As a new member to the GT Network, I would like to introduce two books that are the culmination of my professional activities over the past half decade. The first is a textbook. Both books have relevance for the GT context.
Lautensach, A.K. & S.W. Lautensach (eds.). 2020. Human Security in World Affairs: Problems and Opportunities, 2nd edition. Prince George, Canada: UNBC; Victoria, Canada: BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/humansecurity/.
Human security has been endorsed by the UN since 1994 as a comprehensive goal for development at all levels. It rests on the four pillars of socio-political security, health security, economic security and environmental security.
What distinguishes this open-access university textbook on human security?
* This is still the only textbook of human security of its kind, to our knowledge. Its themes are relevant for a wide range of academic areas.
* Its 22 chapter authors include academics and activists from all over the world.
* It is accessible entirely online, free of charge, including free downloading, at a time when online course delivery is being prioritized and students are less able than ever to afford costly hardcopy texts. Nevertheless, hardcopies can be ordered from the website.
* It addresses diverse aspects of human security, especially health security, that are at the forefront of current world affairs in the COVID context and the Anthropocene predicament. Implications of GT scenarios are discussed.
Lautensach, A.K. 2020. Survival How? Education, Crisis, Diachronicity and the Transition to a Sustainable Future. Paderborn, Germany: Schoeningh-Brill. E-Book & Paperback Publication Date: 16 Nov 2020. https://brill.com/flyer/title/53644
This impassioned call for reforming education at all levels takes into account the inevitable transition to a sustainable future of some sort. If that future includes humans, diverse composite scenarios are still possible for us and the biosphere. With the help of appropriately reformed education, the coming generations can sway their fate towards the more secure scenarios. This will require Deep Adaptation, ecocentric ethics and a new view on ‘progress’, as well as ‘cultural learning’ at the collective level.
A summary is given here: Lautensach, A.K. 2020. “Educating Teachers as if Sustainability Mattered.” International Portal of Teacher Education. The MOFET Institute. http://education.eng.macam.ac.il/article/5031.
I look forward to contributing to discussions and initiatives of this unique network!
