Sustainability has no political colour. As Minister of Canada’s Public Works & Government Services, and former Secretary of State (Western Diversification), Stephen Owen, a Liberal Party Candidate, has shown an strong commitment to advance sustainability in the Federal Government. The attached letter of support from prominent Canadians leaders details Stephen’s accomplishments. It is quite enlightening. We should allow Stephen Owen (and by the same token David Anderson) to continue the great job they are doing by supporting the Kyoto Protocol, greening government services and developing the conditions for a sustainable Canada. Note: The above represents the personal view of the “Sustainability Now” editor not those of APEGBC or its membership. It is not a call for voting for any particular party, but a plead for considering the impact on the advance (or regress) of sustainability that your vote might have.
from: Stephen Owen document: Letter Support to Stephen Owen in detail see also: Public Works and Government Services Implement Sustainability XlnkS694 XlnkC190F
Monthly Archives: June 2004
From Persuasion to Determination
The imperative to work for the good of society need not necessarily be limited to the here and now. Whether as individuals or members of a team, engineers can take a leadership role in promoting sustainability, environmental stewardship and the longer-term public good. Source: Pressnail, K.D., “From Persuasion to Determination, Engineering Dimensions, May/June 2004. To read the entire article, follow the link below.
document: From Persuasion to Determination in detail XlnkS693
Primer Part 3e: Consulting Engineering and Geoscience
The newest addition to the Primer Series looks at applying sustainability in consulting engineering and geoscience. The early version available now is full of case studies and background information on issues common to consulting engineers and geoscientists. Check in a couple of weeks for more additional case studies. Follow the link below to view the document.
from: APEGBC document: Primer Part 3e: Consulting in detail XlnkS692 XlnkC187D
World Engineering Conference Call for Papers
The most pressing issues facing the developing world today are poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and civil strife. These problems are aggravated by the lack of access to employment, energy, food, healthcare, sanitation, shelter and water etc. Engineering and technology are crucial to their solution. It is therefore most appropriate that the World Engineers Convention (WEC) 2004 in Shanghai, China will be addressing all the above under the theme “Engineers Shape the Sustainable Future”. The deadline for paper submission is July 31, 2004. For more information on the conference, see the weblink below.
weblink: Call for Papers World Engineering Conference from: World Federation of Engineering Organizations in detail XlnkS691 XlnkC18DB
World Engineering Conference Call for Papers
The most pressing issues facing the developing world today are poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and civil strife. These problems are aggravated by the lack of access to employment, energy, food, healthcare, sanitation, shelter and water etc. Engineering and technology are crucial to their solution. It is therefore most appropriate that the World Engineers Convention (WEC) 2004 in Shanghai, China will be addressing all the above under the theme “Engineers Shape the Sustainable Future”. The deadline for paper submission is July 31, 2004. For more information on the conference, see the weblink below.
weblink: Call for Papers World Engineering Conference from: World Federation of Engineering Organizations in detail XlnkS690 XlnkC18DB
Greenbuild 2004 Call for Posters
The USGBC is accepting poster submissions for Greenbuild, the USGBC’s Conference and Expo to be held November 10-12, 2004 in Portland, Oregon. Making the world a sustainable community is incumbent on the sharing of the best ideas. Your submission of a poster helps to ensure that worthy examples can be seen and spark critical discussion. Take advantage of this important opportunity to share your work and ideas with thousands of peers and potential clients. The selected Posters will receive considerable attention and prestige at Greenbuild and will be considered first by the 2005 Greenbuild Atlanta program committee for presenting in our 2005 learning sessions. All poster presenters will be afforded the opportunity to have their presentation (graphic representations or papers) included on the Greenbuild conference CD and each presenter will receive the reduced poster presenter registration rate of $350.00. See the weblink for more information.
