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Wallace, Marcia
Queen's University Department of Political Studies
Home address: 130 King Street East #1
Kingston , Ontario, K7L 3A1
Canada
Work Phone: 613-547 4047
Fax: 613-545 6848
Vocation
Academic
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Education, public
awareness, communication
Biographical information
Languages; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Wallace, M. Sustainable
Development: Putting People First.
Weber, Melanie
Novacorp International
P.O. Box 2535, Station M
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2N6 Canada
Home Phone: 403-283 9787
Work Phone: 403-261 5285
Fax: 403-261 7538
Vocation Business
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Research (science, social
science)
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Ecology, environment,
resources
Biographical information
Interest Areasn: Women in engineering /
scientific professions.
Education: BSc. Electrical Engineering,
Languages; other skills: nglish Experience: 5 years of experience in
oil and gas industry.
Your publications related to SD
Weber, M. (1994) "Women in
Decision-Making in Canada's Oil and Gas Industry" Workshop in the Women and
Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference. U.B.C., Vancouver,
May, 1994.
Welsted, Alison
31 Wakomma Dr.
Brandon, Manitoba, R7B 3A5 Canada
Work Phone: 204-729 0700
Fax: 204-725 1795
Vocation
Academic (student)
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Strengthening groups
(youth, women, First Nations)
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Community development,
planning
Biographical information
S.D. Interests: Gender and development
theory and implementation; international feminist networks, women and human
rights.
Education: M.A. candidate, Political Science, York University
(research topic; Women/Gender in Development Policy.)
Languages;
other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Welstead, A. (1994) "Cross
Cultural Gender Analysis: Identity and Beyond. " Workshop at the Women and
Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference. U.B.C., Vancouver,
May, 1994.
Weppler, Brenda
708 - 1270 Robson St.,
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 3Z6
Home Phone: 604-666-9151
Work Phone: 604-669-8402
Fax: 604-666-2989
Westerburg, Debrah
Woodstock Sanctuary House
P.O. Box 1014
Woodstock, New Brunswick, E0J 2B0 Canada
Home Phone: 506-325 9452
Work Phone: 506-277 6709
Vocation Activist
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Strengthening groups
(youth, women, First Nations)
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Health
Biographical information
Interest Areas: Women's Issues as
related to housing, peace, violence, and employment. Experience/
Employment: Vice-president of New Brunswick Coalition Transition Houses
Member of the Research team of UNB Centre for Family Violence; Violence Against
Women; Dating Violence Prevention; Immigrant Women and Abuse; 5 years
Environment Organization Administration. 20 years Director Women's Shelter; 3
years.
Languages; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Westerburg, D.(1994) "Creating
Workshops for Teens on Abuse-Free Relationships" Workshop at the Women
and Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference. U.B.C.,
Vancouver, B.C., May, 1994.
Concerns and encouragement
Concerns, There should be
education in schools to prevent abuse .
Wetherup, Danielle
Position Associate Deputy Minister
Environment Canada
10 Wellington Street, 27th floor
Hull, Quebec, K1A 0H3 Canada
Home Phone: 819-827 3633
Work Phone: 819-953 7137
Fax: 819-953 2115
Vocation Activist
Biographical information
Languages; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Wetherup, D. (1994) "Women
in Government" Workshop at the Women and Sustainable Development: Canadian
Perspectives Conference. U.B.C., Vancouver, B.C., May, 1994.
Whelan-Enns, Gaile
World Wildlife Fund/ Manitoba Wilderness Caucus
411-63 Albert Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 1G4 Canada
Home Phone: 204-882 2481
Work Phone: 204-944 9593
Fax: 204-943 5711
Email G_Whelanenns@MBnet.MB.CA
Vocation Activist; Media
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Education, public
awareness, communication
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Ecology, environment,
resources
Biographical information
S.D. Interests: Sustainable development
decision-making for communities; environmental citizenship; wilderness
protection. Researches, writes, edits, plans, promotes and markets social ideas
to move us forward to a more sustainable world.
Employment:
Self employed. I have worked for non-profit, public, membership based
organizations as public relations and communications director. Experience
ranges from daycares to political environmental organizations.
