The Green Changemakers

Project Planning and Mass Dissemination for Domestic Biodigesters in Developing Countries

2012-01-30T11:21:00.001Z

http://www.ppre.uni-oldenburg.de/53196.html

Biogas Workshop 2011.

Scripts

Presentations

Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication

2012-01-26T15:19:00.003Z

Green Economy Report

http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/greeneconomyreport/tabid/29846/default.aspx

Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication

The Green Economy Report is compiled by UNEP’s Green Economy Initiative in collaboration with economists and experts worldwide. It demonstrates that the greening of economies is not generally a drag on growth but rather a new engine of growth; that it is a net generator of decent jobs, and that it is also a vital strategy for the elimination of persistent poverty. The report also seeks to motivate policy makers to create the enabling conditions for increased investments in a transition to a green economy.

Download the Full Report (631 pages - 43MB)

Download Chapters

Title page

Acknowledgements, Forward, Contents

Introduction

PART I: Investing in natural capital

	Agriculture This chapter provides evidence to inspire policy makers to support increasing green investments in the sector, and guidance on how to enable this transformation. It aims to enhance food security, reduce poverty, improve nutrition and health, create rural jobs and reduce pressure on the environment.
	Fisheries This chapter demonstrates the current economic and social value of marine fisheries to the world, and estimates the sector’s full potential if it were managed within the framework of a green economy. It also explores how to foster much needed reforms and channel investment that will help shift marine fisheries to a more sustainable future.
	Water This chapter identifies the contributions that water can play in assisting a transition to a green economy. It makes the case for early investment in water management and infrastructure to make greater use of biodiversity and ecosystem services. It also provides guidance on the government arrangements and policy reforms that can sustain and increase the benefits associated with such a transition.
	Forests The chapter on forests assesses the gap between “business-as-usual” in the forest sector and the role of forests in a green economy. It reviews the current range of green investments in the sector and how they are likely to affect both the timber industry and ecosystem services on which the livelihoods of the poorest depend.

PART II: Investing in energy and resource efficiency

	Renewable Energy This chapter makes the case for increasing investment to green the energy sector with a focus on the renewable energy supply. It describes the current world energy supply and the growing role of renewable sources of energy within it, as well as discusses the challenges and opportunities facing both governments and the energy sector.
	Manufacturing This chapter looks at the costs to the sector under a “business-as-usual” scenario and offers a number of strategic approaches to encourage green manufacturing investments in different technologies. It argues that investing in greening manufacturing can often be profitable to business and increase employment, while reducing pressure on the environment.
	Waste The chapter identifies the contributions that the waste sector can play in assisting in a transition to a green economy. It provides guidance for policy makers, and identifies the economic, environmental and social impacts of investments in the waste sector.
	Buildings The chapter makes a strong economic case greening the building sector, and provides guidance on policies and instruments needed to bring about this transformation. The chapter encompasses both new construction and the retrofitting of existing buildings, with a focus on urban areas, which are expanding and now home to more than half of the world’s population.
	Transport This chapter examines the role of transport in a green economy. Drawing on the Avoid, Shift and Improve strategy, it highlights the challenges and opportunities of shifting to a greener transport system. It also examines the various options and conditions required to enable such a transition.
	Tourism This chapter shows how green investment in this sector can contribute to economically viable and robust growth, decent work creation and poverty alleviation, while improving resource efficiency and minimising environmental degradation. It makes the case for investing in “greening” the sector and provides guidance on how to mobilise such investments.
	Cities The chapter makes a case for green cities. It describes the environmental, social and economic consequences of greening urban systems and infrastructure, and provides guidance to policy makers on how to make cities more environmentally friendly. It includes a summary of green practices and looks at the enabling conditions needed foster green cities.

PART III: Supporting the transition to a global green economy

	Modelling The analysis carried out in the GER focuses on the transition towards a green economy, characterised by high resource-efficient and low carbon intensity, assessing the needs for a short to medium term transition and evaluating the impacts of a longer-term greener economic development.
	Enabling Conditions The report demonstrates that certain enabling conditions need to be created and maintained to attract investment in green economic activity. This chapter focuses on the measures that could be feasibly introduced in the short to medium term by governments at all levels, and explores a suite of policy options and tools available to promote a global green economy transition.
	Finance The chapter examines how the green economy is currently being financed and explores the priorities and potential methods for increasing these investments. It makes the case for scaling up financing to help drive the transition and amplifying the financial sector’s role as an agent of change.
	Conclusions Synthesis for Policy Makers [Arabic Chinese French Portuguese Russian Spanish] Summary of Conclusions [Arabic Chinese German French Japanese Portuguese Russian Spanish] Press Release 16 November 2011 Download the Full Report (631 pages - 43MB) Green Economy Multimedia

Samso: The energy self-sufficient island

2012-01-26T09:02:00.004Z

http://www.ngpowereu.com/news/samso-energy-self-sufficient/

By Dan Jones | 11/30/09 - 10:30

748digg

Samso Energy Self-Sufficiency

Inhabitants on the small Danish island of Samso have collaborated to form a social energy revolution. The small Baltic island has become one of the first industrialised places in the world to qualify as being totally energy self-sufficient.

As the location for next month's UN climate change summit, this comes as a huge propaganda win for Denmark, who can now boast a region that can be used by the rest of the planet as the blueprint for future green energy production. It all started in 1997 when Samso won a competition between five Danish islands to become Denmark's "Renewable Energy Island" by presenting a 10-year plan to convert its energy consumption from oil and gas to clean technology. Back then Samso was in crisis because one of the island's main businesses - a slaughterhouse employing 100 workers - was forced to close down.

The self-sufficiency dream

Engineer Ole Johnsson, from the mainland town of Aarhus, became fascinated by the competition and saw Samso as the ideal place to realise this energy self-sufficiency dream. As reported by UK newspaper the Independent, after studying the island's annual wind-speed and sunshine-hour records, he calculated how much energy the island could produce from wind turbines and other alternative sources and concluded it was possible to beat conventional sources. He sent the plan to Copenhagen and it won.

Since then 21 wind turbines have been built on Samso - an island 30 miles long and 15 wide - 10 on a sandbank off the island's south coast and another 11 dotted all over the island, and is now considered one of the most successful green-energy projects to have got off the ground since environmentalists started raising the alarm about climate change three decades ago.

Alongside the turbines, the houses in Samso's 22 villages are heated by power plants that rely on furnaces fired by wood chips and straw and farms of man-sized solar panels inhabit the fields, kept trim by herds of sheep.

The project also creates new jobs as the island's plumbers and carpenters have now all become experts in energy-saving home conversion and insulation techniques, and even get the opportunity to carry out installations in mainland Europe and the US. Being a skilled worker from the world's only "Renewable Energy Island" is proving to be quite a USP.

Inoffensive wind turbines

Samso's initial army of NIMBYs had to be won over by the idea of a green energy revolution on their island, but things such as inoffensive wind turbines of the "harmonious" - as opposed to the more offensive "gorilla" - type, which means they are all painted the same colour and have a standard height and blade length, helped to ease the transition.

But despite the utilitarian nature of Samso's achievements, the real winners of the project are the big financial investors. One of them is Jörgen Tranberg, who owns a 250-acre dairy farm. With help from the bank, the 55-year-old farmer invested 2.5 million euros in wind turbines. He paid 1.2 million euros for the one on his farm he owns outright and he is half-owner of one of the offshore turbines, too. He claims that on a good day the windmills alone can earn him 3,000 euros, as told by the Independent.

Like it or not, it is these sort of numbers that will truly get the ball rolling on similar schemes across the globe. The uplifting sentiment of helping to save the world through renewable energy will not be enough to ensure it replaces traditional sources. Governments and investors need to know that the numbers add up, and if they follow the example set by Samso and the Danish government, they will.

11 Lessons from Nelson Mandela

2012-01-20T02:13:00.001Z

By odemagazine.com

Looking back on his 93 years, there are 11 lessons (from many) that I would like to share from his legacy which would help us make a small but positive mark in our society. Here they are:

1. Determination in fighting for the right thing. Nelson Mandela’s fought against apartheid which was a struggle of more than 50 years from 1943 when he joined ANC to 1994 when South Africa became independent and he became president. Of these years, 27 were in prison.

2. Never sell out on your beliefs. Nelson Mandela while still serving in prison had repeated offers from the apartheid regime to accept release for independence in small portion of South Africa called the Transkei, from where he hailed from. He simply turned them all down.

3. Be ready to change your tactics. In 1960 Nelson Mandela together with other leaders set up the military wing of ANC. After being released from prison in 1990, Mandela would eventually renounce all armed tactics and once again resort to peaceful negotiations.

4. Know the facts. Mandela was an astute lawyer and during his incarceration, his jailers in the 1980s, repeatedly attempted to get him to renounce militarism; however he remained adamant in his belief that prisoners cannot enter into contracts – only free men can negotiate.

5. Admit our mistakes. In interviews later in life, Mandela admitted that the ANC had committed some human rights abuses and even criticized anyone who attempted to deny it.

6. Reconcile with your enemies. Nelson Mandela worked on the setting up the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

7. Sharing with others. Mandela has shared his life in books and through post retirement charity organizations that work on ills affecting the world today.

8. Lead from the front. When the Springboks rugby team won the 1995 rugby world cup, Nelson Mandela presented the winner’s trophy to the Captain Francois Pienaar while wearing a replica of Pienaar’s no. 6 Springboks t-shirt. This was a symbol that served to further heal the very tangible racial tension, in South Africa.

9. Letting go. Nelson Mandela became President in 1994 and in 1999 chose not to run for a second term, yet he could have won by a landslide. He instead handed over to Thabo Mbeki.

10. Smile. Mandela is also known for his big smile when he is meeting with people all over the world.

11. Serve humbly. Graca Machel once said, “I found this simple man,” as she described him in 1998 just before they were married. Indeed his actions of “letting go” of a presidency, of forgiving his captors, serving tea to his guests, and many more are testament to the humility and person of Nelson Mandela.

If applied, these lessons would make the world a better place and for that may God bless Mandela and give him many more years to inspire us.

Psychology for a Better World: Strategies to Inspire Sustainability

2012-01-20T02:08:00.003Z

About the book

Psychology for a Better World is for people who believe it is worth trying to make a world in which both our species and the ecological systems we are part of can flourish. The book is based on the latest research in psychology and is jam packed with action strategies. It offers new ways to think about how people interact in social settings, why we are tempted to stick with what we know, and how the same characteristics that currently keep us hooked into unsustainable practices can be used to move us forward. The final chapter is a guide to help you analyse what you are doing to contribute towards a better world, and how you can be more effective while simultaneously increasing your personal wellbeing.
Listen to Niki’s interview about Psychology for a Better World with Kim Hill on the Radio New Zealand website and her interview with Sustainable Simon on the 95bFM website.

About the author

Niki Harré is an associate professor at the University of Auckland where she has taught social and community psychology for twelve years. Her recent research projects have focused on sustainable communities and schools, positive youth development and political activism. In 2007 Niki edited, with Quentin Atkinson, the book Carbon Neutral by 2020: How New Zealanders Can Tackle Climate Change. Niki is an active member of the Pt Chevalier Transition Town.
Niki’s homepage and contact details

Get the book

Order hard copies for $15 each
Download a free PDF copy
Booksellers please email: n.harre@auckland.ac.nz

Niki's Blog about Psychology for a Better World

If you are interested in the ups and downs of publishing and promoting a book, check out my blog.

Reviews

Summarising fascinating research and insights from social and positive psychology, Niki persuades us in a personable and convincing way to look more deeply at our motivations and strategies when advocating for improved social and environmental conditions. Our intuitive approaches of arguing more aggressively with our perceived opponents, and telling others how wrong they are, are often not effective ways to get lasting behavioural change. Instead Niki provides a wide range of evidence to show that boosting positive emotions, role modelling, understanding the power and dynamics of identity and moral context all need to be authentically applied if we are to be effective change agents. This involves looking at our own motivations very carefully, which can be uncomfortable, but which Niki admirably does herself throughout the book. This book provides an urgently needed example of using sound evidence from the social sciences, particularly psychology, to engage people more positively in environmental sustainability. It also has a broader applicability, providing insights on effective advocacy for other areas of social change, for instance health promotion.

Hugh Norriss, Mental Health Foundation, New Zealand

Psychology is the study of mind & behaviour and should therefore harbour essential information for anyone interested in how humans may be able to change in order to create a more sustainable society. Alas, little has been done to take full advantage of this and so Niki Harré’s new book is particularly welcome. A key argument of her crisp and lucid discussion is the need to drag environmental issues from the conventional into the moral domain for the next generation. Harré manages to navigate the complexities of moral psychology with admirable ease and insightful purpose – balancing the objective of scientifically informed political advocacy with her own struggles to be the change she wants to see in the world. This book should inspire.

Thomas Suddendorf, Professor, University of Queensland, Australia

A sensational book by a visionary psychologist and thinker. You are a national treasure, Niki. Keep up the inspiration.

Pam Corkery

Congratulations on your fabulous new book which I read, thanks to you, as a free PDF. It is so wonderful to see members of the psychology community applying their knowledge and insights as you do in order to make a positive difference at this dangerous point human history.

