2003 School Magazine

FACULTIES S O CI At AN D E N VIR O N M E N TAL S T11 DIE S

...

,;^.?

-" I

.

@

,

1111

^

,!' a' " ...^ . Q, , ,,

I.

if

I

, <'.*. \ a. , .

.

\..--

the highest social good. Consumerism has become the only universally available mode of participation in modern society The work ethic has been replaced by the consumption ethic, the cathedral by the skyscraper the hero by the billibnoire, the saint by the executive, fell^Ibn by ideology IPg. 54). in such a society it would seem that the past is irrelevant as the new paradigm is so unfamiliar and su pposedly rewarding through the processes of instant gratification. Nothing could be further from the truth, as it is the past that will help us all to find meaning in the challenges currently confronting our social systems

seems true that the more things change the more they seem to stay the same. No doubt some of our Ancient Historians could attest to some interesting simila rities between Pericles and some of our contemporary political leadership. in 1992, Walter Wink, in a book entitled Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination noted the following, Modern capitoli^in. .. has made wealth the highest value. Our entire social system has become on 'economy'; no earl^^r society would have characterized itself thus. Profitis

Social and Environmental Studies Faculty: Where inquiry leads to a thirst for learning and creative thought. The third Year of this Millennium has provided many challenges for both the staff and students working in the Social and Environmental Studies Faculty. World events have generated many fascinating discussions as we have embarked on a voyage of discovery into seemingly urichartered waters - a voyage that has often generated more questions than it has answered. Post-modern theorists tell us that one of the only companions we can count on in the future will be change, Yet it also

C

,T

a"*

BE ',

Year 11 Geography students tasting real In11k