The Lunchbox

The

Lunchbox Ready-to-eat sustainable development bites made by the“I have a mango� team

The

Lunchbox

The Lunchbox First edition – Online version March 2012 Editor: Alejandra Echeverri.

Editorial team: Alejandra Echeverri, Karianne Sørbø, Juan Manuel Oviedo, Eirik Swensen, Michael Anstis, Maria Celeste Montilla.

Reviewers: Michael Anstis, Rupert Friederichsen.

“I have a mango” project: Alejandra Echeverri, Kamilla B. Haaland, Juan Manuel Oviedo, Karianne Sørbø.

Photography: Oscar Amaya, CISV International, Alejandra Echeverri, Iddy Farmer/ The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Ahmad Fuad Morad, Stevie Mann/The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Liv-Heidi Pedersen/ Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU), Alex E. Proimos.

Layout and illustration: Camila Barrera.

Thanks to: Dan Banik, Arturo Corredor, Annika Dalén, Mauricio Deliz, Rodrigo Esguerra, Kaja Knutsdotter Fjørtoft, Diana Guzmán, Håvard Haarstad, Nina Heidenstrøm, Arild Hermstad, Claudio Maudane, Maria Celeste Montilla, Inger Elisabeth Måren, Ilana Ochoa, Camilo Rojas, Silje Samdal, André Skeie, Juan Manuel Soto, Pablo Stevenson, Roger Strand, Tristram Stuart, Eirik Swensen, May-Lise Talgø, Paula Ungar, Nina Witoszek, Siv Elin Ånestad. Special thanks to Informasjonstøtta in The Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU) for providing funding and the opportunity to develop this idea.

Typefaces: Baskerville and Interstate.

This publication was funded by The Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU).

Everybody has had a lunchbox at least once in their lives. Well, ours isn’t any different from regular ones. The only thing is we packed knowledge instead of food. Imagine 3 snacks: society, environment, and economy.

This is what will nurture you by having this Lunchbox! In addition to the content published here you will find other snacks – like learning-by-doing activities and external links for those who remain hungry after eating this. The best part is you don’t have to eat it all at once. You can have a bite or two, digest it and then have some more while carrying your Lunchbox everywhere.

Content 8

About I Have a Mango and The Lunchbox

13 Society

14 18 24 26 30 32

2012, the year to do something about it?

Is recycling a global trend?

Talk about technology!

The social dimension of sustainability Profile: Roger Strand Profile: Annika Dalén

35 Environment 36 42 47 52 56 58

The whole story behind palm oil Northern andean páramo: a strategic ecosystem What’s for dinner?

Water and sustainable development Profile: Silje Samdal Profile: Diana Carolina Guzmán Caro

61 Economy 62 68 74 78 80

The end of growth?

How do 8 million people move around?

Shopping, the cure for everything?

Profile: Arild Hermstad Profile: Juan Manuel Soto

83 Our partners and us

About I Have a Mango and The Lunchbox Alejandra Echever ri.

When people hear the term sustainable development they immediately relate it to recycling, windmills or not leaving any leftovers.

People still think that sustainable development is only a matter of being eco-friendly and just caring for the environment, but they often ignore the real meaning of sustainable development and the importance of it in our rapidly growing human population.

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By definition, sustainable development comprises the three aspects: economy, ecology and society.

Development is then considered sustainable once it finds a balance point between the three areas.

Sustainable development also means that in our use of natural resources to meet our needs, we shall not compromise the resources required to fulfil the needs of future generations.

But what really is sustainable development on a daily basis? Well in every action we make we can choose between doing a sustainable or an unsustainable action. Let’s take buying coffee on our way to work as an example - an action many of us do very often. We can choose between buying it from a well-known coffee shop or in a small café, we can buy coffee grown in small scale or large scale production farms, we can choose between organic and non-organic coffee and we can also choose a take away coffee in a plastic cup or bring our own cup to take the coffee with us. All those choices affect the environmental impact we have. It is with our actions that we can contribute to a more sustainable world.

In this booklet we aim to show you different approaches to sustainable development. Through short articles we hope to explain current issues in the field of sustainability, facts and inspiring stories to get you thinking about the world and your actions towards it. It is structured with articles comparing situations between Norway and Colombia or comparing any North/South issue, articles highlighting case studies and interviews with researchers, people working with other organisations and businesses regarding sustainable development. Among other topics we talk about consumerism, environmental problems and development economics. The articles are based

on academic material, personal experiences and information found in the media. All the topics we have chosen are familiar to our readers and are just a few topics under the big theme of sustainable development.

The Lunchbox is a product of the project “I have a mango: think, educate and act for sustainable development”, a cooperation between CISV Norway and CISV Colombia. In this project, two Colombians (Juan Manuel Oviedo and Alejandra Echeverri) and two Norwegians (Karianne Sørbø and Kamilla B. Haaland) worked in Norway from August to December 2011 and in Colombia from January to May 2012. We educated youth on sustainable development by giving workshops, seminars and movie nights in several cities in both countries. The team also studied different approaches to sustainable development by interviewing researchers and people from several organisations working with the topic. We developed local projects with communities in Norway and Colombia.

One of the main goals of the project was to be a link between the academic field of sustainable development and the general society, particularly youth. Through The Lunchbox we hope to communicate some of our experiences and summarise some topics that we believe it is important to raise awareness of. We also believe that there is a need to educate the general society about sustainable development as a whole. Values, lifestyles and attitudes can be changed once we understand the problems our world is facing. Once we discover the links between those issues and our own actions we will be ready to begin the path of sustainable decision making.

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Project participants: Kamilla, Juan Manuel, Karianne and Alejandra. Photo by Liv-Heidi Pedersen

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Sweet mango preserves Ilana Ochoa

If life gives you mangoes, make jam!

For 750 gr: • 2 ripe mangoes (about 450 gr) peeled and cut in dices • 1 vanilla bean • The grind of 1 lemon and its juice • 300 ml of water • 225 gr of brown organic sugar • 50 gr of raisins (optional)

In a big pot, put the mangoes and vanilla. Add the lemon grind and juice, then the water. Leave it to boil for about 20 minutes in slow heat. Add the sugar, stir until it has dissolved completely. Then let it boil for 10 minutes at very high heat, or until the mixture has thickened enough. Finally, add the raisins and cook for another 5 minutes. Let it cool. Put the preserves in glass jars previously sterilized and warm. Seal them and keep them in a fresh place.

Don't forget to share it!

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Chapter 1

Society The right to development is the measure of the respect of all other human rights.

That should be our aim: a situation in which all individuals are enabled to maximize their potential, and to contribute to the evolution of society as a whole.

Kofi Annan Society

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2012, the year to do something about it?

Karianne Sørbø.

We live in a world very much focused on economic growth while at the same time sustainable methods of development are strongly communicated. We are told that we must take care of the Earth and its resources for the future, and at the same time we exploit the Earth’s resources at an ever faster pace. To see that this creates challenges and paradoxes, nationally, internationally – but also for us in our everyday life – is to reflect on the idea of sustainable development. But first, what does this concept of sustainable development mean?

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The term sustainable development has meant different things at different times. The Brundtland Commission started using the term in the report “Our Common Future” published in 1987. In this report it was proclaimed that we could have economic growth parallel to the development of a sustainable society. Here ecology, economy and culture were claimed to be the basis of a sustainable future. A professor at the University of Bergen, Roger Strand, argues that the report promotes weak sustainability, where natural resources can be exchanged with the human resources technology and innovation. The starting point is the assumption that any natural resource is interchangeable with human resources.

The last decades we have seen that this is exactly what they are; interchangeable. With technological development taken into account the proceeds are for the most, a growing economy and greater prosperity for countries that are focusing on technology and innovation.

At the annual energy conference organised by the environmental organisation Zero last year, the well-known sociologist Lord Anthony Giddens said: “There is no such thing as a green economy” (Oslo 21-22nd 2011). Within the capitalistic framework no economy can develop without exponential growth. So to me this sounds like a critical, reflected and also realistic voice of a world citizen. The term sustainable development is put in strong doubt, despite its uttermost positive intention. An increasing amount of researchers are now questioning a system that measures progress in accordance with economic growth only. Still, in a country like Norway for example; a small country but a very present actor within the global economic segment of petrol,

we find fewer and fewer critical voices in the public debates when it comes to the actual implementation of green growth. This is most evident when it comes to discussions about the limits of growth (Meadows et. al 1972) reflected today through the de-growth movement.

