Are you on a hero’s journey?

Are you on a hero’s journey?

We may not recognize them, but we all undertake quests. They can be grand and cinematic, or quiet and reflective. They all change our lives. Hanuman, the flying monkey god. The quest in search of Hanuman’s mountain took Paul Spencer Sochaczewski some 30 years to...

Watch what you say in Myanmar’s sacred forest

Watch what you say in Myanmar’s sacred forest

What’s a more powerful conservation incentive — a government jail or the wrath of a nature spirit? A shady path in a sacred forest in Myanmar. (Credit: Paul Spencer Sochaczewski)  This article was produced exclusively for News Decoder’s global news service. It is...

What’s a more powerful conservation incentive — a government jail or the wrath of a nature spirit? There are many ways to preserve wildlife. Correspondent Paul Spencer Sochaczewski ventures into Myanmar’s sacred forests to unearth the secret of conservation.

Exercise: Start a discussion on ways governments and communities can protect local flora, fauna and areas of natural interest. Read the article and discuss the suggested questions. Students should then undertake research to identify other examples of local folklore and community spiritual and religious beliefs affecting environmental conservation positively. Hint: Look to countries with a strong history of folklore and explore stories with links to the natural environment.

Author: Paul Spencer Sochaczewski