weblink: Greenbuild Expo from: USGBC – US Green Building Council in detail XlnkS68F XlnkC180B
Public Works and Government Services Implement Sustainability
OTTAWA, May, 2004 – The Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC), announced today a series of initiatives and targets to transform the department’s operations and support the government’s commitments to sustainable development. The department is implementing a number of short- and long-term initiatives to demonstrate leadership in the area of sustainable development. “The guiding principle of these initiatives is sustainability which involves far more than ecological integrity, said Minister Owen. “It means adopting a global approach that supports our common economic, environmental and social objectives and that fundamentally changes the way we do business. By taking the lead on these measures, I am confident that we can obtain for Canadians the dividends they deserve.” Public Works and Government Services Canada will provide national leadership in the greening of government operations by: – ensuring that PWGSC’s real property holdings are 40 percent more energy and greenhouse gas efficient by March 2008 than in 1990. – aiming to achieve the LEED Gold/BREEAM Four Leaves or equivalent standard for all new PWGSC buildings by 2005. – introducing “green leases” to help move towards achieving the same environmental standards as for Crown-owned facilities, particularly in large, long-term leases. – beginning with orders for 2005 model vehicles, we will be phasing in low-emission vehicles as part of the normal replacement of the government fleet. “The Government of Canada’s goal is to become a model of environmental excellence in its own operations, said Minister Owen. “PWGSC will lead by example by taking the lead on many key initiatives. We are determined to build on our leadership role within government to become a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the promotion and implementation of innovative sustainable development and environmental practices.” PWGSC is the primary provider of common services to more than 100 federal departments and agencies. The department is committed to ensuring that the principles of sustainable development are reflected in all aspects of its role as a provider of services to its colleague departments and agencies, as a custodian of real property and in its own internal operations.
weblink: Public Works and Government Services Implement Sustainability from: Government of Canada in detail XlnkS68E XlnkC1908
Sustainability Now Vol 3 No 3: Industrial Processes
The summer 2004 issue of Sustainability Now looks at sustainability in industrial processes. Content:
- Interview with Linda Coady, World Wildlife Fund
- British Columbia’s First Wind Farm
- Stockholm Treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants
- APEG Sustainability Award
- UK Engineering School Recruits Young Women With Renewable Energy
- Alberta First to Introduce E-Recycling
- Primer on Consulting
- Engineering and Geoscience
- The Twelve Principles Of Green Chemistry
- Upcoming Events
from: APEGBC document: Sustainability Now Vol 3 No 3 in detail XlnkS68D XlnkC187D
Sustainable Living Leadership Program
Imagine the ultimate learning experience. Imagine a three week, 1200 km journey down one of the world’s great rivers, the greatest salmon river on earth: the Fraser. The Sustainable Living Leadership Program brings you – first hand – the theory and practice of sustainable living and community stewardship. The SLLP explores what it means to be a leader, live sustainably, and become a community steward. SLLP participants participate in team-building exercises and activities, experience different Fraser Rivershed regions, listen to different perspectives from Fraser Rivershed community stewards, discuss sustainable living concepts and how they can be applied in their lives, learn about community stewardship. SLLP participants learn and experience the People of the Fraser River Basin (e.g. Communities, First Nations & Stewards), places of the Fraser River Basin (e.g. Riversheds, Biogeoclimatic Zones, etc.), and subjects on Sustainable Living (e.g. Deep Ecology, Bioregionalism, Choices for Sustainable Living & Simplicity), Community Stewardship and Leadership Development. Program itinerary at a glance Week 1 – Leadership Development (approx. 8 days) Week 2 – Introduction to Sustainable Living (approx. 10 days Week 3 – Sustainable Living & Community Stewardship Applications (approx. 5 days). This three-week outdoor education program combines theory-based curriculum with experiential education. Experiential education includes group interaction and initiative tasks on: Teamwork, Leadership Skills, Conflict Resolution, and Communication. Theory-based curriculum includes discussions, case studies and activities on: Deep Ecology, Bioregionalism, Voluntary Simplicity, and Choices for Sustainable Living. The program includes interaction with the RSBC’s extensive network of First Nation and Non native Fraser River Community Stewards. Participants travel by raft and canoe on their 1,200 km journey down the Fraser River. During week one, facilitators meet with each participant individually to discuss long-term goals and course expectations. Facilitators are available for additional individual support to those participants for the duration of the program. For more information on the Program, inlcuding dates, see the weblink below.
weblink: Sustainable Living Leadership Program from: Rivershed Society of BC in detail XlnkS68C XlnkC190E
Book Intro
Over the last 150 years the corporation has risen from relative obscurity to become the world’s dominant economic institution. Today, corporations govern our lives. They determine what we eat, what we watch, what we wear, where we work, and what we do. We are inescapably surrounded by their culture, iconography, and ideology. And, like the church and the monarchy in other times, they posture as infallible and omnipotent, glorifying themselves in imposing buildings and elaborate displays. Increasingly, corporations dictate the decisions of their supposed overseers in government and control domains of society once firmly embedded within the public sphere. The corporation’s dramatic rise to dominance is one of the remarkable events of modern history,…
source: the Corporation (the book) See also XlnkS68B