Giddens’ point is that the current economic system is not compatible with the principles of sustainable development. This also means that the entire economic discipline has to change if it should be realistic for people to live sustainably. This does not seem to allocate much power for us as individuals to make changes on an everyday basis. The most logical thing to do instead is to try to change the system from within. As individuals within a capitalist system our most tangible weapon is our purchasing power. This does not mean that we should not be aware of the systems we are a part of at all times, both economic systems and others, but it can be a pragmatic approach to reach smaller goals within sustainable efforts like Fair Trade, ecological production and ethical brands. When it comes down to it, we are the ones who arrange our communities.

Change lies somewhere in the middle of the system and the individuals of a society.

To act on the basis of new knowledge and science in the climate and environmental field has thus proved to be harder than writing and talking about it. A practical example of an attempt to combine the Brundtland Commission’s approach while criticising the organisation can be found in the organisation FIVH - Framtiden i Våre Hender (Translation: the Future in Our Hands) FIVHs appeal to relatively affordable changes that you can do in everyday life. They are also one of the actors in the

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Photo by CISV International

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environmental field that reminds you that economic growth and sustainability seldom go hand in hand.

Everyone has to take into account their consumption and transportation patterns for the climate goals to be achieved.

Our personal consumption is not disengaged from the political discussions about emission cuts; on the contrary we can make emissions cuts every day. We must all begin to understand the connection between global injustice and the global environmental crisis. Development politics, community development, transportation policy, trade, waste management; the decisions we make on all these areas affect the relations between developed and developing countries. For the developing countries to get out of the eternal circle of poverty, unequal health opportunities and so on, we need to plan the future based on a sustainable development approach that includes both environment and a global solidarity perspective.

2012 is the focus year for sustainable development in CISV, because we believe that young people are the key to sustainable community development.

To build friendships globally is in itself a sustainable approach, but together we can do so much more.

Therefore we are working to include an overall sustainable attitude in our peace education, in practice and not just rhetorically. To act sustainably is something more than to have sustainable values and to have a voice within sustainable business. It is to have a sustainable attitude and act on the basis of it.

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Is recycling a global trend?

Juan Manuel Oviedo.

I spent the second semester of 2011 working in Norway where recycling is very important and highly recognised among the population.

During this period I learnt to separate different types of waste and I got to know the Norwegian recycling system, which I found strong, systematic, and different, compared to the Colombian one.

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Waste management is a big issue in every country, the raw material to build the product, then it goes and recycling is just a small part of it. Some coun- through production and then it is sold in the martries put more emphasis on how to recycle, and how ket to consumers via wholesalers and/or retailers. to do it varies from country to country. This situation Producers and importers are obliged to handle the raises concerns about not having a global recycling waste collection after consumers have finished using system or a common knowledge on how recycling the products. However, this represents many difficulties for people to complete this obligation since works or why we do it.

Billions of tons of waste are produced every year they work at different stages of the cycle. Therefore and most of the people do not recognise the impact a market arises for taking on and fulfilling particithis waste has on our environment and how it in- pants’ obligations of waste handling, the so called fluences us all in our daily life. In this article I will recycling market. This market has many submarkets provide information on what it means to reuse and that comprise both the waste sorting as a recycling service, and the market for recycled materials (Norrecycle from a South American perspective.

Recycling is important because it alleviates the wegian Competition Authority, 2005).

In contrast, Colombia is a country with a differpressure that society puts on the environment by saving the exploitation of natural resources to ac- ent type of recycling method and it should not be quire more raw materials; it helps to decrease over- analysed without looking at other facts. The poverty all emissions and reduces the burden of solid waste line in Colombia reached 46% of the population (Van Beukering & Curlee, 1988). But recycling in 2009, meaning that over 20 million people lived varies significantly from country to country. For ex- under the definition of poverty standards according to the National Planning and ample on my way back home from Statistics Institute (DANE). The Norway I stopped in Barcelona and Recycling helps to decrease poverty standard is defined by the realised these differences. In Barce- overall emissions and fulfilling of basic needs (such as lona they do recycle, but they have reduces the burden of solid water, electricity, health and shelonly two different bins: one for pa- waste. ter) therefore if someone fulfils all per and another for the rest. When comparing this method with the Norwegian one, it the basic needs, this person will be over the poverty seems like that is not recycling at all. In Norway peo- line. However, by 2010 the poverty percentage deple get back 1 Krone (almost 20 US$ Cents) per bot- creased but the misery index increased. The terms tle when they take bottles back to the grocery store. misery and poverty are defined as different qualThis means that people get that extra Krone that ity life standards in which we look at the capacity of fulfilling the same basic needs but with quality they had to pay in the first place to buy it.

In Norway, products that are included in the re- standards. The term “misery� looks at the people cycling system go through a series of markets dur- that fulfil basic needs but do not have higher qualing the lifecycle. Initially there is extraction to take ity standards (job opportunities, constant running

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“The Colours of Waste” by Alex E. Proimos

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water, and stable shelter), which means that someone may be over the poverty line and under the misery standards. By the end of 2010 the amount of people living in misery reached over 8 million of the Colombian population. The poverty situation in Colombia is not unique and homogenous; there are significant differences between the countryside and the cities. For example, in 2002 the poverty rate in the cities was around 50% while in the countryside it represented 70%. On the other hand, in 2006 the poverty rate in the cities went down to 39% but only decreased to 63% in the countryside (L贸pez, 2010). These differences may represent one of the most serious problems regarding development in Colombian society.

The production of solid waste is inherent to all human and social activities. Every productive society produces waste and its management becomes a complex situation, and even more obvious in urban centers such as the city of Bogot谩 with more than 8 million inhabitants. The waste management In Colombian towns the in Colombia is very critical waste is disposed in rivers in most of the towns, since or open spaces such as most of it is disposed in riv- mountains or meadows. ers or big open spaces such as mountains or meadows. In the countryside most of the waste is reused by the system within the local communities, therefore recycling is strongly linked to their daily habits. However in the cities the amounts of waste are greater compared to those in the countryside and people do not reuse almost any of it, therefore as an activity, recycling has been increasing in the past years, becoming a trend in urban centers.

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In Bogotá for example, glass is the most recycled material mainly because the economics behind it has supported the recollection and reuse of it. The habit of recycling paper and plastic has increased in recent years but as the costs are higher, it has not yet become very popular. Recycling was an activity that started in the late fifties in Bogotá. The first materials to be recycled were glass, paper and scrap metal. Since its inception the main recyclers have been those that make a living from this business.

Lately new people and new materials have been integrated to the system such as recycled plastics and tetra pack.

In addition, new chains for recycled products have been created. These chains promote the reuse of packaging, construction or remodelling, wood and junk products.

Recycling in Colombia has always been a business for low-income people.

In fact, nowadays the business includes many of the displaced victims of violence. Colombia has over 1,200 towns, from which only 15 are major cities.

The other 1,200 have an average of 22,000 people per The recycling population town. Only in Boin Bogotá has over 23,000 gotá the recycling people; while 90% of the population has towns in Colombia have over 23,000 peopopulations of 22,000 ple. This means people. that the amount

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of recyclers in Bogotá is bigger than 90% of the towns in Colombia (Asociación Colombiana de Recicladores, 2009). Recycling has been a successful system because it has empowered people to reduce the waste and reuse as much as possible. It has been an alternative for many people that lived under the poverty line and find in recycling a business and a way to make a living. A deeper social situation with the system is related to social status for the recyclers; for many years, recyclers have been recognised as people without enough resources and those who need assistance (DANE-UAESP, 2003). This labelling has made the rest of the society associate recycling with activity for the poor people; therefore for most people recycling is something they are not willing to try because at some point it might compromise their social status.

In conclusion, the biggest difference in recycling between Colombia and Norway is the ‘who does it’ and ‘how it is done’. In Colombia, we have people in the streets digging into the garbage and picking up whatever they find; while in Norway it seems that every family recycles and that Norwegians know since they are kids that different types of waste go in different bins. Thanks to this situation Colombia faces an option to employ many people, but there is a general lack of awareness in the rest of the population in both separating the garbage when it is thrown and the attitude towards recyclers.

