This paper begins by weighing the term sustainability and considering its meaning in "common culture" terms as people outside the academy might understand it. The first implication is that none of our current behaviour meets the simplest criteria of sustainability. The question "why?" is raised. In responding to this question I suggest that our…

Sustainability does not have the same connotations for the Brazilian people as it does for many Europeans or North Americans. For the poorest communities of Brazil, sustainability means having enough food, safe shelter, and access to health services, and these depend upon getting a job, and having a job depends on education--to be able to learn…

For many children across the globe, whether in low or high income nations, growing up in the 21st century will mean living in overcrowded, unsafe and polluted environments which provide limited opportunity for natural play and environmental learning. Yet Agenda 21, the Habitat Agenda and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child…

At present many countries in the world consume too much fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas and coal to meet their energy needs. These fossil fuels are not renewable; their sources are limited and reducing gradually. More importantly they have been becoming more expensive day by day and their damage to the environment has been increasing.…

In the present paper we question how engineering education (and engineering) can support greater participation and inclusiveness in decision making and science and technology. We consider the work "relating" to engineering and society that is conducted by the scholars of science and technology studies, but which is rarely read or considered by the…

Argues for broadening of the scope of discussions about sustainable resource management to include pressing but often overlooked "mundane" problems. Discusses bias against the mundane, cookstoves for the poor, Grameen (a bank in Bangladesh) banking, and five key fallacies regarding mundane science. (JRH)

Looks at the role of local government as a provider of healthy environment and as a promoter of economic opportunity. Two South African experts are questioned on the environmental obligations of local government using the book "The Role of Local Government in Environmental Protection" as a basis for the discussion. (LZ)

Discusses recent experiences in developing and implementing strategies for education consistent with the concept of sustainable development at two different levels: (1) the international level characterized by Agenda 21 along with the efforts of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development to foster its progress; and (2) the national…

This study examines the advocacy of education for sustainability in a contemporary world driven by the powerful forces of globalization and development. A brief overview of the current ecological crisis in the world is presented, and concerns about environmental degradation, social injustice, and social inequalities are discussed. The vision of…