Water in the Mediterranean
Authors: A. Alampei . A. Boulouxi . V. Malotidi . S. Vazeou
Scientific & Academic Coordinator : Prof. M. Scoullos

In order to properly address these problems an integrated policy approach is needed a basic component of which is Education, through relevant well targeted programmes, and educational materials. "Water in the Mediterranean" is the result of a fruitful collaboration of NGOs from 7 Mediterranean countries (Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey), Environ

mental Educators and a group of postgraduate students of the University of Athens.

It is extremely important that anyone about to use this material understands that appropriate education is a very significant tool in promoting the idea of better use, of conservation, respect and of integrated management of water. However, education alone cannot solve the problem. In depth understanding of all other means and aspects could create the needed synergy for concerted action and creative solutions. This is why particular effort has been invested in the present educational material to familiarize students with concepts, methods and ways of action.

Please find HERE a description and for each language use the following:
For ENGLISH here.
For ITALIAN here.
For FRENCH here.
For GREEK here.
For TURKISH here.
For ARABIC here.
ForοΏ½CROATIAN here.

WASTES IN OUR LIFE
Learners book & Educators book

One of the most acute environmental problems of our days is the generation and disposal of wastes. The continuing considerable increase in waste generation is to a certain extend certainly due to the increase of the world population as well as the currently prevailing consumption patterns. The disposal of wastes, unless done properly may pollute the environment, particularly water and soil and make large plots of land useless. Household wastes play an important role in this cycle and consequently the actions of individuals and families regarding household wastes reflect seriously on the situation.

The educational material "Wastes in our life" which was produced within the MEdIES Initiative, aims at facilitating the educational procedure for the better understanding of the critical and not so attractive issue of household wastes. This first edition was produced in 2003 in GREEK language while in December 2007 the enriched ENGISH version was completed. Within MEdIES several educational materials are expected to be developed, depending on the particular educational and environmental realities of each Mediterranean country. In this sense any input and comments on behalf of the practitioners who apply this material would be highly appreciated.

Please find HERE "Wastes in our life" in GREEK language
Please find HERE "Wastes in our life" in ENGLISH language
Please find HERE "Wastes in our life" in FRENCH language

MEDITERRANEAN FOOD: Historical, Environmental, Health & Cultural dimensions
Authors: M. Scoullos & V. Malotidi
MIO-ECSDE, 2007

This educational material is addressed to secondary level students of the Mediterranean countries. It aims to use Mediterranean food and related topics i.e. cuisine, diet, basic products & consumption, as a vehicle for stimulating Intercultural Dialogue while promoting sustainable consumption and production and strengthening ESD in general. The material explores in a comprehensive way the linkages between cultural and biological diversity in the Mediterranean, the interrelationships between human productive activities, cultures and environment, with an ultimate goal to integrate culture in sustainable development.
Food and food security are included in the major themes of the UN Decade of ESD (2005-2014) as defended in UNESCO documents and the UNECE Strategy for ESD. Particularly, food topics are identified among the cross-curricula topics of ESD alongside with environment and natural resources protection, sustainable production & consumption patterns, poverty, health, human rights, gender equity, cultural diversity etc. Apart from the environmental, historical and cultural dimensions of food that are explored in the present material, food is also course used to promote the principles of the Mediterranean diet and healthy living.
The material was developed by an interdisciplinary group of scientists and educators from seven Mediterranean countries -Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Italy, Portugal, Morocco and Tunisia - in line with the principles and priorities of the UN Decade for ESD.

Please find HERE a description of the publication and the links to its
ENGLISH, ARABIC, GREEK, ITALIAN, and PORTUGUESE editions

The English and Arabic versions are available also in hardcopies.

Alter Aqua: Educational Material on Non Conventional Water Resources,
An application of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
© MIO-ECSDE & GWP-Med, 2012

The Alter Aqua educational material is the result of a fruitful cooperation of a committed team from Greece (MEdIES) and Malta (NTM) with the ambition to raise awareness and sensitise the educational community on the very crucial issue ofοΏ½Non-Conventional Water Resources (NCWRs) across the Mediterranean, and particularly in the Maltese Islands.