But in both cases the whole society benefits from reducing the amount of waste that goes back to the natural environment. I believe that if there is no monetary impact on people or enterprises regarding waste, the market participants will not be concerned about the harm caused by production and

consumption on our environment. In economics, such environmental damage is referred to as negative externalities, in other words the negative effects of market participants’ actions on the environment (Norwegian Competition Authority, 2005). Overproduction and excessive consumption of goods, or too much waste being disposed are consequences that our society will need to face. But we will need to agree on recycling in all countries, even when

the problems are radically different, which means that environmentally friendly alternatives for waste management must look at the root of the problem and not a generalisation of the concept of recycling for all the world. Because we only have one planet that we are digging to get more raw materials and if any country helps to save a bit of it, they will contribute to reducing the pressure in any other country until it becomes a big saviour for all.

References • Van Beukering, P.J.H. & Curlee, T.R. 1998. Recycling of materials: local or global?. In Vellinga, P. et al. (Eds). Managing a material world. Kluwer Academic Press. Dordrecht: The Netherlands. 229-239.

• Norwegian Competition Authority. 2005. Competition Concerns Related to Recycling in Norway. English summary of the Authority’s report No. 1. Recycling Report Summary. 1-17.

• López, A. 2010. La pobreza relativa en Colombia. Editorial Unilibros. Bogotá: Colombia.

• Asociación Colombiana de Recicladores. 2009. Historia de la Asociación Colombiana de Recicladores. Available at: http://www.anr.org.co/nentidad.php.

• DANE-UAESP. 2003. Resultados de los estudios realizados por el DANE y la UESP sobre el reciclaje en Bogotá: El reciclaje en Bogotá, Actores, procesos y perspectivas.

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Talk about technology!

Eirik Swensen.

In spring 2010, the campaign “Climate Cure� with the associated basis report of possible climate change was launched. The ambition of the campaign was no less than a shift in Norwegian Environmental policy towards a more climate friendly future. The report was made by a panel with a mandate from the Norwegian Ministry of Environment, who came up with 160 different measures to reduce Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions. Minister of Environment Erik Solheim called it an impressive piece of work. But what is the point of such a report when all of the 160 measures were well known in advance?

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The problem with today’s climate policy is not a lack the technology is unsafe, storage facilities for full scale of knowledge; it is a lack of policy! The paradox is CCS are extremely volatile, especially for the long that the Norwegian climate policy is fundamentally time spans that are required; it is expensive, CCS shaped by the fear of making political decision that means the development of an whole new infrastrucchallenge people’s lifestyles. This is a fundamental ture including capture, transportation and storage; it and typical challenge for climate policy in rich coun- prolongs carbon society, CCS is an so called end of tries today.” What is the solution for a politician at a pipe solution, which means that it is not contradictory to the carbon society, but rather legitimise it. Apart loss? Exactly: to talk about technology.

When Solheim said, also at the launch of the from this it is not speculative to claim that it displaces “Climate Cure”: “It is necessary to do the simplest the focus on renewable energy sources. However, in and cheapest measures first, we can solve the climate other words; it is “politically possible”.

Talking only about the technology as the solution challenge by technology development” this is obviously wrong. The technological developments tak- to the climate challenge is to deprive the people’s reing place in the energy field are neither cheap nor sponsibility and rights to do something themselves in easy. “It is necessary to make the climate challenge their own lives. It makes the debate expert controlled and prevents popular support on politically solvable”, he could have the day when the unpopular messaid instead. Expensive techno- Talking about technology sages are to come. Such recognition logical prestige projects, are already as the solution to climate does not seem to have reached out constituting the core of Norwegian change only deprives to Norwegian politicians in power, climate policy. These huge invest- people’s responsibilities. who instead happily spit a few more ments, especially in carbon capture and storage (CCS), are still not bearing fruits after 15 billion into the airy technology projects.

Future climate – and energy policy should thereyears as The Solution. Investing in technology is obviously not wrong in itself, new and cleaner technolo- fore focus more on public involvement and acceptgies will be needed in the future. The point is that it ance for necessary transition strategies. To stress that major changes is crucial for humanity, including both prevents a real debate on climate policy.

This leads us to another problem; technology is the todays poor and future generations, may not not just technology. It should not challenge the “peo- yield large effects in the next ten years. Nevertheless, ple” or “the prevailing structures.” As mentioned, the the public acceptance part can not be skipped. Pure mantra in the Norwegian energy - as well as climate technological solutions would never solve the climate policy over the last ten years has been CCS. This is challenge in itself. the ideal solution, because it is not challenging the elements that are inherent in the energy - and climate Want to read more? Tjernshaugen, A. 2011. The policy, the politically realisable within established growth of political support for CO2, Capture and Storage limits. There are several problems with CCS though; in Norway. Environmental politics, 20(2):227-245.

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The social dimension of sustainability Karianne Sørbø.

Taken from personal experience the aspects of society and culture are often looked upon as external factors in working with sustainable development. Even in cases where people claim that they are important perspectives to include, it still seems to be perceived as a factor that interferes with the general approach to sustainable development. Therefore in this article I want to ask: what do we mean when we say the social dimension of sustainability?

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The focus on technology as the main solution for the climate and environment is still currently leading in the public environmental debate. This I believe has contributed to a discourse centered on the idea that changes are not to be made on an individual or even local level, but rather at a high political or scientific level. Mainstream public debate also does not give sufficient insight to the social and cultural aspects of sustainability. The existence of equal rights independent of gender, race, ethnicity, class, age, etc., is of crucial importance to grasp the intricate work towards sustainable development.

About one billion people today live in what we categorise as extreme poverty. Over 70% of these are women. Despite the fact that every human being should have the right to a life without violence, every third woman in the world is exposed to it; through violations such as human trafficking, circumcision, sexual violence, forced marriages, child marriages, etc. These facts have driven the Norwegian Church Aid to use the formulation “feminisation of poverty”, which implies that women’s lack of resources and influence impedes their chance of overcoming poverty (Norwegian Church and Act Alliance, 2011).

The term sustainability itself can certainly become intricate once you insist on connecting it with social and cultural aspects. For example, if we wanted to be smart about it we could say that traditions such as forced or child marriages should be “sustained”. Here is when we must not mix the terms sustainability and conservation. An important factor in the definition of sustainable development used by the Brundtland commission is that the decisions made today “must meet the needs of

everybody in the future”(United Nations, 1987).

This I will argue has failed to include women on a global basis because assuring the needs of the future generations must include women’s knowledge.

When it comes to sufficiently including women as decision makers, so far very few women have had positions that imply that they have a say in international development and peace-making processes. According to Kirkens Nødhjelp, a Norwegian organisation that works with gender and development say as follows: “Women’s rights to participate in decisions that affect themselves and their knowledge, experience and resources are essential for sustainable development”(Norwegian Church and Act Alliance, 2011).

The gender perspective of sustainable development I believe that the equality perspective in terms of gender is an entrance for discussing the socioeconomic dimension of sustainable development.

Gender is a global form of categorisation that affects everybody, even though we might not always be aware of it. Also gender equality is an objective that could – implemented in a sustainable matter – create synergies together with economic and ecological goals, and thus fit well within the classic perception of sustainable development(United Nations, 1987).

“Equality entails all available human resources being brought into play to a greater extent, and this in turn increases opportunities to generate economic growth and guarantees welfare” (Nordic cooperation on gender equality. 2011–2014). A report to the Environmental Advisory Council in Sweden states that “gender equality both strengthens sustainable

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development and is a precondition for it”(JohnssonLatham, 2007). Let us look at what might be the background for this statement.

The way I believe these two are interlinked is that the access we all have to resources and power affects our life-styles and also our consumption patterns. If you live in a society where girls and women are prohibited from moving around freely or in many more societies where free movement is limited due to mere safety concerns, women’s transportation habits will evidently be different from those of the men. As a result of their particular social status in some cultures women have fewer opportunities to consume and travel, consequently their CO2-emissions will be lower. This still is the case in several countries and societies around the world (Human development reports, 2012). The results are not only that women, seen from a global perspective, contribute to a considerably smaller amount of emissions than men, but also that because of the unequal distribution of social, economic and political power, women face a greater burden of the consequences of the environmental changes to which emissions contribute.