John F. Schumaker, Author of In Search of Happiness: Understanding an Endangered State of Mind

Niki Harré is a highly regarded academic social psychologist and a sustainability advocate. Her book applies the latest psychological research to understand the dilemmas sustainability advocates and activists face and gives sound advice on how to grasp opportunities for change. Her account of the role identity plays in Chapter 4 is simply magnificent! This chapter makes the task of building a workable synthesis look easy. But identity is not only one of the most important human motivators but also one of the most vague and confusing areas of the social sciences. Niki offers a compelling and highly accessible analysis of this difficult territory, putting together in Part One a hugely impressive review of all the relevant work and the latest findings. Part Two is then an original and thoughtful application of the action principles she deduces from the research. Anyone interested in understanding the wellsprings and implications of belonging, action and affiliation must read this chapter.

Margaret Wetherell, Emeritus Professor in Social Psychology at the Open University, UK

Psychology for a Better World is really easy and enjoyable to read and offers so much insight and resources and depth. Thank you so much for putting it in the world, it is a brilliant resource.

Maya Nova, Mindbalance

Psychology for a Better World: Strategies to inspire sustainability is a labour of passion that carries the reader all the way through to the end. It is largely targeting sustainability advocates and those who have strong inclinations towards a more sustainable world. Dr Niki Harré draws on different approaches to sustainability and shows which ones work best and then explains why. As you turn the pages, you will be exposed to a variety of issues and concepts from identity, intention, and morality to copying and the long lasting benefits of positive emotions. It is well researched, accessible, easy to read, and packed with case studies and practical examples. The most important message? If sustainability is to work, it needs to become a way of life. This book tells you how. If you believe in a better world or are flirting with sustainability, this may be the addition your library is waiting for.

Tomas Pernecky, Ph.D, School of Hospitality and Tourism, AUT University, New Zealand

Self-help Guide for Sustainability Advocates

The final chapter of Psychology for a Better World brings together the strategies for change discussed in the book, and provides worksheets to enable you to decide where to put your energy. You can download the worksheets from the link below. Please note that they are designed to be used in conjunction with the book.

self-help guide worksheets.docx (19 KB WORD)

Earth Debates

2012-01-19T00:53:00.000Z

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/biodiversity/earth-debates/index.html

How do we plan a future that nurtures a healthy world alongside the needs of a growing population?

Have your say in the run up to the Earth Summit 2012 by getting involved in the Earth Debates and help shape the future of our planet.

In June 2012, experts will meet to set the agenda for a sustainable future at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2012). The summit is also known as Rio+20 because it is being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20 years on from the first momentous Earth Summit which also took place there.

What are the Earth Debates about?

At 4 themed debates, a panel of leading experts chaired by Richard Black, the BBC's environment correspondent, will tackle key issues at the heart of the Earth Summit'sgreen economy agenda.

Your questions and comments will form an important part of these discussions, which will be webcast live from the Natural History Museum early in 2012. Find out about the 4 debate themes below and get involved.

Ecosystem economics – can we put a price on nature?
25 January 2012. Nature supplies us with clean air, pollinates our crops, and provides many other natural services. Can we calculate their value? Will doing so promote sustainable development? Share your thoughts now.
Beyond GDP – how can we measure progress?
22 February 2012. If businesses and governments are to invest in a green economy, we need to be able to measure progress. But the traditional measure of economic growth, GDP, doesn’t take into account the wellbeing of people or the environment. What are the alternatives?
Green cities in a green economy – how to pioneer a sustainable transition?
14 March 2012. Nearly 60% of the world's population is expected to live in towns and cities by 2030. So future cities will play a key role in the welfare of both people and the environment. How can we make them greener?
Food security – how do we feed 9 billion people in 2050?
11 April 2012. How can we balance the demands of feeding our growing population with maintaining an environment that can provide the other essential services, water and raw materials that we need?
Watch the Earth Debates
Watch the Earth Debates live online. The first debate, Ecosystems economics – can we put a price on nature? will be broadcast on 25 January 2012 at 19:00 GMT.
About the Earth Debates panel members
Background information about the panel members taking part in the 4 Earth Debates.
About the Earth Debates organisers
Find out more about the Stakeholder Forum for a sustainable future, British Council and the Natural History Museum.
What is the Earth Summit 2012?
Discover what the Earth Summit 2012 sets out to achieve.

5 Strategies to Help Bring Humane Education to Schools

2012-01-19T00:44:00.003Z

http://humaneeducation.org/sections/view/news_january2012#strategies

We have yet to hear of any situation where it wasn't possible to integrate humane education into the classroom - but that doesn't mean it wasn't without some creative and strategic thinking! So whether you're a classroom teacher or community educator, here are 5 of the most useful strategies you can use to help ease the way for bringing humane education into schools:

STANDARDS:
The easiest and most obvious way is to link humane education content to standards. With 45 states having adopted the new "common core standards" they serve as a useful means for integrating humane education into what you're already teaching. Even with strict requirements, educators can integrate humane principles and issues into their work. Teacher Alison Panik, who took our Teaching for a Positive Future online course, started integrating reverence for nature with her required math and science studies. IHE M.Ed. graduate, Christopher Greenslate, wrote an article highlighting how he integrated humane education into his teaching of language arts, including required books like Lord of the Flies. And IHE M.Ed. graduate, Kurt Schmidt has easily found creative ways to integrate humane studies into how he teaches math. If you're a community educator who wants to offer humane education presentations in schools, it's important to familiarize yourself with standards and highlight the strong connections between them and your content.
LAWS:
Many educators may not know it, but in several states, it's actually the law to include some form of humane education in their teaching (especially for younger students). Laws vary, but several states have some sort of legislation that requires teaching about the welfare of animals, character education, and/or environmental education. HEART keeps an updated list of laws related to humane education.

And, last June, Maryland became the first state to require "environmental literacy" for graduation. Other states have varying requirements for environmental studies. Introducing humane education studies to your school(s) can help the district meet legal requirements.
BY ANY OTHER NAME:
While we at IHE like to call what we do humane education, what label we use is not as important as the emphasis on the interconnectedness of human rights, animal protection, and environmental preservation and on nurturing solutionaries. Some educators call it global studies; some say social justice; some just call it education. If there's something happening in your district that aligns with humane education principles and content, plug yourself into that. There are also other programs, growing in popularity in schools, that overlap with some of the elements of humane education. Such programs offer an excellent segue for introducing humane education issues and principles. Here are 3 examples:

Character Education

While fewer than half of states either mandate or encourage character education, many districts encourage teaching positive character traits. While character education itself follows a much narrower definition and vision, teaching about values such as responsibility, caring, and respect easily translates to exploring our impact on people, animals & the earth, and what we can do, both individually and systemically, to create a more just, compassionate world for all.

Social Emotional Learning

According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, Social & Emotional Learning, SEL, "teaches the skills we all need to handle ourselves, our relationships, and our work, effectively and ethically." Many schools are beginning to integrate some form of SEL into their curriculum, which provides a great connection to humane education.

Service Learning

Service Learning is another concept that's sweeping classrooms around the world. It varies in scope, but its core focus is bringing what students are learning in the classroom into the real world to address real-life issues and to help students become responsible citizens. Humane education is all about solving real-life problems, so service learning provides a terrific opportunity.
CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES:
If you want to start small, taking advantage of special school opportunities is a great strategy. If you're a classroom teacher, look for special school-wide events, like celebrations of Earth Day, World Water Week, No Name-Calling Week, or Be Kind to Animals Week to integrate humane education lessons. You may even be able to recruit your colleagues to tweak their own lessons. If you're a community educator, you can find special events as a means to plug in to schools; but also look for career days, speaker series, and other special events to offer yourself as an expert or resource.
START WITH ONE:
If you're a community educator wanting to get into schools, start by connecting with a friendly teacher who's doing humane education-related work in the classroom or community. Find out what s/he's teaching and customize accordingly. Offer to demonstrate a sample lesson and, if needed, to talk to the school administrator (districts vary as to how much control teachers have over issues like guest speakers). Once you've built one successful relationship, you can branch off from there. Word of mouth is very effective. If you're a classroom teacher, look for one other educator and invite them to collaborate with you on a small project or lesson that embodies humane education. Start with that small success and keep going.

OUR TOP 10 HUMANE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR 2011

Humane education activities and lesson plans are just one of the perks we provide in our Resource Center. We now have more than 75 humane education activitiesavailable for free download, and we add new ones often. Here are our 10 most downloaded activities as of the end of 2011:

Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged - How do our own stereotypes and judgments limit our openness and receptivity to others? This activity uses props (or photos) to explore our snap perceptions of others. (grades 4 & up)
Don't Tread on Me - What is oppression? Who gets oppressed? Why don’t we all agree about that? Participants explore their own beliefs about oppression and learn about others'. (grades 6 & up)
The World's Most Powerful Animal - Who’s the most dangerous AND the most powerful animal? We are! Lead students on an exploration of the positive and negative impacts our choices have on the planet. (grades 2-5)
Human Rights for All? - This activity familiarizes students with the Universal Declaration for Human Rights and inspires them to think about the freedoms they enjoy that others cannot. (grades 9 and up)
Two Apples - In this icebreaker, participants learn just how important words and actions are when they explore their impact on two apples. (All ages)
A Moment in Their Shoes - How will students feel spending a moment in the shoes of a battery hen or a child slave? Use this lively and thought- provoking activity to introduce human and animal issues and the connections between them. (grades 6 & up)
Analyzing Advertising - Students learn to be ad-savvy by exploring the pervasiveness of ads in their lives and by analyzing what ads are trying to sell…and trying to hide. (grades 5 & up)
Whale's Stomach - Students learn about the impact of our "throwaway" society by exploring all the different kinds of trash found in a whale's stomach. (grades 4 & up)
Word Power - Words have enormous power and often assign value. This activity explores sample words in context and what kinds of value those words imply. (grades 4 & up)
Where in the World? - Students “shop” for T-shirts to help them make the connection between what they wear and the conditions under which it’s made. (grades 9 & up)

15 TIPS FOR CREATING HUMANE EDUCATION LESSONS

You're passionate about humane education and want to start bringing it to your classroom or community, but you haven't developed lesson plans/activities (at least this kind) before. Don't worry! Here's a good place to start: with IHE's 15 tips for creating dynamic, effective humane education lessons.

Take advantage of the wisdom that has come before. Look for relevant resources and lesson plans are already out there and adapt them for your own needs. There are organizations like IHE that offer comprehensive (as well as focused) humane ed activities, as well as organizations dedicated to animal protection, environmental protection, or human rights that provide terrific lessons and ideas.
Find a support system and sounding board for feedback, collaboration, ideas, and contacts. There is no shortage of other humane educators, non-profit groups, and professional organizations that can help you.
Educate yourself. You wouldn’t teach a foreign language without knowing it well. Be sure that you’re reading a variety of authors and perspectives, learning about the connections among humane issues, and keeping updated on news and changes in these areas. (You can also take advantage of resources such as our Teaching for a Positive Future online course and get in-depth training with one of our accredited graduate programs.)
Use what you're already doing and tweak it. If you're a classroom teacher, for example, take a lesson you're already using and modify it to include humane principles & issues. What elements of that novel lend themselves to exploring humane issues? Tweak those math word problems so that they reflect real-world concerns. Take that science study outside& pair it with nature reverence-building.
Consider: What are your objectives? What will success look like? Have a clear plan for your lessons, but build in flexibility, back-ups and extensions (for when things run too short, too long, or just wrong).
Start where your audience is. If people are struggling with urgent personal issues (e.g., homelessness, joblessness), they may not be interested in issues perceived as less immediate, such as global warming or animal cruelty, so start exploring how to inspire and empower them in their own situations, as well as working to build reverence and connection on a broader scale.
Be careful about making assumptions about what your audience already know, or what they care about. Don't assume that just because you know (or care) about global warming or factory farming or child slavery, that others do, too. If you're unfamiliar with your audience, you can use online sources (e.g., the school's or group's website) to learn more about the culture, values, and concerns of your audience and tailor your lessons accordingly. You may also be able to visit ahead of time to help you gain insights into what they're passionate about.
Integrate the 4 elements of humane education into your lessons:
- Provide accurate (age-appropriate) information
- Instill curiosity, creativity & critical thinking
- Foster reverence, respect & responsibility
- Offer positive choices & tools for problem solving
Remember that humane education isn't indoctrination; it isn't about telling others what to think or believe. Humane education sparks curiosity and helps others think critically and creatively and make informed choices. There's a difference between asking your audience to think critically about what they believe, and telling them what they shouldbelieve.
As often as is appropriate, reveal the interconnectedness of issues; tie in the impacts of what your audience is exploring with the environment, animals, and people. Everything is connected, so whatever the topic or issue, help people see how economics, poverty, climate change, consumerism, generosity, bullying, or psychology ties into doing the most good & least harm for people, animals, & planet.
Use a variety of creative strategies throughout the lesson, including plenty of interactivity and focus on developing positive solutions. Especially for younger children, stories, songs, and drama/role play are great tools for introducing topics. Remember with all audiences to use stories, not just statistics. Studies show that people can get overwhelmed and lose interest with statistics and big numbers, and that it's easier for most of us to relate on a one-to-one basis. So start by talking about about one animal, or one slave child, or one family in one community affected by climate change.
Tap into the wisdom of the group. Your lesson will be much more effective if you use the model of learning together, rather than setting yourself up as the expert to "teach" the uneducated. Give your audience opportunities to share their creative ideas and publicly explore and test their views. Give them power to lead, question, challenge, and develop positive solutions.
Be sure that you're modeling your message. Do the materials you're using for the lessons themselves reflect choices that do the most good & least harm for all? Are you showing respect for your audience? Are you handling controversy or heated discussions effectively and compassionately?
Practice practice practice. Especially if you're new to speaking in public or are offering a new lesson, practice. Give your lesson plans to a safe audience of supporters and have them give feedback. Videotape yourself and watch for ways to improve. Don't be afraid. Experiment!
Evaluate and reevaluate. This is important, both during the lesson and after. If you're trying out a new lesson and it's crashing and burning, don't keep ploughing through. Stop and ask your audience what's not working (or at least try at different tactic). Your students will appreciate your honesty and thank you for respecting their time. If you're a community educator, be sure to have your audience complete evaluations and revise your lesson based on relevant feedback. Consider keeping a notebook to document what worked, what didn't, what you'd like to try again with some adjustments, the feedback you received, etc. One question you might ask yourself when you are reflecting on a lesson or presentation you've given is: If I were to give this same lesson tomorrow, what would I do differently?

