Green Scouting
Encyclopedia
Since the 1980s, self-styled Green Scouts have appeared in several countries, related to the protection of the environment
and in some cases linked to Greens Parties
. However, specifically environmentally-minded Scouts have existed since the very earliest days of the movement.
In response to a rash of devastating fires in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the State of Michigan established a group of Boy Scout
s called the Michigan Forest Scouts in 1912. A similar group, with nearly identical badges, was later established in the State of New York. The purpose of these organizations was not character
building, as it was with the Boy Scouts of America
, and there were no ranks or merit badge
s. Instead, the Forest Scouts were charged with protecting the state's forest
s, and as a result were considered auxiliary
fire warden
s. Although the BSA typically disapproved of such groups, it was not so with the Forest Scouts. In one of the BSA's annual reports, the Forest Scouts are mentioned with approval and a note is made that "the groups are headed up by Boy Scout men and that the Forest Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America are closely affiliated."
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama himself has had direct involvement with Green Scouting on at least two occasions, when on September 3, 1999 he was made a Patron of the Global Movement of Green Scouts in New Delhi, India. http://www.tibet.net/hhdl/eng/patron/
Scouting organizations in Niger
include the Association nigerienne des scouts de l'environnement (ANSEN), founded in 2003, which seems to have UN accreditation http://www.un.org/africa/osaa/ngodirectory2/dest/countries/printNGO.asp?lang=ENG&country=36&ngo=NIG11.
has clearly stated its firm opposition to use of the words "Scout" and "Boy Scout" by Green Scout organizations, and made their position clear to all international government
al and non-governmental organizations involved with the environment
, such as the United Nations' Environment Program
and the World-Wide Fund for Nature.
Partially in response to the growth of Green Scouting, several national WOSM member organizations now issue a World Conservation Award
.
Environmental movement
The environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
and in some cases linked to Greens Parties
Worldwide green parties
A Green party or ecologist party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of Green politics. These principles usually include social justice, reliance on grassroots democracy, nonviolence, and an emphasis on environmentalism...
. However, specifically environmentally-minded Scouts have existed since the very earliest days of the movement.
In response to a rash of devastating fires in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the State of Michigan established a group of Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
s called the Michigan Forest Scouts in 1912. A similar group, with nearly identical badges, was later established in the State of New York. The purpose of these organizations was not character
Moral character
Moral character or character is an evaluation of a particular individual's durable moral qualities. The concept of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits...
building, as it was with the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, and there were no ranks or merit badge
Merit badge
Merit badge may refer to:*Merit badge *Merit badge...
s. Instead, the Forest Scouts were charged with protecting the state's forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, and as a result were considered auxiliary
Auxiliary
Auxiliary may refer to:* A backup site or system* Auxiliary input jack, generally for audio* Auxiliary verb* International auxiliary language* Auxiliary police* Auxiliaries, troops supporting the main force of an army** Auxiliaries...
fire warden
Fire fighting
Firefighting is the act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent loss of life, and/or destruction of property and the environment...
s. Although the BSA typically disapproved of such groups, it was not so with the Forest Scouts. In one of the BSA's annual reports, the Forest Scouts are mentioned with approval and a note is made that "the groups are headed up by Boy Scout men and that the Forest Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America are closely affiliated."
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama himself has had direct involvement with Green Scouting on at least two occasions, when on September 3, 1999 he was made a Patron of the Global Movement of Green Scouts in New Delhi, India. http://www.tibet.net/hhdl/eng/patron/
Scouting organizations in Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
include the Association nigerienne des scouts de l'environnement (ANSEN), founded in 2003, which seems to have UN accreditation http://www.un.org/africa/osaa/ngodirectory2/dest/countries/printNGO.asp?lang=ENG&country=36&ngo=NIG11.
Controversy
The World Organization of the Scout MovementWorld Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
has clearly stated its firm opposition to use of the words "Scout" and "Boy Scout" by Green Scout organizations, and made their position clear to all international government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
al and non-governmental organizations involved with the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, such as the United Nations' Environment Program
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
and the World-Wide Fund for Nature.
- "There is room for all in the fight to protect nature and the environment,... but there is no room for creating confusion between that fight and the broader purposes of an established educational organization such as World Scouting and its duly authorized member associations around the globe." explained Jacques MoreillonJacques MoreillonJacques Moreillon served as Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross until 1988 and as Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from November 1, 1988 to March 31, 2004....
, Secretary General of WOSM in the 1990s.
Partially in response to the growth of Green Scouting, several national WOSM member organizations now issue a World Conservation Award
World Conservation Award
The World Conservation Award is issued by many of the national Scout associations affiliated to the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and was created in conjunction with the World Wide Fund for Nature, partially in response to the rise in popularity of Green Scouting, at some time prior to...
.