Freedom and responsibility If we take a closer look at the popular question of “who is responsible for the world’s climate crisis?” the view put forward by the 2002 Johannesburg UN World Conference was as follows; the polluters have to pay(United Nations, 2002). Women’s globally lower emissions as a result of their natural consumption, family values and local orientation can be a valuable climate change and CO2-emission lecture for all of us, but in terms of human

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freedom it can be the opposite. A green development is more than a green economy, and it must include cultural and social factors like these. The way the polluters (including both genders that enjoy relatively high incomes and a large amount of freedom of mobility) should “pay” is simply by a shift towards a more sustainable life-style.

Hence, when the aforementioned report on gender aspects in sustainable development states that “the freedom of movement of individuals is a matter of power and resources” (Human development reports, 2012) that does not necessarily mean that we should encourage equally high rates of emissions through consumerism and transportation. Human rights and individual freedom should undoubtedly be granted to all humans, but if we want to act sustainably we need to reflect more about how we use our freedom, our power and our resources.

Sustainable societies and new gender roles The UN resolution 1325 focuses on preventing violations against women in war time (United Nations, 2000). An essential ingredient in this prevention is the effort to include women in development issues.

We need both men and women’s knowledge and experiences as a foundation to develop a sustainable society.

By using equality as a starting point for discussing the social dimensions of sustainable development I have attempted to show – through different examples such as climate change, consumption, mobility and political influence – how the gender perspective and the social dimensions are crucial in sustainable development. Bringing attention to

the “often-neglected facts concerning dissimilarities in the life-styles of women and men that are of crucial importance to work in the sustainable development field”(Human development reports, 2012) is much needed. A comprehensive approach to the whole field will also include other important factors like class and ethnicity.

By adopting a comprehensive approach to sustainability we can move further from the mere focus on green technology and innovative practices, and create a more tangible foundation for living more sustainably.

Want to read more?

• CEDAW- The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Available at: http://www.un.org/womenwatch/ daw/cedaw/ • United Nations. 2002. Women, Peace and Security. Security Council Resolution 1325. Available at: http:// www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/ public/eWPS.pdf

References • Norwegian Church and Act Alliance. 2011. Gender Justice [post]. Available at: http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/ en/What-we-do/our-strategic-priorities/gender-justice/ • United Nations. 1987. Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, General Assembly RES 42/187, 11.

• Nordic cooperation on gender equality. 2011–2014. Gender Equality Creates Sustainable Societies.

• Johnsson-Latham, G. 2007. A study on gender equality as a prerequisite for sustainable development. Environment Advisory Council. Stockholm: Sweden.

• Human development reports. Revised 2012. Gender Inequality indexes. Available at: http://hdr.undp.org/en/ statistics/gii/.

• United Nations. 2002. Johannesburg Summit 2002, World Summit on sustainable development. Available at: http://www.un.org/jsummit/html/brochure/brochure12.pdf • United Nations. 2000. Resolution 1325. S/RES/1325. Available at: http://www.un.org/events/res_1325e.pdf

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Profile

Roger Strand Professor, Center for the Study of the Science and the Humanities, University of Bergen.

Favourite season Summer

Often described as hardworking

What do you think about the term sustainable development?

Well. I think that the word sustainable is nice. I do not see anything negative with that term. Conversely; in relation to the word development, it can have slightly scary conditions. The two words are not necessarily contradictory, but there is a build-in tension between them. I suppose the term derives from the Brundtland commission, where one imagined that the three factors ecological, economic and cultural should all be included while forming a sustainable society in practice.

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It’s not Norway that is going to save the world, but that does not mean that one cannot work towards the goal of a better world. Simply, there are no reasons not to. For example, I don’t have a clue whether me separating plastic, along with paper, metal etc., from the rest of the garbage has any real effect in my region. But even if it doesn’t; it doesn’t cost me anything to do it, and the option of not doing anything is worse. Do you get my point?

I certainly do. Do you think Norwegians believe that what they do on an everyday basis contributes to real change?

I believe that the whole debate has been put up to a level where the problem is to be dealt with by the state and the politicians. The public debate during the 90s fell into the path of making the whole subject of sustainable development into a case of CO2-emission reduction. It therefore ended up in mere CO2accounting. Why? Well first of all, Norwegians have close to one hundred per cent faith in the government, and more importantly; that this government acts upon one hundred per cent neutral grounds.

In fact, it is a specifically Norwegian idea that the state is neutral. People tend to believe that if they work for the state then whatever they do is controlled by a neutral component. Hence, according to most Norwegians the state does not work according to any

specific needs or values. You’ve most likely read my point: this is at the least a naive view. It seems very unlikely that a state could operate without any international audience. Every country is affected by certain outer factors that serve as external influences.

It’s not Norway that is going to save the world, but that does not mean that one cannot work towards the goal of a better world.

How can we reach a more holistic approach?

We need to see that the challenges are directly linked to how we organise our societies. In Norway we produce more and more, but at the same time there are more and more people that fall on the side. how many people fall into the side-lines, and how many will we exchange for a larger GDP? The overall tendency as I see it is that when facing the modern development, we still regard the different issues as isolated – where we need to look upon it all as working within a connected system.

What do you do to act sustainably in your daily life?

First of all we do not have a vehicle in our household, and no driver’s license. We use public transportation as much as we can. We have also been reinsulating the house, and using heat-controllers. And of course; we actually do fold the milk cartons.

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Profile

Annika Dalén Political scientist working as a research assistant with Dejusticia and member of CISV.

Life motto You regret the things you don’t do, not the things you do, so go ahead!

How did you first get involved in sustainable development?

For me it’s more on a day-to-day basis. I try to live my everyday life in a sustainable way. I never pack the fruit in bags in the supermarket, I never buy imported fruit or vegetables here in Colombia, I recycle, I try to take the stairs instead of the elevator and I eat vegetarian food.

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What is your first memory of something related to the cause?

The forest and nature courses (“skogsmulle”), which all Swedish kids took back in the days, had a lot to do with creating a consciousness about the world we live in. This is a very early memory of the whole sustainable development issue.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

Although I know that it is totally politically incorrect, and I think that it is a really outdated and antidemocratic institution, I can’t help to be fascinated by royalties. I watch the Nobel Price dinner every year and I would never miss a royal wedding!

What do you want people to know about sustainable development?

I wish people were more conscious about how things they eat affect the environment and act thereafter.

For example eating a lot less meat and eating more locally produced food.

What is your least environmental friendly habit/routine/act – what is your bad environmental conscious?

I was born in Sweden but now I live in Colombia, and living on the other side of the planet inevitably implies travelling by airplane to visit friends and family in Sweden, or to have them visit you. This may be one of the most polluting activities you can do.

Can you give us some tips on how to be” greener” in everyday life?

Small things! When my husband and I got married we decided not to use gold wedding rings, as gold is one of the most polluting mining industries there are. So we looked up a local jeweller who uses only fair-trade and environmentally safe materials, and bought steel rings. Also, all the people that work there get decent salaries and working conditions, and the little diamond in my ring is certified blood-free.

What would you say to youth to empower them to work towards a greener world/future?

It is their future and their world, the one that they will grow old in. It is up to them and all of us to each do our part. No one can do everything but everyone can do something.

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Chapter 2

Environment

Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Cree Indian Proverb Environment

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The whole story behind palm oil Alejandra Echeverri.

Did you know that aside from being used in peanut butter, chocolate bars and margarines, palm oil is an important component in soaps, lotions and cosmetics? Well you should probably wonder about the whole story behind palm oil.

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The African oil palm tree, Elaeis guineensis is the sites, they get killed by plantation workers for their main source of edible vegetable oil. It has giant meat and in order to protect newly planted crops bunches of red fruits full of oil that make the plant (Tan, et al., 2009). Nowadays it is recognised that an easy source for oil extraction. The discovery in most of the equatorial forests that are the habitat of 1848 that palm oil could be used to make soaps and endemic species are threatened due to the growth as a lubricant in engines, led to a general demand in the palm oil business.

The expansion of the industry generates conof palm oil. Oil palm plantations became popular in Malaysia in the 1930s and quickly spread to In- cern among stakeholders, NGOs, governments and donesia. Today palm oil is the one natural resource the public. The growth of this industry is putting demanded in the largest amounts by companies pressure not only on endemic species but also on such as NestlĂŠ, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. local communities and indigenous people. For exHowever, this huge demand is tearing up forests in ample in East and West Kalimantan, the Dayak in43 countries across the equator and is destroying digenous people lost their land because of the “Oil the habitat of thousands of species (The Econo- Palm Mega-Projectâ€? that disregarded the rights and interests of local communities when looking for new mist, 2010).