The material has been developed based on the principles of ESD. It aspiresοΏ½to be a flexible tool in the hands of the keen educator aiming to develop imagination, curiosity, creativity, observation,οΏ½skills and knowledge to his/her students, as well as an attitude of "new water ethic" in line with sustainability.

Find HERE a description of the scope and contents of the material and download it in PDF files.

Find also the Alter Aqua poster for students in English and Maltese Languege.

The other water: Educational Material on Non Conventional Water Resources in Cyprus (in Greek)

GWP-Med & MIO-ECSDE, 2014, ISBN: 978-960-6793-14-1

The thematic focus of this material covers Non Conventional Water Resouces Management (NCWRMs), amongst them Rainwater Harvesting.

The educational material constitutes the expansion of the Programme in the Greek and the Maltese islands, successfully implemented in partnership with the Coca-Cola System since 2008 and 2011 respectively.

The material has been authored by MEdIES Secretariat in collaboration with the Pedagogical Institute of Cyprus

Find here a description of the Material (in Greek language) and dowload its contents in PDF Files

ALTER AQUA: Materiale Educativo sulle Risorse Idriche Non Convenzionali Un programma di Educazione per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (ESD)

This is the adaptation of the ALTER AQUA educational material  to meet the Italian 'conditions' in terms of content, texts, images, educational frameworks, etc. having a thematic focus on the island of Sardegna.

It is available here:

ALTER AQUA ITALY

ALTER AQUA ITALY _ WORKSHEETS

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in Biospheres Reserves and other Designated Areas: 
A Resource Book for Educators in South-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean

A joint UNESCO and MIO-ECSDE publication (2013)

This material attempts to make a meaningful and substantial link between the educational process that is taking place in Biosphere Reserves and other protected or designated areas, and their "protection" as such, using as a vehicle "Education for Sustainable Development" (ESD).

The training material is addressed to trainers, officers of MAB Biosphere Reserves (BRs), Protected Areas (PAs), Environment Centres, Nature Parks, Eco-museums, NGOs, etc. within any "Designated Area" in SE Europe and the Mediterranean. Eventually, it can be used by all those involved in implementing awareness raising programs in the field, whether from formal or non formal education.

Webpage with the description of the background, scope and acess to the material (PDF files).

In April 2013 an one month long e-learning course was designed and implemented by MEdIES, aiming to train the target group on one of the book's chapters. The course is intended to be repeated in the future.

Download the book here (size of single file 49MB):

http://www.mio-ecsde.org/protarea/book/Final_ESD_in_BRs_in_one_file.pdf

THE GIFT OF RAIN: ESD material on Rain Water Harvesting 
Language: GREEK

© GWP-Med & MIO-ECSDE 2013 (2nd edition-islands) and 2014 (3rd edition-city)

The educational material "The gift of rain" (produced in Greek language) aims to raise the awareness and sensitization of students of late middle and secondary level (10-14 years) towards the sustainable management of water. More specifically the material aims to cultivate the students' necessary skills to address the old, partly abandoned practices of rainwater collection, that have been traditionally applied in the Cyclades islands over the centuries, as well as the modern techniques than can be applied today in homes, hotels, etc in order to collect, economise or recycle water (through grey water reuse devises). Overall the material aims for students to acquire a positive attitude towards wise water use in their daily lives.

The material could be a flexible tool for primary and secondary level teachers in the framework of Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) working on related issues. The production of the educational material by MEdIES Secretariat is just one part of a wider pilot program that includes the development of new and the repair of aging rainwater collection infrastructures and reservoirs in public buildings (i.e. town halls, schools). The wider project is carried out in selected municipalities in the Greek islands, with the support of the corporate social responsibility programme Mission Water.

