Chris Kupka and Avis Antel

The 5th World Environmental Education Congress was held in Montreal this year from May 10th through 13th, with the theme of "Earth — Our Common Home." A wide-ranging, international conference, it brought together educators, students, civil servants, museum and park managers, researchers, representatives from NGOs, and others involved in environmental education, in the hope that, through education, people could be taught about their relationships to each other and to the environment.

The Congress message was presented through "thematic niches" — among which were 'Ethics, environmental thought, and world views'; 'Learning in society'; 'Environmental health'; and 'Questions of fairness in socio-ecological issues' — with symposia, political and NGO forums, films, and even story-telling woven around each theme.

Our organization was represented under the theme of 'Environmental Health' and two BCAM members were involved. Deena Dlusy-Apel led a round-table discussion on “Breast Cancer As We See It”, and Fiona Hanley was asked to present the PowerPoint, “The Beast of Beauty, ” as one component of a panel discussion. Both Deena and Fiona enjoyed interested and curious audiences that peppered them with questions.

The Congress enabled BCAM to reach out to an international population and to be part of a larger movement devoted to educating others and networking with those who share our concerns. By joining with like-minded individuals, groups and organizations, BCAM moves closer to a position of influence in shaping public policy.