The two largest palm oil producers are Malay- lands to increase their plantations (Wakker, 2006). sia and Indonesia. On the island of Borneo, 56% Despite the significant economic income that the industry represents for countries of the forest territories have vanlike Malaysia and Indonesia, it is ished in the last 20 years due to The oil palm crop is one evident that it generates some matimber demand and oil palm plan- of the major threats to tations (WWF, 2012). The oil palm biodiversity and it presents a jor ecological and social problems that need to be prioritised in politicrop is one of the major threats to major conservation concern. cal agendas as well as in the discusbiodiversity and it presents a major conservation concern. Indonesian and Malay- sions among stakeholders and NGOs. The big need for sustainable practices in the sian forests represent 11% of all pristine remaining tropical forests. They are home of endemic species industry was felt during the late 90s due to the in(meaning unique species that are not found any- creased concerns regarding the cost of long term where else) such as Sumatran rhinos, elephants, or- production of quality palm oil, environmental angutans, tigers and clouded leopards, all who have awareness and commitment to corporate social rebeen significantly affected by deforestation (Koh sponsibility (WWF, 2006). In 2001 the World Wild& Wilcove, 2008). In the case of orangutans, they life Fund (WWF) was exploring the possibility of need the tropical forests as feeding and nesting sites; a Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). however because of oil palm plantations they have The aim was to gather various stakeholders of the been displaced from their habitats. When some palm oil industry in order to make them discuss the wandering individuals return to their old nesting future path of the industry regarding sustainable

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Photo by Ahmad Fuad Morad

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development. It resulted in an informal cooperation between Aarhus United UK Ltd, Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, Migros, Malaysian Palm Oil Association, Sainsbury’s, Unilever and the WWF. In 2004 the RSPO was officially formed and had representatives of oil palm growers, oil processors, traders, retailers, banks, conservation NGOs and social development NGOs. Together they discussed appropriate solutions that combined the interests of the industry and the environment. By 2005, 14 plantation companies had agreed to test principles and criteria in their plantations that were agreed on in the RSPO meeting. Today, various companies have implemented environmental management of palm oil plantations such as integrated pest management, land application (applied waste and sludge to crop’s soils) and waste management. All of these practices are stated in their policy papers and implemented by the companies.

Despite the initiative of the RSPO, difficulties remain in applying the outcomes of meetings and agreements. For example, there are challenges in ensuring compliance and identifying preservation areas for sustainable practices in the plantations (Barlow, et al., 2007). Additionally, governments are not directly involved in the RSPO but have the task of overseeing companies under international conventions to ensure that neither the RSPO members nor other producers contribute to biodiversity loss (Sodhi & Brooke, 2006). There is a need for efficiency between the legal institutions, the RSPO members and the governments. Unless the governments in producer countries implement robust policies in plantation management and become better at controlling logging, protecting forests and

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avoiding crops in certain forest areas, the impacts of oil palm industry on biodiversity, land productivity and climate change will be even worse and will have an irreversible effect upon our planet. The effect that palm oil is having on our planet leads us to question what we can do as individuals. More than anything we are consumers and therefore we have some power to shape markets. The quicker we switch to sustainable palm oil products coming from farms following the agreements of the RSPO, the sooner more companies will join the RSPO.

However for now it remains difficult to make choices since the products are not labeled. They do not announce if they are certified products or not.

But for now there are ongoing campaigns, such as “Label Palm Oil in Australia”(Ipetitions, 2012), in order to ask the governments to label sustainable palm oil products and therefore we can start similar campaigns and sign those petitions as a step towards a more sustainable market. The solution is in our hands and can be done by just changing some attitudes and some actions. Why not start today?

References • The Economist. 2010. The campaign against palm oil: The other oil spill. The Economist. Available at: http:// www.economist.com/node/16423833.

• WWF. Revised 2012. Threats to Borneo Forests. Available at: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_ work/borneo_forests/borneo_deforestation/ • Pin Koh, L. & Wilcove, D.S. 2008. Is oil palm agriculture really destroying tropical biodiversity? Conservation Letters XX. 1-5.

• Tan, K.T. et al. 2009. Palm oil: Addressing issues and towards sustainable development. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews 13, 420-427.

• Wakker, E. 2006. The Kalimantan border Oil Palm Mega-project. Aid environment. Commissioned by Friends of the Earth Netherlands and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

• WWF. 2006. Oil palm sector in India. The Scope of Influencing Business and Industry to Reduce India’s Ecological Footprint in South East Asia. WWF India.

• Barlow, J. et al. 2007. Quantifying the biodiversity value of tropical primary, secondary, and plantation forests. Proc.

Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 104, 18555–18560.

• Sodhi, N.S. & Brook, B.W. 2006. Southeast Asian Biodiversity in Crisis, Cambridge University Press.

• Ipetitions. Revised 2012. Label Palm Oil in Australia [campaign]. Available at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/labelpalmoil/

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Photo by Iddy Farmer/CIFOR.

Northern andean páramo: a strategic ecosystem María Celeste Montilla.

The páramos are an important source of biodiversity. They are the house of over 5000 plant species and animals such as the Andean spectacled bear and the mountain tapir, as well as the emblematic Andean condor that is Colombia’s national bird. But this ecosystem is endangered by climate change and people’s actions. Do you want to know why?

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The northern Andean páramo is an ecosystem situated in the Andean mountain range, over 3000 meters above sea level, between low-lying montane forest and snow-capped peaks. The páramos are only present in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Costa Rica (Morales, et al., 2007). The weather in this ecosystem is wet, cold and rainy. Several changes occur in the temperature during the day with varying from 0 to 15 degrees. The relative humidity is 80-92%, which is very high compared with other ecosystems and it is exposed to a high solar radiation because of the altitude (IDEAM, 2002).

The organisms of the páramos are endemic, which means they are only found in that place, and show adaptations to the cold and extreme conditions.

For example, some of the plants have structures that resemble hairs in order to keep the heat. The páramos are considered sacred areas for several indigenous communities. Some groups believe that they are places where creation took place or think they are places of cosmic equilibrium. These ecosystems are strategic in a national and global level because of the services they offer, such as water regulation.

This means that all the water that comes from the rain is kept in the páramo. Plants act as sponges that hold water from the atmosphere and then release it to the soil, ponds and rivers. In fact, the water stored in páramos is the main water source for the hydroelectric power plants in the cities of Quito, Merida and Bogotá (Greenpeace Colombia, 2009).

The páramos play a big role in the fixation of carbon dioxide. Which means they capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store them in the plants stems and leafs. Therefore the soils of the páramos act as carbon reservoirs, places where the

carbon is stored. Robert Hofstede (1999) has proved that it can store more carbon than the tropical rainforest. While the rainforest stores 50 tons per hectare, the páramo stores 1700 tons per hectare. If someone started to use the páramos as agriculture landscape, significant amounts of carbon dioxide would be released to the atmosphere negatively contributing to climate change.

The páramos are The páramos are considered ecosystems threat- sacred areas for several ened by climate indigenous communities. change, however And can store more carbon they can also help than the tropical rainforest. to slow down this fenomenon (Hofstede, 1999).

According to the National Institute of Environmental Studies and Meteorology (IDEAM) we expect to have an increase in the average temperature of two celsius degrees by 2050 in Colombia. This means that 78% of the snow peaks and 56% of the páramos will be gone by then. Having more cattle and illegal mining projects in the páramos are the biggest threats to this ecosystem. Extracting gold in large amounts and throwing mercury or arsenic to the ecosystem reduces biodiversity and has a direct effect on the services provided by the páramos. It also affects all communities that get their fresh water from the páramo (IDEAM, 2001).

Because of the environmental, social

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and historical importance of this ecosystem, a project called “Páramo Savers” was created in CISV Colombia. It is a project where several organisations work together to preserve the ecosystem and educate people by explaining the global importance and ecosystem services it provides. The organisations are British Council, Global Warning

Agency, Suasie, CORPSENENULANG, Matarredonda ecological park, Greenpeace Colombia and students from different universities in Colombia.

The goal of “Páramo Savers” is to become a global movement which provides information about páramos and the importance of taking care of them.

References • Morales, M. et al. 2007. Atlas de páramos de Colombia. Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá: Colombia.

• IDEAM. 2002. Páramos y ecosistemas altoandinos en condición de Hot Spot & Global Climatic Tensor. IDEAM Bogotá: Colombia.