Find THE RAIN WATER HARVEST KIT in GREEK language (Summary & PDF files). Greek is the only available language

Mediterranean Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development

Athens, October 2014

The MEdIES Secretariat has been contributed in this EU Publication which was produced within the the Horizon 2020 CP/MED Programme.

The Mediterranean Strategy on ESD was endorsed by the Ministers of Environment and Climate Change of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) during theor meeting in Athens, on 13 May 2014, annexed to their Ministerial Declaration.

This booklet includes the full text of the Strategy in three languages: English, French and Arabic.

Download the booklet from here.

"Know, feel, act! to stop Marine Litter"

MIO-ECSDE, 2014 ISBN 978-960-6793-17-2

This educational material has been prepared to inform, sensitise and enable European teachers and students to take action to tackle the issue of marine litter, within the European FP7 Programme "MARLISCO".

It contains 17 learning activities examining the characteristics, sources, effects and possible ways to tackle the problem, addressing it from an environmental, societal, cultural and economic point of view. It has been designed to primarily serve youth aged 10-15 yrs, but can be used also by educators outside the formal schooling system. youth aged 10-15 yrs, but can be used also by educators outside the formal schooling system.

The publication of the Greek version was supported through the Mission Water campaign of Coca-Cola HBC Greece and is available here.

The publication is available in English, and more than 10 other languages here.

Handbook on methods used in Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development

Authors: V. Malotidi & M. J. Scoullos
Available languages:ENGLISH, ARABIC and FRENCH
© MIO-ECSDE

This handbook aims to provide an ensemble of elements, both theoretical and practical, for the implementation of educational materials Environmental Education (EE) or Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It is not exhaustive of all the educational methods and possible ways of their implementation, but it rather aims to introduce educators to the basic ideas relevant to the various methods, and attempts to highlight some noteworthy or "tricky" points concerning their application and outcomes. Therefore it is designed to facilitate educators to plan, in cooperation with their students, their own working methods and programmes. The handbook presents several educational examples based on the MEdIES material "Water in the Mediterranean ". However, because of its structure, it can be used as a reference guide when implementing any other educational material relevant to EE, or ESD.

Please find HERE and download Handbook in ENGLISH, FRENCH and ARABIC language

Environmental Education & Education for Sustainable Development in Protected Areas
Greek publication

This material was produced in 2008 with the collabboration of MIO-ECSDE/MEdIES, the University of Athens, the Greek Ministry of Education, the Greek UNSCO MAB National Comitee.
The material is addressed to trainers, officers of MAB BRs, Environment Centres, Nature Parks, Eco-museums, NGOs, etc. within any designated area in SE Europe and the Mediterranean. Eventually, it can be used by all those involved in implementing awareness raising programs in the field, whether from formal or non formal education.

Since 2008, the materail has been translated, adapted to Mediterranean Realities, with the support also of UNESCO BRESCE. The draft training material entitled "ESD for MAB BRs and other designated areas in SE Europe and the Mediterranean" has been 'adopted' by UNESCO and is expected to be printed by the end of 2011.

The webpage to DOWNLOAD the material in GREEK is available here.

TITLE: YOUTHXCHANGE Training Kit on Sustainable Consumption
This is the GREEK VERSION of the guide , originally produced by UNEP/DTIE and UNESCO.

The YOUTHXCHANGE guide , since its first production in 2002 has been produced in 17 languages, while in 2008 its second amended and updated edition was compiled, which mirrors the structure of the
rst one, including new entries and modifcations. The translation and adaptation of this second edition of the YOUTHXCHANGE guide in Greek language was undertaken by MIO-ECSDE and MEdIES, and the resulting material is an appealing kit that can be used by Greek and Cypriot ESD educators and addresses the critical issues of importance to young people, like:

• consumption, sustainable consumption and sustainable lifestyles.
• means of transport, CO2 emissions, mass tourism and sustainable holidays.
• sustainable fashion & smart shopping that avoids products that have been produced based on child labour, gender inequalities, cruel working conditions, animal testing and or pose a threat to Biodiversity and endangered species.
• the more or less standard issues of energy and water consumption in daily activities as well as the waste production and ways to minimise it.

