Two books about caring for the environment. One is for children, and one is for adults. Both books are discussed by author, Charalee Graydon, in the video below.
For Children – Life on Planet Earth: My Story.
An activity book to learn about ecosystems, biodiversity and the changes taking place on planet earth. The young person learns about plants and animals, climate change and the Paris Agreement in an introductory and enjoyable way with words and designs. She or he writes about experiences and desires for planet earth. The book provides fun with a scavenger hunt, biodiversity bingo and going on a picnic. When completed, there is an author certificate for Life on Planet Earth: My Story!
For Adults – Creating A Masterpiece: The Arts and Climate Change Conflict.
The book shows how the creative arts and peaceful conflict service providers, such as mediators, can promote the objectives of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change and Paris Agreement. It provides information about raising awareness, educating, and using interdisciplinary responses to transform climate change conflict by seeking positive solutions.
For the upcoming COP26. Both books recognize the importance of education for climate action. Complimentary copies of the books will be provided to the UNFCCC Secretariat at COP26.
VIDEO EDUCATE
The Sustainable Schools Virtual Summit
Photo Credits
Photos by Dani and EduCCate
Guest Author Bio
Charalee Graydon
Charalee Graydon was born in Alberta, Canada. She is a writer, journalist, academic and past lawyer. She works in the areas mediation and collaboration and is currently a faculty member at EUCLID University.
Charalee holds degrees in Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science, and a Juris Doctorate in Law. Following receipt of a Rhodes scholarship in 1982, she pursued legal studies in Oxford, England where she obtained a B.C. L degree. She held academic positions in England, New Zealand, and Canada and is presently a faculty member at Euclid University. She completed her Ph.D. in Mediation and Conflict Resolution in June 2020. She has also practiced law in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada.
She has published three books of literary fiction and one of which has been translated and published in Spanish.
She developed programs for students, judges, and the corporations on legal issues and published academic works in environmental law, sentencing and commercial law.
Blog / Website: Charaleegraydon.com
I liked this book. In this book, it seems to me that Dr. Charalee Eisert Graydon has provided what can be seen as a new interactive and interdisciplinary method to pursue the objectives of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement by using the arts and how to deal with the inevitable problems that climate change is creating around the world. The author explains how the storytelling model, as a form of art, can promote these objectives. She adopts the Talanoa dialogue and calls to action to prepare the readers to understand and resolve conflicts arising from climate change. It seemed to me that putting together all these different pieces and make sense of the approach would something very difficult to do and to understand, but the author makes it quite easy.
In my opinion, the book makes an outstanding contribution to the discipline of climate change, which is a threat affecting everyone and conflict resolution, that is a skill that we all need. The book says that individuals and communities can do a lot to prepare for climate change, understand how it will affect each geography, and devise methods to resolve the conflicts that will come about with such change. The idea is that all forms of art can help create awareness of the threat. Photography can record receding glaciers, more frequent and destructive hurricanes and tsunamis, and horrendous droughts. Theater can explain why such changes occur and how each individual can contribute to alleviating such threats.
While climate change affects us all and is the responsibility of all, the book sees art as another lens that can help convey the threat to the people, make them aware of the conflicts that climate change will create in our communities, and provide them with new tools to help transform, manage, and resolve such disputes.
The author’s extensive research has demonstrated the usefulness of the recommended approach. By bringing together different aspects of her extensive interdisciplinary experience and expertise (from the law, climate change, conflict resolution, mediation, and others), the author presents us with a new way to look at climate change, improve awareness through the arts (literature, painting, photography, theater, music, dance, etc.), and give people the tools they need to identify, transform, and manage conflict.
Because we all have a responsibility to reduce the negative effects of climate change, an approach that can help communities to understand and neutralize climate change’s challenges and problems is a must read for teachers and academics.
Dr. Roberto Rodriquez – September 14, 2021
Euclid University