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Inspirations, Concerns, and Encouragements of women working towards Sustainable Development: Part 1 [Go to Inspirations, Part 2] Inspirations: The enrichment of this experience by the participation of women from the "South", especially South Africa; the passion of beliefs. Concerns: Poverty and its effects on women; empowerment which is politically and culturally appropriate. ................................................................ Rajani Alexander
Inspirations: 1) The environmental movement: David Suzuki; CBC Radio. 2) Women's Studies, the Women's Movement and Women's Writers: Marylin French, Starhawk, Vandana Shiva etc. 3) Gender and Development Theory: Betty Plewcs and Rieky Stuart (Two halves make a whole). 4) U.N. End of Decade Conference for Women, Winnipeg; Beti Astolfi of UNIFEM, Gillian Phillips of W.E.E.D. 5) Worldwatch Paper 110: Gender Bias, Roadblock to Sustainable Development. Concerns: Nationally our government is moving far too slowly to sustain our environment. Globally, monetary agencies are worsening current trends with policy and structural adjustments (the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the environment becomes further depleted). Encouragements: I am encouraged by the environmental and women's movements in their attempts to bring a new perspective to the way we live and use our environment. We require a revolution in the way we think about, live in and use our environment to insure a future for our children and children to come. I am presently researching an annotated bibliography on "gendered spaces", looking particularly at the gender and spatial division of labor. I would appreciate any leads, authors, or other information anyone might have in this area with regard to creating sustainable communites. ................................................................ Mary Annis
Inspiration: seeing two women from South Africa, black and white, standing together. Concerns: I am concerned by poverty and violence in our society. ................................................................ Michelle Armand
Inspirations: Volunteer Work Program in Costa Rica; 1993/1994- Youth Challenge International; my Mother's strong influence Encouragements: The Young Women's Canada China Caucus; Potential to learn a great deal more. ................................................................ Marieka Arnold
Inspirations: Building Falls Brook as a sustainable community demonstration centre. ................................................................ Jean Arnold Allan
List of Inspirations: Helen Caldicott's speech at U Vic, 1984 IPPNW congresses Nairobi Women's Meeting (UN) 1985 Board Member of CPPNW Board Member of YWCA of the Canada and World YWCA. Women for a Healthy Planet (Miami WEDO) What encourages me is the strength, power and commitment of women all over the world. Their generosity and their concern with inclusive, non-hierarchial processes gives me the greatest hope that we can change the world. What concerns me is my belief that only women will be able to turn around the destruction of the world, and women are not in the circles of power and dominance in sufficient numbers. ................................................................ Mary-Wynne Ashford
Inspiration: meeting and sharing with people on my travels, working within the women's movement and in the field of international development. Concerns: lack of recognition by the global power structure of women's work and abilities and the struggle of finding a comfortable and respectful space for women to interact in a non-threatening environment. ................................................................ Salima Bandali
Inspirations: My work fighting NAFTA and the growth of a transnationally controlled economy. Trips to the maquiladaras of Mexico also inspired me and broke my heart. Concerns: Our emerging global awareness that sustainable development is the only option to survival. ................................................................ Maude Barlow
Areas of Interest and Concern: community and health; I have lobbied against development that devastates the environment for profit and have fought for proper housing, employment, education, health and welfare improvements. I am working to improve the social and economic situation of Metis peoples, governments, and institutions. ................................................................ Deborah Barron-McNabb
Inspirations: Book: " If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution", Emma Goldman ................................................................ Janet Bate
Inspirations: People who inspire me: Petra Kelly; Vandana Shiva; Susan George. Book: "Patriarchy and Accumulation on a World Scale.", Marie Mies. Concerns: The dawning recognition that development doesn't equal growth and that we can find strength in diversity. ................................................................ Tzeporah Berman
Inspirations: Book: Day and Cobb."For the Common Good". Conferences: UNCED: PREPCOMS, Rio Summit, Global Forum People: Vandana Shiva. Concerns: There is a lack of willingness of the North and South to confront the fundamental issue of consumption. Encouragement: Children's interest in commitment to the environment; minor changes in individual and corporate behaviour. ................................................................ Victoria Berry
