Session 9: Transformations

10th Global Conference

Friday 8th July 2011 – Sunday 10th July 2011
Mansfield College, Oxford, United Kingdom

Women and Sustainable Ecosystem: A Case study in India
Indira Sinha
Department of Political Science, College of Commerce, Bihar, India

During the study of India past several decades., there has been an increasing concern over environmental problems, throughout the world involving depletion of ozone layer, acid rain, green house effect, soil erosion, deforestation water pollution etc. the severity of these problems is in large part related to each nations quest for development technological advancement, industrialization and urbanization which causes unprecedented demands on the regenerative capacity of ecosystems and Jeopardizes conservation of the environment. In India the concept of environment protection can be seen starting from the period of Vedas. Here the focus is upon the potential for women’s movements and networks to influence the principles and practices of global environmental governance. Women always play a vital role in participating forest management. Women particularly living in rural areas or mountain areas have special relationship with environment. An attempt is made in this study to identify the importance of women in the management of sustainable ecosystem. Secondly to increase the role of women in the decision making process. Additionally there is also a need to establish a women Forum at International level which will provide a common platform to women from every region of the world to exchange and share their views, ideas, issues, problems, priorities and learn from others experiences. The discussion in the paper draws on data from a case study of rural and mountain area of Bihar and U.P. districts (India)

Complementary Currencies Associated with to Improve Local Financing of Sustainable Cities and Communities
Laurent Beduneau – Wang
Europe-Asia Finance (EURASFI), France

In a context of limited public budgets, “complementary currencies” associated with information and communication technologies (ICT) could constitute innovative public instruments to build up green resilient communities. Our paper will examine the role of complementary currencies in improving local financing of sustainable cities, in the fields of transportation, buildings, waste and water management.

Complementary currencies constitute an agreement sealed within a community to use another payment facility different from legal tender. Their role consists in linking unsatisfied requirements with unexploited resources (B.Lietaer, 2006) with the aim to solve social or even environmental issues emerging at local level. For example, a complementary currency put in place in Curitiba’s shantytowns (Brazil) consisted in rewarding waste collectors with free “green” public transport tickets. It led to establish an alternative waste collection system in a context of limited public resources while increasing the mobility of poorest citizens, facilitating the improvement of their living conditions.

Worldwide, complementary currencies have considerably increased over the last 30 years; from around 80 in the 80’s to over 5000 in 2010. Combining complementary currencies and ICT will be key to be (1) complement existing financial sources to promote sustainable cities, (2) to empower civil society to accelerate green transformation at local level, (3) to build inclusive, reliable tools allowing for replication and scale-up from local level to global level.

Throughout 3 case studies (Brittany region in France, Limburg in Belgium and Curitiba in Brazil), our paper will examine how complementary currencies can contribute to the transition to smarter cities and communities. It will identify how complementary currencies can help to take local synergies into account with benefits to population and environment by broadening the concept of “financial value creation”.

Download Draft Conference Paper (pdf)

Civil Society Empower Communities to Demand for Environmental Justice
Harriet Nalukenge
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Uganda, Uganda

Civil society has stood out as a strong player in influencing policy on many issues of public concern. It being closer to the people in the grassroots, civil society has developed a relationship that is important in facilitating change.

The paper explores the contribution of civil society in mobilising the people at the grassroots to demand for accountability from government and from multinational corporations that together are responsible for the adverse effects of climate change.

Involving citizens is effective because people who are directly affected by the negative effects of pollution are given a chance to participate in this cause. Civil society empowers community participation by providing environmental awareness, facilitating town clean up and building capacities through education. This gives people the skills and the connections to demand for accountability.

This paper will give a critical analysis of the potential of women to build solidarity networks and show their readiness to take up self help projects. These are all very important in promoting community action. The contribution from all members of the community is in no doubt the strategy that will bring about effective change.

Governments are limited in capacity yet the advancement in technology; increase in production and growth in populations continues to waste away the natural environment. Action from civil society therefore compliments government by empowering and mobilising communities to demand for accountability and monitor compliance through the strength of coordination and network building. Whether it’s through confrontation or diplomacy change is to be effected by persons who are directly aggrieved by the actions of polluters and the in action of governments.