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Sustainable development

Page history last edited by Brian D Butler 1 year, 5 months ago

 

Sustainable Development

 

Sustainable development means that you dont just go into Brazil, for example, ask them not to cut down the forest.  Because there are also very human poverty and development issues that also need to be addressed.  Sustainable development is about trying to find the right mix of consumption today with investment (and resource protection) for the future.   Its ultimately about finding sustainable development ways to improves lives of individuals (and families). 

 

The goal is to help sustain the individuals (and their families) buy buying their products. Paying workers a "fair wage" and protecting the health and safety is a primary goal, and is discussed at lengeth in the  fair trade policy. 

 

see also our discussion on  Investing in socially good projects

 

 

Student's Resources:

 

 

Economic Growth and the Challenge of Stability

Assign students this op-ed by CFR's Michael A. Spence, where he states that it is critical to adapt our economic growth model to account for sustainability. Engage students in a class discussion over Spence's assertion that achieving sustainability must be a bottom-up process. Read the Op-Ed »

 

 

 

Sustainable Innovation:

 

see our discussion on Innovation .   One key issue we will review is: How go design "green", sustainable innovations?  The key is to use materials that can breakdown.   Here is an interesting guide in video:  Biosphere Rules for sustainable profits

 

Sustainable Investing

 

see our discussion on Investing in socially good projects and funding for the social entrepreneur

 

 

Sustain Individuals and Families

Humanitarian message

Sustainable development for the individual (and family) -

Beyond just a “sustain the environment” message, I also want to create my marketing message around sustainable development of families as well. The image will be that you can help sustain the individuals (and their families) buy buying our furniture. Since we already pay our workers three to four times the minimum wage in Brazil, this should be an easy first step in creating our feel-good image. There is very little debate or negotiation needed in this area. It’s a clear green light.

 

 

 

 

Highlighting some key companies

These are other companies that have used the "feel-good" message to help sell their products

http://www.worldofgood.com • World of Good Inc., a Berkley, Calif.-based provider of “fair trade” globally-sourced goods, has raised $4 million in Series B funding. Backers include Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Omidyar Network and Cliff Higgerson.

http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/home.php - they have stores in nearly all US and Canadian cities

www.camanoislandcoffee.com - excellent video - makes you want to help

 

 

 

 

More info..

 

Sustainable development is a socio-ecological process characterized by the fulfillment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment indefinitely. The linkage between environment and development was globally recognized in 1980, when the International Union for the Conservation of Nature published the World Conservation Strategy and used the term "sustainable development."

 

The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, social-political sustainability.

 

Scheme of sustainable development: at the confluence of three preoccupations.
Scheme of sustainable development: at the confluence of three preoccupations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Green development is generally differentiated from Sustainable development in that Green development prioritizes what its proponents consider to be environmental sustainability over economic and cultural considerations. Proponents of Sustainable Development argue that it provides a context in which to improve overall sustainability where cutting edge Green development is unattainable.

 

 

 

What does "sustainable development" include?

 

 

The United Nations Division for Sustainable Development lists the following areas as coming within the scope of Sustainable Development:[4]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economic Sustainability

In 2006 World of Good worked with 142 artisan groups in 34 countries. Here, we report on just a few of the groups who told us how World of Good was changing their lives by providing regular income, improving their working conditions and increasing the quality of life for their families.

 

 

Shiva Shakthi

 Country: India

Number of Artisans: 35 women

Number of Dependents: 105

Expertise: Sewing and Embroidering

Products Carried by World of Good: Transformation Tote, Inner Reflections, Jump for Joy

 

“To be very honest, Shiva Shakthi is still existing today because of World of Good. We have been training women for about 8 years but could not give them regular employment since we could not find adequate markets for the products. Regular orders from World of Good have meant regular incomes for these women. This has benefited them in so many ways – physically, socially and psychologically. World of Good has understood our motives and have been supporting us because, I guess, they have the same motives – helping the poor. They have also been increasing the volume of orders to us without any requests to reduce prices which I believe is the usual norm in business practices. All I can say at this point is what I often repeat – World of Good has really lived up to its name since they have done us a world of good!”

      - Dr. Uma, Shiva Shakthi

 

 

 

Footloose

 Country: Tanzania

Number of Artisans: 175 (150 women, 25 men)

Number of Dependents: 750

Expertise: Basket Weaving

Products Carried by World of Good: Sweet Success, It Takes a Village, Wonderful Women Weave

 

As a result of working with World of Good, the living conditions of groups we are working with has improved because we pre-paid them and they managed to make many more items than what they have done before. The money was used for school fees and school uniforms so the groups were very committed.”

      - Ndelle and Joyce, Footloose

 

 

Mercado Global

 Country: Guatemala

Number of Artisans: 84 (78 women, 6 men)

Number of Dependents: 546

Expertise: Beading jewelry, sewing and potting

Products Carried by World of Good: Berry Good Bag, Not Just Cosmetic, Delicate Strength, Colors of the Rainbow, Crystal Clear

 

“Earnings from the sale of our products to World of Good were used by artisans primarily to 1) supplement their families’ diets with more nutritious foods, especially fruit and meat which are generally too expensive, 2) cover the cost of sending additional children to school and 3) purchase additional tools and technology for safer, more efficient working conditions.”

      - Ruth DeGolia, Mercado Global

 

 

Social Transformation

Thanks to our fundraising efforts as well as the support of our many volunteers and retailers we were able to raise enough money to fund 8 development grants through World of Good Development Organization , our sister non-profit.

 

Computer Lab

StreetWires (South Africa)

 

This grant provided artisans with access to information, resources and a wider professional network. Artisan Christopher Sandisolo tells us, “I only started appreciating computers when I started learning how to use them after the donation. I can now check my email and I have also subscribed for art and craft articles. I’ve moved from being an ordinary man in the wire and bead industry into an upcoming craft designer.”

 

 

Educational Toys for Preschool

Shiva Shakthi (India) 

 

This grant funded educational toys and equipment for a preschool in this artisan community. The children of the artisans attend the preschool while their mothers embroider pouches, totes and slings nearby.

 

 

Medical Equipment

Freeset Bags (India)

 

This artisan group covers the cost of emergency medical care for its artisans. This grant allows Freeset to make non-emergency, regular healthcare accessible by funding the equipment to create an on-site patient examination room for routine check-ups.

 

Water System

Ajquema Cooperative (Guatemala)

 

Hurricane Stan ravaged the water system in the Guatemalan community of Zaput in 2005, leaving the artisans without access to clean drinking water. This grant provides the resources to rebuild and improve the water system that serves the whole community.

 

Furniture for Preschool

Aulac (Vietnam)

 

Artisans in Ha Tay province were awarded this grant to purchase furniture for a preschool in their community.

 

Kindergarten Renovation

Kandari (Indonesia)

 

This grant will fund the purchase of learning materials, playground equipment, bookshelves and art supplies that will support the kindergarten’s curriculum and develop the children’s creativity.

 

Freshwater Wells

Nyabigena (Kenya) 

 

Until 2006, artisans in the Nyabigena soapstone carving community in Kenya had to walk three hours a day to access clean water. With the World of Good Development Organization grant the artisans now have two freshwater wells right in their community. Some have used the time saved to start a community garden and a sewing cooperative.

 

 

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