• Greenpeace Colombia. 2009. Futuro negro para los páramos. Available at: http://www.greenpeace.org/colombia/ Global/colombia/informes/informe_todo3.pdf.

• Hofstede, R. 1999. El páramo como espacio para la fijación de carbono atmosférico. In El páramo como espacio de mitigación de carbono atmosférico. Serie 1. Quito: Ecuador.

• IDEAM. 2001. Primera comunicación nacional ante la convención marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el cambio climático. Available at http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/natc/colnc1.pdf.

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Photo by Alejandra Echeverri.

Photo by Alejandra Echeverri.

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What’s for dinner?

Alejandra Echeverri.

Meat consumption is subject of interest from environmental, economic, human and animal perspectives. Our current global population of over 7 billion people demands more resources as it grows. Therefore, one of the main challenges in today’s society is to keep up with the rate of growth of the population and provide enough food, water and shelter for humanity.

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Animal based proteins (especially meat) are highly consumed by people in developing and developed countries. In the western food culture meat represents the food with the highest position in the hierarchy of foods. It is recognised as the most highly prized food (Twigg, 1984). The dominant position of meat in Western cuisine becomes evident once you compare food intakes between Europe and Asia for example. For the latter, grains and vegetables are the main components in consumer’s diets and a small amount of meat products have been consumed traditionally (Kichang, et al., 2010).

Nowadays people in the regions of Southeast Asia, Latin America and SubSaharan Africa consume one third of the meat and one-quarter of the milk products per capita compared to Northern Europe and North America. However in the past few decades the rate of growth of meat consumption has doubled compared to developed regions (Delgado, 2003). Together with the rapid economic growth in Asia and the expansion of western culture, promoted as a new and better lifestyle; the proportion of meat consumption will World meat consumption has keep on rising (Kimore than quadrupled in the chang, et al., 2010). past century, it increased In fact the world’s from 47 million tons in 1950 meat consumpto 260 million tons in 2005. tion has more than

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quadrupled in the past century, it increased from 47 million tons in 1950 to 260 million tons in 2005 and the trend is not showing a stabilising path yet (Sanbonmatsu, 2010).

In Latin America beef consumption is strongly linked to culture. Beef represents the main source of protein for the people in the region and cattle represent an important sector in agriculture. Uruguay and Argentina are the South American countries with the biggest consumption of meat per person annually with 78kg and 67kg respectively. These countries are also major producers of beef, exporting to several countries in the world (GuarĂ­n, 2008). Since the sixteenth century cattle has played an important role in Colombian agriculture (Etter, et al., 2008).

Nowadays the cattle industry offers the highest number of jobs in the country and beef is the most consumed product in the Colombian food industry.

The average consumption of meat per person annually is 17 kg. In South American countries meat is served for lunch, for dinner, for special occasions and is even part of some traditional breakfasts Meat consumption patterns vary significantly among countries. In a study conducted by SIFO (National Institute for Consumer Research in Norway) (Methi, et al., 2002) that assessed meat consumption in six European countries, difference in consumption was due to the amount of cooked meals per day. In Portugal or Italy where people eat two cooked meals per day, meat consumption was higher than countries like Norway where people only eat one cooked meal per day. On the other hand they found that meat is related to social events, meaning that people tended to eat meat in family gatherings or reunions with friends. In countries where it is an

important tradition to have those gatherings, like in Italy, more meat was consumed. Evidently meat and its consumption patterns are factors associated with the culture of ethnic groups or nations (Ki-chang, et al., 2010).

it takes only 3.3 calories of fossil fuel energy to produce 1 calorie of protein from grain for human consumption� (World Watch Institute, 2004). Finally, meat production endangers biodiversity, in Latin America there is a rapid expansion of pastures into some of the most vulnerable ecosystems, with 0.3 to Livestock and environment 0.4 percent of forest lost to pastures annually. CatThe consequences of these increasing consump- tle are now the main reason for deforestation in the tion trends affect several aspects that need to be in- Amazon (FAO, 2006). troduced. The livestock sector puts stress on ecosysIf we want to keep up with the current scale tems and the planet as a whole (FAO, 2006). Beef and intensity of meat consumption, we will need production results in a large amount of methane, to agree between the countries and suffer together which is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas the consequences of climate change. It will affect emissions. According to Pete Hodgson, the New local and global agriculture; soil infertility and water Zealand minister for energy, science and fisheries, scarcity amongst other problems. Evidently calls to a dairy cow produces about 75 kilograms of meth- lower meat consumption levels are crucial to ensure ane a year, equivalent to over 1.5 [metric] tonnes of sustainable development. Despite studies showing carbon dioxide (World Watch Institute, 2004). Con- that a global transition to a low-meat diet could resuming 1kg of beef has a similar impact on the envi- duce the impacts on climate change by as much as 50% in 2050 (Stehfest, et al., 2009), ronment as 6.2 gallons of gasoline, or driving 160 miles on a highway Consuming 1 kilogram of this problem remain complex. As in an average American mid-size beef has a similar impact on shown above, meat consumption car (Fiala, 2006). Furthermore, wa- the environment as driving represents more than just a probter security as a priority for human- 160 miles on a highway in an lem for the environment. It is part kind in the 21st century is threat- average American mid-size car. of a cultural complex that is interened by meat production (Nardone, twined between local and global et al., 2010). A report from the International Water perspectives. The need to reduce consumption is Management Institute noted that it takes 550 litres clear, but as it is an important part of some tradiof water to produce enough flour for one loaf of tions is it fair to ask certain countries to stop eating bread in developing countries, but up to 7,000 litres meat? Or even worse, how do we try to take away of water to produce 100 grams of beef. Also energy meat from that pedestal that links its consumption consumed during meat production leads to acceler- with social status and a model lifestyle? How can ated rates of global warming; “It takes, on average, we change the trend? Well, in 2003 the US started 28 calories of fossil fuel energy to produce 1 calorie the Meat Free Monday campaign as a simple idea of meat protein for human consumption, whereas to show everyone the value of eating less meat by

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having one meat-free day each week. It seeks to reduce the environmental problems associated with the meat industry and diminish meat consumption overall (Meat Free Monday, 2012). Ideas like this

one will not compromise our culture or religion and they can make a world of difference, how about we implement one meat-free day per week in our lives to start the change?

References • Twigg, J. 1984. Vegetarianism and the meanings of meat. In Murcot, A (Ed). The sociology of food and eating.

Aldershot: Gowing publishing. 18-30.

• Ki-chang, N. et al. 2010. Meat products and consumption culture in the East. Meat Science 86:95-102.

• Delgado, C.L. 2003. Rising Consumption of Meat and Milk in Developing Countries Has Created a New Food Revolution. American Society for Nutritional Sciences. 3907S-3910S. • Sanbonmatsu, J. 2010. Critical Theory and Animal Liberation. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Estover Road: United Kingdom. 79-80.

• Guarín, A. 2008. Carne de cuarta para consumidores de cuarta. Revista de Estudios Sociales 29:104-119.

• Etter, A. et al. 2008. A historical analysis of the spatial and temporal drivers of landscape change in Colombia since 1500. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 98: 1-27.

• Methi, N. et al. 2002. Consumption and Environment in five European Cities. SIFO, Oslo: Norway.

• FAO. 2006. Livestock’s long shadow-Environmental issues and options. Rome: Italy.

• World Watch Institute. 2004. Is meat sustainable?. World Watch Magazine, 17(4). Available at: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/549.

• Fiala, N. 2006. Economic and Environmental Impact of Meat Consumption [Thesis]. University of California, Irvine. 1-18.

• Nardone, A. et al. 2010. Effects of climate changes on animal production and sustainability of livestock systems.

Livestock Science 130:57-69.

• Stehfest, E. et al. 2009. Climate benefits of changing diet. Climatic change 95:83-102.

• Meat Free Monday Ltd. Reviewed on February 2012. Available at http://www.meatfreemondays.com/

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Photo by Stevie Mann / ILRI.

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Water and sustainable development Alejandra Echeverri.

My city is called Manizales and is located in the central Andean mountain range in the coffee growing region of Colombia. The water resources of the city come from the two main rivers in the country, “Río Magdalena” and “Río Cauca” which have 14 tributaries that provide fresh water for the people in Manizales.