Inspirations: Survival! Concerns which need to be adressed: Non-involvement of health professionals. There is a crying need for help and support in SD work. IICPH has a resource centre with over four thousand holdings related to environmental health; it is available for on-site use; please contact Mary Turner. Too often, understaffed and underfunded NGOs are overwhelmed with request for information and assistance; how to share information and advance sustainability in the face of these obstacles is a major challenge. assists people in such places as the Marshall Islands, Malaysia, Indian and Oklahoma to restore their communities to health after contamination from military and industrial pollution. ................................................................ Rosalie Bertell
Inspiration: My involvement in agriculture, environmental and resource management has inspired me to become involved in the process of working towards sustainable development.Concerns: In order to approach sustainability, the public needs access to decision making, and access to funds. ................................................................ Kathy Bisset
Inspirations: hearing stories of women's grassroots environmental activism and reading books on ecofeminism, spirituality; experiencing the power of personal stories and actions grounded in the realities of our personal lives. Concerns: the exclusion and marginalization of women's voices from decision-making processes around issues of sustainability; the dominant development model that continues to promote destructive practices and to marginalize, devalue and ignore the work of nurturing, sustaining and regenerating 'life'. ................................................................ Priscilla Boucher
S.D Interests: Monitoring and commenting on social policies affecting poor people in Canada. ................................................................ Beverley Brown Inspirations: People: Rachel Carson; Bella Abzug-She persuades us to behave responsibly and teaches women to realize and exercise their power. Attributes which should be addressed in order to approach sustainability: The current direction of trade policies and the exclusion of women in social and economic decision-making on all levels. Encouragements: The most exciting developments have been observed amongst women in communities. (Examples of this were presented at my talk- "Women's Success in Sustainability: Showcasing Examples." given at this conference). ................................................................ Rosalind Cairncross
Inspirations: Conferences/events: Miami Women's and Development Conference, 1991; Fate of the Earth Conference, 1986 Clayoquot Summer, 1993 ! Books/Journals: Paul Hawken, "The Ecology of Commerce" ; MacNeil, Winsemius, Yakushiji, "Beyond Interdependence" Starhawk"Space Dance", Starhawk; Worldwatch Series; Alternatives Magazine Our progress barely touches the scale of what is needed; how do you catalyze a new industrial/cultural revolution? The scale of change that is needed is barely understood. If inertia is the norm of all large institutions (government/private), how can progress for mass change get anywhere? The lowest common denominator, which is where we always end up won't be good enough. I am very interested in issues such as "green industrial strategy"; the role of environmental NGO's in fostering environmentally appropriate and restorative businesses; macro-economic changes à la Paul Hawken's writings. ................................................................ Stephanie Cairns
S.D. Interests: the effects of science and technology on women, and the way women have viewed their place in the world as a result, especially as this pertains to the systemic nature of violence against women in our society. I am also actively involved with working with young women. My career plans involve women and the law. Inspirations: poetic beauty and poignancy of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. It was this woman's foresight, courage and grace that led me to care passionately about working for change at all levels. Concerns: There should be representation for the voice of the traditionally marginalized. I believe this will start with finding a voice for today's youth; a sustainable future is also impossible without more attention to ending violence against women. My vision of a sustainable future includes a choir of missing voices, now singing together in harmony, for peace... ................................................................ Gillian Calder
I grew up in Saskatechewan, a very unstratified society where there was a strong sense of social reponsibility in the culture and lots of opportunity. All the social legislation in Canada emanates from Saskatchewan. This, coupled with being landlocked gave a great desire for travel. Travel outward also makes for an inward journey. In the 60's, development meant helping other people; my commitment to development grew as my understanding grew. Inspiration comes from my experience as a volunteer with CUSO, enriching experiences (especially in Africa) seeing the resilience of people and the heroic efforts they make on their own behalf, and coming to understand the forces that maintain poverty. Inspirtion also came from some individuals -- Sister Marino with the Grey Sisters in Tanzania, and Margaret Catley-Carlson, who was a helpful, available mentor and inspired the people who worked for her. Inspiration also comes from peers learning together as well as from bosses and subordinates, and most definitely from my colleagues in