The Original Green

2012-01-18T00:43:00.000Z

Steve Mouzon’s new book, Original Green, should be read by everyone interested in crafting a more sustainable built environment. It is a book of philosophy as much as architecture or planning, and it eloquently posits and expounds the proposition that environmentally responsible building and placemaking has more to learn from traditional culture and practices than from 21st-century ‘gizmo green’ technology. SubtitledUnlocking the Mystery of True Sustainability, the book is published by The New Urban Guild Foundation, which Steve founded.

I have come to know and like Steve very much over the past year, so I’ll confess to the potential for bias. At the same time, though, Steve and I definitely do not agree on every detail (more about that later) and, even if we did, it wouldn’t be the reason I recommend the book. I recommend it because it is thoughtful, provocative, well written and, like the places Steve admires, beautiful, and because it has something important to say.

In fact, the first thing you notice about Original Green is its beauty, its fantastic design: the cover is compelling; the typeface and layout are inviting to the eye and mind; the paper is substantial; there is a beautiful, crisp, color-balanced image on almost every page, most of them apparently taken by Steve himself. I know him to be a superb photographer, so frankly I might even buy the book just for that reason. This is a work that you want to pick up and read, or at least browse. (There are no photo captions, references, or credits, though, and I wish there were. I’m sure I’m not the only reader who would appreciate knowing exactly what I am seeing, which is sometimes but not always apparent from the text.)

There is a central premise to Steve’s ‘original green’ philosophy, which is that the way we humans learned for centuries to build things in response to natural climatic and cultural needs had inherent, if sometimes accidental, sustainability – and literal sustainability, too, since places were built to last and did. All that changed, however, with what Steve calls ‘the Thermostat Age,’ when we began to build without the same responsiveness to natural systems (and, because of transience, without the same regard for culture, though Steve spends less time on that aspect).

Because the book is based on a strong premise to which it remains true throughout, it is in a sense like another important recent book on the built environment, David Owen’sGreen Metropolis. I suspect that comparison isn’t an entirely comfortable one for Steve, since Owen worships at the altar of dense city living and Steve is every bit as devout in his faith in the new urbanist ‘Transect,’ which (greatly simplified) holds that building and living most anywhere is environmentally sound if the design is well-suited to the place. But both are wary of the benefits of added-on green technology (which neither entirely eschews, by the way), and both make tremendously important points that are not always obvious to 21st-century readers and practitioners of placemaking. (Steve, by the way, is the one of the two who actually lives in a city.)

‘Original green’ means common-sense things like building with high ceilings, cross-ventilation and shading in warm climates, and building with steep roofs and southern exposure in cool ones. It means using original forms of transportation, such as walking and bicycling, whenever possible, and designing and inhabiting communities that facilitate such self-propulsion. It means growing food nearby, and ‘living local’ as much as possible. It means accepting a wider ‘comfort range’ of temperature; our ancestors, Steve points out, were adaptable and reasonably comfortable within a range of 30 degrees or so Fahrenheit; today people fight over two degrees’ difference in ‘thermostat wars.’ Original green places and buildings have intinsically smaller environmental footprints than conventional buildings and places, especially when lifecycle effects are included, and in many cases even if the conventional ones have the benefit of green technology.

All this is expanded in four parts of ten relatively brief chapters each. Although this is an important book, it is not a long one, and I like that. I did find myself occasionally distracted by Steve’s organizational compulsions, with six realms of green, eight foundations of sustainable places and buildings, ten things you can do, and so on, in addition to the four parts and ten chapters in each part. But, within each, I love his writing style, which is simple, direct and consciously ‘plain spoken,’ to use Steve’s own phrase. His writing actually reminds me of Thich Nhat Hanh in some ways, and Steve’s facility with language is one of the book’s strong assets.

Another is that Steve's tone is personal, writing in the first person and from the heart. One of the things that drew me to Steve’s work is his unapologetic belief that buildings and places must be lovable if they are to be sustainable, because things that are not loved are not cared for and preserved. I noticed this on Steve’s Original Green blogquite a while back and linked it on my own blog, because it makes so much sense, the sometimes elusiveness of beauty and love notwithstanding. Steve invites some debate, I’m sure, with his suggestion that beauty and lovability can be regarded as science, not just art. But he backs it up with evidence, and readers can decide for themselves.

Writing in the first person and from the heart is not always an asset (though in this case it is much more an asset than not). The reader should be prepared for an adult dose of earnestness, and some readers may take an ‘I live this way instead of the way you do because it is right' message (intentional or not) from Steve's self-referential examples and unmitigated praise for new urbanism. But, heaven knows, the environmental movement of which NRDC and I are part is not exactly known for humility, and this particular pot isn’t dumb enough to dwell on calling a kettle black for high earnestness. By the way, just because the book is earnest doesn’t mean it isn’t entertaining and sometimes even amusing; you’ll see what I mean if you read it.

In fact, as I suggested earlier, I don’t think it is essential that a reader agree with a work as long as one is affected by it or, even better, learns something. I certainly don’t agree with all of Owen’s book, for example, and I don’t agree with all of Original Green, either, though I probably agree with close to 90 percent of it. I like being pushed to consider things that I don’t necessarily agree with.

Like many new urbanists, Steve is definitely harder on modernist architecture than I am (witness my fondness for Dublin’s new stadium), and he takes a bit of a shot at environmentalists for espousing wilderness instead of embracing reasonable human impacts on all parts of the landscape, which I definitely disagree with for many of our remaining wild places. (I consider wilderness, where it exists, to be a great treasure, frequently best managed in accordance with the federal Wilderness Act of 1964: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”)

Steve may not know this or remember it if anyone told him, but my first acquaintance with him was not that enjoyable. Quite some time ago, I saw an email that he had authored and that I probably was not supposed to see in which Steve, in rather scathing and direct language, quite thoroughly trashed a piece of work that I had spent years on and believed in to the core of my being. (I still do, but this isn’t the place to discuss the details.) I don’t think he knew me from Adam at the time so it probably wasn’t personal. But from that moment on I had a red flag handy for this Mouzon guy, and warned several of my colleagues, too.

Much later, however, I noticed a really nice piece of writing from him, then another one; I noticed his involvement in some projects I love (e.g., here); we connected though mutual interests and friends on Facebook, and I came to really admire his work, and his original green philosophy.

I also eventually discovered that Steve is a really nice guy. Knowing what I know of his work now, I have confidence that our areas of professional disagreement are few and our commonality as advocates and as people far greater. Besides, he earns extra points for obviously adoring his very photogenic dogs, who appear both on his blog and in the book.

To whet your appetite, here are some of my favorite quotes from Original Green:

‘Why are we even discussing the carbon footprint of a building if it is built somewhere that requires you to drive everywhere?’
‘The more efficient a machine or fixture is, the less incentive there is to use it less.’
‘Sustainable things are things we can keep going in a healthy way long into an uncertain future.’
‘In most cases, the image goo is cheap plastic, foam or other stuff that is all too often a sad and hideous fake of the material it is intended to represent.’
‘The heavier stuff is, the closer the source should be to where it’s used because heavier stuff requires more energy to ship than lighter stuff.’
‘It’s likely that no architect set foot in Mooresville for several decades after its founding, yet those farmers and tradespeople, without computers, power tools or mortgages had built a better place than any architect had built from the end of World War II until that day.’
‘If a building cannot be loved, it will not last. Any serious conversation about sustainable buildings must begin with the issue of Lovability.’

As luck would have it, Steve and I presented at the AIA convention last week in the same room. His session immediately followed mine, so we crossed paths and had a chance to say hello. We talked about the book, and how much I like it. If you are interested enough in our cause to be reading this blog, I suspect you will, too.

All images courtesy of and (c) Steve Mouzon, www.originalgreen.org.

Kaid Benfield writes (almost) daily about community, development, and the environment. For more posts, see his blog's home page.

Unleashing the potential of urban growth

2012-01-17T09:57:00.000Z

EN-SOWP07

Cities and PPPs, Planet of Slum

2012-01-17T08:12:00.001Z

Handshake 4: Cities and PPPs

Planet of SlumMike Davis - Planet of Slums

Role of Governments in Education for Sustainable Consumption

2012-01-17T07:50:00.004Z

Iges-role Gov Edu for Sc 15dec2011

Strengthening capacity for effective implementation in China, Japan, and Republic of Korea

Editor: Didham, Robert James. Author: Tian, Qing; Sato, Masahisa; Nakahara, Hideki; Lee, So-Young; Kang, Jung Hwa and Didham, Robert James|2011/12|December 2011. 140.|Publisher: IGES(Hayama, Japan)

Language: English|Publication Type: Policy Reports |ISBN/ISSN: 978-4-88788-090-0|Copyright: IGES

National and sub-national policy for Education for Sustainable Consumption (ESC) is one of the powerful instruments to influence sustainable consumption (SC) behaviour at both individual and organisational levels. This report addresses how to improve the capacity of policy makers and governments in formulating ESC policy. It also addresses the strategies governments can use to influence consumer behaviour.

The report presents three country case studies that look at the current institutional frameworks and governmental capacities for implementing effective ESC from P. R. China, Japan and Republic of Korea. Despite diverse policy dialogues and many initiatives on SCP, there is still a lack of knowledge and experience on how we actually can educate nations and their citizens for sustainable consumption. The main research was conducted through survey and interviews with relevant government officials in P. R. China, Japan and Republic of Korea, and it was supported by additional review of current policy frameworks and strategic plans and assessment of training materials/curriculums. This research was conducted in the respective countries by research partners at Beijing Normal University, Tokyo City University and Consumers Union of Korea in close collaboration with IGES.

The promotion of sustainable consumption and green markets has received attention from many national governments including the P. R. China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. All three countries have demonstrated interest and commitment towards shifting to more sustainable patterns of development and have also recognised the importance of sustainable consumption in achieving this. However, ESC still remains a very young and even novel topic that does not yet have substantial policy mandates to ensure its implementation in these countries, and thus there are many opportunities for capacity building to advance effective implementation.

The findings from this research identify key aspects of current governmental context for promoting SC and consumer awareness raising (including relevant policy frameworks, overall strategies, understandings of government officials, and barriers and obstacles to implementation). The three country cases are then analysed in a comparative capacity assessment. The assessment framework is based on the four levers of change identified by UNDP for assessing capacity assets and needs: 1) institutional arrangements, 2) leadership, 3) knowledge, and 4) accountability.

The main focus of the recommendations is on improving the wider policy and institutional frameworks for ESC implementation and to discuss how ESC can be better linked with wider policies for both sustainable production and consumption (SCP) and education for sustainable development (ESD). The primary recommendations in this work address:

1) Expanding roles and responsibilities for ESC beyond national governments;
2) Applying multiple policy mechanisms and inter-ministerial/inter-agency approaches;
3) Defining policy priorities and target areas for sustainable consumption;
4) Addressing ESC as a thematic approach to ESD and SCP;
5) Improving accountability as a means to strengthen the overall system, and;
6) Advancing ESC in formal education curriculums.

Keywords:

INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE,EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION (ESC),POLICY ASSESSMENT,CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

Geographic area:

Eastern Asia,China,Japan,Republic of Korea

Download:

File name	Size
iges-role_gov_edu_for_sc_15dec2011.pdf	7.4 MB

Jagriti Yatra - A Journey of discovery and transformation

2012-01-11T00:45:00.001Z

Jagriti Yatra is an ambitious train journey of discovery and transformation that takes hundreds of India's highly motivated youth on an 15 day national odyssey. The aim is to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship.The vision of Jagriti is to inspire young Indians living in the middle of the Indian demographic diamond (Rs 40 - Rs 120 per day) to lead development by taking to enterprise. By doing so, they can turn from job seekers to job creators.

http://www.jagritiyatra.com/index.php

Jagriti Yatra is an annual train journey that that takes hundreds of India's highly motivated youth (with some participation of international students) between the ages of 20-25 and experienced professionals with age above 25, on a eighteen day national odyssey, introducing them to unsung heroes of India. The aim is to awaken the spirit of entrepreneurship - both social and economic - within India's youth by exposing them to individuals and institutions that are developing unique solutions to India's challenges. Through this national event we have begun to inspire the youth of India to lead and develop institutions both nationally and within their communities.