Memberships: The Sierra Club, Manitoba Canadian Parks and Wilderness
Society (CPAWS) Canadian Jounalists Association (CJA) Manitoba Naturalists
Society Freelance Editors Association of Canada (FEAC) North American
Association of Environmental Educators (NAAEE) Canadian Research Institute for
the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) Canadian Network for Environmental Education
and Communication (EECOM)
Language; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Whelan-Enns, G. (1994) " Women
as Stakeholders in Environmental Reporting", A Workshop at the Women in
Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference. U.B.C., Vancouver,
B.C., 1994." Whelan-Enns, G. (1994) ed. " Employment and Sustainable
Development for Human Resources Development Canada." An International
Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) publication. Whelan-Enns, G.
(1992). "Sustainable Development Curriculum Guides for Manitoba Schools",
Manitoba Education. Workshop at the Women and Sutainable Development: Canadian
Perpectives Conference. U.B.C., Vancouver, May, 1994
Sustainable development viewpoints
Inspirations
The alternative treaties from the Earth Summit; the
World Conservation Strategy (from IUCN); the synthesis of ecology,
philosophy, and economics being voiced by individuals who are applying their
knowledge to the protection of the Biosphere. Books: IUCN,
UNEP, WWF (1991) Caring for the Earth; A Strategy for Sustainable Living.
Hazel Henderson, (1991) Paradigms in Progress. Life Beyond Economics.
Knowledge Systems, Inc. Lester Mc Ibrath,(1989) Envisioning a
Sustainable Society. State University, N.Y. Press.
Concerns and encouragement
Concerns, Greenwash that avoids
applying all 3 filters (social, economic, environmental) to decision making.
Encouragement: The potential to integrate social, economic,and
environmental factors in ways that have never occurred before.
Changes needed
If there is ever a time when the world needs women
it is now. Look what power structures without women have given us. Women
have the ability to put all three pieces of sustainable development
together-environment, economy, and community. Changes needed for S.D.
include; full access to information and involvement of all citizens. Women are
the most underestimated part of most societies; alternatives to industrial
thought and paradigms that are understandable to citizens; skills in decision
making on new bases.
Whiteley, Adrienne
University of Manitoba Faculty of Architecture, Department of City Planning
201 J.A. Russell Buld.
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2 Canada
Home Phone: 204-489-9437
Work Phone: 204-989-5933
Fax: 204-275-7198
Vocation Academic; Media
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Education, public
awareness, communication
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Business, industry, and
labour issues
Biographical information
Interest Areas: Writer, editor, author
with an interest in social issues, politics, sports, the media. Experience/
Employment: A journalist with 20 years experience in writing/editing for
Maclean's Magazine, the Toronto Sun and the Ottawa Sun.
Education:
B.A. University of Toronto
Memberships: Member, PEN International.
Languages; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Whiteley, A. "Women and
Academia: Encorporating Women and Sustainable Development Issues into the
Professional Education Process", Workshop at the Women and Sustainable
Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference. U.B.C., Vancouver, B.C., May,
1994. .
Wickramasinghe, Anoja
Position Senior Lecturer
The University of Peradeniya Department of Geography
Peradeniya, , Sri Lanka
Fax: 94-8-32517
Vocation Academic
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Ecology, environment,
resources
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Community development,
planning
Biographical information
S.D. Interests: Community and resource
management, community and forestry, biodiversity, rural development, women,
environment and health.
Education: - B.A. (Hons) in Geography (Sri
Lanka), MSC, National Resource Management, Phd. Forest Ecology (England).
Languages; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Wickramasinghe, A. (1994) "Women
and Sustainable Development: Reconsideration of Strategic Issues".
Workshop at the Women and Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives
Conference. U.B.C., Vancouver, B.C., May, 1994.
Sustainable development viewpoints
Inspirations
Inspiration: I am inspired by people/meetings and discussions.
Concerns and encouragement
Concerns, Poverty and resource
depletion concern me.
Changes needed
List of factors which need to be changed in order
to integrate S.D. into society: unequal resource distribution; inequality in
opportunities, in power, in decisions; lack of recognition given to women;
Ideology (womens' domesticity).
