For anyone interested, the thesis work of my group and those completed by our fellow classmates are available to the public through the Blekinge university website. Click here for the full list of the 2008 work.
Our thesis is titled (click on it to visit the web page to download the document):
Sustainable Mining?Applying the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development to Mining Projects
Abstract:
Precious and base metal mining projects can serve as a stepping-stone in moving the mining industry towards achieving compliance with a scientific-principled definition of global socio-ecological sustainability. Using the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development to assess the current reality of mine project development has resulted in identifying gaps between current best practices and a desired vision of sustainability constrained by science based principles. These gaps provide opportunities for sustainability driven innovation. Evaluation of mining project phases and their impacts on ecological and social systems using the four Sustainability Principles highlight specific opportunities to create value for social, economic and ecologic systems. Companies choosing to develop mining projects using the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development can expect to achieve many business benefits, including improved reputation, increased transparency and stakeholder trust. Strengthening these aspects will provide robust support to companies as they manoeuvre to define their role in a sustainable society. This thesis examines how current processes for mining projects can be developed to support a successful transition into a sustainable society.
Enjoy and feel free to provide feedback.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
The Plight of Avocados
My post 'bubble' (see previous post) adjustment continues.....
I had a very intense conversation with my fiance the other night after I commented that I didn't enjoy how our town is laid out so that there is no public infrastructure for transport. We went to one of the local grocery stores and didn't find what we needed, an avocado. So we decided to drive to the other grocery store and by the time we got there (all of a 1.563 min drive) I was really hot and bothered that we HAD to drive to get there.
When did we stop asking questions to ourselves about the choices we had to get there? Could we have planned better and walked, enjoying the warm weather? DEFINITELY! Could we have pumped up our tires and enjoyed a leisurely 5 min bike ride together, enjoying the smells of the blooming trees and the giggles of the kids using the water park on the way to the store? DEFINITELY! We had the choice and we were so used to doing it this way (driving everywhere) prior to me going to school, we never bothered to challenge ourselves with contemplating other methods....So believe me we contemplated. I think it's been a bit of a wake up call for him but I continue to speak my truth and show by example, hoping as a couple we can find some common ground.
So my fiance brought up the point about organic food being more expensive and so we had a conversation about the 'real' cost of the food and how traditionally (or should that say industrially) farmed food does not account for the cost of damage to our soil nor the toxic accumulation of pesticides and their health implications resulting in dis-ease and pressure on our health systems. These are NOT reflected in the price.
He asked me a good question that I'm still thinking about...."Would you buy a non-organic avocado in the grocery store you have already driven to or would you drive to another grocery store in order to buy an organic avocado?". I said I would have been happy to ride my bike there to buy it for him!
It's an important example of how we are so muddled and swamped with evaluating the global health pros/cons of our actions these days. A friend said that everything we do is hypocritical so why bother? I personally think there is a happy medium with a whole systems perspective out there....it's just not an easy nor quick answer.
My suggestions to my fiance:
1. Dematerialize how much fossil fuel we are using by riding our bikes
2. Commit to buying organics because they often represent food produced without the use of bio-accumulative, petroleum based insecticides/pesticides (substances which accumulate in our ecosystems)
3. Commit to buying organics because they often represent farming practices that do not systematically destroy the soil's productivity and stop the loss of valuable top soil
4. Evaluate the frequency of eating a fruit that is not found locally
Really, it comes down to doing the best you can personally with the information you have. I have made a commitment to myself to watch less TV, blog more and READ more. My next read is a book that is relevant to this blog post and will hopefully provide some food for thought about my carbon footprint. I will let you know the verdict.
"How to live a low-carbon life : the individual's guide to stopping climate change" by Chris Goodall.
Post 'Bubble' Comments
It's been awhile since I've posted anything on my blog and so I thought that now is better than ever to make a few posts about my continuing journey in sustainability.
The first is about my experience leaving Sweden and the "bubble" as we affectionately referred to our Masters in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability programme. The bubble was soft, fuzzy, warm and filled with supportive, collaborative, and caring people and invaluable dialogue about the sustainability challenges we are facing right now. We all talked about how cold and rough the exit from this bubble would be but it's only over the last few weeks since I've really been feeling the pain and butting heads with friends, family, and myself as I was introduced back to the REAL WORLD! No more ideal student in Sweden life:
The first and most abrupt post 'bubble' experience happened during my trip home through London Heathrow. It started by filling out the landing card, "What is your profession?" Hmmmmm.......how do I summarize the 4 system conditions (to achieve a sustainable society) in about 3cm of space?? No short answers here. Searching for a familiar term...I settled on "Peacemaker" or maybe I could have written "Societal Muse"? Hahahaha. I liked that one!
First Challenge: How do we recent graduates define ourselves? It is not a profession that is widely understood, like if you said, "I'm a doctor", "I'm an astronaut", or "I'm an exotic dancer"..nope. Most often, when I'm asked what I do and I respond, "Sustainability Practitioner" I get a very blank look. Thankfully I'm good at talking and if they are willing to listen it's a win-win situation!
So, I rolled up to the desk that contained the totally uptight security supervisor. Standard questions, "Where have you been?" etc. So I start by saying I've been going to school in Sweden etc and so he asks what topic?
"Sustainability" I answer.
He snaps his head up (read: totally panicking as he has no idea what I'm talking about OR thinks I'm being a smart ass). "What is that?", he replies.
I say, "It's about studying how we are stuffing up the planet (thanks to Annie my thesis partner!)".
SILENCE.....
"So why didn't you take the train from Copenhagen, it's more sustainable?", he replies in a smartie-pants way that makes me want to hit him.
