Abstract
“Environmental education” has been internationally recognized in the past as interdisciplinary education in sustainability. However, such education might be Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). ESD focuses on more decision-making and participation for social change than change of mind which environmental education has been focusing on. Moreover, ESD does not treat only environmental problems and it includes environmental education and development education, etc. Therefore, the concept of ESD still has variety. However,“sustainable society” or “ sustainable community” might be important in ESD. On the other hand, environmental education has been also discussing the link between community development and education such as kougai education which the residents took the initiative in solving problems. Globalization after the 1990s has enabled several cross-border exchanges of capital, technology, talent, culture, etc. As a result, local identity and variety is losing its place in society. However, with the increase in number of unsustainable societies, a movement to review local resources and wisdom has been initiated. This study examines “local knowledge” in the activities of farmers belonging to the In-Paeng Network, an independent and autonomous unit in northeastern Thailand. Their activities are based on agricultural knowledge gained from daily practice, traditions learned from elders and friends, and personal experiences. In Bua, a poor village in northeastern Thailand, knowledge learned through experience includes discoveries made in everyday life, traditional cultural values, and agricultural practice. In addition, children are raised to love their homeland. They are taught the value of local flora and fauna, and other ancestral wisdom as passed down by elders. The practice of raising children to love their homeland was initiated to protect the local values, and inculcate them in the next generation children, thereby keeping village traditions alive. The understanding of values also makes children independent, brings the community together, and consequently enables community development.