Widmer, Alexandra
1623 Edward Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3H9 Canada
Work Phone: 902-492 8223
Email LaraI@Al.Dal.La
Vocation Other
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Community development,
planning
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Education, public
awareness, communication
Biographical information
List of S.D.Interests: Fine arts,
environmental activism, international development, media, gender issues and
community involvement. Experience/
Employment: teaching, social work
both in institutional and community setting.
Languages; other skills:
English
Your publications related to SD
Widmer, A. (1994) Kneading
Connections. Workshop at the Women and Sustainable Development: Canadian
Perspectives Conference, U.B.C., Vancouver, May, 1994.
Wiebe, Erna
2204 MacDonald House, 1600 Beach Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6G
1Y7
Home Phone: 604-6623867
Fax: 604-688-5659
Vocation
Academic
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Community development,
planning
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Strengthening groups
(youth, women, First Nations)
Biographical information
Interest Areas: women in community
development, women in decision-making positions in education, violence in
society, family and change.
Education: B.Ed. in Vocational Technical
Education from the University of Saskatchewan and a Data Processing Diploma.
Employment/Experience: She has worked for 18 years in adult basic
education, helping low income adults upgrade their academic skills for either
vocational training or university entrance. She is a member of S.A.B.E.A., a
Saskatchewan association for adult basic education instructors; and MCL -
Movement for Canadian Literacy.
Language; other skills
Wilkins, Carol
990 Friar Crescent Street
North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7G 1M7
Canada
Work Phone: 604-929 5635
SD Interest Areas
Sustainable development - Community development, planning
Biographical information
Experience/Employment: Primary caretaker
of children and volunteer in community, 10 years at home raising kids and being
active in the community.
Languages; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Wilkins, C. (1994) "Daycare"
Workshop at the Women and Sutainable Development: Canadian Perpectives
Conference. U.B.C., Vancouver, May, 1994.
Changes needed
"Our home life is a microcosm of society
life. Those whose under-valued work is the care and nurturing of the family
life, in all its diversity, need a voice in sustainability issues."
Wilkinson, Cathy
Canadian Council for International Cooperation and _Ottawa Women for a
Healthy Planet.
1 Nicholas Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 7B7 Canada
Home Phone: 613-728 0767
Work Phone: 613-241 7007
ext.355
Fax: 613-241 5302
Email cciced
Vocation Youth_Activist
Williams, Brenda
P.O. Box 355,
Pemberton, British Columbia, V0N 2L0
Work Phone: 604-894-5618
Wiltshire, Rosina
Position Senior Advisor
International Development Research Centre
Gender and Sustainable
Development, Corporate Affairs and Initiatives
250 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 3H9 Canada
Work Phone: 613-236-6163 ext 2081
Fax: 613-563-0815
Email rwiltshire@idrc.crdi@cai.iac
VocationBureaucrat; Academic; Actvist
SD Interest Areas Peace and Security
SD Interest Areas Ecology, Environment and Resources
Biographical information
SD interest areas; peace, security and
equity, and ecology, and she achieves these through policy, research, education
and strengthening groups.
Education: B.Sc, Economics, University of
the West Indies; M.A. and Ph.D., Political Science specializing in
International Relations, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Employment/Experience: "long and varied" University Professor,
currently Adjunct Professor Carleton University; Coordinator, Environment and
Development Research, DAWN (Development Alternatives for Women New Era);
Coordinator, Women's Studies, University of the West Indies; Senior Program
Officer, Caribbean Conservation Association.
Memberships: The Commons Group, an informal think tank on ethics and
environment; New World Dialogue, a Western hemisphere think tank spearheaded by
the World Resources Institute; former Board member of Friends of the Earth
Canada and the Environmental Liaison Centre (Nairobi); member, Society for
International Development and Canadian Planning Committee for the Fourth World
Conference on Women.
Languages; other skills: Engliish; Spanish
Your publications related to SD
Wiltshire, R." Indigenization Issues in Women and Development Studies in
the Caribbean: Towards a Holistic Approach in Women, Feminism and Development."
H. Dagenais and D. Piche (editors). Montreal: McGill-Queens University
Press, 1994.
Wiltshire, R. "Implications of Transnational Migration for Nationalism, the
Caribean Example in Towards a Transnational Perspective on Migration." N.
Glick Schiller (editor). Annuals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Volume
645, 1992.