Vision

The vision of Jagriti Yatra is to inspire young Indians living in the middle of the Indian demographic diamond (Rs 40-Rs 120 per day) to lead development by taking to enterprise. By doing so, they can turn from being job seekers to job creators. Apart from this economic argument, they also discover a purpose that is appropriate for their talents. Only if we create a movement around enterprise led development will India’s youth employment and development issues will be resolved.

Message

The message of the Yatra is expressed through Jagriti Geet – 'Yaaron Chalo, Badalne Ki Rut hai' a message is of a positive change through enterprise. Instead of bemoaning what is wrong with the country, our participants and the Jagriti fraternity takes action by enterprise led development to make India better

Money and Morality

2012-01-08T19:38:00.001Z

If we take care of people and Nature, then the economy will take care of itself.

Money was a clever and convenient invention; it was designed as a means of exchange and a measure of wealth. But somehow that has changed; what was once solely a means to an end has become the end itself, and what was a measure of wealth has become wealth itself.

Take for example agriculture, the purpose of which was to produce nutritious food whilst ensuring that the land remained in good heart for all future generations and for the good health of biotic communities. Agriculture was a way of life that gave farmers their dignity, and in turn they cultivated the crops with tender loving care and considered their work intrinsically good.

Then came money, which changed everything: agriculture turned into agribusiness and the paramount purpose of it became the making of money. Food became a commodity and yet another means of making large profits. As a result British farmers – even those with 2,000 acres of land – cannot make a living, and farm labourers are paid £10 an hour whilst bankers are paid £1,000 an hour.

The example of agriculture turned to agribusiness is only one illustration of how our society has lost sight of right and wrong. We can cut down the rainforest to make money, we can pollute the rivers and over-fish the oceans for profit, we can destroy the local economy in search of cheaper goods, no matter how much CO2 is omitted in the process. The bottom line always comes first. We can hire and fire people at will for the sake of boosting the economy; people have become little more than the instruments of making money. GM crops, nuclear energy, cloning and animal experimentation – nothing is forbidden, just as long as it adds to GDP and increases the share value of corporations and companies.

Ethics, morals and human dignity are all secondary and subservient to the profit margin. Bankrupt bankers have to be bailed out even though we can all see that they and other business leaders are utterly incapable of solving the economic crisis. Politicians and policymakers have to obey their desires. No wonder then that our governments are completely incapable of creating conditions for the stability and wellbeing of people – because all social, political, educational and communal values exist solely to serve economic growth, which simply means growth in money supply, in GDP and in consumption.

As long as we are wedded to this financial paradigm and its money model, the strong will exploit the weak, and our social and environmental fabric (and morals) will continue to fall apart.

The current economic crisis gives us an opportunity to look deeper and examine the consequences of confusing the means with the ends. Money has a place, of course, but we must keep it in its place and not allow it to dominate our lives in such a manner that we lose all our bearings and become its slaves. Money was made to serve people, not the other way around. Unfortunately, we have allowed money to become the master and override all other moral, ethical and ecological values. There is more to life than an endless pursuit of money and profit.

Money is not wealth; real wealth is land, forest, rivers, animals and people. Wealth is created by the imagination, creativity and skill. Bankers and business leaders in search of ever-increasing profit are not the wealth creators; at best they are wealth counters and at worst wealth destroyers. So let’s honour the true wealth creators: skilled workers, architects and artists, craftsmen and women, teachers and doctors, builders and farmers; the economy is safe in their hands. Let us respect the generous Earth and wild Nature, the eternal source of wellbeing and prosperity. If we take care of people and Nature, then the economy will take care of itself.

Some people might say that this is too idealistic; but what have the realists done? They have made a complete mess of the world economy. Normally, we need idealism and realism in equal measure, but for the time being a little extra idealism will be helpful. We have had far too much realism.

Money must be guided by morality. And we are delighted to present this ideal in this issue of Resurgence, the first of a brand-new year.

Satish Kumar (Editor-in-Chief at Resurgence magazine)
http://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article3539-money-and-morality.html

Action for Happiness

2012-01-03T14:57:00.001Z

http://www.actionforhappiness.org/10-keys-to-happier-living

These lovely posters have been designed to accompany our Ten Keys to Happier Living.

We hope you like them and that they inpspire you to put the Ten Keys into practice. If so please feel free to share and use them in any way you like: at home, at work, at school, wherever...

Download the full set of posters

Featured: Be part of something bigger

When we have a sense of meaning and purpose in our lives we tend to be happier, feel more in control, have less anxiety and make more of a difference to others.

FIND OUT HOW

Do things for others
FIND OUT HOW
Connect with people
FIND OUT HOW
Take care of your body
FIND OUT HOW
Notice the world around
FIND OUT HOW
Keep learning new things
FIND OUT HOW
Have goals to look forward to
FIND OUT HOW
Find ways to bounce back
FIND OUT HOW
Take a positive approach
FIND OUT HOW
Be comfortable with who you are
FIND OUT HOW

This is where it all starts! Small things can cause big positive changes, so choose anaction and make it happen.

Build a positive environment at your workplace
Find out how

Do things to help your nearest and dearest thrive
Find out how

Connect & spread happiness in your local community
Find out how

Be a force for positive change in the world around
Find out how

Going Green: 12 Simple Steps for 2012

2011-12-30T01:11:00.001Z

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/9448

As we head into 2012, many of us will be resolving to lose those few extra pounds, save more money, or spend a few more hours with our families and friends. But there are also some resolutions we can make to make our lives a little greener. Each of us, especially in the United States, can make a commitment to reducing our environmental impacts.

The United Nations has designated 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Broadening access to sustainable energy is essential to solving many of the world’s challenges, including food production, security, and poverty.

Hunger, poverty, and climate change are issues that we can all help address. Here are 12 simple steps to go green in 2012:

(1) Recycle
Recycling programs exist in cities and towns across the United States, helping to save energy and protect the environment. In 2009, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to require all homes and businesses to use recycling and composting collection programs. As a result, more than 75 percent of all material collected is being recycled, diverting 1.6 million tons from the landfills annually—double the weight of the Golden Gate Bridge. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for each pound of aluminum recovered, Americans save the energy resources necessary to generate roughly 7.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity—enough to power a city the size of Pittsburgh for six years!
What you can do:

Put a separate container next to your trash can or printer, making it easier to recycle your bottles, cans, and paper.

(2) Turn off the lights
On the last Saturday in March—March 31 in 2012—hundreds of people, businesses, and governments around the world turn off their lights for an hour as part of Earth Hour, a movement to address climate change.
What you can do:

Earth Hour happens only once a year, but you can make an impact every day by turning off lights during bright daylight, or whenever you will be away for an extended period of time.

(3) Make the switch
In 2007, Australia became the first country to “ban the bulb,” drastically reducing domestic usage of incandescent light bulbs. By late 2010, incandescent bulbs had been totally phased out, and, according to the country’s environment minister, this simple move has made a big difference, cutting an estimated 4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2012. China also recently pledged to replace the 1 billion incandescent bulbs used in its government offices with more energy efficient models within five years.
What you can do:

A bill in Congress to eliminate incandescent in the United States failed in 2011, but you can still make the switch at home. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) use only 20–30 percent of the energy required by incandescents to create the same amount of light, and LEDs use only 10 percent, helping reduce both electric bills and carbon emissions.

(4) Turn on the tap
The bottled water industry sold 8.8 billion gallons of water in 2010, generating nearly $11 billion in profits. Yet plastic water bottles create huge environmental problems. The energy required to produce and transport these bottles could fuel an estimated 1.5 million cars for a year, yet approximately 75 percent of water bottles are not recycled—they end up in landfills, litter roadsides, and pollute waterways and oceans. And while public tap water is subject to strict safety regulations, the bottled water industry is not required to report testing results for its products. According to a study, 10 of the most popular brands of bottled water contain a wide range of pollutants, including pharmaceuticals, fertilizer residue, and arsenic.
What you can do:

Fill up your glasses and reusable water bottles with water from the sink. The United States has more than 160,000 public water systems, and by eliminating bottled water you can help to keep nearly 1 million tons of bottles out of the landfill, as well as save money on water costs.

(5) Turn down the heat
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that consumers can save up to 15 percent on heating and cooling bills just by adjusting their thermostats. Turning down the heat by 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours can result in savings of 5–15 percent on your home heating bill.
What you can do:

Turn down your thermostat when you leave for work, or use a programmable thermostat to control your heating settings.

(6) Support food recovery programs
Each year, roughly a third of all food produced for human consumption—approximately 1.3 billion tons—gets lost or wasted, including 34 million tons in the United States, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Grocery stores, bakeries, and other food providers throw away tons of food daily that is perfectly edible but is cosmetically imperfect or has passed its expiration date. In response, food recovery programs run by homeless shelters or food banks collect this food and use it to provide meals for the hungry, helping to divert food away from landfills and into the bellies of people who need it most.
What you can do:

Encourage your local restaurants and grocery stores to partner with food rescue organizations, like City Harvest in New York City or Second Harvest Heartland in Minnesota.
Go through your cabinets and shelves and donate any non-perishable canned and dried foods that you won’t be using to your nearest food bank or shelter.

(7) Buy local
“Small Business Saturday,” falling between “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” was established in 2010 as a way to support small businesses during the busiest shopping time of the year. Author and consumer advocate Michael Shuman argues that local small businesses are more sustainable because they are often more accountable for their actions, have smaller environmental footprints, and innovate to meet local conditions—providing models for others to learn from.
What you can do:

Instead of relying exclusively on large supermarkets, consider farmers markets and local farms for your produce, eggs, dairy, and meat. Food from these sources is usually fresher and more flavorful, and your money will be going directly to these food producers.

(8) Get out and ride
We all know that carpooling and using public transportation helps cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, as well as our gas bills. Now, cities across the country are investing in new mobility options that provide exercise and offer an alternative to being cramped in subways or buses. Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, and Washington, D.C. have major bike sharing programs that allow people to rent bikes for short-term use. Similar programs exist in other cities, and more are planned for places from Miami, Florida, to Madison, Wisconsin.
What you can do:

If available, use your city’s bike share program to run short errands or commute to work. Memberships are generally inexpensive (only $75 for the year in Washington, D.C.), and by eliminating transportation costs, as well as a gym membership, you can save quite a bit of money!
Even if without bike share programs, many cities and towns are incorporating bike lanes and trails, making it easier and safer to use your bike for transportation and recreation.

(9) Share a car
Car sharing programs spread from Europe to the United States nearly 13 years ago and are increasingly popular, with U.S. membership jumping 117 percent between 2007 and 2009. According to the University of California Transportation Center, each shared car replaces 15 personally owned vehicles, and roughly 80 percent of more than 6,000 car-sharing households surveyed across North America got rid of their cars after joining a sharing service. In 2009, car-sharing was credited with reducing U.S. carbon emissions by more than 482,000 tons. Innovative programs such as Chicago’s I-GO are even introducing solar-powered cars to their fleets, making the impact of these programs even more eco-friendly.
What you can do:

Join a car share program! As of July 2011, there were 26 such programs in the U.S., with more than 560,000 people sharing over 10,000 vehicles. Even if you don’t want to get rid of your own car, using a shared car when traveling in a city can greatly reduce the challenges of finding parking (car share programs have their own designated spots), as well as your environmental impact as you run errands or commute to work.

(10) Plant a garden
Whether you live in a studio loft or a suburban McMansion, growing your own vegetables is a simple way to bring fresh and nutritious food literally to your doorstep. Researchers at the FAO and the United Nations Development Programme estimate that 200 million city dwellers around the world are already growing and selling their own food, feeding some 800 million of their neighbors. Growing a garden doesn’t have to take up a lot of space, and in light of high food prices and recent food safety scares, even a small plot can make a big impact on your diet and wallet.
What you can do:

Plant some lettuce in a window box. Lettuce seeds are cheap and easy to find, and when planted in full sun, one window box can provide enough to make several salads worth throughout a season.

(11) Compost
And what better way to fertilize your garden than using your own composted organic waste. You will not only reduce costs by buying less fertilizer, but you will also help to cut down on food and other organic waste.
What you can do:

If you are unsure about the right ways to compost, websites such as HowToCompost.org and organizations such as the U.S. Composting Council, provide easy steps to reuse your organic waste.

(12) Reduce your meat consumption
Livestock production accounts for about 18 percent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for about 23 percent of all global water used in agriculture. Yet global meat production has experienced a 20 percent growth rate since 2000 to meet the per capita increase of meat consumption of about 42 kilograms.
What you can do:

You don’t have to become a vegetarian or vegan, but by simply cutting down on the amount of meat you consume can go a long way. Consider substituting one meal day with a vegetarian option. And if you are unable to think of how to substitute your meat-heavy diet, websites such as Meatless Monday and Eating Well offer numerous vegetarian recipes that are healthy for you and the environment.

The most successful and lasting New Year’s resolutions are those that are practiced regularly and have an important goal. Watching the ball drop in Times Square happens only once a year, but for more and more people across the world, the impacts of hunger, poverty, and climate change are felt every day. Thankfully, simple practices, such as recycling or riding a bike, can have great impact. As we prepare to ring in the new year, let’s all resolve to make 2012 a healthier, happier, and greener year for all.