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The city is also surrounded by high mountain forests and it even has a snow capped volcano nearby called “Volcán Nevado del Ruiz”. Because of the ecosystems and geography, the city has fresh water available for drinking and other uses for everyone who lives there (Suárez & Giraldo, 2008). In fact the entity called “Aguas de Manizales” (Water from Manizales) in charge of providing water to households, is creating a campaign in order to promote the city as the “World’s water capital” due to the large amount of available fresh water (Aguas de Manizales, 2009).

Growing up in such a place never made me realise about any problems related with water. For example, I remember I never brought water bottles for hiking trips because I knew I could drink from the rivers in the forests. However, water is the main topic in environmental education in the schools of Manizales. We are taught to care for our water sources, to save water while showering, brushing our teeth or even reuse the water used for cleaning fruits and vegetables to water our gardens. It seems like there is a whole culture built upon water and the meaning of it.

In the last semester of 2011, Colombia suffered a very pronounced rainy season that left millions of people displaced because of the floods all over the country. While I was working in Norway, I was amazed by all the problems in my country and especially the ones in my city. I was only able to hear the stories from my family. They said that because of all the rain, the rivers burst their banks and flooded Manizales. The whole city was left without water in their households for over 10 days and according to a report from the risk management department,

64 people were killed, 65 wounded and 289,000 people were affected from around 61,000 families (El Tiempo, 2011). This news was very worrying because after all these years of living in the same place with the same rivers, nothing similar had ever happened. This made me realise even more that all the environmental changes are happening right now and those are not only a future problem as some people still think.

Why is water important for sustainable development and for societies? Well, water is essential for all aspects of life, for well-being of human kind, as a vital input to economic development and a basic requirement for the healthy functioning of world’s ecosystems. However, half of the world’s population lacks adequate water purification systems or clean water supplies and an estimated 1.6 billion people are denied access to improved sanitation. Thus, clean water availability represents one of the main challenges for humanity. Around 1.7 billion people live in countries that are water-stressed; and this number will rise to 5 billion unless we make major changes in water management (Soussan, 2005).

Most are poor countries where scarcity is not evenly distributed and is often concentrated in the poorest areas in the countryside (Soussan, 2005). Water scarcity is associated with mortality, food insecurity and has a negative impact on livelihood choices and opportunities for families (UNESCO, 2008). For example in Ghana where about 65% of the population still live in rural areas, we can see that the lack of rain greatly affects agriculture, which is the livelihood of most people (Apraku Gyampoh, et al., 2008). Water sanitation is hugely important because through water a lot of avoidable but life-threatening

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diseases are transmitted. Diarrhoea for example is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old, killing 1.5 million children every year (WHO, 2009).

Changes in climatic variables such as temperature and precipitation have significant impacts on ecosystems and societies. Climate change will contribute to increased water scarcity because it will worsen the exClimate change will treme conditions contribute to an increase in of droughts and water scarcity. It will worsen floods. For examthe extreme conditions of ple, in Bangladesh droughts and floods. during the period 1954–1999 oods killed 11,571 people. Floods in that country are caused by intense monsoon precipitation; therefore the situation will worsen with climate change because monsoon cycles will change (Monirul Qader Mirza, 2002).

It can also affect the hydrological cycle by altering surface runoff, meaning the water that runs through the soil once it has exceeded its capacity to hold water, and groundwater recharge meaning the water that moves downwards from the surface to the ground and contributes to the retained water in the subsurface. All these problems can be sufficient to start conflicts and lead to violence in pursuit of water among users, providers, regions or countries (UNESCO, 2008).

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And what is our role as consumers? Well the world’s water consumption is doubling every 20 years and if present consumption growth rates continue, by 2025 five billion people will not have access to drinkable water (UNESCO, 2008). The global water footprint is 7,450 Gm3/yr, which is 1240 m3/yr per capita in average (1 m3=1000 L, 1 Gm3=1027 m3 or 1030 L) but not every nation is equally contributing to this footprint. China is the major contributor overall but if the analyses are done per capita, the major contributor is the United States (Hoekstra & Chapagain, 2006). Regarding personal consumption, if we look at brushing our teeth for example, an average person uses 12 gallons of water in 3 minutes spent while doing it without turning off the tap. Therefore assuming that a person brushes his/her teeth three times a day, he or she will need 13,140 gallons a year to only do this activity. This amount of water is about the same amount needed to fill half of an average size pool. Furthermore the largest daily user of water in the houses is the toilet representing 27% of the water use; for example for the toilets that use 3.5 gallons per flush, each person can consume as much as 19.5 gallons per day (The ABC of toilets, 2012). Based on previous statements where I showed all the problems related with water scarcity and climate change, I believe we must take actions towards this issue immediately.

Governments have to recognise the importance of water and ensure the availability of freshwater for rural and urban populations. Water should be a priority in strategic plans for national development because it improves quality of life and alleviates poverty. Water is an important input into many industrial production processes and into many other types

of economic activities. For example, investments in major water infrastructure like dams can act as catalysts for local development. Better quality water increases production capacities and life expectancy and reduces health care costs (Soussan, 2005). However, it is not only up to governments to safeguard our water supply. We as citizens have a significant role in both ensuring that governments are reaching their goals and that they care for our water resources.

We can stop throwing waste into rivers/oceans and exchange information or create networks in order to raise awareness of the importance of water regard-

ing sustainable development. At a personal level we can reduce the amount of water we use, for example by turning off the tap while we brush our teeth or wash the dishes, use water saving toilets or use a brick to fill the tank, displacing some of the water. Regarding laundry, since it is an activity that uses 22% of the water in our houses we can save water by adjusting the settings on the machine according to the amount of laundry we have. These are just some ideas on how to save water in our households but there are many other things we can do, therefore I ask you, what are you willing to do to save water?

References • Suárez, D & Giraldo, C. 2008. El agua y la educación ambiental en Manizales, Colombia. In Moscoso Cavallini, J. et al (Ed). El agua como recurso sustentable de uso múltiple. RIMISP. Santiago de Chile: Chile. 64 • Aguas de Manizales. 2009. Programa de guardianes del Agua. Available at: http://www.aguasdemanizales.com. co/GuardianesdelAgua/GuardianesdelAgua/tabid/667/Default.aspx • El Tiempo. 2011. “Lluvias en Colombia dejan ya 64 muertos, 22 de ellos este fin de semana”[News]. Available at: http://m.eltiempo.com/colombia/eje-cafetero/lluvias-en-colombia-dejan-64-muertos/10716705 • Soussan, J. 2005. Poverty Environment Partnership: Linking poverty reduction and water management. World Health Organization. 1-75.

• UNESCO. 2008. Water Programme for Environmental Sustainability 2006-2009, towards adaptation measures to human and climate change impacts. Watelet-Arbelot printing. 1-50.

• Apraku Gyampoh, B. et al. 2008. Water Scarcity under a Changing Climate in Ghana: Options for livelihoods adaptation. Development 51:415-417.

• World Health Organization. 2009. Diarrhoeal disease. Fact Sheet 330. Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/index.html • Monirul Qader Mirza, M. 2002. Global warming and changes in the probability of occurrence of floods in Bangladesh and implication. Global Environmental Change 12:127-138.

• Hoekstra, A.Y. & Chapagain, A.K. 2006. Water footprints of nations: Water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern. Water Resource Management 21:38-45.

• The ABC of toilets. Revised 2012. Toilets basics: Conservation. Available at: http://www.toiletabcs.com/toiletwater-conservation.html.

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Profile

Silje Samdal Biologist, soon to-be teacher and member of Framtiden I Våre Hender Bergen.

Favorite season Spring.

Life motto “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us” (from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien)

Often described as I am idealistic, optimistic and devoted. Loving, open-minded and joyful. A child of nature and a fantasy-geek.

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When did you first start to think about sustainable development?

What do you regard as the biggest challenge in today’s society?

The wonderful world of nature has always been important to me. I grew up in the forest and came to love all things living, both animals and plants. The protection of nature and the environment was therefore of importance to me ever since childhood. As I grew older my devotion soon included a dream of a better world, not only for nature, but also the people in it. I was very fascinated by the hippie-culture with its focus on “peace and love” and couldn’t understand how the world could be so cruel and unfair as it seemed to be. One experience that made a lasting impact on me, regarding peace, human rights and helping people, was the CISV summer camp I attended when I was 11 years old.. I wanted to create a better future and started working towards a more green, loving and sustainable world.

