Sustainability

Sustainability

Telstra advertisement: We are Australian

[avail http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuKpJv0PlSE ]

The above youtube video has a great selection of landscapes around Australia, oceans, beaches, mountains, desserts, valleys and cities.  It also has footage of the weather conditions such as storms, and views of Australia up close, and also from out in space.  The song shows Australia in all its glory this is the Australia that needs to be passed on to the future generations, so they can feel the same pride in Australia that "we" the current generations feel.

In the Australian Curriculum Sustainability is detailed in part as:

" History, students develop understanding, for example, of the changes in environments over time, the role played by individuals and communities in protecting environments, the emergence of farming and settled communities, the development of the Industrial Revolution and the growth of population, the overuse of natural resources and the rise of environmental movements." (ACARA)

I found two pictures of  Sandy Beach, Hobart one taken in the 1830, the other taken recently.  In both shots the general outline of the land is the same, however the development that has occurred since 1830 is very evident in the recent photo, showing a cityscape in the foreground of the bay with tall buildings and a great deal of housing clearly visible.  The 1830 photo shows rolling green hills with very little if any development at all.  

Photograph A: from Nutgrove Beach, Sandy Bay

View of Hobart, 1830

In the two comparative photo's students can see the larger landscape features remain, and the development that has occurred over time has been necessary for the progression of the city of Hobart in order to keep up with population demands, and the advancement of technology.  With this in mind it is important to recognise the amount of green undeveloped land that remains, enabling the current generation to explore the environment in its natural state as could be done back in 1830.  This is a great example of environmental sustainability.

There are 17 Australian properties on the World Heritage List.  These are areas described as those requiring protection in order to preserve them for future generations to witness and enjoy.  Within Australia there are also heritage list properties that are protected in order to preserve them for future generations. Students can be shown the standout features of architecture since settlement, also the unique features of Australia that remain today and why they should be cared for in order to protect them for all future generations to enjoy creating a sustainable future for all.

References:

Australian Curriculum Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/History/Cross-Curriculum-Priorities

environmental sustainability: http://australia.gov.au/topics/environment-and-natural-resources/environmental-sustainability
Australian Govnerment, (2008). Retrieved from: http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/env_glance.html

Images / Video:

Telstra advertisement: We are Australian [avail http://whc.unesco.org/en/list ]

Photograph A: from Nutgrove Beach, Sandy Bay

view of Hobart, 1830

Hyperlinks:

Australian Curriculum Sustainability: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/History/Cross-Curriculum-Priorities
environmental sustainability: http://australia.gov.au/topics/environment-and-natural-resources/environmental-sustainability
world heritage listed properties: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list
Australian Heritage List: http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/index.html