Gift Economy

2011-12-23T07:44:00.000Z

http://www.yesmagazine.org

In its purest form, a gift economy is about the collective, allocation based on need, and abundance. Behind gifting is human relationship, generation of goodwill, and attention to the nurturance of the whole society and not just one’s immediate self and family. Maintaining economic and social relations outside of the market keeps cooperation and ethics thriving.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/malis-gift-economy

The Value of the Gift

A gift is never just a material object or service. One of its purposes is to maintain social connections. Be it a bracelet for the arm or a bed for the night, gifts are strings which create and strengthen friendships, family, regional community, religious grouping, and other social networks. dama reflects a worldview that society, indeed the world, is a web of relationships—not just between individuals, but between an inseparable whole. Gifting is not an economic activity so much as a spinning of that web, continually reinforcing interconnectedness and the collective. IEP educator and cultural worker Coumba Toure says, “Who we are is very much defined by how much we give to others. The objects are just the symbol. The highest gift is recognizing people and accepting to be connected to them.”

A second purpose of dama is to sustain and celebrate the values of sharing and humanity—what is known as maaya or ‘being human.’ “Maaya, the link we have between ourselves, is why dama works,” says Djingarey Maïga, president of the organization Women and Human Rights. “It’s the link with your neighbors, your parents, your relatives. If you can’t keep that link, you are not a human being.” She illustrates with the case of her children who, if they are at a neighbor’s house at mealtime, will be fed. If it is bath time, the neighbors will bathe her children as well. A common Malian expression explains maaya: “Life is a cord. We make the cord between ourselves, and you have to hold on to it. One should not drop the cord.”

Thirdly, dama is an essential strategy for keeping the community well. Malians’ understanding of community is that it is only as strong as its parts. Only by all providing for each other will all survive and thrive.

Wherever your gift ends up will be an important contribution toward everyone’s welfare. For example, one afternoon I pass a small cash gift on to my friend Madou. Yaye, a bystander looking on, immediately thanks me. “What you give Madou you also give me, because I will also benefit from his well-being.”

Coumba says, “If you ask any number of people how they live, what they eat, where they get what they wear, you would quickly notice that most of it has been given by someone.” dama is a time-honored, well-honed means of keeping away hunger, prolonged illness, and early death. It provides the social safety net which the state—egged on by the World Bank and IMF—has neglected: a working health system, social security for the elders, education, and child care.

In addition to trying to prevent anyone from being too poor, yet another purpose of dama is to prevent most everyone from becoming too rich. While in the U.S. there often exists social reinforcement to accumulate as much as possible, with wealth and the wealthy frequently being revered, in Mali the cultural norm is to give away as much of your accumulation as possible, with generosity and the generous being most respected. The social pressure to give acts as a disincentive to hoard, or what we call save. Coumba offers, “Being rich here means that the person has abandoned his or her values, that he or she is not giving enough to the needs around. People really start worrying about what has happened to that person.”

Passing it On

In one study in Bamako, each person gave an average of 1.5 gifts per day. Another study found that gifts account for 18% of total expenditures among Malian villagers, comprising the largest single category. Presents are passed along everywhere: a small household decoration, change to buy a school notebook. When a family’s harvest of millet or peanuts is ready, they pass on a portion to the homes around them. If a household is hosting guests, neighbors will typically send over food.

Services are rendered, too, mainly by girls and women: sweeping or washing dishes, running to the corner to buy sugar, tending a market stall, lending a chair or a pot, braiding hair. Women often care for the children of a neighbor who has to leave home to work.

During the rainy season, when the heavens open with a stupendous force, standard practice is that the closest household offers hospitality to an immediately drenched passer-by, inviting the friend or stranger in to dry off with a towel, share a cup of hot tea, and wait out the torrent. Community organizations regularly give small contributions of money or the loan of a conference room to another group. Town residents give lodging to those from their original village until the new migrants can get on their feet. The examples are endless.

Malian homes themselves are testaments to dama. One study found that households consist of an average of 11.5 individuals. They may include orphans, refugees of abuse, or those whose first (biological) family is too poor to feed them or too far from a school to educate them.

Gifts encircle each life cycle. When a woman gives birth, neighbors care for all her material needs for the first forty days, organizing themselves to share in providing meals, milk, and the like. At a baptism and wedding, guests show up with soap, a length of cloth, some palm wine, or a dish of food. On the seventh day after the death of a wealthy person, his or her family distributes food to the children of the area.

Signs of dama abound throughout religious practice, too. Every Friday, Muslim communities distribute milk and bread to village children. Catholic women organize themselves to feed the village priest throughout the year, each one signing up for two weeks at a time. The Rastafari Movement of Mali gives half of the produce of its community gardens to street children.

Lines of giving are complex and often circuitous. “You never know how it will come back. But you have to give because you can’t let the cord break with you,” explains IEP backbone Maria Diarra. She tells of helping a man in the community some years back. Now the man’s sister brings Maria’s family gifts of charcoal and food, gives them rides, and visits whenever she comes to Kati.

“Maybe the link gets broken in a larger community," says Coumba. "But when you are in a community where everyone believes that, it really does work.”

And in the World's Richest Nation...

Western academics are often tempted, as one of them noted, to delineate “a radical break between premodern and modern cultures, with the gift reserved for the premodern, while we must deal through the market and the state.” We are to believe that, as capitalism developed and exchange systems spread, markets supplanted morals and gifting was destroyed.

Certainly the messages many of us got from childhood to accumulate riches and spend them on ourselves, strive to make that theory real. And yet, in the most consumptive nation on earth, gifts are given frequently, spontaneously, and without thought of reciprocity. One gift advocate offers this analysis: “We just don’t have the right glasses on to see the gifting happening all around us. We see it as exchange manqué or only a defensive position of those who aren’t capable of exchange.”

In fact, people in the U.S. give infinite forms of services and goods to family and friends, neighbors, and strangers without calculation of return. We give where there is no emotional tie, no reciprocity, and often (in the case of a donation to a community organization, for example) not even a thanks from the ultimate recipient. We give anonymously; think of those multi-million dollar donations from unnamed individuals reported from time to time in the newspaper. We push strangers’ cars, give their batteries a jump in a parking lot, shovel snow from elderly neighbors’ walks, leave tips for waitresses we’ll never see again. We even donate organs. In 2005, people in the U.S. gave $260.28 billion to non-profits and charities, and 61.2 million volunteered, with each person giving a median of 52 hours per year.

Escaping the Crocodile's Lake

dama is under threat by the neoliberal marketplace that is converting much of the gifting sphere to exchange relationships, monetizing the economy, and placing a dollar value on many forms of worth. West Africans’ challenge today is to keep dama thriving despite the expansion of markets, advertising, and cash transactions. A canary in the proverbial coal mine, dama is an indicator of how well cultural traditions can hold up under conditions of globalization.

What is certain is that dama will survive in at least a subterranean way, as do other gifting and solidarity economies throughout the world. Also certain is that dama and other non-market economies will remain strong and viable only if organized movements vigorously defend them.

Kadidiatou Baby, director of the Malian Association for the Support of Schooling of Girls, suggests that, “We can’t go fully back to the traditional economy. But we can organize people so they can better support each other in a parallel economy that nurtures society. You can exploit individuals easily, but it’s harder before a well-organized system.”

As free-market capitalism is being globalized, so are economies that function on a different logic, that of solidarity. Grassroots movements have organized community kitchens in Latin America, fair trade production in South Asia, clothing and book exchanges in North America, and open source software networks in Europe—to name only a few of the spiraling examples. They emphasize women's initiatives, ecological agriculture, ethical financing, and appropriate technology. The World Social Forum hosts a permanent solidarity economy network, and the U.S. Solidarity Economic Network held its first meeting in March, 2009. Brazil even has a secretary of state for solidarity economy.

“You know that difficulty usually gives way to creativity,” Kadidiatou says. “Sometimes people come out of the crocodiles’ lake alive. Go figure how they got out, but they do. Even if they leave with one less limb, they do. When you believe in the survival of humanity, you invent the response.”

Beverly Bell is Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and the coordinator of Other Worlds, which collaborates with grassroots movements in documenting and publicizing large-scale economic alternatives, and generates support for them. Special thanks go to the research and analysis of Maria Diarra, Coumba Toure, Debbie Fredo, Anne Mayher, Genevieve Vaughan, and Moira Birss.
For more information on dama, including a short video, check Other Worlds’ web site: www.otherworldsarepossible.org. For more on gift economies, see www.gift-economy.com.

Cooking Up Karma: A Taste of the Gift Economy

Video: At a restaurant in Berkeley, there's no bill at the end of the meal—just a request to pay it forward for those who come after you.

Video courtesy of ToanLamTV

What if your meal was paid for by the people who dined before you? At Karma Kitchen, an event that occurs every Sunday at Taste of Himalayas in Berkeley, Calif., that is exactly what happens. Volunteers serve food to hungry patrons who in turn pay forward what they value their experience at. There are no prices on the menu and the bill reads $0.00.

With busy locations now in D.C. and Chicago, Karma Kitchen is a success in attracting enthusiasm for a gift economy where what you give benefits those who come after you—and you benefit from everyone who came before. Pay it forward for future diners and rack up the karma points!

37 Ways to Join the Gift Economy

You don't have to participate in a local currency or service exchange to be part of the cooperative gift economy. Any time you do a favor for a family member, neighbor, colleague, or stranger you're part of it. Here are some ways you can spend time in the gift economy, where you'll find fun, freedom, and connection.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/money-print-your-own/37-ways-to-join-the-gift-economy

by Beverly Feldman, Charles Gray

Start a dinner co-op. Rotate among the homes of friends and neighbors for weekly or monthly potlucks.
Help a local farmer with the harvest in exchange for some of the crop.
Put up a traveler.
Hold twice-yearly sport supply exchanges so kids can acquire new skis and baseball mitts and everyone can try out a new sport.
Harvest wild or unwanted fruits and vegetables.
Grow your own, and give some of it away.
Share seeds and clippings from your garden - especially native and "heritage" species. Hold an annual plant exchange.
Organize a "non-consumption booth" at a farmers' market or street fair. At the Charlottetown Farmers' Market, the Environmental Chat Corner hosts discussions of environmental issues, sustainable building and landscaping, ecotourism, and community development.
Buy food or supplies in bulk and share with friends.
Form a home-repair team to fix your own place and others'.
Request help of someone usually regarded as needy.
Create your own rainy-day fund with your friends. One group pooled $1,000 each, which they lent to any in the group who needed it. The fund helped members survive a lost job, a stolen bicycle, and a broken arm.
Make space available to other people to grow food on your land.
Borrow garden space from someone who has extra land; give them,or a food bank, some of the produce.
Give co-workers neck and shoulder massages.
Offer to mentor a young person.
Ask a 12-year-old to show you how to get onto the Worldwide Web.
Throw a block party.
Show up at a soup kitchen and ask to volunteer help.
Rent out extra space to people needing a place to sleep, work, or just to get away, or exchange the space for yard work or baby-sitting.
Convert a duplex, apartment building, old nursing home, or seminary into a cohousing community.
Convert a barn or warehouse into a space for artists and start-up businesses.
Create a space for neighbors to keep and share infrequently used tools and extra garden supplies.
Start a baby-sitting or child care co-op.
Hold a monthly clean-up of a beach, park, roadway, river bank; get coffee houses to donate goodies.
Plant trees. Get the city to select and donate them.
Find a person on each block who will help neighbors get assistance when needed - from other neighbors when possible.
Share a car.
Or start a car co-op with various vehicles for different uses. Share expenses based on mileage.
Paint donated bicycles and place them in downtown areas with signs indicating they're for anyone to use.
Become a foster parent, a 'big brother' or 'big sister.' Notice the ways everyone benefits!
Exchange lessons, for example, cooking for carpentry.
Teach a skill, like carpentry, and ask your students to donate time to others.
Adopt a stream or a highway to restore, maintain, and beautify.
Work with your neighbors to develop a vision for your neighborhood's future.
Hold talent shows. Give kids lots of recognition, and everyone opportunity to discover their hidden talents.
Create your own money. Use ideas from YES! to start a community currency or skills exchange.

5th World Summit on Arts and Culture

2011-12-23T07:32:00.002Z

Presentations

Reports on each of the World Summit sessions are provided below by clicking on the session title below. Where we have been provided with a copy of a speaker’s presentation, this is linked to the speakers name in the programme below and is also linked to the speakers profiles on the speakers page. Please note that the presentations are large files and may take some time to download.