Please find THE GREEK YOUTHXCHANGE Guide that was prepared by MIO-ECSDE and MEdIES.

Visit THE YOUTHXCHANGE WEBSITE to download the guide in any of the 17 languages, and therewith find also a wealth of international case studies, and useful pedagogical tips on how to use the material in class.

YOUTHXCHANGE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN Training Kit on Sustainable Consumption
This is the ARABIC VERSION of the guide , originally produced by UNEP/DTIE and UNESCO.

This kit was compiled within a project of MIO-ECSDE/MEdIES Secretariat,

(2009-2011) and was co-funded by
- the the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF)
- the EC/DG Env (through MIO-ECSDE core funding)
- CP/RAC (through - UNEP/DTIE)

YXC-med at a glance
The YOUTH X CHANGE in the Mediterranean (YXC-med) is a 24 month long programme being carried out by MIO-ECSDE / MEdIES Secretariat during the period 2009 - 2011.
The YXC-med programme addresses the critical issue of sustainability in the lifestyles of young people of the Mediterranean particularly in terms of consumption habits. Based on an existing worldwide initiative of UNEP & UNESCO this initiative specifically targets the young people of the Mediterranean region.
The YXC printed kit has been translated to Arabic, enriched with Mediterranean-relevant case studies, re-produced and circulated to Arabic speaking countries of the region,
Read more on the project and Download the kit HERE.

This seminar was addressed to Greek educators, Environmental Education (EE) centres, and NGOs and it aimed mainly at the study and deeper questioning on the educational methodologies applied in various programmes of EE in the context of formal, non-fomal, and informal education.

More specific objectives of the seminar were:

• the notification to the Greek educational community of the two newly published educational materials on water and household wastes.
• the exchange of views and experiences on research, theory and practice of the educational methodologies applied under ESD programmes.
• the set up of constructive dialogue on the specific methods that are proposed by the new educational materials on water and wastes.
• The first day of the seminar was devoted to theoretical presentations while the second day was actually an experiential workshop, where we worked in teams on seven different methodologies of EE. The outcomes the experiential workshops, as well as the theoretical presentations are included in this publication.

Please find here a synopsis of the Seminar in Greek, and download the Proceedings.

Environmental Education: The Mediterranean Perspective,
Proceedings of the regional meeting, Athens, 14-15 December 2002

The first coordination meeting of the Task Group of the MEdIES Initiative was organised by MIO-ECSDE, as part of a multi-event under the theme "Mediterranean Water Week", which took place in Athens in December 2002, (find more details on all events at www.mio-ecsde.org). During the first day of the meeting the Task Group was officially formed, the structure and the terms of reference were agreed upon, and the short and medium term development plan of the MEdIES Initiative was discussed among the Partners.

The second day was a Workshop on methodologies and teaching methods applied in Environmental Education. It was basically addressed to all stakeholders that were instrumental in the formulation of MEdIES (ministries, IGOs, NGOs etc), and to educators involved in the MEdIES network, through the use and application of the educational material "Water in the Mediterranean ". However, the workshop was open to all individuals or organizations involved with EE programmes, via the "channels" of formal as well as non-formal Education.

The Agenda of the workshop included the following main parts.
. Topics of General interest in EE
. Experiences in Educational Networks in EE
. Elements of Methodology - Teaching methods and tools in EE

Please find HERE a description of the philosophy and contents of the meeting and download the Proceedings.

Special Issues of Sustainable Mediterranean

The importance of educational issues, especially concerning environmental education (EE) or Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is highlighted in various SPECIAl issues of SUSTAINABLE MEDITERRAMEAN, the MIO-ECSDE's newsletter, namely in the following:

Issue No 30, August 2003: Environmental Education in the Mediterranean

Issue No 34, August 2004: The status of Environmental Education in the Med Countries within the formal and non-formal education system

Issue No39, November 2005: The Mediterranean and ESD: A first response to the UN Decade of ESD (2005-2014).

