From June 12 to 15, at Sesc Sorocaba, in the city of Sorocaba, Brazil will take place the 10th International Conference on Environmental Education and Sustainability - best of both worlds.

The differential of this edition is the meeting of representatives of socio-environmental experiences and initiatives with specialists and academics to reflect about Sustainable Ways of Living. The theme highlights the ways of living that bring together the social and environmental dimensions, considering economic, cultural, ethnic, territorial specificities, and different world views.

The main theme of this edition is a result of the alignment of the conference and the project ideas and actions for a new time, from SESC São Paulo - Brazil.

Main Theme: Sustainable ways of living

The Sustainable Ways of Living are based on the interdependence relationship between human beings and nature, considering methods of coexistence that bring together the social and environmental dimensions in an inseparable way, respecting economic, political, cultural, ethnical, and territorial particularities and different worldviews. These methods stand out for their potential to transform socio-environmentalism based on democracy values, insofar as they generate and share knowledge and skills that 3 effectively contribute to the development of understandings about how sustainability may be perceived in different territories.

AXIS 1 - THE STATE OF THE EARTH:

Between land and territory

The methods and scale of the production and consumption dynamics currently in force have been causing environmental impacts that are often irreversible, bringing unprecedented challenges for humanity. Such changes in natural cycles and flows, at a local and global level, require reliable diagnoses, as a result of transversal approaches and capable of providing tools for the development of means of remediation, containment and mitigation of their effects, corresponding to the seriousness of the current situation.

Related topics: climate change; productive arrangements; protected areas and biodiversity conservation; territorial dynamics; vital ecological cycles; socio-environmental impacts and conflicts; vulnerable communities; anthropocene; solutions based on nature (SbN).

AXIS 2 - HOW TO BE A COMMUNITY?

Practices of socio-environmental intervention

By unequally exploiting the environmental resources required to maintain production, our current society also unevenly distributes the results of social and environmental damage. There is no way to dissociate the discussion of inequalities in the political, material and symbolic spheres from environmental issues. In clear opposition to this logic, social agents and groups emerge and seek to highlight environmental degradation and 4 address these inequities, considering that access to social rights and democratic mobilization is inseparable from the right to a balanced environment.

Related topics: socio-environmental activism; associativism and cooperativism; social technologies; social movements; cultural changes; ecofeminism; public policies; appropriation of public spaces.

AXIS 3 - OFF-TIME FUTURE

Ethics and knowledge as paths for the common good

Thinking about social arrangements aimed at the common good presupposes finding ways to establish the relationship of interdependency between culture and nature. In this debate, we prioritize the creation of covenants based on ethical commitments with fundamental collective assets. This perspective includes different worldviews, the relationship of the human being with nature as a legal entity, as well as the different perspectives regarding the notion of good living.

Related topics: communal areas; conservation of nature; traditional communities; cultural diversity and ethnic plurality; governance practices; socioeconomic arrangements; regulatory frameworks and legal challenges; third generation rights; diffuse and collective rights; access to information.

About the conference

The Conference was created by the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1998. The “worlds” highlighted in the name of the event, according to the Conference founders, Prof. Callie Loubser and Prof. Johann Dreyer, University of South Africa (UNISA), include several countries and notions of environmental education and development; rural and urban contexts; northern and southern continents; as well as a wide range of interpretations, without attempting to value one aspect over another, but aiming at stimulating the sharing of experiences, perceptions, practices, research and knowledge in environmental education. Therefore, it seeks to enhance the character of articulation and complementarity required for social-environmental practices and thinking, marked by a context of environmental degradation and social inequality.

Its second edition was held by the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) in 2005, when the idea of taking the discussion of the “best of both worlds” to other countries was reinforced. Subsequent editions were held in South Africa (2009 and 2012) and Malaysia (2010). Then, in 2014, the first edition of the event was held in Brazil, held by the University of São Paulo in partnership with the Social Service of Commerce – Regional Administration São Paulo (SESC SP). In 2015, the event was held again in Malaysia, in 2016 in the USA, and in 2017 it returned to its home country – South Africa.

In 2019, the 10th edition of the Conference will return to Brazil, held by SESC SP, that is also a member of the international technical committee. It is a result of the joint work developed in 2014 and the convergence between the educational proposals of the institutions involved in the event.

REGISTRATION

Those interested, including the authors of abstracts selected for presentations, must register and pay the fee according to the following categories:

• Employees of the trade of goods, services and tourism and dependents with a valid registration card in the full credential category of SESC (São Paulo): BR R$ 20,00

• Employees of the trade of goods, service and tourism and dependents with a valid SESC registration card (from other Brazilian states): BR R$ 20,00

• People over 60, retired, Brazilian public school teachers or faculty, students and disabled people: BR R$ 50.00

• General public: BR R$ 100,00

The registration for participation without paper presentation will be available on sescsp.org.br/bobw2019 or in person at SESC Sorocaba, by May 1st, 2019.