TUESDAY 4 October
PLACE
A sense of country and connection to the land is central to Indigenous peoples. As the landscape, environment and societies evolve, the broader community is also increasingly aware of the inextricable link between culture and place.
KEYNOTE SESSIONModerated by Robyn Archer AOJacques Martial talked about the links between culture and place. He is President of the Parc de la Villette in Paris, one of the best funded cultural institutions in France. While in the past local residents, many of whom are from North Africa, used the park for family leisure and play, very few entered the major cultural facilities which are integral to the park. Jacques Martial came into the Parc with an express policy for inclusion, both for those local residents and the arts and artists from France d’Outres-Mers: he will tell us how this is playing out and about his plans for the next five years. He has also been actively engaged in the region which includes Guadeloupe and Martinique and can offer a perspective on the arts there.
Eduard Miralles responded from a crucial point of intersection. How can local governments ensure that their cultural policies allow for the kind of radical cultural inclusion of long-resident minorities and recent arrivals as described by Jacques Martial? How can policy balance the sometimes conflicting emotions of artists and residents in the increasingly diverse mix of populations in our big cities and neighbourhoods? And what are the other cultural priorities for local government in the twenty-first century?
PANEL SESSION - My PlaceRocco Landesman, Pooja Sood and Lachlan McDonald talked about the creative intersections in three very different places in the world, and how the creative projects they are involved in are very much determined by the particular nature of their place. The economic revival of struggling American towns, an urban village in New Delhi, and small communities in the vast spaces of remote Western Australia all point to the specifics of ‘place’ and their intersection with the arts. The session was moderated by Professor Paul James.
ROUNDTABLES1: Indigenous wisdom of place (Supported by Creative New Zealand)
Dr Treahna Hamm (artist, Australia, of Yorta Yorta and Wadi Wadi peoples), Vernon Ah Kee (artist, Australia, born in North Queensland of the Kuku Yalandji, Waanji, Yidindji and Gugu Yimithirr peoples) Tainui Stephens (independent film and television producer, New Zealand, Te Rarawa). Moderator: Louise Profeit-Leblanc (Aboriginal Arts Coordinator, Canada Council, from the Nacho Nyak Dun First Nation of the Yukon Territory in Northern Canada).
The Earth’s Indigenous peoples have a richly layered connection to ‘country’. This intimate knowledge can inform 21st century environmental behaviour, especially through the arts, but also has the ability to influence multiple perspectives on contemporary art and life. The particular relationship of Indigenous artists to their sense of place is not only important for their own art, but offers vital pathways for all the arts. There is much to learn, and this is the table for fashioning a policy initiative which would enable that knowledge and art to be better understood and more widely disseminated.
2: A climate for change (Supported by the Asia-Europe Foundation as part of its Connect2Culture programme)
Vincensius ‘venzha’ Christianwan (Artist, House of Natural Fiber, Indonesia), Theo Anagnostopoulos (Founder, SciCo, Greece), Alison Tickell (Director, Julie’s Bicycle, England), Pooja Sood (Director, KHOJ International Artists’ Association, India). Moderator: Angharad Wynne-Jones (Producer, Tipping Point Australia).
There are multiple initiatives throughout the world for addressing the effects of climate change. Many artists, especially in the visual arts media, have addressed the issues through their work, but how can policy ensure best practice? There are excellent individual examples such as Julie’s Bicycle in London, the Sydney Theatre Company’s award-winning Greening the Wharf, and numerous individual festivals insisting on recycling and carbon offsets. Can policy pick up on these individual initiatives and ensure more widespread adoption of environmentally sustainable practices in the arts?
3: Rebuilding communitiesMaría Victoria Alcaraz (Director General, San Martín Cultural Centre, Argentina), Komi M’Kegbe Foga Tublu (Manager Cultural Heritage, Ecole du patrimoine africain, Benin), Pilar Kasat (Managing Director, Community Arts Network, Western Australia). Moderator: Elise Huffer (Culture Adviser, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Fiji).
When remote areas or fragile systems are hit by unexpected disturbances such as drought, flood, earthquakes, fire, but also shifting economies, job-loss, diminishing population and resources, how can the arts help rehabilitate such communities? Many artists, both local and visiting, want to work with affected communities and the communities are often keen to welcome artists into their midst. What are the policies that can facilitate such collaborations? In this session, our starting point examples are a ‘cultural first aid kit’ developed in response to the Chilean earthquake, the place of culinary art specific to the Batammariba people in building cultural tourism for Togo and Benin, and the inspirational story of resilience and hope in Narrogin, a wheatbelt town in Western Australia.
4: Invigorating cities Moira Sinclair (Executive Director, Arts Council England, London), Say Kosal (President, National League of Communes/Sangkats, Cambodia), Marcus Westbury (Founder, Renew Newcastle and Renew Australia), Eduard Miralles (Cultural Relations Advisor, Barcelona Provincial Council, Spain). Moderator: Sue Beal (Chair, Cultural Development Network, Australia).
Cities have become a hot topic. Recently the global balance gently tipped to a place where, for the first time in its recorded history, there were more people living in cities than not. And cities are growing. There are infinite ways in which the arts play a role in these places where rich and poor increasingly live side by side, and diverse cultures of age and race jostle. Are arts policies responding to these realities or are new frameworks required?
5: Changing places - evolving cultural policies in Asia (Supported by ASEF/culture360.org, an online portal of the Asia-Europe Foundation)
Dr Chaitanya Sambrani (Lecturer, art historian and curator, Australian National University School of Art and Social Sciences, Australia), Shen Qilan (Editor, Art World Magazine, China), Dr Kiwon Hong (Assistant professor of cultural policy, Sookmyung Women’s University, Korea), MaLou Jacob (Executive Director, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippines). Moderator: Lesley Alway (Arts Director, Asialink, Australia).
This roundtable took as its starting point the intersection of arts and cultural policies with international relations and more specifically the context provided by the shifts in geopolitics and world economies in Asia. It has been acknowledged that we are now living in the ‘Asian Century’ as the focus of economic development shifts from West to East, particularly through the emergence of the two new super economies - China and India.
This transference of economic power and influence has been accompanied by increasing interest in cultural engagement from within, without and across Asia. At the government level, this intersection is often referred to as ‘soft-power’ and whilst it risks collision with ‘nation-state’ marketing, it also provides new avenues for the arts to develop new bilateral and multilateral platforms for engagement. Additionally, some of the most stimulating projects have been generated from non-government and private initiatives.
6: Screening the landscapeVilsoni Hereniko (Director, Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture, and Pacific Studies, Fiji), Steven Loft (Trudeau National Visiting Fellow, Ryerson University, Canada). Moderator: John Oster (Chief Executive Officer, Indigenous Art Code, Australia)
With the background of Vilsoni Hereniko’s film The Land has Eyes, and others such as Warwick Thornton’s uncompromising portrayal of central Australia, Samson and Delilah, we discuss how screen-based arts paint powerful pictures of place. Baz Luhrmann’s film Australia was used by government tourism departments to leverage’ promotion for clear reasons. Does arts policy abandon screen to commercial forces, and if not, can it do more? What sparkling new policy initiative would allow screenbased arts to fulfil their 21st century potential?
7: Global connectivityDr Mario Merialdi (World Health Organisation, Switzerland), Jo Dorras (Wan Smolbag, Vanuatu), Katelijn Verstraete (Asia-Europe Foundation, Singapore). Moderator: Rose Hiscock (Executive Director, Arts Development, Australia Council)
The economic responsibility of developed nations towards developing nations is globally acknowledged, but have we taken the same level of responsibility in the arts? Artists have taken the lead in global collaborations of all kinds. Cultural ‘fusion’ is age-old and continuing, but are we doing the same in policy and arts-support?
At this Summit we had many participants from wealthy countries with healthy arts budgets and formal frameworks. But we also had participants from countries which have art and artists, but little or no formal policy frameworks or support for the arts. What are our responsibilities and how can we put them into action?
8: The outer limitsErica Seccombe (artist, Australia), Professor Tim Senden (Professor, ANU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Australia), Gavin Artz (CEO, Australian Network for Art and Technology). Moderator: Pia Waugh (IT Policy Advisor to Senator Kate Lundy and Digital Culture Sphere Coordinator, Australia).
Throughout history there have been artists who have leapt to use new technologies (electric light, recorded sound, photography, film etc). As advances in science and technology increase exponentially in the 21st century, artists’ experimentation abounds and in many cases reveals new potentials to their inventors. How does arts policy enable and support these collaborations and what would be the one big new policy shift or idea that would help arts keep in step with science in coming years?
9: Moving fast and flexible – the changing landscape of digital technologies   Becky Schutt (Fellow, Judge Business School, Cambridge University, England), Shane Simpson (Special Counsel, Simpsons, Australia), Pius Knüsel (Director, Pro Helvetia, the Swiss Arts Council). Moderator: Katherine Watson (Director, European Cultural Foundation, Netherlands).
The digital revolution has the power to strike fear into the hearts of anyone working in traditional real time/real space artforms. The fear is that download culture will eat away at traditional arts audiences and its popularity with digital natives will eventually see arts support shift to these newer forms of creativity and away from books, theatre, live music etc. But many see the huge opportunities that digital technology and communications can bring to artists and artforms, if they can open up and embrace them.

