A Meaningful Week of SDG Exploration 

The Kindergarten children are spending the SDG week delving into 6 different SDGs and thinking about how they can make a difference. 

Focusing on SDG 13 - Climate Action, students discussed the arctic polar bears and how the ice is melting, and their homes are becoming ruined, due to global warming. They then thought about what differences they can make at home? 

The students then looked at what happens to the animals and plants under the sea when the salt level changes (SDG 14 - Life below Water)? What happens to the pollution and oils that have spilled into the oceans? What can they do to help?

A group of Kindergartners explored SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. They made paper doves and wrote messages of peace and kindness on them.

The group also talked about SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being and the things they need to keep their bodies and minds healthy. After the discussion, students went on and did a Thich Nhat Hanh Pebble Meditation while learning about mindfulness. 

Using the lens of deforestation and impact on animal life through loss of habitat, Kindergarten students who looked at SDG 15 - Life on Land, developed empathy for the welfare of Earth's forests and the animals that depend on them for their survival.  

Finally, the group learnt about SDG 12 - Responsible Production and Consumption. They discovered what happened with waste around the world, what they could do at home and in the community to minimize waste, what can be recycled at home and how people sort their trash?

Discussing Human Rights Connection with Sustainable Development

Grade 10 students have been engaged in looking at Human Rights in the current unit. As part of UN SDG week we have also been making the connections to Sustainable Development Goal 16. They students worked collaboratively to answer this question:

Why is Sustainable Development Goal 16 important and how is it connected to Human Rights?

Here are some of their answers:

“The significance of sustainable development The importance of Goal #16 and how it relates to human rights cannot be overstated. Many of these goals ensure important societal values like fairness, dignity, equality, and respect. It provides us with the rights and power to take charge of our lives. A fundamental freedom shared by all humans.”

“The SDG targets of SDG 16 correspond with human rights. Peace, Justice, and strong institutions are the bases to form a human right. For example, peace and justice are the foundations of a strong institution. Without a strong institution, human rights can’t be enforced properly. The SDG targets represent a goal to work towards and is a way to keep practicing human rights.” 

“Because SDG 16 is Peace Justice and Strong Institutions, it focuses on rights in relation to bringing nations or groups of people together and in relation to fairness in the law. Many human rights fit this category due to it being related to the basic human needs in a community.”

“Sustainable Development Goal number 16 is important because it promotes a set of rules of law at international levels and surely ensures indistinguishable access to justice for every single individual no matter who they are. This SDG includes international cooperation that can develop countries to a further extent, prevent violence and combat crime or terrorism. “

“Human rights are laws that apply to everyone that were made to help people get justice, SGD 16 is about justice and law. Most of the articles concerning equal treatment and recognition by governments and authorities fall under the values of SDG 16, promoting inclusiveness and equity.  “

“SDG 16 is important because it includes freedom and peace not just for individual human rights, but for all countries and societies. SDG 16 addresses the rule of law such as equality, equity, inclusion, rights, laws, and institutions. These are imperative to promote and enforce peaceful societies for sustainable development through global governance and international agreements.”

“The Sustainable Development Goal 16, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions is related to enforcement of safety within and around countries and enforcement of global laws agreed upon. It encourages all countries towards agreeing to each human right and how to establish this.”

 

ASEAN Reps Discuss Security with DP Global Politics Students

IB Diploma Global Politics students got a treat when they were visited by Ms Mai Tang, Mr Andhie Novien D. Ananta and Mr Lee Yoong Yoong, Director of Community Affairs, from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Secretariat in Jakarta.

Discussions focused on the evolving ASEAN regional security policy and the three pillars of political-security, economy & socio-culture.

Human rights was front and centre as was the coup in Myanmar. GPS students asked about ASEAN policy regarding the regulation of the Mekong, the South China Sea & membership for Papua New Guinea.

 

G10 Individuals and Societies class examine Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Students in Grade 10 looked at Conflict Resolution currently and were examining the work of the UN Peacekeeping mission in Timor Leste. They explored some of the legacies of the colonial past and had an opportunity to use some of their artistic skills to put the Timor Leste topic into a historical context. Here is an example of some of the work that they created.