ABOUT SESC

Picture of Sesc Sorocaba - photo by Alexandre Nunis

SESC – The Social Service of Commerce - is a private, non-profit national institution. It was created in 1946, by entrepreneurs in the sectors of trade of goods, services and tourism, which maintains and manages it. Its mission is to collaborate to improve the quality of life of workers in these sectors, their dependents and the community around them.

In São Paulo, there are 39 venues (called: Units) located in different regions of the State, in addition to a TV station, a publishing house, a digital platform, that offers a varied range of programs, services and activities geared towards people in different age groups, with activities in the areas of culture, sport, leisure, education, sustainability, health, food and social tourism.

SESC develops non-formal and permanent education actions in order to value people by encouraging autonomy, interaction and contact with diverse expressions and ways of thinking, acting and feeling. Through its programs and facilities, it strives to provide to its diverse audiences spaces dedicated to socializing, reflection and exchange of experiences.

SESC Sorocaba, one of the cultural and sports centers of SESC SP, has the LEED (Sustainable Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building seal that certifies good environmental practices in its construction. One of the great innovations implanted is the treatment of rainwater for reuse, through the filtration that uses plants and fish in tanks, located in the roof of the theater.

SESC Sorocaba´s Education for Sustainability projects have as their starting point the building itself and its sustainable structures, from which subjects such as water, energy, waste and urban mobility are main themes for courses, workshops, talks, experiences, guided tours, cycling tours, etc. From the look to the building, a sensitive look at ones house, neighborhoods, schools, cities - understood from the perspective of its permanent historical, symbolic and affective relation with the natural patrimony and with the people who constantly (re) build it.

The Unit has also been designed with accessibility parameters and has a 275-seat theater, outdoor amphitheater, exhibition area, arts and crafts space, aquatic complex, multi-sport gymnasium, court, dentistry clinic, library, play space, living area, dining room, service center, parking and paracycles.

Further information about SESC Sorocaba is available at: http://www.sescp.org.br/sorocaba

SOROCABA (SÃO PAULO – BRAZIL)

The municipality of Sorocaba is located in the southeastern region of the State of São Paulo, 100 km from the city of São Paulo and has a population of 671,186 inhabitants. It is the headquarters of the Sorocaba Metropolitan Region, made of 27 municipalities, and the city played an important role in the main economic cycles in the State of São Paulo since the creation of the Sorocaba Railroad.

Currently, the municipality has an urban infrastructure that has plazas, parks, museums, cycle paths, schools, day care centers, health centers and its main economic activities are the machine industries, automobile, steel, heavy metallurgy, auto parts and mechanics.

The city’s bus station has municipal, inter municipal and state routes, serving more than 250 cities in Brazil and the main sections are: Sorocaba - São Paulo; Sorocaba - Santos; Sorocaba - Rio de Janeiro; Sorocaba - Guarulhos and Sorocaba - Belo Horizonte.

FOOD AND LODGING

The costs for transportation, lodging and food during the event are to be taken care of by the participants.

The city has several lodging options. Below is a list of the main hotels:

Novotel Sorocaba

Av Profª Izoraida Marques Peres, 770 - Parque Campolim, Sorocaba / (19) 4560-0490 / https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-9456-novotel-sorocaba/index.shtml

All Inn Sorocaba

Avenida Engenheiro Carlos Reinaldo Mendes, 3541 | Além da Ponte, Sorocaba

Grand Hotel Royal

Rua Dr. Alvaro Soares 451 | Centro, Sorocaba / (15) 2102-8900 / www.grandhotelroyal.com.br

Ibis Budget Sorocaba

Av. Prof.ª Izoraida Marques Peres 770 | Parque Campolim, Sorocaba, Estado de São Paulo 18048-110, Brasil / (11) 3957-9160 / www.accorhotels.com/pt-br/hotel-9450-ibis-budget-sorocaba

Nacional Inn Sorocaba

Rod. Sen. Jose Ermirio de Moraes km 2,6 | Rod. Castelinho km 2,6, Sorocaba / www.nacionalinn.com.br/hotel-sorocaba/nacional-inn

Dan Inn Sorocaba

Av. Afonso Vergueiro, 1850, Sorocaba / (15) 3412-5100 

https://pt-br.facebook.com/pg/HotelDanInnSorocaba/

Transamerica Executive Sorocaba

Av. Prof.ª Izoraida Marques Peres, 193, Sorocaba / (15) 3224-7500 reservas.sorocaba@transamerica.com.br

Sorocaba Park Hotel

Rua Professor Joaquim Silva 205 | Bairro Alto da Boa Vista, Sorocaba / (15) 3042-0097 / Central de Reservas: (15) 2101-2822 / reservas@parkhotel.com.br / http://sorocabaparkhotel.com.br/

Ibis Sorocaba

Rua Senhora Maria Aparecida Pessoti Milego, 290 | Parque Campo Limpo, Sorocaba

(15) 2101.6300 / H2907-RE@accor.com.br

+ information: bobw2019@sescsp.org.br