WEDNESDAY 5 October 2011
PEOPLE
The impact of the arts on the human landscape and how artists engage with community concerns such as crime prevention, poverty reduction, social cohesion, health and education will underscore the day’s discussions.
KEYNOTE SESSIONModerated by Robyn Archer AODr Tim Greacen made the claim that without health there is no creativity and vice versa. From his perspective as both psychologist and singer, he has explored the way health and the arts are intertwined. He has written extensively on doctor/patient relationships and advocated successful arts/health programmes such as Video et Sante which offers a pathway to mental health through new skills and creativity. He has also worked throughout the world in programmes for people with AIDS.
Jo Dorras and Danny Marcel, members of Wan Smolbag will respond from the perspective of a theatre company based in Port Vila for more than 20 years. They are not funded through a culture programme or policy, but largely through foreign aid which supports their social welfare and health programmes over a wide, inclusive base throughout Vanuatu and its remote islands. They have a particular focus on sexually transmitted diseases through the arts of drama (theatre and TV) and music, and create skills development opportunities in all branches of these media.
PANEL SESSION – OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE
Paul Komesaroff, Lucina Jiménez and Mike van Graan (traducción español) talked about those places where the arts intersect with real danger. In many places the arts are still viewed as a luxury and many of us are proud to describe the arts as a safe place to discuss dangerous issues, but there are places where just being an artist is dangerous, and others where art is obliged to intersect with armed conflict, serious unrest, and their consequences. The session was moderated by Amanda Smith (Presenter, Artworks, ABC Radio National, Australia).
ROUNDTABLES10: Across the divide   .Martin Drury (Arts Director, the Arts Council Ireland), Bilel Aboudi (Deputy Director of International Cooperation and External Relations/Public Services Advisor, Ministry of Culture, Tunisia). Moderator: Anne Dunn (Consultant, Australia).
What is the nature of the relationship between policy makers and arts practitioners and how might we bridge that gap? Could there be a new system of structures that enable holistic intersections with the myriad sectors that exist in society? As Martin Drury has written ‘The profile of the decision-makers and the vested interests of the “arts sector ” are among many barriers to full public participation in the arts. The creative intersections which were the focus of this Summit are part of a Cartesian geometry that never quite succeeds in squaring the circle. What might the alternative geometry look like?!’
11: Getting traction with arts and education policiesMichael Wimmer (Founder and General Manager, Educult, Austria), Linda Lorenza (Senior Project Officer, Arts, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority). Moderator: Lucina Jiménez (Anthropologist, Mexico)
The field of arts education and arts in education is awash with enthusiasm, passion, good thinking, even better intentions and new policy initiatives. But how much actually changes? Why have some countries succeeded in establishing well funded and effective arts education programmes, while others are losing ground due to changing political situations, and still others have yet to win the case for arts in the curriculum? How can arts education policies be more robust and what are the connections, actual and potential, between arts, artists and policymaking? Learn more about what the tensions are and help tease out the one big thing that might actually work for everyone.
12: Sante! Arts and wellbeing      Dr Tim Greacen (Director, Maison Blanche Research Laboratory, France), Pamela Udoka (President/Artistic Director, Children’s Arts Development Initiative, Nigeria), Raelene Baker (Principal Indigenous Advisor, Arts Queensland, Australia). Moderator: Professor Ruth Rentschler (Board member, VicHealth, Australia).
Research increasingly yields more evidence about the positive effects of the arts on human health. And it is coming at us from all angles and in all media: from ambient colour, design and music to skills development and practice by patients themselves - the arts work at many levels. The field in focus here is mental health, but the session will also consider the physical health perspective and all speakers have an intimate association with the arts in this context. From a dense field we need one beautiful flower to rise up as the most effective new policy initiative.
13: Who put the ‘dis’ in disability?Gaelle Mellis (Resident Designer, Restless Dance Theatre, Australia), Emma Bennison (Executive Officer, Arts Access Australia). Moderator: Becky Llewellyn (Director, Disability Consultancy Services, Australia).
The world abounds with goodwill towards the inclusion of everyone into the arts, whether as artist, arts-worker or audience. But there is often a cost associated with accessibility and inclusion, and when funding feels the squeeze, the temptation is to cut back on practical applications. The wellmade plans are dis-continued, dis-missed and the extent of the problem sometimes dis-guised. So what’s possible? And what’s most needed at this time? The answer to those questions is what this session should take to the final plenary.
14: The art of misdemeanourAndrew Dixon (Chief Executive, Creative Scotland), PANG Khee Teik (Arts Programme Director, Annexe Gallery, Malaysia) and Scott Rankin (Big hART, Australia) Moderator: Lydia Miller (Executive Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Arts, Australia Council).
The intersection of arts with what Scott Rankin has called ‘outsider culture’ has produced surprising results, as has the work of artists in prisons and in other contexts outside the law. While rehabilitation may be the key concern on the inside, and political action on the outside, the fact is that art often reaches beyond the immediate objectives. Good writing, good music, good visual art and video, theatre and screen-based work can emerge from the ‘inside’ and at the outermost edge. Where and how could policy have an effect on the potential of these transactions?
15: Interculturality: Creating dynamic intersections      Professor Michael Mel (Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Goroka, Papua New Guinea), Paula Abood (Arab Australian writer), Nike Jonah (Project Manager, decibel Performing Arts Showcase, Arts Council England), Dr Tim Curtis Programme Specialist for Culture, UNESCO office Bangkok, Thailand). Moderator: Magdalena Moreno (CEO, Kultour, Australia).
When people of diverse cultures meet and engage, a dynamic space is created. This session explores the creative environment that emerges when cultural diversity is at the heart of the artistic synapse. The 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions states that cultural diversity is a driving force of development, not only in respect of economic growth, but also as a means of leading a more fulfilling intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual life. What role can cultural policy play in stimulating the potential for living encounters where the unscripted more often than not has the most significant and systemic impact?
16: It’s not just a case of ‘show me the money’Anmol Vellani (Executive Director, India Foundation for the Arts), Rupert Myer (Philanthropist and Chair, National Gallery of Australia), Ariunaa Tserenpil (Director, Arts Council of Mongolia). Moderator: Louise Walsh (Director, Artsupport Australia, Australia Council).
The place of philanthropy in the arts differs spectacularly from country to country, even city to city. Where governments do support the arts, from time to time they are inspired by the level of philanthropy in the USA and crave that situation for their own countries. Yet the global financial crisis has proven how fragile such a system is. What is the relationship between the philanthropic spirit and public policy in the arts? Should it be more than just a matter of input credits? What is at the heart of the creative intersection of artists and private generosity? Is something else needed in policy terms?
17: Not such strange bedfellows      Edna dos Santos-Duisenberg (Chief, Creative Economy Programme, UNCTAD, Switzerland), Farai Mpfunya (Executive Director, Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust), Elizabeth Ann Macgregor (Director, Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia).   Moderator: Professor Justin O’Connor (Professor, Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Australia).
There was a time when some artists scorned corporate investment in the arts and commercialisation of culture was seen as cynical and shallow; but now it is understood that on the one hand artists can work in genuine collaboration with corporate partners, and on the other hand they can become businesses in their own right. The worldwide interest in public policy that supports ‘creative industries’ is partly a response to a new breed of artist that sees no conflict between art and business. Is there however a conflict between support for those arts which have commercial potential with those that will always need subsidy? How does policy deal with it?
18: Finally – the numbers      Professor David Throsby (Professor of Economics, Macquarie University, Australia), Dr Audrey Yue (Lecturer, University of Melbourne, Australia). Moderator: Annamari Laaksonen (Research Manager, IFACCA Australia).
Statistics on the arts, how they are collected and how the arts are evaluated in formal ways may seem dry stuff to artists, but they are invaluable when it comes to mounting arguments for policy which drives support for the arts, arts education, regional priorities etc. How can the numbers be most effectively gathered and applied, and how do we ensure that the arts retain their freedom of expression and operation aside from the need for formal evaluation?
OPEN SESSIONS – CREATING CONNECTIONSAfter the hard work in the roundtables, and as the rapporteurs work to present in the final plenary on Thursday, this was the delegates' chance to pursue their own interests and pick two sessions from an eclectic array of options that, in one way or another, relate to the idea of creative intersections. Presentations ranged from projects to publications, case-studies to artworks.
FIRST SESSION
Presentations by delegates, including the performance below by Jacques Martial.
Mauricio Delfin, Culturaperu.org
Maryam Rasihidi, PhD Candidate, Research School of Humanities & the Arts, Australian National University, Australia
SECOND SESSION
Further presentations by delegates.
Hossam Nassar, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Culture, Egypt
Hilary Ogbechie, Acting Director - Extension Services, National Council for Arts & Culture, Nigeria
Mahiriki Tangaroa and Michael Gunn, National Museum of the Cook Islands and National Gallery of Australia
In the first session, in Plenary 1, Jacques Martial gave a special delegates-only performance (in English) of L’echange, Notebook of a Return to My Native Land, Aimé Césaire’s seminal prose/poem which coined the word ‘negritude’ and was ubsequently taken up by America’s Black Rights movement. This work was co-commissioned by 10 Days on the Island (Tasmania) and has been performed all over the world including before the French President on the occasion of the anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in France.
THURSDAY 6 October 2011
POLICIES
Having explored Place and People, we concluded the Summit by considering the policies and programmes that might help underpin resilient partnerships between artists and other areas of society.
WRAP UPModerated by Robyn Archer
Professor Brad Haseman (Queensland University of Technology, Australia) summarised the discussion from the first two days and in particular the roundtables on PLACE and PEOPLE. He outlined some of the key ideas for arts policy initiatives (POLICIES) to support artists to intersect with broad social issues while maintaining the integrity of their development and practice.
FINAL KEYNOTE SESSIONA session to promote some food for thought and action.
Alison Tickell (Julie’s Bicycle, UK). For many global citizens environmental sustainability is the most important issue of our time. While many in the arts express their concern, just as many still struggle with how they can affect the kinds of changes which will make a difference. Julie’s Bicycle is a shining example of achievement in this area and should inspire us to move towards equivalent goals in our own spheres. The session was moderated by Robyn Archer AO.

A framework for a sustainable economy

2011-12-20T00:13:00.002Z

http://www.forumforthefuture.org/project/framework-sustainable-economy/overview

Sustainable Economy in 2040 - full report

Sustainable Economy in 2040 - executive summary

Sustainable Economy Framework cards

Project Overview

“Our food reserves are at a 50-year low, but by 2030 we need to be producing 50% more food. At the same time, we will need 50% more energy, and 30% more fresh water… You can't think about dealing with one without considering the others. We must deal with all of these together."
- John Beddington, UK Government’s Chief Scientist

There is growing recognition that our global economy is unsustainable. John Beddington talks of a ‘perfect storm’ of food, energy and water shortages converging in 2030. Underlying this are deep long-term trends such as population growth, climate change, persistent poverty and poor health. Governments and business are beginning to take action. Yet we struggle to understand what is meant by sustainable economy. And how do you turn sustainability risks into opportunities? Both the Technology Strategy Board and Aviva Investors have been engaging with these issues proactively. We’ve been working with these two organisations to develop a Sustainable Economy Framework (SEF) that defines what we mean by environmental limits and social value.

What is the ‘Sustainable Economy Framework’ (SEF)?

The SEF sets out the parameters for a sustainable future economy that can help today’s investments and business decisions deliver sustainable value over the long term. The SEF defines the characteristics of a sustainable economy: one that operates within safe environmental limits and enriches people’s lives. It has been developed by Forum for the Future in partnership with Aviva Investors and the Technology Strategy Board and is based on analysis of over 40 sources and frameworks examining the topic of sustainable economy, as well as extensive stakeholder consultation.

The outermost ring of the SEF describes the key environmental boundaries that any successful economy must respect. The second ring describes the social and political conditions which we believe are necessary to support a complex, flourishing global civilization. These all work towards delivering the desired outcomes (the ‘bullseye’ of the SEF) – universal and continuous access for current and future generation to the resources and opportunities necessary to live well.

We have developed similar but different versions of the SEF to align to the strategic priorities of Aviva Investors and Technology Strategy Board.

Read more on how Aviva Investors and Forum for the Future see the role of capital markets in facilitating a sustainable economy and more on howTechnology Strategy Board are integrating the SEF into their investments.

Contact us with comments on the framework or to discuss how you can use within your own organisation by emailing SEF@forumforthefuture.org.

Sustainable Cities - Urban Excellence

2011-12-18T03:36:00.003Z

Voula Mega - Sustainable Cities for the Third Millennium The Odyssey of Urban Excellence.pdf

60979915 Green Urbanism

Life in 2050 - Sustainable Lifestyle

2011-12-15T00:50:00.004Z

http://life2050.com/sustainable-lifestyles/

Sustainable Lifestyles 2050

For decades there was a dramatically increasing upward trend in consumption levels, first in what was then called the ‘developed’ world, and then in the ‘emerging’ markets. For a time it appeared that there was no stopping it, but we finally managed to find ways to create sustainable alternatives that didn’t feel like lesser options; to find early signs of a real shift in values; and to find the right ways of communicating both of these trends to build civic will. Our organization was active in each of these areas, through our aligned work with partners, and our understanding of consumers. It all began when we partnered with Collective Invention to create a deeply immersive futures experience called Sustainable Lifestyles 2050.

Sustainable Materials

2011-12-13T16:01:00.004Z

Free download at:
http://www.withbotheyesopen.com/index.html

Julian M Allwood
Jonathan M Cullen

with Mark A Carruth, Daniel R Cooper, Martin McBrien, Rachel L Milford, Muiris C Moynihan, Alexandra CH Patel

Virtuous Circles: Values, Systems and Sustainability

2011-12-13T15:56:00.000Z

by Andy Jones, Michel Pimbert and Janice Jiggins

Free download at
http://pubs.iied.org/G03177.html

IIED code:

G03177

Published:

Nov 2011 - IIED, IUCN

Source pub:

Reclaiming Diversity and Citizenship

Topics:

Agriculture & Food, Natural Resource Management

Details:

Book/Report

Language:

English

Our current way of providing food and other basic needs involves industrialised systems that are linear, centralised and globalised. In the linear approach, it is assumed that at one end of a system there is an unlimited supply of energy and raw materials (which there isn’t), while at the other the environment has an infinite capacity to absorb pollution and waste (which it hasn’t). The inevitable result is resource shortages on the one hand and solid waste, climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution problems on the other.

An alternative to the current linear paradigm is to develop productive systems that minimise external inputs, pollution and waste (as well as risk, dependency and costs) by adopting a circular metabolism. There are two principles here, both reflecting the natural world. The first is that natural systems are based on cycles, for example water, nitrogen and carbon. Secondly, there is very little waste in natural systems. The ‘waste’ from one species is food for another, or is converted into a useful form by natural processes and cycles.

This book shows how these principles can be used to create systems and settlements that provide food, energy and water without consuming large quantities of fossil fuels and other finite resources. In the process, greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution are minimised whilst human well being, food and livelihood security, and democratic control are enhanced.

More information on IIED site

Cities and Climate Change

2011-12-12T07:02:00.001Z

Natural Solutions for Climate Change

Natural Solutions

Cities and Climate Change

Cities and Climate Change

How the Dutch got their cycling infrastructure

2011-12-06T00:29:00.000Z

http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-dutch-got-their-cycling.html

How did the Dutch get their cycling infrastructure? This question keeps coming back because it is of course relevant to people who want what the Dutch have.

Road building traditions go back a long way and they are influenced by many factors. But the way Dutch streets and roads are built today is largely the result of deliberate political decisions in the 1970s to turn away from the car centric policies of the prosperous post war era. Changed ideas about mobility, safer and more livable cities and about the environment led to a new type of streets in the Netherlands.

The recent video to introduce the Dutch Cycling Embassy explains this very briefly, but there is a lot more that can be said about it.
Please watch this video before you read on.

“The Netherlands’ problems were and are not unique, their solutions shouldn’t be that either.”

Thus ends the video, but what do I mean by that? I think the Dutch could and should be copied. If you look at the key factors for the change in Dutch thinking, you see these are just as valid today. The world is still too dependent on fossil fuels and many cities in the world have congested streets. Streets and roads which are also very dangerous, especially for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. And that is even more so when these road users are elderly or children.

Other elements leading to the change are also not unique. That is not only so for the protest posters.

Cycle protest posters Amsterdam 1980

Critical Mass posters 2007-2011 various places

The mass cycling protests in the 1970s look very similar as well, compared to protests in other countries today. Like the massive number of people protesting by bike on London's Blackfriars bridge just a couple of days ago.

Cycling protest tour 1979, Amsterdam.

Blackfriars protest tour 2011, London.
(Picture by Joe Dunckley)

Even the rogue painting of cycling infrastructure on roads is something that could be witnessed just a few weeks ago in Moscow.

Painting cycle lanes, Amsterdam 1980

Painting cycle lanes, Moscow 2011

So where then is the difference? The below picture from 1974 says a lot. It shows the then prime minister of the Netherlands Joop den Uyl and his wife, accepting a record from the foundation ‘Stop de kindermoord’ (stop the child murder) with a protest song.

Prime Minister Joop den Uyl and his wife accepting a record with a protest song by 'Stop de Kindermoord' with the radical title:
"playing on the streets: death penalty"

This was at their home where they were adressed as parents. It gives a clear picture of how the pressure groups of the 1970s managed to get the political powers to listen to them and take action. It took them a decade, before not only decision makers, but also the planners finally listened to the protests. Getting the people who take decisions and those who have to draw plans for the streets to adopt the new ideas: that is where the real change started.

Teaching Economics as if People Mattered

2011-12-01T08:04:00.001Z

http://www.teachingeconomics.org/

economics lesson plans available, free of charge. Each one includes everything you need to get started and all are mapped into NCEE standards.

UFE is a national organization which raises awareness that concentrated wealth and power undermine the economy, corrupt democracy, deepen the racial divide, and tear communities apart. We support and help build social movements for greater equality.

Reach And Teach creates and distributes social justice themed learning products focused on civil rights, economic justice, global issues, and non-violence.

Ms. Giecek is currently an Organizational Specialist for the Virginia Education Association. A long-time social studies teacher, she authored the original curriculum and is an advisor on the development of these revised lesson plans.

