Page 51 in all educational levels. As a school leader what steps or projects you, have initiated for preparing future climateready generations? Response by Dr. Vandana Paul: We have taken a whole School approach wearing we have tried to develop a school culture of sustainability we want to practice what we preach. • We have tried to make our school a model of climate action the following steps are taken: • We have a sewage water treatment plant with a capacity of recycling 40,000 liters of water. • We use paper bags • We gift, saplings instead of bouquets or any other gift • We have no plastic zone in our school • Turning off lights and smart boards when not in use is a regular activity done by everyone in the school. • Teaching climate change in all subject areas. • We have an incinerator installed in our school. The message to the audience: A. Message by Dr. Vandana Paul “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” Let’s do our bit in the collective responsibility of protecting mother earth. • Change your personal living style. Go for minimalism. • Use Solar panels • Electric Vehicle Biofuels… • Spread awareness among people B. Message by Dr. B. Ramanathan • Solar panels are installed in Singapore aiming to produce 30% of electricity to support the local needs • Vertical farming to use minimal space and increase more food production capacity in the local environment • Electric vehicles to use in the coming days to reduce pollution in the atmosphere • Proper incineration of wastes to produce electricity and the waste ash is deposited in a landfill to form a man-made “Semakau island” electrical appliances and electrical consumption for the idea so they we plan to prepare 30% of the Solar Panel based energy sources. • All our actions should revolve and follow Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the UN. It must be taught in schools. Which organizations are taking initiatives and action for building climate-ready? Response by Dr. Vandana: Millennium Fellowship Program of the United Nations is a semester-long leadership program in which students are selected based on their project or project idea that advances any of the 17 sustainable development goals. It forms a global student network that nurtures the innovative ideas of like-minded proactive students. How can we predict the future climate? Response by Dr. Vandana Paul: We predict the future by studying climate change trends in past. To predict future climate, scientists use computer programs called climate models to understand how our planet is changing. Climate models work like a laboratory in a computer. They allow scientists to study how different factors interact to influence a region’s climate. How can we build climate-ready communities? Response by Dr. B. Ramanathan: • Understand better what climate change means for your community. • Engage your community in conversation, planning and considering the strengths and resources that will help the community to adapt well. • Find out options available to help your community become climate ready. • Share success stories of what people are already doing to adapt to a changing climate. • The STEM Education Project or any other environment-friendly programs should be
Global Wellness Summit 2022 the first of its kind in the world by Singapore • 3R principles Reduce, Reuse and Recycle as integrated waste management strategies • Climate school models in schools will enable the students to learn and lead better • Simulation and problem-based studies are required now • Needed to conduct more awareness through exhibitions, competitions and workshops to engage the business organization, stakeholders and the public people. • To plan effectively to control the carbon emissions in order to reduce global warming issues A very fruitful, meaningful, interesting and interactive discussion was concluded by opening for question & answer round for the audience.
Page 53 Costless Daily Practice To Green The World DR MONICA MASTRANTONIO Visting Professor-United Kingdom
Global Wellness Summit 2022 the natural landscape. However, we double our efforts when we get our kids involved. One of these possibilities is through Environmental Education. Environmental education refers to learning about our planet - its resources, nature, and sustainability. By gaining awareness of these issues, it is possible to create solutions to solve them. This education is mandatory if we plan on solving the environmental issues which are deploying our planet’s resources. Schools need urgently to improve the environmental education as humanity has reached a critical point when it comes to environmental issues. There’s no time to waste. Therefore, children need to learn about environmental issues from the earliest age, to gain valuable insight and avoid adopting bad habits. Kids need facts. We need to give them the knowledge necessary for understanding what is happening in their surroundings. Environmental education teaches about: major environmental issues, what causes them, how they can help to solve the problems. In other words, environmental education is about acting. Children get the chance to adopt new habits and employ them in their everyday life. Here are some small, easy, green choices we can make from our homes to make everyone’s life greener and more sustainable, 1-Clean up your kitchen 2-Love and eat the leftovers. Treat “food waste” as ingredients 3-Use tech for good to avoid food waste 4-Shop little and often 5-Seeds can be grown, plant them 6-Buy half your food locally 7-Minimise packaging 8-Reduce wash-up liquid 9-Reduce the washing 10-Create your own biodegradable multipurpose cleaning spray. Add 50ml of castile soap to 800ml tap water in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oils (tea tree is antibacterial). Spray and wipe with a clean cloth. 