Issue No 63-64 (double): Residential training Workshop on Universities and ESD, Amfissa, 23-28 May 2010

Issue No 70: The collective Achievements of ESD in Higher Education in the Mediterranean, November 2014.

Issue No 72: The role of Universities in Supporting UNESCO Designated Sites as Drivers for Sustainable Development at Local and Regional Levels (January 2016)

Keep the Mediterranean Litter-free

HELMEPA, Clean-up Greece and MIO-ECSDE jointly with UNEP/MAP have launched the "Keep the Mediterranean Litter-free Campaign" to raise public awareness on the causes and impacts of the pollution of the sea from solid waste.In the framework of this campaign a useful and attractive brochure has been produced presenting not only the various causes and impacts of marine litter but also highlighting the role and responsibilities of all actors concerned including the public at large, in protecting the coastal and marine environment from solid waste. The brochure has been produced in Arabic, English, French and Greek and is now available on the MEdIES webpage, downloadable for all MEdIES members!!

If you wish to obtain hard copies of the brochure please contact the MIO-ECSDE: info@mio-ecsde.org

The Water Poster (2004)

The poster entitled "Mediterranean water calendar" includes a number of practical guidelines and advices for responsible behaviour of individuals regarding water management. Most of the guidelines can be applied throughout the year.

These posters are usually posted on walls of houses, places of work, schools, NGOs, reminding us the key activities to save water in our everyday activities.

The Water Poster has been prepared in English, French, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish Turkish, and Arabic language !!

The posters are for free! If you wish to receive the posters in large numbers to cover the needs of a class, a relevant seminar etc. please email us your request at info@mio-ecsde.org or info@medies.net

The Water Poster for the CYCLADES islands (2009)

The poster presents the Water Cycle particularly for the water scarse region of the cyclades in the Aegean sea and includes a number of practical guidelines and advices for responsible behaviour of individuals regarding water management. Most of the guidelines can be applied throughout the year.

Such posters are usually posted on walls of houses, places of work, schools, NGOs, reminding us the key activities to save water in our everyday activities.

This poster is available in GREEK language (pdf).

The posters are free! If you wish to receive the posters in large numbers to cover the needs of a class, a relevant seminar etc. please email us your request atοΏ½info@mio-ecsde.org or info@medies.net

The Alter Aqua Poster in English and Maltese (2011)

The poster can be used to trace the elements of the Water Cycle in a typical Mediterranean Island, specifically the Maltese Islands. The poster includes also tips and advices for responsible behaviour of young consumenrs.

Such posters are usually posted on walls of houses, places of work, schools, NGOs, reminding us the key activities to save water in our everyday activities.

This poster is available only in English language (pdf) as well as in Maltese language (pdf).

The posters are free! If you wish to receive the posters in large numbers to cover the needs of a class, a relevant seminar etc. please email us your request at info@mio-ecsde.org or info@medies.net

The Urban Water Cycle in Greek language (2016)

A new poster on the “Urban Water Cycle” has been prepared by MEdIES (in Greek). The poster explores aspects of the natural water cycle and the human interventions on it at the city-level. It presents also an outline of the “non conventional water resources” together with tips for responsible water use (at house-level). This poster is an educational tool that is complementary to the educational material “The Gift of the Rain in the city” and is distributed to all students participating in the RWH activities. The poster (in PDF) is available here: _uploaded_files/rain_water_harvest/final_water_poster_city.pdf

The posters are free! If you wish to receive the posters in large number to cover the needs of your  class, please email us your request at info@mio-ecsde.org or info@medies.net

Links to others' publications

The Marine Environment: Understanding our connection with it

This publication (available only in Greek) was compiled in the framework of the three year-long (2012-2014) Marine Environment and Science Awareness Campaign, executed by HELMEPA in 12 Greek cities with the support of th...