The environment in education: Pesticides in Lebanon

Abstract

Environmental Issues in Education: The Case of Pesticides in Lebanon In the untamed world of globalization, rapid industrialization, and the gluttony for material consumption centering on the rapid depletion of certain natural resources, all coupled with high emission of polluting carbons and chemicals, the ecosystem lost its balance pushing this tiny planet, earth, towards natural catastrophes. This research highlights the main environmental issues and problems citing Lebanon as an example of many developing countries, caused by reckless behavior and policies, as they fail to design and adopt solutions to a series of complicated problems. The main question revolves around what causes humans to persist in mismanaging the natural resources that sustain their existence? The immediate answer may be summarized in these words: ignorance, individualism and greed. The authors aim at highlighting the setting and formulation of an international strategy, focusing particularly upon the problem of global warming. The case of misuse of pesticides in the Lebanese agricultural sector and their fatal impact upon the environment will be highlighted. The stress will be on the role of education in forming and shaping ecological awareness, at schools, universities, media, NGOs, and particularly governmental institutions. The paper concludes by calling for launching the setup of an international strategy to establish lobbying chapters in every country. The aim would be to follow up on public and private policies while applying effective academic and practical steps in schools and universities to develop an effective awareness of environmental problems. It invites governments, municipalities, socio-religious groups and NGOs to assume their active roles and awaken the common citizen’ s consciousness and responsibilities through ecological promotion and replenishment activities to sustain a balanced ecosystem for future generations to enjoy.

 Keywords: natural resources, pesticides, agricultural sector, education, ecosystem, environment.