UNIFEM. I'm concerned that the North has reneged on the financial commitments made at Rio -- overall, ODA (Official Development Assistance) has dropped by 10%. From a goal of 7%, ODA dropped in 1993 to 2.9% average overall, the lowest since 1973. This is devastating in view of Rio commitments, and it may make George Bush the only honest man in Rio! I'm concerned that the promise of creating a new UN institutton with the Commission for Sustainable Development so fat looks not so new; it's fashioned along the same lines as other institutions; the upbeat side is that there is slightly more participation of civil society than other Commissions, which is the encouraging legacy of Rio. I'm encouraged by the uprecedented and growing participation of civil socity NGOs in UN processes, and hope that these good, bright and important people who do such good work at the community level can manage to avoid getting too caught up in UN activities. It's important for progressive forces at all levels to find and support one another. Other areas of encouragement: we've done better on a lot of environmental issues than we thought, eg., Montreal Protocol; there are some cases in the private sector of strategic and proactive leadership; a stronger voice of NGOs at domestic levels, north and sourth, is emerging along with better links between environment and development NGO's and a growing understanding that we have to fight poverty everywhere. The biggest and best thing is the increasing strength of the women's movement; we are in the midst of a social revolution as witnessed by the reshaping and defining of the agenda for Cairo. There has been a steady and significant sea change since Rio, and there are places where the women's vote is making a real difference in national elections, and there is no turning back. A real visceral part of being Canadian is being internationalist, and I would hate to see the country turn inward when the values, skills and talents we have can be so influential in the post cold war world. This internationalism comes from a number of sources -- we grew up with a map of the world in every classroom, which encouraged curiousity about the world; we are a country of immigrants; we have given more to the international community than others; Canadians participate more; and Canada has worked hard to broker constructive decisions; Canada's pragmatic idealism is of value to the world. Canada is much better abroad than at home; Canadians don't know how well regarded we are. ................................................................ Sharon Capeling-Alakija
Inspirations: definitely people, as well as my own research, readings, and conferences that I have attended, especially SAVE Tour, EYA (Environmental Youth Alliance) (even though I think it is middle class and a sell out now), and a local group (now defunct) Youth Planet. Concerns: We need a S.D. approach in every aspect of our lives. I sometimes get sick of the corporate focus of a lot of SD materials. S.D. doesn't seem radical enough to change things (maybe even apologetic for enviromental destruction and corporate interest). Encouragements: Talking with others who have new ideas and enthusiasm who are making new plans, and working on projects. ................................................................ Elizabeth Carlyle
Inspirations: wilderness experience; readings in Geography; completion of my degree; my husband, Paul George and children Kallie and Terren. Concerns: Scientific information leads to the frightening conclusion that we may be too late to turn it around; industrial greed; political malais. Encouragement: Working with co-workers and colleagues in B.C., Canada and the World is incredibly hopeful. ................................................................ Adriane Carr
Inspirations : University courses and knowlege of First Nations culture (ie respect for land).List of concerns which must be addressed to approach S.D.: lack of awareness about sustainable practices as well as difficulty in defining them; lack of incorporation of indigenous knowledge; lack of representation of indigenous people (especially key decision-making people). Encouragement: progress is slow, but many young people are better informed than in the past. Conferences that promote involvement of underepresented groups are an excellent arena which can promote/share global concerns and develop strategies. Unless we know what is going on, we cannot change anything. Accurate knowledge is important. ................................................................ Dena Carroll
University courses, and work opportunities as described above have inspired my commitment to SD. As well, having the opportunity to view strange places while observing the effects of development on them and the lack of concern of people in these areas has further inspired my commitment. At one time, we had a surge of "environmental consciousness", but in the last few years, apathy has taken over as well as a feeling that the world is O.K. now. We need to light the fire again-- the population is exploding, resources are being raped and third world countries are caught in the squeeze of whether to join the negation of the major countries or close their doors and exist as they have for eons. ................................................................ Shirley Carter
