UN Secretary-General Praised Green School Bali for its Sustainable Development Education
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Green School Bali on Thursday, 28 August and witnessed a signing ceremony of a MofU on 'Green Schools for Sustainable Development' between the School and Government of Indonesia.
Green School Bali - Badung, Indonesia., September 1, 2014 (Newswire.com) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited the “2012 Greenest School on Earth”, Green School Bali on Thursday, 28 August and met with all 412 students of Green School from pre-kindergarten up to high school level, accompanied by significant climate change actors including H.E. Mr. Morten Høglund, Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Mr. Stig Traavik, Ambassador of Norway to Indonesia; Mr. John A. Hardy, Founder of the Green School Bali; and Mr. John Stewart, Head of School of the Green School Bali.
Opening his speech, the Secretary-General commends Green School’s commitment to educate young generation to become the future green leader of the world, “this is the most unique and impressive school I have ever visited. Thank you very much for your strong commitment and vision to make this world green”, stated the Secretary-General.
High resolution images of the event can be accessed here: http://goo.gl/Y8eMJX
Irma Sitompul, Communications Manager
Furthermore, the Secretary-General witnessed a signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding on ‘Green Schools for Sustainable Development’ between Green School Bali, the National REDD+ Agency, and United Nations Office for REDD+ Coordination in Indonesia (UNORCID). The MoU establishes the framework for collaboration between three signatories for knowledge exchange on embedding sustainable development into education system and structures, which will serve as input for the facilitation and development of green schools across Indonesia. MoU signatories committed to have 1 million ‘green youth ambassadors’ within schools across Indonesia by 2017.
“The signing of this MoU is a truly ground-breaking moment for the National REDD+ Agency and for Indonesia’s future. Sustainability is away of life and all of you in front of me today are pioneering the way, a new way of life and a new identity as true citizens of the world. There is so much to learn from all of you, not only for today but for years to come” said H.E Mr. Heru Prasetyo, Head of the Indonesian National REDD+ Agency (BP REDD+).
The event was completed with the Secretary-General and Mrs. Ban releasing two of Bali’s endangered Starlings, which are being bred at the Begawan Foundation Breeding Center within the School as an effort to restore the population back out of extinction.
Green School is an international school in Bali, Indonesia whose mission is to be the #1 model of sustainability education in the world. Awarded the “2012 Greenest School on Earth” by the Center for Green Schools at the United States Green Building Council, the school has attracted over 400 preschool through high school students from more than 40 countries seeking a unique, nature-based, student-centered education. Founded in 2008 by John and Cynthia Hardy, the school strives to educate young green leaders in global citizenship. The curriculum champions a new model of learning that connects the timeless lessons from nature to a relevant and effective preparation for a fast-changing future with the guiding values of integrity, responsibility, empathy, sustainability, peace, quality, community, and trust.