Promoting study of geographical problems

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My Community Our Earth (MyCOE) is a project for secondary and university level students to address sustainable development issues with GIS. In preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held September 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa, secondary school, college and university students worldwide were invited to create projects that use the methods and tools of geography to show how their communities can benefit from sustainable development. The goal of sustainable development is to meet the needs of people today without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This means balancing economic development with the need to improve quality of life, conserve resources, and coexist in harmony with nature. By using a geographic approach to sustainable development, students can more completely examine environmental issues; discern patterns and trends; and find solutions to the challenges facing their neighborhoods, villages, cities, and countries.