Wiltshire, R." Problems of Environmental Degradation and Poverty in Women
and Children First" Filomena Steady (editor) .
Sustainable development viewpoints
Inspirations
My inspiration comes from my commitment to people and
nature. The earth is our home and environment is not something separate from
people. Equity and sustainability have always been part of my work.
Concerns and encouragement
I am concerned about the need for a
value shift in human society, north and south, and a greater recognition of
ourselves as spiritual beings, intricately linked to one another and to nature.
I am encouraged by the impact that women have had on this debate, women's role
in bringing it to the fore, and increasing awareness in general of the need to
transform present societies.
Changes needed
Changes needed for a more sustainable society:
Attitudinal, value and structural changes are needed. Fear is the basis of a
lot of greed; we need to be less afraid and treat one another and nature with
more respect. Transformation of human society towards more equitable and
peaceful order is not only an imperiative, it is in process.
Miscellaneous comments
We need to more in awe of the wonder of
life.
Wismer, Susan
Position Assistant Professor
Department of Environment and Resource Studies
200 University Avenue, W.
Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1 Canada
Home Phone: 519-766-1963
Work Phone: 519-888-4567 ext
5795
Fax: 519-746 0292
Email
swismer@watsew1.uwaterloo.ca
Vocation Academic
SD Interest Areas community development, planning
Biographical information
Education: Ph.D., University of
Waterloo, 1990; M.Ed., Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, 1975; B.A.
University of Western Ontario, 1973.
Employment: Former Consultant,
Social and Economic Development and Planning.
Memberships: Canadian
Research Institute for the Advancement of Women; CCLOW, Guelph-Wellington Women
in Crisis; Indonesia-Canada Forum.
Languages; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Wismer, S. "Social
Implications of a Sustainable City", Department of Community Services,
Metro Toronto, 1990. with Beth Moore Wismer,S. Milroy, "Communities,
Work and Public/Private Sphere Models in Gender, Place and Culture", 1994.
Sustainable development viewpoints
Inspirations
Ignacy Sach's argument for a world which is: socially just, ecologically wise,
economically viable.
Concerns and encouragement
I am concerned about institutional
barriers, structural inequities and lack of political will. I am encouraged
by the passion and commitment of people I meet.
Changes needed
Explicit commitment in principle and practice to:
integration of environment and economy; equity/distributive justice;
community-building -- locally, regionally and globally.
Wong, Nancy
115 West 10th Ave.,
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Y 1R7
Work Phone: 604-873-1554
Fax: 604-873-3332
Wood, Peregrine
NirvCentre
247 Benson Avenue
Toronto , Ontario, M5V 3N8 Canada
Home Phone: 416-656 6533
Fax: 416-658 3303
Email
peregrine@web.apb.org
Vocation Activist
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Education, public
awareness, communication
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Strengthening groups
(youth, women, First Nations)
Biographical information
Interest Areas: gender, environment and
development,
Education: Masters in environmental studies (MES),
Languages; other skills: communications/education/training/program
design and implementation, other-project coordinator, Canadian women' s
networking support program, NIRV Centre; English
Your publications related to SD
Wood, P. (1994) Electronic
Communications: A Women's Networking Tool. Workshop at the Women and
Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference, U.B.C., Vancouver,
May, 1994.
Wood, Barbara
2614 Triumph Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5K 1S9
Work Phone: 604-254-4293
Woods, Zonibel (Zonny)
Position Youth Co-ordinator
c/o NGO Forum '95
Suite 1500, 211 E. 43rd Street
New York, New York, , 10017 USA
Home Phone: 212-922 9267
Work Phone: 613-789 1763 or
212-243 3986
Fax: 212-922 9269
Vocation
Activist; Youth
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Community development,
planning
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Strengthening groups
(youth, women, First Nations)
Biographical information
Interest: Social and Economic
development, sustainable development.
Employment/Experience: Canada
World Youth Board Member; Youth Coordinator for NGO Forum; Society for
International development (SID).
