Flower power

1) Darja Kavaš

2) Vesna Novak

3) Tina Pestotnik

4) Katja Polanec

5) Zoja Prašnikar

1) Chair: Katja

2) Secretary: Vesna

3) Progress chaser: Zoja

4) Timekeeper: Tina

5) Reserve person: Darja

Issue 1: PBL problem

Decision 1: Environmental organisations: Greenpeace (climate change)

Redefining our PBL problem:

"In the context of environmental policy, the term "climate change" often refers to the changes in modern climate, including the rise in average surface temperature known as warming" (Wikipedia, online). "Higher temperatures threaten dangerous consequences: drought, disease, floods, lost ecosystems" (NRDC, online). And global warming's effects have already begun. Today, our world is hotter than it has been in two thousand years and by the end of the century, if current trends continue, the global temperature will likely climb higher than at any time in the past two million years. But solutions are in sight. Most heat-trapping gases come from power plants and vehicles. We know how to curb emissions from power plants and vehicles, which produce most heat-trapping gases and still provide enough energy for all- the solution lies in the use of modern technologies and stronger laws (NRDC, online. Greenpeace is a non-profit organisation, which deals with most crucial worldwide environmental threats (see Greenpeace International, online). One of their prior concerns is the climate change and its consequences. In our research work we are going to focus on their effectiveness concerning this topic.

Literature:

- Greenpeace International 'About Greenpeace',

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about (accessed 9 November 2006).

- Natural resources defence council 'Global Warming',

http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/?gclid=CJb-5Orfw4gCFRIlXgodC3pkCg

(accessed 9 November 2006).

- Wikipedia 'Climate Change',

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change (accessed 9 November 2006).

Decision 2: Climate change through the view of Greenpeace and Slovenian public

Climate change through the view of Greenpeace and Slovenian public

Acid rain, drought, disease, floods, lost ecosystems etc. these are dangerous consequences of global warming. What is going on with our planet? We decided to research climate changes, what they look like and what causes them, what kind of effects they have on the society, environment and people. Our work will be also focused on the work of non-profit organisation – Greenpeace. We will try to find out efficiency of Greenpeace at solving environmental problems, in what way Greenpeace is informing people about environmental problems (particularly about climate change), are their actions, demonstrations good or bad and so on. We are also interested in how well is society informed about climate change in general, do people know Greenpeace and their actions, are they aware of environmental problems and what do they do to make the planet better, cleaner and safer.

Research questions:

1. What are the causes and effects of climate change?

2. How does climate change impact our society and environment?

3. What can we do to improve this situation?

4. How does Greenpeace increase awareness of this issue?

5. How does Greenpeace contribute to improvement of the issue of climate change?

6. How successful are their actions?

7. How do people perceive this issue?

8. How well are people informed about this problem?

9. Are people aware of its serious consequences? Are they ready to take action?

10. How high is Slovene public awareness of this issue and how familiar are we with the Greenpeace organisation?

Sources:

∙ Heller, Peter S. :Who will pay?: coping with aging societies, climate change, and other long term fiscal challenges

∙ Layzer, Judith A.: The environmental case : translating values into policy

∙ Worldwatch Institute: State of the world, 1997 : Worldwatch Institute report on progress toward a sustainable society

∙ Burroughs, William James: Does the weather really matter? : The social implications of the climate change

∙ O'Riordan, Timothy: Politics of climate change : European Perspective

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/climate-change

http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/impact/

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/dn9903

http://www.climatehotmap.org/

www.zrc-sazu.si/Zgds/glasgow/9.pdf

Task distribution:

Darja will research questions 1 and 2.

Zoja and Vesna will research questions 3-6.

Katja and Tina will research questions 7-10.