Democracy and Sustainability Platform http://www.democracyandsustainability.org Re-shaping democracy so that it becomes a powerful force for sustainability Wed, 15 Oct 2014 17:30:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 The Convergence Mapping Tool http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/the-convergence-mapping-tool/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/the-convergence-mapping-tool/#comments Wed, 21 May 2014 16:18:55 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1713 CONVERGE is a research project inspired by the concept of contraction and convergence, an idea to stabilise emissions of greenhouse gasses while promoting social equity. They produced a Convergence Mapping Tool in the form of an e-book that provides a framework to enable organisations to assess the sustainability of their projects, practices and operations, and develop strategies for improvement. The Tool guidebook also... Read more »

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CONVERGE is a research project inspired by the concept of contraction and convergence, an idea to stabilise emissions of greenhouse gasses while promoting social equity. They produced a Convergence Mapping Tool in the form of an e-book that provides a framework to enable organisations to assess the sustainability of their projects, practices and operations, and develop strategies for improvement. The Tool guidebook also contains several examples of convergence in action.

You can read more about the CONVERGE Project here and download the Convergence Mapping Tool from their Community Resources page.

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Democratising Agricultural research http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/democratising-agricultural-research/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/democratising-agricultural-research/#comments Wed, 21 May 2014 14:42:44 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1708 The Democratising Food and Agricultural Research initiative seeks to contribute to the following outcomes: Development and implementation of new models of citizen involvement and gender justice in decisions on food and agricultural research, as well as risk assessments. Complement the activities recommended by the International Assessment of Agriculture Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), –... Read more »

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The Democratising Food and Agricultural Research initiative seeks to contribute to the following outcomes:

  1. Development and implementation of new models of citizen involvement and gender justice in decisions on food and agricultural research, as well as risk assessments.
  2. Complement the activities recommended by the International Assessment of Agriculture Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), – by opening up gender inclusive and safe spaces within which, and from which, small scale farmers and other citizens can gain the confidence to use their voice, analyze, deliberate, frame alternatives and action, mobilize, build alliances and act.
  3. Development of more effective, interdisciplinary, user oriented and participatory research based on mutual respect and gender inclusion. New partnerships will link natural and technical science with social science and indigenous knowledge to address needs and problems in specific local settings that are typically marked by complex and dynamic change
  4. New funding mechanisms and oversight to support genuine cross cultural dialogue, gender sensitivity and inclusion, interdisciplinary openness and the production of relevant social and ecological knowledge for food, farming and sustainable land use.
  5. Establishment of gender inclusive and pro-poor innovation systems that are supported by appropriate governance arrangements and funding.

Marginalised small scale producers and food providers stand to gain most from the development of more inclusive forms of agricultural research based on the principles of deliberative and direct democracy.

Details of the initiative’s regional projects can be found here

 

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The Access Initiative – International and local level work on procedural rights http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/the-access-initiative-international-and-local-level-work-on-procedural-rights/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/the-access-initiative-international-and-local-level-work-on-procedural-rights/#comments Wed, 21 May 2014 11:17:21 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1700 International and local level work on procedural rights – access to information, public participation and access to justice – is being spearheaded by two recently-merged teams within World Resource Institute’s (WRI)  Governance Center. The Access Initiative (TAI) and the Governance of Forests Initiative (GFI) have come together to deepen and expand their work, which focuses... Read more »

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International and local level work on procedural rights – access to information, public participation and access to justice – is being spearheaded by two recently-merged teams within World Resource Institute’s (WRI)  Governance Center. The Access Initiative (TAI) and the Governance of Forests Initiative (GFI) have come together to deepen and expand their work, which focuses on the right and ability of communities to influence decisions about their natural resources. TAI and GFI are built on the work of dedicated partner organizations – over 210 in total – who share knowledge and resources to support the global effort to implement procedural rights. Both groups specialize in the dual approach of geographically-focused projects in places like Brazil, Indonesia, Cambodia, Mongolia and Jamaica, along with the development of more generalized tools and indicators, ranging from TAI’s Water Governance Toolkit to GFI’s Forest Governance Assessments. This work clearly embodies the “Count it, Change it, Scale it” philosophy.

            Current TAI projects include the Environmental Democracy Index (EDI), a set of 99 legal and practice indicators that build on the UNEP 2010 Bali Guidelines on Principle 10. Lawyers in 75 countries research and review the national legislation and environmental regulations in order to evaluate how well these laws harmonize with the Bali Guidelines. EDI will help equip governments and civil society organizations with the tools to implement the reforms necessary to create a more transparent, accountable and just system of environmental decision-making. EDI will launch in fall 2014 and expand to 100 countries by 2016.

Other projects like ‘Strengthening the Right to Information for People and the Environment(STRIPE) focus on the ‘Change it’ phase of engagement. The STRIPE project has initiatives in Thailand, Indonesia and Mongolia. TAI is working with local stakeholder groups in these countries to evaluate proactively disclosed environmental information, make additional Freedom of Information Act requests and formulate strategies to use this information to combat industrial air and water pollution.