I'm inspired by the thought of the alternative. The more you work in the world and see the economics and poverty patterns, you understand that the essence of continuity requires a course of development which is more sustainable. All I read, see, do reinforces this gradually growing worldview. There is a parallelelism between economics and population -- for the sake of their own economies and well-being, countries are buying into the sustainable development paradigm. I'm encouraged by the fact that trade agreements are starting to reflect environment things. I'm depressed that the speed at which the paradigm of sustainable development is growing bears no relation to the speed at which degradation is taking place. ................................................................ Margaret Catley-Carlson
Inspirations: My sense of life; there is an ongoing connection between life, environment, development, well being and health. Therefore, work which contributes to a healthy environment inspires me. Books: Cristian Northrop, " Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom; Creating Physical and Emotional Health." Sonia Johnson, " Chalice and the Blade." People: Dr. Gene Shinoda; Miriam Greenspan; Alice Walker; Margarat Atwood; Buffy-Saint Marie; Charlotte Perkins; Ursilla Kolguin; my parents. One of the issues to address is working in patriarchal institutions to transform them; dealing with backlash against feminism and environment and bringing those usually excluded into decision making to deal with the issues in a holistic manner. Abolish "Dinosaur Economics" Many people today feel that our situation is hopeless and there are no solutions. The fact is, there are many people with solutions who are not in the position of being heard. We ultimately must change our power structure, towards a partipatory democracy. We can't use unhealthy systems to acheive a healthy environment. ................................................................ Marianne Cerilli
Inspirations: " Sustaining our Communities Conference", 1989, Memramcooh; Individuals with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick; Brundtland Report; the potential of the cooperative movement to support SD. Encouragement: I am beginning to observe integration of ecological and social issues, the potential of better lives for most people while protecting the ecology and fundamental respect for human, biological and cultural values. ................................................................ Julia Chadwick
Silence and isolation keeps women oppressed. Popular theatre is a way to bring women together and to assist them in finding their voices. Creativity can be a powerful voice. ................................................................ Margo Charlton
Inspiration: "Women Who Run with Wilderness, the Heroine's Journey." Concerns: gender inequality and lack of representation as a result. I believe in living lower on the food chain (I am a vegetarian) and I also believe in living simply. ................................................................ Nina Chatelain
Inspirations: 'Chipko' movement; disaster in Bhopal. List of societal attributes which need to be addressed in order to reach sustainability: participation of women at the local and global level; re-distribution of wealth/power. ................................................................ Sudha Choldin
Inspirations: People-- especially those in developing countires and those in developed countries, such as Canada, who are suffering because of violence and poverty. Encouragement: The projects that I.I.S.D. undertakes, particularly those in communications and partnerships and poverty alleviation. The Family Support Society P.G. attempts to develop strategies and projects to eliminate violence against women. ................................................................ Lily, Siew-San Chow
Interest Areas: women's organizations and change; Feminist research methodologies; knowledge; community development and sustainable livelihoods; environmental security. As feminists, do we try to re-centre the concept of sustainable development clearly on poor women and children, or do we consider it to be irrevocably appropriated by powerful economic, political and patriarchal interests? As we discover together what we mean by 'sustainable development' and how it has been distorted, we become better equiped to transform the world. ................................................................ Linda Christiansen-Ruffman
Inspirations: Becoming a member to the National Task Force on the Environment and the Economy; exposure to ecology classes/field trips/ people in Natural history organizations.I am encouraged by the relatively quick response in governments across Canada to examine a means to apply the principles of the National Task Force on the Enviornment and Economy report-just 6 years. Most resource management agencies appear to be considering discussion, application and implementation of Sustainable Development concepts/practices, ie governments and business. ................................................................ Betty Collins
Inspirations
Concerns and encouragement I haven't mentioned a particular women's perspective. I continue to struggle with feminist theory and the feminist polemic. It angers me that my opinion is seen to be less valid because I am not a women of colour or of a disadvantaged background. ................................................................ Heather Creech