11-Don’t iron clothes 12-Go plastic-free Climate crisis has been on the verge of all talks and initiatives for the past few years. Although, there is much human action can reach, the United Nations’ (un.org) main targets have been government and organizations. Data from Steffen et al (2015) show that the rise on the surface temperature, ocean acidification, water use, fertilizer consumption, and other practices that deploy nature have escalated only in the past 50 years. We are living in an era where the Earth is jeopardized on different levels, and the efforts to change it don’t seem to be enough. We have been struggling to preserve our planet. In addition, we need to be more active and involved in changing our behaviours to green the planet. Here are the biggest environmental issues: 1) Air, Water and Land Pollution, 2) Global Warming, 3) Waste Disposal, 4) Deforestation, 5) Climate Change, 6) Overpopulation, 7) Species Extinction. The list can go on, but we are at a critical point in which we need to stay united to preserve our planet, and consequently, ourselves. On the summit of the crisis, it is crucial that everyone joins forces proactively pursuing a carbon-zero world. For this to be effective, new educational practices are urgently needed. In the syllabus, it is important that schools, families, and new generations work out: communal school Garden, seed libraries, home gardens, plantbased diets, water saving systems, adoption of biodegradable products among other practices are part of everyone’s living lifestyle. Many people forget that everything starts with the individual. No one needs to be part of an environmental organization to contribute. By changing everyday habits and raising awareness about the environment is a great start. Same goes for children – teaching them the basics and employing quality environmental education can go a long way. There are lots of little things we can do within our homes to play our small part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving
Page 57 35-Bring one’s own shopping bags. (Don’t forget them in the car) 36-Create a recycling container in the vehicle for bottles and cans 37-Stay close to home. Choose shopping and dining destinations that are nearby whenever possible. 38-Replace an evening out with an evening in 39-Use public transportation whenever possible 40-Ride a bike — it’s great exercise and great for the environment 41-Save water and lower the bills 42-Get a loan to improve home’s energy efficiency 43-Choose an environmentally friendly current account 44-Get a green financial adviser 45-Lower the temperature on the hot water heater 46- Unplug unused chargers and appliances 47- Collect rainwater, and use it to water the houseplants and garden 48-Use a menstrual cup 49-Use cloth instead of paper to clean the kitchen 50-Use cloth napkins instead of paper This list could go on, but the most important item is to start. Then, to make it a habit! 13-Recycle as much as possible 14-Look after your electrical appliances, and don’t throw them in the bin 15-Cultivate house plant 16-Create clean air at home with many plants 17-Practise eco-driving 18-Draught-proof your home 19-Buy vintage furniture 20-Let the garden grow 21-Buy local flowers – or grow your own 22-Encourage bees 23-Let the grass grow 24-Encourage hedgehogs 25-Choose materials wisely 26-Choose cloth napkins instead of paper 27-Skip the rinse step before using the dishwasher. 28-Wash clothes in cold or warm rather than hot water. Skip the dryer sheet 29-Dry clothes on a clothesline or drying rack 30-Use a timer to take shorter showers 31-Don’t use the tap for shaving. Try a cup of warm water instead 32-Clean with what you have — you’d be surprised what lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar can do 33-Take the car to a professional car wash that uses recycled water 34-Water wisely, water plants early in the morning before the sun causes evaporation. Collect and use rainwater for the garden
Global Wellness Summit 2022 Fundamentals of Social Wellness: An Indian Perspective DR. D.S CHAUHAN Pro-Chancellor, GLA University, Mathura
Decline in the old age mental-health, however, is often the results of faulty lifestyle like smoking, alcohol intake, improper diet and lack of exercise as well as environmental and other external factors. Hence, this decline can be slowed down or even reversed at any age through the appropriate interventions to modify individual lifestyle or adverse environmental factors.of a particular society towards life and the way its people live , think and behave. It includes dietary practices, physical-mental activities, cognitive exposure as well as cultural and environmental revelation. The “Vedantic” literature says that life is sacred and eternal and according to this belief when the life particles interact with material elements, various events like birth, disease, old age and death result In Rig Veda, desire for longevity and health (mental and eternal physical) is best exemplified in the much quoted Atharva Veda sukt: “Pashyem sharadah shatam, Jivet sharadah shatam” (let me see 100 autumns, let me live 100 autumn The life of an individual was being regulated harmoniously according to the stages of life. It was believed that an individual life is to be lived for 100 years and therefore, has been demarcated into four stages (Ashrams) - “Brahmcharya” (studentship); “Grihstha” (householder); “Vanprasth” (forest dweller); “Sanyas” (ascetic) depending upon physical, psychological, familial, social and spiritual needs. This concept is still practiced by many individuals in India. This system was meant to maintain the discipline, peace and harmony in the family and society. Each of the stages was intended to prepare for the next. Lifestyle is the perception of a particular society towards life and the way its people live , think and behave. It includes dietary practices, physical-mental activities, cognitive exposure as well as cultural and environmental revelation. The “Vedantic” literature says that life is sacred and eternal and according to this belief when the life particles interact with material elements, various events like birth, disease, old age and death result In Rig Veda, desire for longevity and health (mental and eternal physical) is best exemplified in the much quoted Atharva Veda sukt: “Pashyem sharadah shatam, Jivet sharadah shatam” (let me see 100 autumns, let me live 100 autumn The life of an individual was being regulated harmoniously according to the stages of life. It was believed that an individual life is to be lived for 100 years and therefore, has been demarcated into four stages (Ashrams) - “Brahmcharya” (studentship); “Grihstha” (householder); “Vanprasth” (forest dweller); “Sanyas” (ascetic) depending upon physical, psychological, familial, social and spiritual needs. This concept is still practiced by many individuals in India. This system was meant to maintain the discipline, peace and harmony in the family and society. Each of the stages was intended to prepare for the next. In ancient Indian situations people knew their specific roles to be performed during different stages of life and that left little room for development of psychogenic (exogenous) mental-health problems. Although biological (endogenous) mental-health problems were almost equally prevalent as “unmad” (mania); “avsaad” (depression); “sannipat” (delirium); “smritibhransh” (dementias); etc., as are today Page 59
