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Eco-sociaL Work New CHALLENGES ON THE HORIZON OF SOCIAL WORK 131
By now, the issue has become unavoidable for our area. As Peter Jones, instructor
and researcher at James Cook University, Australia, founder of a professional
organization related to climate change (Social Workers for Climate Action?) put it:
“At the heart of this small but significant body of literature, and the perspective it represents,
is the idea that eventually the problems facing the natural environment will begin to have
such a clear impact on society that social workers will need to make the environment -physical
as well as social- and our relationship to it central to our ongoing development of theory and
practice. ” (Jones 2010: 70-71 ) .
Green (or eco) social work is a concept which stresses a holistic approach to help.
It is a global paradigm which incorporates all human and non-human living species
throughout the world. Its value system is egalitarian and stresses inclusion, the
central role of a just distribution of resources, and the right of the individual to a
dignified and sustainable life. General activities of green or eco-workers include:
the assessment of needs among victims/survivors and in communities affected by
a disaster; coordinating goods and services to mitigate suffering; building/rebuilding
communities; protecting the rights of children; empowering individuals and groups;
extending their capacities; developing their resilience; reducing risks to improve
their chances in the face of future unfavorable events; guarding their interests and
lobbying (Dominelli 2018). Green social work lays weight on the central role held
by specialists in activities for the environment.
In our age, the complexity of social problems increasingly demands social workers
to have ecological knowledge, be well-informed about the systems of nature and
> Access https://www.socialworkersforclimateaction.org/