Who we are
Individuals
Members of the Democracy and Sustainability Platform are individuals, organisations, alliances and networks who care about democracy, sustainability, and the links between them.
When members sign up to join, they are not asked to agree with every last word of the Manifesto (in fact it will be regularly reviewed, initially in 2014). But all members have actively chosen to associate themselves with the overall direction of change reflected in the Manifesto.
Members agree to share at least one example of their efforts to implement the Manifesto with other signatories at least once a year. This process will be initiated by the coordinators of the Platform. Once it’s under way, members will be able to add their examples to the Platform website.
Individual members of the Platform are listed below, and you can find a list of organisations and groups which have joined the Platform on a separate organisations, alliances and networks page.
All individual members have joined in their personal capacity; affiliations are given for information only
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I think having a manifesto that celebrates the links between democracy and sustainability is wonderful and incredibly timely. As somebody who has been a politician and minister in the government for many years, I fundamentally believe in those links between democracy and sustainability. Democracy is about good decision making and sustainability is about good decision making. If we bring them together, we get better decision making. Bringing them together will stop us making unsustainable decisions for the future democratically and that has to be a good thing.
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This manifesto delineates an important and intrinsic link between our human systems and how we sustain our natural ones. People and the laws that guide our way of life must pave the way to a more fair, just and sustainable world. This manifesto is a decisive step that outlines how to get there.
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Democracy and sustainable development are the two vital elements of what we will pass on to future generations, but their crucial inter-dependence has been neglected. This manifesto sets out to change that and to inspire creative action worldwide.
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Not less, but more democracy is the key to a sustainable world society that respects the Earth’s natural boundaries. This is especially true with regard to the global level where democracy is still virtually absent. It is an outstanding feature of this manifesto that it calls for a strengthening of democratic decision-making, participation and representation at all levels of governance alike.
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The Manifesto is testimony to my conviction that development can ensure a clean, safe and just world desirable by all citizens through participatory democracy which guarantees present and future generations an enjoyable quality of life. To me, this is a fundamental right governments and citizens need to uphold.
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This Manifesto is important in that it states a fundamental principle – that the expertise, and the decisions that are made, about sustainable development, must draw on the knowledge that exists outside government and research institutions. It must involve the people who are experiencing issues at first hand. They have built up valuable insights on topics, such as agriculture, water conservation, flooding and fair trade. People need new democratic spaces where they can discuss things in dialogue with experts and decision makers and hold them to account, challenging what experts say with knowledge from the ground.
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It is my great pleasure to contribute to the efforts launched by the Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability. I hope many others will join us for the benefit of future generations. I urge decision-makers and stakeholders to sign and promote the Manifesto and raise awareness for our common issues and concerns.
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The Manifesto gives recognition to the fact that we equally share the Earth and we are equally responsible for its ongoing future. There is no better option for ensuring that future than informed democracy
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Democracy may not be the best political antidote for all the world’s social and economic ills, but without it, those who are born in less fortunate circumstances are condemned to live a life bereft of choices and opportunities. Politicians and bureaucrats should recognize that there is a fundamental connection between democracy and sustainability. Democratic values must be reflected in national policies and international laws. The consistent adherence to democratic ideals results in economic prosperity, political stability and social security; the fruits of which will be enjoyed not only by us but also by the generations yet unborn.
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In considering the fate of human civilization, democracy and sustainability, at the national and international levels, are interdependent and reinforcing, and their absence or imbalance arcs humanity towards catastrophe.
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I think all of us in the environment and development community recognise that there has been a strong dominant push for short term thinking throughout the political and business world and that we urgently need to group together and make a collective noise, a collective cry- a very strong message to all of our Lords and Masters in politics and business to say that actually we want a different relationship with the future. We want to build a future we can be proud of and not ashamed of. That means looking at each and every way decisions are made whether in NGOs, schools, hospitals government, whether boardrooms of business. Let’s interrogate how decisions are made and push for long term thinking instead of short term advantage.
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The opposite of sustainable is unsustainable. By this very definition, the world has no choice but to embrace long term policies which guard our precious resources for future generations. Democracy is the best system to build this future – as it is the most resistant to corruption and violence, which prevent those long term policies being put in place.
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[The Manifesto].. is not only simple but profound.
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I am delighted to be a founder signatory to the Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability; not only because it is an excellent document but because it is a real process of involving people from right around the world in thinking about how we develop a better democracy and better sustainability – and in particular how we can begin to factor the needs of the future generations into policy making today… I encourage everyone to get involved in this process. ..It’s a fit process for the 21st century.
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I strongly agree with Principle 1 since I believe that the corporate capture of politics is one of the main reasons why we are unable to create the necessary political will to leave fossil resources in the ground.
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In the current age, scarred by enormous ecological, political and social crises, a manifesto that addresses democracy and environment is most urgent, welcome, and overdue. It deserves the support of all mankind.
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This is a great way to protect peoples’ rights at a grass roots level.
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I am delighted to be a signatory to the Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability. The emphasis on overcoming short-termism is crucial, as is humility and learning from past endeavour; for me the democratic ideal and pursuit of sustainability are inextricably bound together.
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Effective democracy is essential to ensuring that we live sustainably – and pass on a healthy planet to future generations. Co-operatives live both democracy and sustainability to their cores – placing people, the planet, and fairly sharing in real profits, above the narrow interests of short-term financial returns. It excites me to see how aligned the seven co-operative principles are with the Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability’s six principles, especially:
– “take the long view” (fundamental to co-operatives);
– “knowledge must be inclusive” (Principle 5: Education);
– and “nothing about us without us” (Principle 6: the interconnectedness of ‘co-operation among co-operatives’) -
It is almost impossible to imagine how a system of government built on the wishes of people alive today – who vote, who pay taxes – can possibly meet the needs of future generations who are not alive today and who therefore do not vote and do not pay taxes. Yet that is what democracy has to deliver if it is to ensure sustainable development. This manifesto starts to explore this inter-generational conundrum. It is full of questions that politicians, and citizens, need to answer if we are to have a prayer of meeting the needs of generations yet unborn.
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This Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability calls attention to the fact that governments and stakeholders can only achieve sustainable decision making, that takes into account the needs of present and future generations, by promoting participatory democracy, by creating mechanisms to inform citizens and listening to them. That is the reason why I myself as much as possible organise public hearings to inform investigations about environmental issues that fall within the scope of my duties; not only because these hearings are a very good way to collect evidence and give information to citizens, but also because the content of the speeches of the citizens, as present owners of the rights I am entitled to defend, are taken into account when I make decisions as results of those investigations. I truly believe in this Manifesto and I am delighted to contribute to its launch.
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We are all part of a global democratic movement for change. This is an important initiative. Political democracy and democracy in our workplaces, through the exercise of workers’ rights, are inseparable.
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A sustainable future is dependent upon a vibrant and functioning democracy.
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Sustainable Development and community participation are inseparable. I see the ultimate goal of democracy and sustainability in its pure form as the empowerment of the individual to make morally just choices for himself, his family, his local community, the wider global community and future generations. This aspiration is what we should all strive for and a world in which these ideals are contextualized and integrated in the everyday environment!
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I have three children. I see sustainability in that frame. For me, it’s easy – but wrong – to run a world which is not sustainable. It’s more challenging – but right for my children – to aim for sustainability.
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Democracy and Sustainability is like Morecambe and Wise – inseparable. And when they both work work well together, everyone feels better.
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We live and work by the principles of sustainability and try to live by the principle of voluntary simplicity. Our farm www.wefs.co.nz is an organic mixed farm producing healthy nutrient dense fresh food for our local community.