I have been "inspired" to become committed to SD because of my love of nature and my respect and wonder for this planet; further, I have many reasons to be concerned about the well-being of the Earth. Most particularly inspiring are the cycles of life especially as revealed in gardens, oceans, forests, people. Books by Thomas Berry (e.g., The Dream of the Earth) and by Brian Swimme (e.g., The Universe is a Green Dragon) & the Earth-Spirit Conference have been particularly inspiring. Concerns: lack of respect (for women, children, animals, Earth); lack of knowledge/skill (re: women, Earth, organizations, alternative decision-making processes; leadership). ................................................................ Fiona Crofton
My resistance and opposition to injustice wherever or whenever and my concentration on helping prisoners is inspiring. Any organization which lobbies against injustice merits support. ................................................................ Claire Culhane
Areas of Interest and Concern: social justice issues which should be addressed first before we can approach sustainability: racism, classism, ableism, homophobia and sexism. Inspirations: People inspire me - not just someone who has written a book or received a reward for their actions but the everyday positive actions that I see from people on the streets, eg: how parents and children interact, or watching someone pick up litter off the streets.Concerns: I am concerned with how racism and elitism restricts many changes for sustainable development. ................................................................ Pat Currie Inspirations: I have had the opportunity to work with some of the best strategic policy minds in the country, notably, Dr. Dorothy Richardson and Dr. David Johnson; Jim MacNeill; Pierre-Marc Johnson and Doug Rowland, to name only a few. In addition, I have been encouraged by a number of activists in my advocacy work, Jane Godall, Leone Pippard, Elizabeth May, Dorothy Inglis, David Suzuki, Heather Hamilton, Toki Greur, once again to mention only a few. I have the privilege of working with many academics working in sustainable development, principally John Robinson, Stuart Hill, and my colleagues from the Canadian Centers of Sustainable Development Research. My principal inspiration for my work comes from the fact that I did not bring a child into this world, to have him inherit an environment any less than the one I had the privilege of walking through. And of course, my relationships with other species is what sustains me and gives me spirituality. My gravest concern is the current denial about the urgency of some of the issues curently facing our society, and the paucity of political will and leadership to make the neccessary political changes to respond to the ecological and economic imperatives currently facing our country. We have not even begun to address fundamental issues such as carrying capacity, equity and population. The single most important issue within the sustainable development framework is biodiversity, for it embraces all the knowledge, science, ethical, social, cultural, economic and environmental factors. Biodiversity, unlike many other issues we face is not reversible, and I fear a world where future generations will never hear half the song of birds I experienced. ................................................................Ann Dale
Inspirations: The participants in my policy circle at the Women and SD.Conference, Vancouver, 1994. List of societal attributes to be addressed to affect change for sustainable development: poverty, under employment for racial minority women, occupational distribution. ................................................................ Khatun Damji
Inspirations: workshops; The "Beijing workshop" at the Women and Sustainable Development Conference which took place on 31st May '94. Concerns: We need gender equality and networking among women's groups at national and international levels in order to work towards sustainability. ................................................................Asrukana Das
S.D. Interests: I have taught in the areas of Aboriginal community development, and community economic development. I also have strong interests and have worked in popular education, feminist and critical pedagogles. Recent research has been on social movements and Aboriginal education. In my "spare" time, I work with Amnesty International. Inspirations: The very survival of future generations is at stake. I have been fortunate to have had many Aboriginal teachers throughout the years, and I have absorbed the philosophy of inter-connectedness of all living beings. It was strong soil into which to plant contemporary concerns about sustainable development. Concerns and encouragement: I believe there is a growing consciousness among the young about issues of sustainability, and there are some of older generations who are reassessing the foolishness of the present path. The young are the leaders of the future. However, I believe that progress towards sustainability is very fragile. The basic ideology that change is good and progressive still drives the contemporary business life , and is all pervasive. The emerging economy, with profits for industry but no jobs, is very scary. We are headed for an even deepening poverty. ................................................................Lynne Davis
Inspirations: womens' spirit of the conference (Women and Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference, U.B.C., May, 1994), discussion papers, womens international solidarity. Issues which need to be addressed to induce change: 1) global eco restructuring 2) absence of women's international network to answer the restructuring. ................................................................ Hari Dimitrakopoulou
