A two-day workshop on achieving environmental consciousness

Intro:
o A Philosophical Approach
o Course Syllabus/Format
o Handouts/Reading
o Our International Program of Volunteers

I. Our Sacred Planet: Understanding Our Relationship to the Earth
o Ancient Symbolism and Mythology
o Cosmo-genesis: the Four Elements
o The Concept of the Sacred
o Native American Wisdom
o Natural Cycles
o The Principles of Change, Rhythm and Balance
o Gaia Theory and the Unity of Life
o Earth as a Living Organism
o The Web of Life

II. Realty Check: Understanding the Scope Problem
o A Legacy of Exploitation
o The Earth's Ever Diminishing Resources
o The prospect of Peak Oil
o The Cumulative Impact on the
Environment
o Toxins in the Soil, Water, and Air
o Climate Change: Separating Fact from Fiction
o Mass extinction of Plant and Animal Species
o Breaking Point: Irreversible Consequences
o Humanity's Chances
o Living and Dying with Toxic Levels of Chemicals
o Drought, Famine, Disease, and War
o Dramatic Population Reduction
o The Breakdown of Civilization
o Beyond the Breaking Point: Irreversible Consequences

III. Causes: Understanding the Roots of the Problem
o The Rise of Industrialization and Fossil Fuels
o The Psychology of Exploitation
o Manufactured Standards of Living
o The Un-sustainability of a Historical Anomaly
o Examining Corporate Influence and Motivation
o The History of the Corporation
o The Rise of Transnational Corporations
o The cycle of Materialism and Consumerism
o Dysfunctional Government
o Broken Bureaucracies
o Corruption
o Failed Policies
o Disinformation and the Politicization of Science
o Legitimate vs. Contrived Controversy
o Sorting out Truth from Ideology
o Crisis Addiction
o The Short-sighted Media Cycle
o Treating the Symptoms - Perpetuating the Problem

IV. Sustainable Action: Strategies Long-Term Success
o Green Ethics: How to live in Harmony with Nature
o A part OF or a part FROM nature
o We are Interconnected
o Finding a Historical Perspective
o Recognizing Treads and Cycles
o Cultivating a World Vision
o Finding the Sacred Balance: How our survival depends on it
o Finding the Sacred Balance Within
o Living in Balance with Nature
o The Role of Technology: Its Promise and Limitation
o What technologies are available now
o New Developments
o Why technology alone won't solve the problem

V. Personal Responsibility: How Making a Difference starts with ME
o Overcoming Ignorance, Skepticism and Indifference
o Change Begins at Home
o Overcoming the "Tree Hugger" Stigmas and Stereotypes
o Revamping our Attitudes
o Developing New Habits
o Re-evaluating Needs and Wants
o Preparing ourselves Psychologically
o Know Your Carbon Footprint
o Achieve Energy Efficiency in your Home
o Low Carbon Transportation Strategies
o A Smart Consumer is a Responsible Citizen
o Recycling is More than taking out the Trash
o Sustainable Living is Living Sustainably

VI. Social Responsibility: The True Spirit of Volunteerism
o Hoe to be Pro-active - Not Re-active
o History is not a Spectator Sport
o Taking the Initiative
o How to become an Eco-volunteer
o Balancing Practical and Natural Approaches
o Environmental networking
o Planning and Coordination