TAI is constantly involved in the process of scaling its work. The TAI network is comprised of organizations and individuals who champion access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters. The network currently includes 200 partner organizations in 50 countries. TAI plans to expand membership to more countries and individuals. More information on the TAI network can be found here.

The Governance of Forests Initiative (GFI) aims to improve the participation, transparency, and accountability of government practices that impact forest land allocation and use in Brazil, Cameroon, and Indonesia, as well as globally though international instruments like REDD+. Operating as a network of civil society organizations, GFI generates information and dialogue on forest governance, helps to build capacity and target advocacy, and advances policy reforms. GFI’s core tool is the GFI Indicator Framework, which aims to diagnose strengths and weaknesses in forest governance and has been used to support civil society assessments and outreach. Current GFI work on accountability and REDD+ will generate new knowledge on how to institutionalize accountability in emerging international, national, and sub-national REDD+ programs and frameworks to ensure equitable and sustainable climate outcomes.

Both TAI and GFI operate within the space created at the intersection of environmental sustainability and democracy under the belief that when procedural rights are upheld, the result is better environmental management. This connects directly to the themes of the Manifesto for Democracy and Sustainability; all promote comprehensive inclusiveness as essential for both our environment and government.

To learn more about TAI and GFI’s work and the TAI network, please sign up for our newsletter here and follow us on Twitter @TAIGlobal.

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Pursue the goal of a ‘reinvented democracy’ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/pursue-the-goal-of-a-reinvented-democracy/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/pursue-the-goal-of-a-reinvented-democracy/#comments Thu, 15 May 2014 11:58:21 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1676 A false notion of democracy is so deeply embedded in the modern world that the task of explaining the truth is as difficult as the task of the modern astronomers to explain the truth of the spherical earth, against the then belief of a flat earth ! The elections, the free-media, the parliamentary debates etc... Read more »

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A false notion of democracy is so deeply embedded in the modern world that the task of explaining the truth is as difficult as the task of the modern astronomers to explain the truth of the spherical earth, against the then belief of a flat earth ! The elections, the free-media, the parliamentary debates etc have so smartly veiled the fact of the absolute rule of the professional politics over modern democracy. It is a game of striving for the proverbial throne of the state, as it was always in human history, with the only present difference is that the entities that play the game are not from the species of kings or aristocrats, but from the class of people !
The most important activity was my attending the 9th Congress of ‘International Society for Universal Dialogue’ with my paper titled ‘ Is modern democracy a fake coin ? ‘ in 2012 at Olympia, Greece. The theme of the congress was ‘democratic culture’. Later on, I got my paper published at Amazon.com as an e.book: http://www.amazon.com/modern-democracy-fake-Reinvented-ebook/dp/B008NNPG32/ref=sr_1_2_title_0_main?s=books&ie=U

Next was my regular appeal to opinion leaders like ‘The elders community’, media leaders, intellectuals etc. all over the world, seeking to open-up their mind towards the dire need of ‘reinventing’ modern democracy. I posted a full-fledged blog, as to what a true democracy must represent to people and world,and shared it with those whom I sent the appeal. The link of the said blog post is: http://anewtheoryondemocraticestablishment.blogspot.in/

The images uploaded below are photos from my isud presentation of the democracy paper at Olympian Congress.

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Fomento del Desarrollo Sostenible mediante empresas de Economía Social http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/fomento-del-desarrollo-sostenible-mediante-empresas-de-economia-social/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/fomento-del-desarrollo-sostenible-mediante-empresas-de-economia-social/#comments Thu, 15 May 2014 11:05:37 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1684 FEANSAL es la organización empresarial que desde 1989 defiende y representa a las sociedades laborales andaluzas. La Federación andaluza aúna y representa a estas sociedades, defendiendo sus derechos y poniendo a su disposición un equipo de profesionales para la mejora de su competitividad y la creación de empleo estable y de calidad. Desde sus distintas... Read more »

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FEANSAL es la organización empresarial que desde 1989 defiende y representa a las sociedades laborales andaluzas. La Federación andaluza aúna y representa a estas sociedades, defendiendo sus derechos y poniendo a su disposición un equipo de profesionales para la mejora de su competitividad y la creación de empleo estable y de calidad.

Desde sus distintas áreas FEANSAL trabaja para facilitar a las sociedades laborales la superación de barreras administrativas, sociales y tecnológicas, asesorando a las empresas en la creación, desarrollo y consolidación de sus proyectos.

La Federación mantiene su apuesta por la responsabilidad social, la innovación, la comunicación, la cooperación empresarial y la internacionalización de la empresa desde áreas estratégicas: relaciones institucionales, comunicación, desarrollo empresarial, innovación, formación, empleo, emprendimiento e igualdad. La Federación cuenta con ocho delegaciones por cada una de las provincias andaluzas y con más de 3200 sociedades laborales en Andalucía.

