EPE Courses Online

SCHEDULE OF COURSES

National Peace AcademyAll of EPE's online courses may also earn certificate points or continuing education units (CEUs) towards the achievement of the  National Peace Academy’s (NPA) National Peacebuilding Peacelearning Certificate Program, a collaborative educational initiative with which EPE partners. Follow the URL below for information on the NPA Certificate Program and on the certificate points earned by taking EPE courses. http://www.nationalpeaceacademy.us/

EPE’s online courses are offered in the Fall and the Spring. They are limited to a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8 participants. The questions listed below the course title will guide your reading and learning.

Course costs are $25. for students from OECD countries and $10. for students from non-OECD countries. Students who plan to pursue the NPA certificate program  should register via the NPA website.

SPRING 2012
Approaches to reducing global warming - February 27 to March 30
Introduction to Sustainable Communities - April 2 to May 4

FALL 2012
Ethical issues for a planet in crisis: An introduction - September 10 to October 12
Distributing wealth, resources and power -  October 15 to November 16

  • Series 1: Ethics for a sustainable Earth and a culture of peace

    • Ethical issues for a planet in crisis: An introduction
      What major social and ecological problems challenge our communities today? What ethical issues must be dealt with in responding to these problems?
    • Distributing wealth, resources, and power
      What rights do citizens have to the wealth (e.g. financial resources), power (e.g. planning, decision-making) and resources (e.g. water, the atmosphere, technology) of their community? their country? the global community? How should these social goods be allocated? Should they be ensured for citizens of future generations?
    • Sustaining Earth's resources and life support systems
      Was the Earth created for humans to exploit? to what extent? Should Earth rights be considered in evaluating the impact of these activities? The rights of citizens of future generations? What responsibilities do human have to ensure the integrity of Earth’s resources and life support systems(water, atmosphere, land)?
    • Resolving conflicts and promoting solidarity
      Is the toll violence inflicts upon perpetrators (e.g. soldiers) and victims (e.g. families) justifiable? Does it contribute to the common good (e.g. national, human and ecological security) or is it a threat? Are there alternatives to resolving conflicts within and between nations? How is their appropriateness to be measured?

  • Series 2: The Climate Crisis

    • Global warming: Social and ecological consequences
      How has global warming affected the Earth’s life support systems? The human rights of Earth’s citizens? If global warming continues unchecked, how will it affect Earth and human wellbeing in the future?
    • A gender perspective on the climate crisis
      How does climate change impact on the rights of women? How have women responded to the consequences of climate change on their communities?
    • Approaches to mitigating global warming
      What can individuals do to reduce global warming? Should they change their life styles & if so how? Are individual efforts sufficient to address this problem? i.e. should governments also become involved ? How ? What are some of the approaches to reducing global warming that governments can consider ? How would they work? What are their benefits and shortcomings?
    • Climate change and the food crisis
      How does the increase of extreme droughts, floods and oceanic temperature impact on the food supply in the global North and South? How can individuals, communities, and national governments adapt to these climatic changes? What is commodities speculation ? and how does it affect the availability of food? How can it be controlled?
    • Poverty and the Climate Crisis
      In what way does the climate crisis stand in the way of improving the life conditions of people living in poverty? Specifically, how does it impact upon social development? create conditions that lead to social instability? And to what extent does it lead to a violation of human rights? Who is responsible for dealing with this threat to human and ecological security? How should this challenge be approached?

  • Series 3: Sustainable Communities

    • An introduction to sustainable communities
      What are sustainable communities? What is the difference between sustainable communities and sustainable development? How do sustainable communities in the global North differ from sustainable communities in the global South?
    • Rural development for a contextually sustainable Planet
      What are some traditional approaches to rural development ? How would rural development for a contextually sustainable rural development differ? in the global North ? in the global South? How is it related to urbanization?
    • Globalization: Perils, promises and prospects
      What are the main dimensions of globalization? What are its perils and promises? What are the values that are to determine its future? What are the prospects of a preferred globalization?

 

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