*SIGH* (Patience is a virtue I remind myself loudly). Then a locomotive train full of thoughts flashed through my brain in the next 0.5 seconds:
"I didn't have time", I blurt out, not feeling like challenging him to explain to me where the train goes.... He looks smug and I still want to hit him.
The next voice in my head sings, "Welcome to life outside the bubble!". This is a place where the definition of Sustainability is twisted, confused and mixed with a lot of fear and judgement. So many people are scared about what it means for them. Will I have to give up my car? What about my vacations? How about my favorite cream puffs imported from Italy? Are the polar ice caps going to melt? Will I be able to afford to eat?
Many people believe it [sustainability] is only about climate change, pollution, environmental issues or my personal favorite, finances (i.e. - if your business is sustainable, then it is financially successful). It's a jungle out here!
Second Challenge: Have enough patience to navigate through the thick, invisible cloud of doubt, fear, judgement, and "I'm-out-to-save-myself-so-screw-you" attitude to be able to explain how we are all connected, that sustainability is a whole-systems challenge and that the recent increase in food and gas prices to $4 a gallon (or $1.509 a litre in West Vancouver tonight) is only a small piece of the larger picture for example.
I am doing my best to stay calm and listen to the concerns my friends and family have. They are valid and even if they don't completely listen as attentively as I would wish to the suggestions I make, at least they are asking! For certain it's not an easy topic and if you are out there listening.....send your supportive vibes as we all work together to grow our bubble like a raindrop, spreading and collecting more and more little drops into a big and beautiful resource!
The first is about my experience leaving Sweden and the "bubble" as we affectionately referred to our Masters in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability programme. The bubble was soft, fuzzy, warm and filled with supportive, collaborative, and caring people and invaluable dialogue about the sustainability challenges we are facing right now. We all talked about how cold and rough the exit from this bubble would be but it's only over the last few weeks since I've really been feeling the pain and butting heads with friends, family, and myself as I was introduced back to the REAL WORLD! No more ideal student in Sweden life:
- biking everywhere (and feeling like I'm not going to get hit by every car!),
- having a local Saturday market/social gathering,
- no TV (read: not bombarded by N.American media crap), and
- being spoiled by being surrounded by 63 fellow classmates that supplied a constant feed of ideas, dialogue and most importantly understanding and support.
The first and most abrupt post 'bubble' experience happened during my trip home through London Heathrow. It started by filling out the landing card, "What is your profession?" Hmmmmm.......how do I summarize the 4 system conditions (to achieve a sustainable society) in about 3cm of space?? No short answers here. Searching for a familiar term...I settled on "Peacemaker" or maybe I could have written "Societal Muse"? Hahahaha. I liked that one!
First Challenge: How do we recent graduates define ourselves? It is not a profession that is widely understood, like if you said, "I'm a doctor", "I'm an astronaut", or "I'm an exotic dancer"..nope. Most often, when I'm asked what I do and I respond, "Sustainability Practitioner" I get a very blank look. Thankfully I'm good at talking and if they are willing to listen it's a win-win situation!
So, I rolled up to the desk that contained the totally uptight security supervisor. Standard questions, "Where have you been?" etc. So I start by saying I've been going to school in Sweden etc and so he asks what topic?
"Sustainability" I answer.
He snaps his head up (read: totally panicking as he has no idea what I'm talking about OR thinks I'm being a smart ass). "What is that?", he replies.
I say, "It's about studying how we are stuffing up the planet (thanks to Annie my thesis partner!)".
SILENCE.....
"So why didn't you take the train from Copenhagen, it's more sustainable?", he replies in a smartie-pants way that makes me want to hit him.
*SIGH* (Patience is a virtue I remind myself loudly). Then a locomotive train full of thoughts flashed through my brain in the next 0.5 seconds:
- where the hell does the train from Copenhagen go to get to London?
- I curse some more in my head,
- think of Sara Parkin (Forum for the Future Director) and her story about the media searching under her kitchen sink,
- think so I look like the asshole because I flew from Copenhagen to London instead of taking the more sustainable option of taking some unknown train from Copenhagen to London...perhaps through Paris? hmmm.....how about asking me some important questions like how I choose to live my life outside of flying, that I offset my flights with carbon credits etc..
"I didn't have time", I blurt out, not feeling like challenging him to explain to me where the train goes.... He looks smug and I still want to hit him.
The next voice in my head sings, "Welcome to life outside the bubble!". This is a place where the definition of Sustainability is twisted, confused and mixed with a lot of fear and judgement. So many people are scared about what it means for them. Will I have to give up my car? What about my vacations? How about my favorite cream puffs imported from Italy? Are the polar ice caps going to melt? Will I be able to afford to eat?
Many people believe it [sustainability] is only about climate change, pollution, environmental issues or my personal favorite, finances (i.e. - if your business is sustainable, then it is financially successful). It's a jungle out here!
Second Challenge: Have enough patience to navigate through the thick, invisible cloud of doubt, fear, judgement, and "I'm-out-to-save-myself-so-screw-you" attitude to be able to explain how we are all connected, that sustainability is a whole-systems challenge and that the recent increase in food and gas prices to $4 a gallon (or $1.509 a litre in West Vancouver tonight) is only a small piece of the larger picture for example.
I am doing my best to stay calm and listen to the concerns my friends and family have. They are valid and even if they don't completely listen as attentively as I would wish to the suggestions I make, at least they are asking! For certain it's not an easy topic and if you are out there listening.....send your supportive vibes as we all work together to grow our bubble like a raindrop, spreading and collecting more and more little drops into a big and beautiful resource!
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