Inspirations: the respect for the voices of all women, regardless of educational background or work experience, that has been celebrated at this conference (Women and Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference, U.B.C., May, 1994). Concerns: legislation of women centered environmental policy and human rights concerns. ................................................................Brenda L. Dodds
Inspirations: Travel/ work in developing countries - Belize, Sierra Leone, Thailand; grassroots work with Canadian women over the past 2 years. Concerns: I am concerned that women's issues are being put after other issues more often than not. Also, there are struggles with the Canadian feminist community--fragmentation and a sense of hopelessness that I see developing. Encouragement: energy of young women; the awareness of a vision that is so widespread. ................................................................Marian Dodds
S.D. Interests: Women and economics, population growth as related to ecosystem health; if/how environmental laws, regulations are effective in actually improving the environment ................................................................Barbara Donovan
Inspirations: Women like Anne Dale, Leone Pippard, Dorothy Englis (etc). Working at the NRTEE has provided a wealth of information that has made me curious to learn more. Our lack of progress and backlash against the environment concerns me. The need to change people's attitudes, values and behavior is very important. Skills for youth concern me. I thought the conference was well organized and well attended. I really enjoyed my policy circle and the opportunity to meet like minded women (Women and Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference, U.B.C., May, 1994). ................................................................Carla Doucet
Inspirations: education in outdoor recreation-working in the mountains, etc; working overseas in small communities where life is reasonable but reduced, etc. in a physical sense. This is also fueled by a sense of injustice in the inequalities of life. Women encourage me (feminist/gynocentric approach) Systems discourage me- (money and patiarchial approach) How can we maintain a vision of change while surviving in a patriarchial system. ................................................................Rita Douglas
I am a person who has a vision of how things ought to be and a pragmatic sense of how to get there. I'm inspired by the concept of sustainable development because, for the first time, it has people talking to each other rather than past each other and it has whetted the interest of both the industrialiast and the environmentalist. The vision of the kind of survivial we're going to be faced with leads you to ways to seek solutions. I'm also inpsired by the real understanding that we are interdependint and have to look for solutions that bring the world together. Climate change is an important example -- activity in Canada is irrelevant if China is not at the table. I'm also inspired by our insignifciance in the face of compliexity and the need to develop policies in a time of uncertainty. It means we need to be care about and act on sustainable development. I'm concerned that we allow people off the hook if they're talking the right language -- if they're talking "green" and not changing behaviour. I am the most impatient person in the world and know that we have not done enough post-UNCED. At the same time, if we really understand that sustainable development is a paradigm shift, this shift cannot happen in a few months. We need to be both impatient and understanding. I worry that people want the superficial and are not committed to fundamental change. What do I find encouraging? Environment is not going to slip off the polls. And, I'm an eternal optimist -- I keep looking for signs of hope. I'm an activist and bureaucrat. [Also noted re SD interest areas that she was not separated herself from the organization] .............................................................Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Inspirations: writings by Caroline Mose on gender, planning and development; the diversity of perspectives and strategies represented at this conference (Women and Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference, U.B.C., May, 1994); my father, Brian Dowse. List of issues to be addressed to promote sustainable development: lack of equal gender participation and planning and decision making levels; the separation of economic, environmental, and social realms of sustainability. We must work towards an integrated framework. Truly sustainable development must allow the interests of biodiversity, cultural identity, economic productivity, community participation, and personal empowerment to, not only co-exist, but thrive. ................................................................Susan Dowse
Inspirations: Extensive wilderness trips- hiking, kayaking , canoeing; Canada World Youth; David Suzuki; Women's Movement. Concerns: We are still operating within an economic system that believes in growth as the goal. This is not sustainable. Encouragements: The increase of grassroots movement and individuals who are changing their lives in response to the challenge of sustainability. ................................................................JoAnne Drebett