Global Wellness Summit 2022 Framework for Global Social Wellness DR RICHA PRAKASH Principal, Allenhouse Public School, Panki, Kanpur
team members to be active in their own development, provide meaningful feedback, and offer scaffolding and support. Positive mindset can be inculcated through watching, listening, reading positive things which as a corollary promote social wellness. Another speaker, Dr. Yolanda Petersen stated that a leader plays a crucial role in nurturing and supporting promoting social wellness in the organization but above all a leader fosters genuine connection. Consistency in the interaction matters completely while taking cognizance of the needs of the employee. This helps to build the morale and promote allegiance in the employees. It is through promoting wellness programme in the organization, we can bring about a proactive engagement among the people. Students learn better when they are healthy. Thus it is the context of the school environment which can steer students in that direction and channelize and help students to understand the idea of wellness in which the ambience, social empathy and resilience come to play a key role. Schools play a vital role in helping students to promote healthy lifestyle. Listening, allowing them and giving them opportunity to speak gives the learners an opportunity to attend to school with a healthy mindset. Dr Peterson mentioned that we can create the right balance in promoting social wellness in our immediate environment by being surrounded by people with a positive outlook and encouraging mutual growth to reduce toxicity. Being resilient, connecting to disconnected relations can ascertain wellbeing of an individual. Effie Kyrikaki , another panelist speaker during this session says that the cradle of social wellness is the family unit as wellness refers to a complex combination of mind, body, intellect and soul. Strong emotional bonds assist children to learn how to manage their own feelings and behaviors and develop selfconfidence. Self-control is in her words a better phrase for discipline. She reiterated that positive interactions create genuine wellness, thus watching, reading and listening positive things is necessary for social wellness. Children During the three days of the Global Wellness Summit from 2-4 December, 2022 , I had the privilege to not only participate in it as an active listener but moderate the final day , first session in which the panelists discussed the development of the ‘Framework for Global Social Wellness’. During the course of the session in the past two days the panelists spoke on the varied facets of wellness especially underscoring the need for mediation as a healthier way to achieve mental relaxation. It was emphasized that teachers training in school is mandatory on the various attributes of mental health. Thus we had been talking for the past two days about the facets of wellness ranging from emotional, environmental, spiritual, physiological, wellness. Mindfulness through exercising our consciousness is the key point for social wellness which is deeply connected with the community. When one is healthy one can serve others, and that is how we are seen as social beings. Our panelist, Dr Dass believes that the basic unit of a society is the family. Family as the foundation of a society is responsible for the economic security of this basic unit. Thus wellness at the global level can only be attained when there is economic wellbeing. Dr Dass enlightened us on the ways and the methods we can use to develop social wellness in the communities which are a microcosm of the global community. According to Dr Dass , social wellness is directly connected to human values which in the 21st century need revival so that due focus and attention is given to the binary of the mindset. Mindset is the pillar of social wellness. Good music, literature, healthy habits, nutritious diet, sound sleep, not only laughter but tears are the key ingredients of social wellness. Under no circumstances mindset should be seen as a constant but a quality of the mind as research says that can be evolved, developed and nurtured as the potion for attaining social, emotional and intellectual wellness. According to Dr Dass leaders can support individuals and encourage aspects of self-determination by encouraging Page 61
learn through imitation and thus the parent is the shadow teacher for children in building the framework for social wellness in the microcosm of the family unit. In our conversation Effie stated that a parent needs to be less vulnerable, and be ready to accept mistakes to let children learn social-emotional skills. Learning starts from relationships thus developing a connect is the mainstay as it teaches being resilient which also draws from relationships. Effie mentioned that it is not only important to bounce back but bounce forward. Children need a lot of support for being resilient and she shared valuable strategies for the same, firstly through peer support techniques like the buddy system, peer tutoring and mentoring. Through the discussion, I think we can conclude that the trailblazers for bringing in social wellness are health and education. Family is the basic unit whose wellness determines the health of a nation. Family can deliver wellness, expanding wellness to transcend beyond the precincts of the family and having far reaching consequences on the health of the nation as a whole. Global Wellness Summit 2022 Mother is the first teacher of every child and her health and education should be the focal point during the multitude of government policies that are framed to bring in wellbeing and health. Government could take up programme which focus on economic wellness/security at the grassroot level. Family is thus the strength of this edifice which will help build the framework for Global Social Wellness. Thus social wellness could also be contextualized as the interplay between our best individual self and our best environment. Happiness results from developing healthy connections to others and the world around us. We are all living in emotional times, and we are on a common pursuit, the pursuit of happiness. Thus I plead that we all find our inner peace and happiness which can collectively bring in global wellness for communities.