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We are in the midst of World Water Week. The 2008 theme is "Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World with Special Focus on Sanitation." World Water Week is a international conference focused on collaboration and the promotion of work that advances environmental and humanitarian development. The United Nations proclaimed 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. With a focus on the Millennium Development Goals, the theme for World Water Week was chosen to draw attention to sanitation needs and the effect of poor sanitation worldwide. Goal seven - the goal of ensuring environmental sustainability- poses an enormous challenge, as do the sub goals, or target indicators. World Water Week highlights a target set by the MDG's that calls for the reduction, by half, of the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water.

"More than 60 000 users of the Better Life Index around the world have shared their views on what makes for a better life. Explore the interactive map and find out what well-being topics are rated highest and where. Of course this is a small share of the world's population - so why not share your vision of a better life and help us reach 100 000 (or even more) by the end of 2014. "

Looking at daily life in foreign lands reveals a colorful spectrum of inspiring metaphors for the shifts we need to make in education. Often what we may find initially chaotic, disorienting and strange in other countries can actually spark new ways of thinking about teaching and learning. Through the voices of teachers and students from around the world, we'll examine the unique aptitudes which allow successful expats to thrive in any environment. These are exactly the skills that future students and teachers will need to confidently enter the digital, global, converging, collaborative world of tomorrow - wherever they might be physically located.

Bali/Bangkok, 20 August 2008 - An innovative regional agreement is beginning to turn the tide for the 'ancient mariners' of the world's oceans. Marine turtles traverse the seas for thousands of kilometers, returning after decades to nest in the same area where they entered the world as tiny hatchlings. They are threatened by degradation of critical habitats on land, interaction with fishing gear at sea, and excessive harvesting of eggs and for meat.

The term open educational resources (OER) encapsulates the simple but powerful idea that the world's knowledge is a public good. The internet offers unprecedented opportunities to share, use and reuse knowledge. Sadly, most of the planet is underserved when it comes to post-secondary education.

"Teachers-take your students on a journey across the Americas, from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, with Geography Action! Mapping the Americas. Get the whole school involved in creating a jumbo-sized map of the Americas that's so big it can cover the side of a school building or the floor of the cafeteria. Map builders will learn about the cultures, climates, landmarks, and critical issues found in the diverse countries of the Americas."

"Ecocide is the extensive damage to, destruction of or loss of ecosystem(s) of a given territory, whether by human agency or by other causes, to such an extent that peaceful enjoyment by the inhabitants of that territory has been or will be severely diminished."

I knew about ecocide and Polly Higgins, but had not watched this video. I'm glad I did; joined up thinking.

Is assessing basic skills enough in a global economy?

Yong Zaho is right, the US will loose by teaching to and assessing for basic skills. As Richard Florida and Dan Pink write about it is the Creative Class where there is real growth.

"Analysis shows that the adoption of the circular economy could be worth as much as USD 700 billion in consumer goods material savings alone, and also highlights added benefits in terms of land productivity and potential job creation. The report features specific examples in product categories that represent 80% of the total consumer goods market by value, namely food, beverages, textiles, and packaging. "

"The Four Nations Classroom creates a classroom of the world and brings the world into the classroom. From the months of October to December, hundreds of students from every corner of the planet connect in a series of meaningful large group and one-on-one encounters. School representing each nation meet via Video Conference and collaborate through the innovative blending of multiple technologies. Students have the opportunity to engage, learn and develop relationships that will last a lifetime."

Voices of the World collaborative project connecting learners in the primary grades using a different tool each month.

Voices Of The World was created by Sharon Tonner from The High School Of Dundee in Scotland to connect children from around the world using their voices rather than the standard text and images and prepare them for their globalised future.

This is quite near to how I see Web 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0.

United_Sounds With translations in 370+ languages, building the largest collection of audio recordings of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Right

"We hope that the Global Education Resource will inspire and empower educators and students to join us and take on the challenge of helping to establish Peace Day 21 September as an annual day of global ceasefire and nonviolence."

comprehensive overview of scholarly developments

Good overview of the concept of "flipping" a classroom