Inspirations: being at Nairobi Forum, 1985, Food Study Tour to Ethiopia 1994. Concerns: International debt crisis, International capital moving in the global economy. .............................................................Elaine Driver
Inspiration: The beauty and the magnificent of life on earth with the rich diversity and abundance, those who resist the destruction of the earth and its life communities (Vandana Shiva, Thomas Beny) List of issues to be addressed to promote change towards sustainability: 1) rising ecological concerns - globally, 2) deterioration of social fabric results in women being increasingly vulnerable to violence/death. ................................................................Heather Eaton
No one thing inspired me -- it kind of crept up by living here and experiencing the deterioration of the environment and becoming frightened about drinking the water, breathing the air, vanishing species. A professor should profess regarding concerns, and I could not suppress them any longer. I began by offering a course in eco-sociology, then ecofeminism and then looked at the ovelap among feminism, ecology and sociology. Since my area of expertise is family policy, I try to place fmaily policy in an environmental perspective. Now, I want to look at environmental perspectives on new reproductive technologies. My involvement in the Seaton project is fun and exciting; we need urban examples of sustainability, which must take into social justice issues into account. Globalization is occurring at the same time as movement in the opposite direction. Increasing control by profit-oriented corporations -- we have to halt or reverse this process and no one seems to know how to do it. Continuing weapons manufacture and selling. Need to create new ways of constructing index of environmental damage and tax companies on this basis. This way, good companies will get rewarded for not changing and others will be taxed out of business. Problems are so tied up with economics; we hve to start delayaering the issues so that become manageable. Overall, the outlook is glum. What is encouraging? The Seaton project is encouraging -- it's pleasurable to be associated with people interested in finding solutions. I don't understand why we don't have a political party that addresses these issues. I find it liberating to say I'm scared shitless! And laughter is heartening. How do we create an information network to convey information to decision-makers and get information out to people -- this is hard when information is so controlled. Since they'll never be without problems like headaches, allergies, respiratory problems, widepsread incapacity to handle food, water and air, I'm concerned that the next generation will be largely sick, will have less energy and be less able to cope with whatever we have left. Why doesn't the country panic over over this news? I need to feel that there is a meaningful way to address this -- some days you can and some days you can't. ................................................................ Margrit Eichler
Areas of Interest and Concern: impact on women of global economic restructuring; role of women of colour in white dominated Canadian society; identity crisis of 2nd generation Filipino Canadians; development issues in the context of people's liberation; international solidarity networking; community organizing-popular education workshops; women's community economic development. ................................................................Mable Elmore
Inspiration: I am inspired by how much we share as woman and how our own perceptions are challenged by our differences. S.D Interests: Women-feminism/gender relating to politics, religion, unifaith and social justice. I am especially interested in Asian religion and culture as well as global development education. List of S.D. issues which need to be addressed in order to promote change: Decision making which limits access and participation ( for example - top down, decision-making process defined according to class, race, gender, economics, technology) should be revamped towards increased public participation; Perception of the polarities of the faulty juxta position between livelihood and environment should change. . ................................................................Terre Flower
Areas of Interest and Concern: Comunication of women's research; knowledge systems; networks for sustainable development Africa; International people networks. ................................................................Victoria Foote
Areas of Interest and Concern: Ecofeminism and bioregionalism solidarity (3rd world and aboriginal people); international and alternative communities; non-violence and social change; rural revitalization. The refusal to deal with the painful truths that women are exposing about patriarchy is in fact a refusal to go to the roots of the violence and exploitation that threaten to destroy life on Earth. We can't afford that anymore. ................................................................Helen Forsey
Inspirations: My work experience, as well as historical perspectives of ecological destruction. " Limits to Growth" - Club of Rome.I am concerned about the growing tribalism and potential for war in a shrinking world, and the power of multinational firms. I am encouraged by our government's commitment to sustainability. ................................................................Linda Foubister
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