Languages; other skills: English
Woolfrey, Joy
Saint Mary's University International Education Centre (IEC)
Halifax , Nova Scotia, B3H 3C3 Canada
Home Phone: 902-477 5401
Work Phone: 902-420 5524
Fax: 902-420 5288
Vocation Activist
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Community development,
planning
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Business, industry, and
labour issues
Biographical information
Languages; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Woolfrey, J.(1994) "Women,
Transportation, and Sustainable Development." Workshop at the Women and
Sustainable Development: Canadian Perspectives Conference, U.B.C., Vancouver,
May, 1994.
Woroniuk, Beth
Position Consultant
Goss Gilroy Inc.
900 - 150 Metcalfe
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1P1 Canada
Home Phone: 613-234-7215
Work Phone: 613-230-5577
Fax: 613-235-9592/234-2726
Vocation consultant
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Community development,
planning
Biographical information
S.D. Interests: alternative economic
theory and structures; gender and development policy; training; institutional
mechanisms and evaluation from both Canadian and international contexts.
Education: M.A. Political Science/Economics (development studies), U.
of Toronto-1983 B.A. Political Science-U. of Saskatchewan-1981
Employment: Current: Working as consultant, primarily in the area of
international development, Past volunteer & paid work: Various activities
with Canadian and international development NGOs; lived and worked for four
years in Nicaragua (1984-88).
Language; other skills: English
Your publications related to SD
Woroniuk, B. "Against the
Current: Women, Mainstreaming and Water in UNICEF." Presented at "Gender
and Water Resources Management Workshop: Lessons Learned and Strategies for
the Future." Organized by the Swedish International Development Authority
(Dec. 1993) Woroniuk, B. " Global Feminist, Development and Gender
Analysis: An Annotated Bibliography of English Resources. Ottawa: MATCH
International Centre, 1991." Wororniuk, B. Women and Revolution: The
Nicaraguan Debate.Ottawa: CUSO Occasional paper, 1988.
Sustainable development viewpoints
Inspirations
Inpirations: The years I spent living in Central America, combined with contact
with women and men from around the world who are working to make their
communities and countries more equitable, safer and places where people can
realize their potential. List of S.D. Interests and
Concerns,
organizational change (how do institutions and organizations develop new
ways of working, of decision making and of incorporating new visions into their
structures, processes and products? How can a feminist agenda influence
non-feminist organizations?).
Concerns and encouragement
I am currently interested in
organizations and bureaucracies and how general concerns can become
translated into concrete actions and changes.
Changes needed
First we need a better understanding of how change
happens (within organization, communities, bureaucracies, etc). We can then
derive strategies based on that understanding to promote a vision of
sustainable development.
Wyman, Miriam
Miriam Wyman and Associates
11 Model Avenue
Downsview, Ontario, M3H 1V9 Canada
Work Phone: 416-633 6837
Fax: 416-633 6825
Email
mwyman@web.apc.org
Vocation Activist
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Education, public
awareness, communication
SD Interest Areas Sustainable development - Strengthening groups
(youth, women, First Nations)
Biographical information
Interest Areas: Public involvement in
environmental decision-making. Women's perspectives on sustainability.
Relationship between policy and action.
Education: B.A. Honours
Psychology, University of Toronto; M.E.S. (Environmental Education), York
University; uncompleted Ph.D. (all but dissertation), Planning (University of
Toronto).
Employment/Experience: Since 1987, Consultant focusing
on Public Involvement in Environmental Decision-Making. Current work
includes: Technical Advisor (Facilitation) to Seaton Interim Planning Team of
the Ontario Ministry of Housing and the Seaton Advisory Committee regarding the
feasibility of building a sustainable community on provincially held lands east
of Metropolitan Toronto; conversations with Canadian women about sustainability
(for IISD); conversations with Canadians about sustainability (for Projet de
societé). Between 1979 and 1987, Faculty Member, Faculty of
Environmental Studies, York University. Parallel NGO activity related to women,
environment and development : Co-Coordinator, Building Women's Networks for
Sustainability (a project of the WEED Foundation), 1993; women's sector
representative to the Canadian Participatory Committee for UNCED, 1992--94;
women's sector representative on the Canadian delegation to Prep Comms 3 and 4
and to the Earth Summit, 1992-94; Co-coordinator and program chair, "Women
and Environment: Charting a New Environmental Course" the first North
American conference dealing with women's involvement in environmental activity
(1990).
