Marine Peace Parks

Dear Children

One of the schools in Hawaii sent me this message yesterday.

"Our charter school has an initiative to build a sustainable vegetable garden integrated with aquaculture of food fish. The project is focused towards development of a garden that will be built in two years time on board a marine vessel which will sail around the globe beginning 2011, escorting the Hokule'a, a traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe. Our school has adopted the task of building a prototype for this food system which will feed/supplement the crews rations of fish and vegetables. While sailing around the globe, the escort ship a "floating classroom" will stop at 25 ports and school groups will be invited onboard to learn about various environmental issues."

How exciting is this for their students. I wrote back and said:

"Your vision is fantastic. Ofcourse it fits perfectly with the International School Peace Gardens' vision. It also fits with Stage 3 Marine Peace Parks. The dedicating of your aqua-culture vegetable/food ISPG with an ocean journey will teach students will engage the students in a sustainability curriculum. It integrates food security, with research. This is truly global sustainability education.

IHTEC can share this with other schools around the world. If you Blog the students jouney, I can link it to my blog, so others can see your achievements over time. I will also add a comment to my 'Granny Julia's Children' Blog.

Have the students been involved with the October Marine Debris Awareness Month re the plastic mat in the Pacific Ocean?

I would like to see how we can support the clean up the plastic mat, and all the plastic that might go into the Pacific Ocean. Brainstorm how people in Hawaii, can help prevent plastic going into the ocean. Discuss the flow of plastic from the mountains, along rivers to oceans. Find out how the oceans flow together. Then look at how many countries are around the Pacific Ocean. Ask questions about how to work together to prevent it. Plastics are made from oil. How can we reuse what comes out of the plastic mat in the ocean? How are the species being affected by plastic? Here are some of the questions I would ask.

This is exactly why I designed IHTEC. The Tourism Industry should be involved with you.

Love
Julia