Southern Suburbs BM; Tuesday, 7th February 2012; Gymea NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Castle Hill; Monday, 13th February 2012; 4:30-6:30 pm read more

Hunter Valley BM; Monday, 13th February 2012; New Lambton NSW; 5:00 pm. read more

Northern Suburbs BM; Monday, 13th February 2012; Cammeray NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Metropolitan BM; Tuesday, 14th February 2012; Burwood NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Cyber Savvy - Dee Why; Wednesday 15 February 2012; 4:30-6:30 pm read more

South Coast BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Woonona NSW; 6:45 pm. read more

Penrith Blue Mountains BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Penrith NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Metropolitan East BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Randwick NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Coast BM; Thursday, 16th February 2012; Gosford NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

IEU Reps Training Day - Tamworth; Friday 17 February 2012; 9:15-3:15pm read more

Mid North Coast BM; Friday, 17th February 2012; Nambucca Heads NSW; 6:00 pm. read more

South East Branch Meeting; Friday, 17th February 2012; Griffith NSW; 6:00 pm. read more

Riverina BM; Friday, 17th February 2012; Wagga Wagga NSW; 7:30 pm. read more

North West Branch Meeting; Friday, 17th February 2012; Tamworth NSW; 5:30 pm. read more

Principals BM; Saturday, 18th February 2012; IEU Office Parramatta; 10:00 am. read more

Cumberland BM; Monday, 20th February 2012; IEU Office Parramatta; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Sydney City; Monday 20 February 2012; 4.30 - 6.30pm read more

Ku-ring-gai BM; Thursday, 21st February 2012; Hornsby NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

IEU Reps Training Day - Orange, Friday 24 Feb 2012; 9.15 to 3.15 read more

North Coast BM; Wednesday, 22nd February 2012; IEU Office Lismore; 5:00 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Revesby Heights; Wednesday 22 February 2012; 4:30-6:30pm read more

Monaro BM; Thursday, 23rd February 2012; Barton ACT; 4:15 pm. read more

Lansdowne BM; Thursday, 23rd February 2012; Fairfield NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Western BM; Friday, 24th February 2012; Orange NSW; 7:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Forbes; Monday 27 February 2012; 4.30-6.30 read more

IEU Establishes Environment Committee In Countdown To Copenhagen

The IEU has established a new Environment Campaign Committee to facilitate Union participation in wider action around climate change and other environmental issues, writes IEU Deputy Secretary Gloria Taylor.

Established at the IEU Council meeting on Saturday 14 March, this advisory Committee will also seek to strengthen and support the current professional work of our members in environmental education.

Other environmental initiatives at Council included a resolution to support Earth Hour on 28 March.

Plans are also underway to hold a major IEU Conference on the environment. The Conference has been scheduled for Friday 23 October and will be advertised in the coming weeks.

Creating a synergy

While the Committee is a new Union initiative, the IEU has had a long history of promoting responsible environmental policy. Environmental issues are regularly featured in our publications and we are aware of the great enthusiasm teachers, education support staff and students have for this subject. Those working in education are only too aware of the need to protect the planet for the future of our children and young people.

Climate change has become a dominant topic on the public agenda. It is no longer seen as simply an environmental problem but has become a critical humanitarian and economic issue affecting many developing regions. We already see the signs of devastation with our Pacific neighbours. The impact is immediate but without major intervention our current students and future generations will face catastrophic problems.

The United Nations has declared this period the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. The international trade union movement has increasingly moved environmental issues up its agenda. Education International has called on all teacher unions to participate in a coordinated international campaign. The approach is to create a synergy between local organising and the global picture.

The IEU can play its part in addressing issues of sustainability in the following ways:

Organising for collective solutions and mobilisation including campaigning for better political policy and practice
Building on the professional roles of members to highlight problems and increase awareness
Ensuring that education curricula address key environmental issues
Negotiating and forming partnerships with employers to promote sustainable schools and early childhood centres, and
Working with the broader community to achieve outcomes.

Countdown to Copenhagen

Our major focus of our work this year will occur in the lead up to the Copenhagen conference (the follow up to Kyoto in December 2009). While individuals play their part in the fight for the planets future, it is crucial that much more is done by Government and Industry.

The IEU will join with other organisations in a quest to achieve better policy both at a national and international level. For regular updates on environment issues join our email list by emailing environetwork@ieu.asn.au this will also provide early information on our October Conference.