Languages; other skills: English; working knowledge of
French
Memberships: Member, Working Group of Canada's Projet de
societe; Past President, Board of Directors, WEED Foundation; Board Member,
Mazon Canada
Your publications related to SD
Author of numberous publications,
reports, articles and reviews on themes of public involvement, women,
environment and development, environmental education, environmental values,
including: Wyman, M. and Rosalind Cairncross, "Building Women's
Networks for Sustaianbility," CIDA, July 1993. Wyman, M. "Making
Women More Visible, in Human Society and the Natural World: Perspectives on
Sustainable Futures", Edited by David V.J. Bell, Roger Keil, and Gerda
Wekerle, Faculty of Environmental Studies, 1994. Wyman, M. "Life in
the UNCED Lane, Women and Environments" Winter/Spring 1993. Wyman, M.
"Writing an Environmental Autobiography: An Exercise in Environmental
Understanding, in Excellence in Environmental
Education: Gaining
Momentum for the Challenge Ahead, North American Association for Environmental
Education", 1988. Wyman, M. "Explorations of Ecofeminism, Women
and Environments", 1987. Wyman, M. (Co-editor), "Environmental
Challenges: Learning for Tomorrow's World," London, Ontario: Althouse
Press, 1986.
Sustainable development viewpoints
Inspirations
Inspiration comes in many forms and on good days at least, there continue to be
many sources. My late mother and my children continue to be major sources
of inspiration -- my mother worked inside and outside the home, she was a
recycler and advocate of moderation all her life, she worked at relationships
that were important to her, she was an active volunteer on behalf of
countless causes and she never let us forget that we were connected to the
past and the future. I continue to be inspired (and challenged!) by my
children's tough questions, their curiousity and irreverence, and their
commitment to making the world a better place. I am inspired by people I
have met in many parts of the world who are commited in their personal and
professional lives to sustainability. And, I am (again on good days) inspired
by the level of environmental awareness and concern that is evident all
around us. And I am inspired and motivated by the understanding of the
feminist movement that "the personal is political" and of the
environmental movement that everything is connected to everything else.
Concerns and encouragement
I am concerned about many things: "common
wisdom" is still very uncommon; the dominance of an inappropriate
economic paradigm which continues to push individuals and governments into
unsustainable patterns; the untenable consumption patterns of people in
developed countries and the ambition of others for this way of life; and
what I perceive to be a growing gap between policy and action. Within the
women's movement, I am concerned that we over-idealize women as cooperative,
relational, and caring, and in wanting this to be the case are unprepared to
deal with the times it is not. And, I am hugely concerned about the endless
number of battles, causes and issues that remain to be addressed. I am very
concerned about how hard it has been for women's voices to be heard (Rachel
Carson on the devastating ecological effects of pesticides and Rosalie
Bertell on the devastating effects of unbridles militarism are significant cases
in point). And I have taken considerable encouragement from the impact of
women at UNCED; the Women's Caucus, initiated during the Prep Comms for
UNCED -- daily meetings of women from different sectors, backgrounds,
perspectives to strategize for change -- has provided a model applicable in
many situations. And I am encouraged by such initiatives as Canada's Projet
de societé which represents the new kinds of partnerships needed to
advance the transition to sustainability in Canada and around the world.
Changes needed
More women in decision-making at all levels -- I
know numbers aren't everything, but they matter. The women I have spoken with
about sustainability understand the issues, tensions and contradictions. It is
necessary to ensure that these perspectives are part of discussions and
decision-making about sustainability at all levels Greater links between policy
and action at all levels. People working on the ground need to feel that they
are part of a collective upwelling to activity moving us toward sustainability;
and policy must be better informed and shaped by people on the ground. A major
public awareness task is needed so that "ordinary" people know that
they can influence decisions being made (ostensibly) on their behalf and have
help with the mechanics of getting involved in all kinds of public processes.
They also need to know that they can and should hold decision-makers
accountable, not only on election day. There also have to be much clearer links
made between the daily activities of people in developed countries and our
impact on developing countries -- sustainability for Canada can only be
achieved in the context of global sustainability.
Miscellaneous comments
The environment movement has encouraged us
to think globally and act locally. I think sustainability requires that and
more; it requires us to also think locally and act globally. The real challenge
is in learning how to do both at the same time.
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