Unos de los fines de FEANSAL es “fomentar y ser referentes en las políticas de género, en el sentido del compromiso para la modificación de la condición y posición de las mujeres, y en el sentido de trabajar para lograr un sistema equitativo, justo y solidario entre hombres y mujeres”. (Art. 6 de los Estatutos Sociales)

FEANSAL es miembro de la Confederación Empresarial de Sociedades Laborales (CONFESAL) y de la Confederación de Entidades para la Economía Social (CEPES Andalucía).

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Energy-saving – it’s a social thing http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/energy-saving-its-a-social-thing/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/energy-saving-its-a-social-thing/#comments Thu, 15 May 2014 10:39:51 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1680 Reducing energy consumption is one of the biggest challenges we face in the UK today. In order to tackle CO2 emissions and ensure both the security and affordability of supply, the Government has made energy demand reduction a policy priority. For consumers, rising energy prices and accessing affordable energy are growing concerns. Although energy consumption... Read more »

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Reducing energy consumption is one of the biggest challenges we face in the UK today. In order to tackle CO2 emissions and ensure both the security and affordability of supply, the Government has made energy demand reduction a policy priority.

For consumers, rising energy prices and accessing affordable energy are growing concerns. Although energy consumption is a widely-shared worry, most people regard it as a private matter. Addressing concerns about energy at an individual level is important, but we know little about the potential for community-level initiatives to drive positive change. What if energy became a public issue that people talked about with friends and neighbours?

In order to use energy more efficiently, people need relevant knowledge of what they should do and how they can do it. The Reducing Energy Consumption Through Community Knowledge Networks (RECCKN) project has compared how people find out about energy issues, the barriers to the spread of energy knowledge and awareness, and how this knowledge might be more effectively shared in different types of communities. We have found that peer networks in local areas – what we call ‘community knowledge networks’ – can enable the sharing of information and expertise, ultimately leading to the spread of useful knowledge about using energy more efficiently.

The overarching finding of this research is that making energy ‘discussable’ is an effective, low-tech and low-cost way to help people make better choices about how they use and conserve energy. Ultimately, it should lead to a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions.

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Giving sustainability greater priority in our funding programmes http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/giving-sustainability-greater-priority-in-our-funding-programmes/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/giving-sustainability-greater-priority-in-our-funding-programmes/#comments Fri, 02 May 2014 16:20:20 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1668 As a result of a recent strategic review, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust will be launching a new grant programme called Sustainable Future as well as continuing our commitment to deepening and strengthening democracy and accountability. This development was not a result of signing the Manifesto, but is very much in tune with its aims.... Read more »

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As a result of a recent strategic review, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust will be launching a new grant programme called Sustainable Future as well as continuing our commitment to deepening and strengthening democracy and accountability. This development was not a result of signing the Manifesto, but is very much in tune with its aims. More information on our new website from 19 May 2014 www.jrct.org.uk

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International Meeting on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/international-meeting-on-a-united-nations-parliamentary-assembly/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/international-meeting-on-a-united-nations-parliamentary-assembly/#comments Fri, 02 May 2014 16:19:27 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1669 In October 2013, the fifth international conference on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly was held in the European Parliament in Brussels. In a final declaration, the participants from around thirty countries called on the United Nations and the international community to make democratic participation a key element of the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The declaration expressed... Read more »

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In October 2013, the fifth international conference on a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly was held in the European Parliament in Brussels. In a final declaration, the participants from around thirty countries called on the United Nations and the international community to make democratic participation a key element of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

The declaration expressed concern that “no adequate measures have been taken to address the democratic deficit of global governance in general and of the United Nations in particular.” The conference suggested that “a global democratic body of elected representatives” should be established “to bring global governance in the pursuit of post-2015 development goals” closer to the world’s citizens.

More information:

http://en.unpacampaign.org/news/722.php

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Future Generations Bill http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/future-generations-bill/ http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/putting-it-into-practice/future-generations-bill/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:37:44 +0000 democracyandsustainability http://www.democracyandsustainability.org/?p=1640 We are planning for the introduction of the Future Generations Bill into the National Assembly of Wales in July. This Bill will introduce mechanisms to improve our governance for the long term and has been influenced by the Manifesto, with Ministerial meetings with the Foundation. We have also launched a National Conversation on the Wales... Read more »

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We are planning for the introduction of the Future Generations Bill into the National Assembly of Wales in July. This Bill will introduce mechanisms to improve our governance for the long term and has been influenced by the Manifesto, with Ministerial meetings with the Foundation.

We have also launched a National Conversation on the Wales we Want www.thewaleswewant.org.uk which will lead to the first Report on Behalf of Future Generations next March. This process and report will be one of the mechanisms introduced by the Bill to ensure we build ownership of the national long term goals and associated measures of progress

To keep in touch with the Future Generations Bill visit http://www.cynnalcymru.com/futuregenerations-about

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