International Declaration on
Geographical Education for Cultural Diversity /
Déclaration Internationale sur l'Éducation Géographique pour la Diversité
Culturelle
Commission on Geographical Education
Seoul, Korea
August 2000
Preamble:
Aware that the status of geographical education
varies from nation to nation and that our understanding of people - environment
relationships is being influenced by rapid developments in communications
technologies and changes in social, political and economic attitudes at local,
national and international levels; we, the participants to the 29 th
Geographical Congress held in Seoul, South Korea in August 2000, commit
ourselves and our discipline to enhance the ability of all citizens to
contribute to creating a just, sustainable and pleasant world for all and
proclaim that:
1. Geographical education offers foundations for
people of the world to develop:
· the ability to be sensitive toward and defend human
rights;
· an ability to understand, accept, and appreciate
cultural diversity;
· an ability to understand empathise and critique
alternative viewpoints about people and their social conditions;
· a willingness to be aware of the impact of their
own lifestyles on their local and broader social contexts;
· an appreciation of the urgent need to protect our
environment and bring about environmental justice to local communities and
regions that have experienced environmental devastation; and
· an ability to act as an informed and active member
of their own and the global society.
2. Geographical research and teaching makes a major
contribution to our under-standing of the cultural, social and industrial
environments of the world
Geography plays a major role in identifying cultural
diversity of people around the world and their potential communality of Earth
through the study of place, space, territory, natural resources and people’s
livelihoods. In so doing, geography acts as an important ”bridge” between the
physical and social sciences. Geographers have a long history of significant
contributions to decision making at local, regional
and global scales for a variety of issues including re-sources management,
health, environmental assessment, transportation, climate changes and hazard
management. Since humanity’s common concern at the start of the 21 st Century
is about its natural and human – created environment, Geography’s main
contribution to the future of the planet now lies in its pedagogical and
scientific efforts to explicate further
our understanding of spatial aspects of the human
-nature interface.
3. Geographical education contributes to
understanding the need to protect the natural
environment at local, regional, national and
international scales
Geographical education enables people critically to
evaluate their taken-for-granted ways of living and understand the implications
and impacts of these practices for the development of other people, places and
regions. Geographical education promotes an environmental-friendly
culture at all scales of interaction.
4. Geography curricula develop individuals at various
educational levels to protect our planet as a global heritage
At all levels of education from kindergarten to
higher education and beyond, the development of a geographic perspective on the
world develops the abilities needed for individuals to face the
challenges of the 21 st Century in the following dimensions:
· the personal dimension that involves the awareness
of one’s own contributions and stake in
environmental protection;
· the social dimension that involves the ability and
willingness to work with other citizens with a variety of cultural identities,
in public settings to create common ground; and
· the spatial dimension that refers to the need for individuals
to see themselves as members of multiple overlapping cultures at local,
regional and global scales.
5. We therefore declare that:
· Geography as a field of study is an essential
aspect of understanding our place in the world and how people interact with
each other and their environments.
· Geographical research and education promotes and
enhances cultural understanding, interaction, equality and justice at
local, regional or global scales.
All students are entitled to the opportunity to
develop social, cultural and environmental values
through geographical education that will promote
their development as geographically informed people.
We as professional geographers and geographical
educators commit ourselves to promoting global geographical education to face
the future challenges of the natural environment and
development.
Acknowledgment
The IGU Commission on Geographical Education
thanks the many members from around the world who
have contributed to the creation of this Declaration.
Professor Rod Gerber
Chair, Commission on Geographical Education