These lessons are made available, free of charge, through the generous contributions to UFE from individual donors and foundations including the Hancock Family Foundation AND DONORS LIKE YOU!

	Defining Economics How do you define economics? What's it all about? How does the economy relate to our lives and what's the difference between democracy as a political system and capitalism as an economic system?

	The Ten Chairs Musical chairs in High School? Absolutely! Students act out the distribution of wealth in the United States. What is wealth and who owns how much of it? What are assets and debts? What changes have families seen in their economic condition between 1976 and today?

	Saving Accounts & Stocks How do savings accounts function? What is interest? How do stocks function? What are dividends?

	Born on Third Base How do Americans acquire their fortunes? Is there really a level playing field or do some people start on third base? What impact does your level of wealth have on the types of assets you can acquire?

	Signs of the Times What are the signs we are told to look for to gauge economic success? Does a rising GDP or GNP mean prosperity for all? What would a pro-family economic agenda look like?

Ecosystem Management: Tomorrow’s Approach to Enhancing Food Security under a Changing Climate

2011-11-29T00:48:00.001Z

http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/3/7/937/

Richard Tingem Munang ¹^,* , Ibrahim Thiaw ¹ and Mike Rivington ²

¹ United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi 30197, Kenya² The James Hutton Institute, Macaulay Drive, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 25 April 2011; in revised form: 16 May 2011 / Accepted: 8 June 2011 / Published: 28 June 2011

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Security and Environmental Sustainability)

Download PDF Full-Text [375 KB, uploaded 28 June 2011 11:34 CET]

Abstract: This paper argues that a sustainable ecosystem management approach is vital to ensure the delivery of essential ‘life support’ ecosystem services and must be mainstreamed into societal conscience, political thinking and economic processes. Feeding the world at a time of climate change, environmental degradation, increasing human population and demand for finite resources requires sustainable ecosystem management and equitable governance. Ecosystem degradation undermines food production and the availability of clean water, hence threatening human health, livelihoods and ultimately societal stability. Degradation also increases the vulnerability of populations to the consequences of natural disasters and climate change impacts. With 10 million people dying from hunger each year, the linkages between ecosystems and food security are important to recognize. Though we all depend on ecosystems for our food and water, about seventy per cent of the estimated 1.1 billion people in poverty around the world live in rural areas and depend directly on the productivity of ecosystems for their livelihoods. Healthy ecosystems provide a diverse range of food sources and support entire agricultural systems, but their value to food security and sustainable livelihoods are often undervalued or ignored. There is an urgent need for increased financial investment for integrating ecosystem management with food security and poverty alleviation priorities. As the world’s leaders worked towards a new international climate change agenda in Cancun, Mexico, 29 November–10 December 2010 (UNFCCC COP16), it was clear that without a deep and decisive post-2012 agreement and major concerted effort to reduce the food crisis, the Millennium Development Goals will not be attained. Political commitment at the highest level will be needed to raise the profile of ecosystems on the global food agenda. It is recommended that full recognition and promotion be given of the linkages between healthy, protected ecosystems and global food security; that sufficient resources be allocated for improved ecosystem valuation, protection, management and restoration; and that ecosystem management be integrated in climate change and food security portfolios. We will not be able to feed the world and eradicate extreme poverty, if we do not protect our valuable ecosystems and biodiversity.

Keywords: food security; climate change; ecosystem management; ecosystem services; biodiversity; Millennium Development Goals; poverty

Rough Guide to Community Energy

2011-11-29T00:40:00.001Z

http://www.roughguide.to/communityenergy/

What can we do to create sustainability in our own communities? How can local people work together to save or generate energy and tackle climate change? The Rough Guide to Community Energy has the answers. Packed full of practical advice and inspiring case studies, it covers:

Local energy groups – how to set one up and keep its momentum going

Types of project including solar, wind, hydro, biomass, CHP and energy efficiency

Getting a project off the ground, from fundraising and planning to construction

Real-world advice from successful groups all over the UK

Whether you’re looking for inspiration or you already have a local energy group, The Rough Guide to Community Energy will help you make your project happen.

About the book

Sowing the Seeds - Reconnecting London's Children with Nature

2011-11-29T00:36:00.001Z

Research and Reports

The LSDC has written and commissioned research on issues that are critical to London. You can find our recent publications below.

http://www.londonsdc.org/lsdc/research.aspx

Sowing the Seeds - Reconnecting London's Children with Nature

London is known as a green city - approximately two-thirds of its area is defined as green space and many sites are rich in wildlife. Much work is underway to protect and develop this, most notably through the Mayor's Great Outdoors Strategy, the London Plan which seeks to address deficiencies in line with the Mayor's Biodiversity Strategy, and through partnerships such as the Green Grid, that seek to increase green space provision, and quality, at a local level. Through these, the provision of the resource has been the primary focus. More recently, for example through the Health Inequalities Strategy, the focus has shifted to the benefits of increasing the level and type of use.

Previous research has suggested that a child's contact with nature is particularly important. Natural environments are said to have restorative qualities that help in relaxing and coping with everyday stress. They are claimed to promote adaptive processes in child development (for instance motor fitness, physical competence and self-confidence). They are said to support learning and education. Finally, it is claimed that spending time as a child in green outdoor environments nurtures lifelong positive attitudes about nature and the wider environment. Maximising young people's contact, and the quality of that contact, with nature in the city is therefore fundamental. Children under the age of 12 were taken as the focus for this research.

The purposes of the research, commissioned from writer and researcher Tim Gill, are to:
. Summarise the benefits experienced by society from increasing the opportunity for children under the age of 12 to experience nature;
. Identify the most successful interventions to encourage regular access to nature amongst children under the age of 12, and make policy recommendations to facilitate this in the mainstream;
. Support the move of current thinking beyond provision of natural spaces, to focus on actual use of natural spaces;
. Develop alternative metrics that may accurately measure access to nature amongst children under the age of 12.

The Report was launched at City Hall on 17 November 2011. The Recommendations in the Report will be taken forward by a time limited Steering Group made up of representatives from relevant sectors and co-ordinated by the LSDC.

If you would like to know more about the Steering Group please contact lsdc@london.gov.uk.

Sowing the Seeds - Full report [PDF 2.17MB]Sowing the Seeds - Summary [PDF 1.18MB]
Children and Nature - Literature Review [PDF 1.22MB]

Income Inequalities

In 2010 the London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC) commissioned a piece of research by Professors Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett to further debate around the multifaceted and long-term issue of income inequalities.

Based on a similar methodology to their book, 'The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better', the work examines the cause and potential effects of income inequalities in London and implications for sustainable development. It argues that income inequality is bad not just for those at the bottom of the income scale, but also for society as a whole. The work opened up the debate on the cause and potential effects of income inequalities in London and the LSDC has been keen to hear all sides before drawing its own conclusions.

It is now clear from recent academic debate that there are differing opinions on the link between income inequalities and the social problems as set out within the Spirit Level. A summary of the debate can be found here. This documents the RSA event which brought together Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson with Peter Saunders (author of the Policy Exchange report Beware False Prophets: Equality, the Good Society and The Spirit Level) and Christopher Snowden (author of The Spirit Level Delusion) to debate the methodology and conclusions of The Spirit Level.

Notwithstanding the ongoing debate about the link between income inequality and social problems, the LSDC feels that the underlying issues affecting London's most poor remain an issue. The LSDC will therefore continue to advocate for action in support of tackling these issues and improving quality of life for all Londoners.

The impact of income inequalities on sustainable development in London [PDF 3.6MB]
The impact of income inequalities on sustainable development in London [RTF 247KB]
Correction to figure 24

Sustainable development at the strategic level

Capital Consumption: the transition to sustainable consumption and production in London - December, 2009
This timely report from the LSDC and BioRegional, published in the run up to climate negotiations in Copenhagen, examines the full extent of London's carbon dioxide emissions when including those from imported goods consumed in London. The report also illustrates how adopting measures to reduce consumption based carbon emissions could also help create jobs, build a more resilient economy and benefit the health and social well-being of Londoners.

Capital Consumption [PDF 5.5MB]
Capital Consumption [RTF 240KB]

Good Growth

2011-11-29T00:33:00.001Z

Authors
Kitty Ussher
Publication Type
Pamphlet
Publication Date
2011-11-11
ISBN
978-1-906693-87-9
Cost
10.0
Download for free
http://www.demos.co.uk/publications/goodgrowth
The Prime Minister, paraphrasing Robert Kennedy in a speech last November, said that GDP ‘measures everything except that which makes life worthwhile’. Yet policy-makers and commentators remain fixed on GDP and growth above all else. The Government has asked the Office for National Statistics to discover how happy the population are – to measure ‘general wellbeing’ – but there is no clear policy agenda to follow from the results.

Good Growth goes a step further. The analysis in this pamphlet is a first in the measurement of ‘national progress’ – asking people their opinion on matters of policy, rather than just inquiring about their subjective experience. It finds that wider issues such as work-life balance, health and housing are viewed by the public as critical components of good economic performance, on top of raw GDP.

Through extensive polling and conjoint analysis, which forces participants to make trade-offs between factors, this pamphlet reveals what people value when push comes to shove. It recommends that at the same time as tracking GDP the Government should adopt the good growth index, so that economic policy decisions are aligned with citizens’ wishes. Only with this insight can policy- makers build the type of economy the public wants to see.

Wellbeing is our birth right

2011-11-27T15:51:00.001Z

Treating crisis as an opportunity for transformation.

http://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article3492-wellbeing-is-our-birthright.html

by Satish Kumar

A new vision of wellbeing is on the horizon. And together with sustainability, resilience, deep ecology and Gaia we need to embrace an inclusive and holistic concept of wellbeing.

The focus is shifting. The commitment of governments around the world to the singular goal of growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is being questioned and a new understanding is emerging. Economists, industrialists and policymakers are realising that GDP is not enough and is not a guarantee of a good society. For many seemingly wealthier countries, GDP has moved exponentially upwards but the health and happiness of the population have fallen. At the same time the stress on our natural resources has increased out of all proportion (peak oil is only the tip of the iceberg).

The idea of ‘wellbeing’ has often been very narrowly interpreted and poorly understood. It has been associated with personal growth and personal development; a search for job satisfaction, work/life balance, more time for yoga, walking, gardening and resting. But this view is changing.

Radical ecologists are now proposing a decrease in economic output, a reduction in material consumption, the setting of limits to our use of non-renewable resources, and an increase in the growth of human wellbeing and the wellbeing of planet Earth.

Cambridge University’s Well-being Institute has been established for the scientific study of wellbeing. The launching of the Happy Planet Index by the new economics foundation (nef) is a step in the right direction, and nef has now established a Centre for Well-being too. In other words, this topic is now being taken very seriously. Richard Layard of LSE has launched Action for Happiness, which is a movement for positive social change. One of the pioneers (as we reported in Resurgence last year) has been the government of Bhutan, which launched a measure of Gross National Happiness (GNH) in place of Gross National Product (GNP) long before anyone in Western politics had the courage to challenge the orthodoxy of GNP. Just a year later, we have European politicians such as David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy talking about the need to focus on wellbeing. As a result, in a recent survey of households in the UK the Office for National Statistics asked questions such as “To what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?”

These are all good starting points. A shift of emphasis from exclusive attention to economic growth, high living standards, social mobility and materialism to a politics of wellbeing is very welcome. The question is: how authentic and genuine is this shift?

The establishment is very good at hijacking or even stealing the words of the green movement and then carrying on with ‘business as usual’. For example, the word ‘sustainability’ is often used both by politicians and by business leaders, but when we then examine their actions and practices it is difficult to believe that they have understood the meaning of the word. It appears that they want to have their cake and eat it: they wish to achieve sustainability without disengaging themselves from the causes of ‘unsustainability’ such as globalisation, the free market, mass transportation and deep-sea oil exploration. The truth is that if they wish to embrace wellbeing they will have to be more honest about it and turn away from their clear commitment to unlimited economic growth and the religion of materialism.

Wellbeing is not merely an extrinsic value: it is an extrinsic and an intrinsic value at the same time. It is, in the long term, impossible for an individual to be happy when others are suffering from starvation, social injustice and wars. Also, how can an individual be healthy on an unhealthy planet? Health of the person and health of the planet are two sides of the same coin.

Individuals and communities live in a seamless web of relationships. If those relationships are flourishing, individuals and communities will flourish. If the web of relationships is in turmoil, there can be no tranquillity, no harmony in the lives of individuals, their families or their communities. Wellbeing is as much a spiritual value as it is an economic necessity.

If we suffer from fear, anxiety, greed, anger, craving and selfishness, then wellbeing will remain a distant goal. But if we cultivate compassion, courage, caring, gratitude and humility, then wellbeing will be near at hand. Psychological wellbeing is a first step to social and environmental wellbeing, but without social and environmental wellbeing, psychological wellbeing will remain a distant dream.

We are happy only when we make others happy – it is a seamless process. If the forests are gone, if biodiversity is diminished, if water is polluted, if cruelty is inflicted on animals, then there can be no personal peace or social coherence. If human communities are damaged because of poverty and deprivation, then they will be forced to encroach more upon natural resources. Therefore social justice is an essential part of wellbeing.

So the big vision of wellbeing is that it must be a personal, social and ecological whole: Happy Person, Happy People, Happy Planet!

Satish Kumar is Editor-in-Chief of Resurgence magazine.