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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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Develop<strong>in</strong>g geographical professional abilities:experiences <strong>in</strong> Egypt and BrazilMassimo De MarchiDipartimento di Geografia – Universita di PadovaVia del Santo 26, 35123, Padova, Italye-mail: massimo.de-marchi@unipd.itAbstractSusta<strong>in</strong>able development asks for solid systemic and territorial knowledge, abilities <strong>in</strong> newdecision mak<strong>in</strong>g processes and skills <strong>in</strong> recognition and empowerment of local actors. <strong>Geography</strong>can supply the challenge of susta<strong>in</strong>able development with theory and practice.This paper deals with the experiences of the author <strong>in</strong> field work improv<strong>in</strong>g students withgeographical knowledge and practices about participatory territorial (land use) management.Two examples are displayed: a sem<strong>in</strong>ar with students study<strong>in</strong>g a degree <strong>in</strong> DevelopmentCooperation held <strong>in</strong> Egypt <strong>in</strong> November 2003 and a sem<strong>in</strong>ar “Citizenship, Territory andPower” <strong>in</strong> Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), <strong>in</strong> March 2004, with the degree students <strong>in</strong> pedagogywork<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a community school.In the two cases geography represent an important theoretical and practical tool to work<strong>in</strong> territorial dynamics, for geography <strong>in</strong> education it is strategic and compulsory to go backto “the reality of territory”.Key words: Susta<strong>in</strong>able development, professional abilities, participatory managementIntroductionSusta<strong>in</strong>able development is the result of virtuous <strong>in</strong>teractions <strong>in</strong> social practices<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g: consumption models, social relations and <strong>in</strong>stitutions and environmentalsystems. This virtuous <strong>in</strong>teraction is facilitated by promot<strong>in</strong>g awareness of thechoices of local societies, which are the keystone of susta<strong>in</strong>ability practice. Fac<strong>in</strong>gthe issue of susta<strong>in</strong>able development means to take <strong>in</strong>to consideration first of all the<strong>in</strong>teractions among economy, society, environment, focus<strong>in</strong>g on the manner localsociety achieves self welfare. This refers to both local resource use and necessaryeconomic exchanges <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g mobility, with other societies and countries. Theway local resources are used is related to our efficient use of them and to the ma<strong>in</strong>tenanceof environmental conditions (ma<strong>in</strong>ly climate and biodiversity) that allowedhumans to live and local societies to become rooted <strong>in</strong> specific places. The necessaryeconomic exchanges relate to critical issues like equity, social justice, because thewelfare <strong>in</strong> a local society is based on a high quantity of external resources (Bresso,1993; CSD 1997; Dasmann, 1988; Gadgil, 1995). So, the efficient use of local andexternal resources jo<strong>in</strong>ed with environmental stewardship is the keystone of susta<strong>in</strong>abledevelopment. Susta<strong>in</strong>able development is characterised by three dimensions:314

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