Mundus maris

Ecuador - as the name suggests - sits on the equator line of the Pacific coast of South America. The coast of its mainland territory straddles the northern boundaries of the cold Humboldt Current reaching up towards the south of the country, while most of its coastal ecosystems are tropical and sub-tropical. The Galapagos Islands, a group of volcanic islands grouped around the equator, also belong to Ecuador. The islands are a Unesco World Heritage site and a unique marine and terrestrial environment hosting many endemic species with roots to forebears on the continent that is some 972 km away to the east.

The northern part of the coast on the mainland is a relatively sparsely populated part of the country with modest communication infrastructure. One of the traditional activities in the small villages distributed along the coast was fishing. The increasing urbanisation, efforts to develop the coastline for tourism and overfishing mostly by bigger boats operating out of larger ports now poses some serious risks to the integrity of the coastal ecosystems - both on land and in the ocean.

Mundus maris, in collaboration with the Fundación Santiago de Guayaquil, is supporting awareness creation and activities for nature protection and recognition of rights of coastal communities.

The Gambia is undergoing rapid urbanisation in the coastal parts radiating out from Banjul and Serrekunda. Further inland and nearer the southern and northern borders to Senegal rural conditions persist.

Five schools participated in pilot activities to test how best to introduce ecosystem approach to fisheries into the syllabus, promoting an integrated understanding that covers environmental, social, economic and science aspects of using the sea in sustainable ways. They are respectively, three from Gunjur, one from Tanji and one from Serrekunda. The pilot activities were part of commissioned work by the EAF Nansen Project of the FAO.

Supporting the teachers, the equipment of schools, parent associations and networking among schools are priorities to create a stronger enabling environment for the kids. They much deserve additional opportunities to live up more fully to their potential.

The Working Group Science and Arts for Sustainability of the Helmholtz-Gymnasium Hilden (HGH) has been setting the tone for collaboration with Mundus marisin Germany. This collaboration started in earnest with their successful participation in the Amsterdam exhibition 'Sustainable Seas Through the Eyes of Art' and continued with exhibitions in Brussels and at home.

Since 2009, Ansgar Beer, the couch of the working group and founding member of Mundus maris, has been elected Responsible Teacher for Sustainability at the school... with interesting results as can be seen from the graphical encouragement for healthy food and much more. Read on in the section about the HGH.

Other schools are, obviously welcome to join as well.

Encouraged by Stella Williams, founding member of Mundus maris asbl, a group of scientists and social workers started engaging and developing a work programme to increase activities in the Niger Delta and connect more strongly with forthcoming exhibitions and other events of the Initiative in an attempt to foster non-violent options for young people to shape their lives.

The mid-term goal is to set up a resource centre where young (and not so young) people can get information, learn new skills, including computer skills and network. The Oloibiri Resource Centre takes its name from the place, where oil was first discovered in the Niger Delta in 1958, now synonymous with pollution and often violence. It should become a beacon of hope, learning, solidarity, and constructive activities for a better future. To make this happen, Mundus maris is contributing some equipment, books and other support, but the lion's share is the energy and dedication of local associates of the Initiative and their ability to extend the network of solidarity.

On the road to setting up the centre and participating ever more actively in Mundus maris activities, an exhibition has taken place in late October 2010 to engage more young people and to select the best works for display in the international exhibition in Hilden, Germany, as part of several events organised by Mundus maris.

For financial support for setting up the Oloibiri Resource Centre for sustainable seas and cultural diversity, and for helping to fund its activities, make your financial contribution to
Special account Mundus maris, please mention 'Oloibiri Resource Centre':

Russian schools have a reputation of delivering strong education, particularly in the natural sciences. Language barriers have not facilitated much cooperation with other countries.

In the context of UNESCO's Baltic Sea Project, some form of cooperation has, however, been going on for more than 20 years involving schools from all riparian countries. 

Collaboration with schools in Senegal is going on with ups and downs since 2008. Many young people and even more so their elders are torn between somewhat more traditional modes of living and having to adjust to new conditions, particularly as a result of advanced erosion of nature's wealth from overfishing in the sea and overuse or lack of fertile soils and water on land. Many communities have witnessed loss of income and wellbeing over the years and young people with modest access to education face particular difficulties in building a prosperous and secure future for themselves.

Those not able to make ends meet may be pushed into clandestine emigration in search of a better future in Europe or elsewhere. Many risked a hazardous journey on a pirogue in the direction of Las Palmas or other places but did not reach their destinations, nor did they come back.

Connecting to other young people in Europe and elsewhere and building a network of solidarity that allows them to improve their lot is one of the ambitions of the youth of the CEM Cayar and others.