The biggest challenge in today’s society is overcoming the always-present attitude of ignorance when it comes to issues like environmentalism, sustainable development and human rights; a dangerous ignorance based on consumerism, materialism and “what is best for me and me only”. If we can change this attitude all the associated problems can be dealt with, because we already have the solutions!

What do you wish other people knew about FIVH? I wish people knew how much they can do to make a better world and how easy it all really is. I wish they knew that every small thing they do actually does help and that you have to start with yourself first. I wish they could see how beautiful the world is and act responsible.

Can you give us any tips to be greener?

• Buy organic, fairtrade and local food.

• Buy clothes made from natural materials, preferably organic and fairtrade.

• Only buy things you really need.

• Make things/grow things yourself, instead of buying.

• Turn off and plug-out all electrical appliances not in use.

• Turn off light in rooms not in use.

• Save water.

• Give and ask for services as Christmas gifts, or ask for donations to an environmental/human rights organization.

• Become a volunteer and make a change!

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Profile

Diana Carolina Guzmán Caro Biologist working with primates at Asociación Primatológica Colombiana.

Life motto “You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny”.

– Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

Would be described as: Thoughtful, sensitive, organised and perfectionist.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

In high-school I won a poetry contest two years in a row. I also did a minor in Philosophy during college.

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What is your first memory of your relationship with primates?

What do you regard as the biggest challenge in today’s society?

The first time I had to clean-up the Saguinus monkeys’ enclosure at the Huachipa Zoo in Lima, Perú.

There were several individuals inside and I was sweeping the floor, when suddenly one of them jumped to a branch in front of me, looked at me and then took his tongue out. It was a cute start for a long and very valuable relationship.

Overpopulation, without a doubt. All of the planet’s greatest problems and issues are related to overpopulation. Environmental damage and habitat destruction? Poverty, hunger and lack of water? All related to overpopulation. Governments need to work on the root of the problem. New strategies must be implemented to overcome the cultural, religious and educational barriers, and thus create consciousness on the minds of people that do not use, for example, birth control methods.

What do you do when you are not working?

I absolutely love to play with my cat. I really like reading books, preferably novels. I take salsa classes.

I also like to walk, meet with friends and watch movies (mostly at home).

What do you wish other people knew about the primates’ cause?

That primates need to be perceived in a different way; the image people have is related to their evolutionary proximity to humans, their known intelligence and charisma, and their use in the entertainment field. However, most people don’t know about the great diversity of primate species that exists, or about their ecological value. When someone mentions the words monkey, ape or primate, the first image that should come to the mind of a person should not be King Kong, it should be a funkyheaded Saguinus leucopus in a Colombian dry forest or any other that really exists.

Can you give us some tips on how to be” greener” in everyday life?

• When washing your hands do not open the tap a lot, you’ll waste huge amounts of water.

• Whenever you can have your food or drinks in washable dishes, glasses and bottles instead of plastic ones, please do so.

• Try to use the recent advances in technology to reduce as much as you can your use of paper.

• Never throw batteries to ordinary garbage. Batteries must be recycled; they are venom for the planet. Recycle your old computers, printers, cell phones and chargers, TV, etc. Donate them to an institution, give them to someone who can use them, or send them to a place where they can disassemble them and use the different parts.

• Neuter and spay your pets. Don’t buy, adopt.

Never have birds, exotic or wild animals as pets.

• Do not throw away each thing that stops working and buy new ones. Find a place where you can get things repaired.

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Chapter 3

Economy To change our national economic story from one of financial speculation to one of future growth, we need a third industrial revolution: a green revolution. It will transform our economy as surely as the shift from iron to steel, from steam to oil. It will lead us toward a low-carbon future, with cleaner energy and greener growth. With an economy that is built to last - on more sustainable, more stable foundations.

Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (addressing the LSE, 2 November 2010)

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The end of growth?

Michael Anstis.

When people ask me what I studied at university I always make them promise, before I reveal my darkest secret, that they won’t judge me. When they agree, I admit, “I studied economics”. My faux shame is a joke; I have a true passion for the subject but I do believe there is something in the old saying “there is no truer word than one said in jest”.

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You can probably understand that in the current weak sustainability; the belief that natural capital Zeitgeist following a global recession, anyone asso- (resources) can be substituted by human made capiciated with banking or economics is a fair target tal (labour and technology), contrary to strong susfor abuse. However I would always console myself tainability where it is acknowledged that increased and others with the fact that my specialisation was labour or technology cannot adequately replace development economics, and therefore I am differ- natural resources. Weak sustainability may be apent to those money grabbing corporate types. Al- plicable in the short run, but I have not yet found a though I don’t follow the neoclassical mantra that convincing argument that it is nothing but ridicudevelopment is synonymous with economic growth, lous in the long run. Therefore these models lead us I do believe that, as Amartyr Sen concisely notes, to the pessimistic view that with continued growth, “economic growth is one aspect of the process eventually we will simply just run out of resources. of economic development” (Sen, 1983). Leaving Although this sounds rather Malthusian, this idea is aside the debate about the appropriate measures of not confined to the past; it has been explored much development, basically as a development economist more recently and with more substantial data in I was interested not in profit but in helping coun- The Limits to Growth (Meadows, et al.,1972). Altries grow economically. It certainly seemed like a though widely criticised for its methods, its apocalyptic denouement is not ridiculous if you follow noble goal.

So far my justification of calling myself a de- many of the standard growth theories to their logivelopment economist comes with the assumption cal conclusions.

Schumpeter gives us a totally different approach that growth is good, but one must question every to growth theory; that of creative assumption. Economic growth is destruction (Schumpeter,1942). often associated with a decrease in Economic growth is often Creative destruction is where ecopoverty and a rise in life expectancy associated with a decrease nomic progress is driven by new and literacy rates. However there is in poverty and a rise in life revolutionary technology which one factor which is generally ex- expectancy and literacy continually destroys the previous cluded from standard economic rates. It often excludes the technological paradigm. The new growth models; the environment. environmental dimension. technology which drives growth Disregarding the environment in economic growth models is not simply a small over- would seem to fit with the latter part of the theoretsight, but a factor which can nullify the core of our ical Environmental Kuznets Curve(Vijayaraghavan & Bhattarai, 2000 ), which although initially shows economic thinking.

Rostow’s Stages of Growth model (Rostow, environmental degradation rising with income, 1960) offers us nothing past the age of high mass eventually it will fall as income increases. However consumption; a truly unsustainable concept. this link is indirect and weak, and also the EnviSolow’s model (Solow, 1956) only leaves us with ronmental Kuznets Curve only holds true for a few

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pollutants and not for natural resources or biodiversity. This can be explained by the Jevons Paradox (Jevons, 1865); that as innovation and therefore technical progress increases, the use of resources becomes more efficient. One would expect this increase in efficiency to reduce the amount of the resource used, however the paradox arises as there is actually a rise in the consumption of the resource.

The field of environmental economics provides us with good empirics and uses cost-benefit analysis with full cost accounting. This method attempts to take into account our actions’ positive and negative effects on the environment (known as “externalities”), which is certainly a step in the right direction. The policy recommendations that come from this field normally include the use of regulation in the form of quotas and dynamic incentives; increasing the cost of environmental degradation with taxes and tariffs, which still creates a disincentive for environmental degradation as degradation levels fall. Although these measures are effective they do not provide a holistic plan for sustainable development, so there is no complete growth model present here.

There is the smaller and more recent field of ecological economics which distinguishes itself from environmental economics by emphasising strong sustainability. Ecological economics separates the neoclassical idea of growth as an increase in quantitatively measurable output (the value in money of goods, services, etc.), and the term ‘development’ which ecological economists define as a ‘qualitative improvement in the quality of life’. Furthermore this field identifies uneconomic growth; when increased production comes with the expense of

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resources and quality of life that is worth more ogy’. ‘Appropriate technology’ is technology which than the goods produced. Even though ecological is small scale, locally owned, energy efficient and economics successfully brings the concept of strong causes the least damage possible to the environsustainability into economics, due to the underde- ment. The ideology of ‘appropriate technology’ has veloped nature of the field of ecological economics, been adopted by some in the sustainable developit does not provide much policy guidance. ment movement.

A development economist who has grown an However, use of such technology could adverseenvironmental conscience is left deserted in the mi- ly affect developing countries. If we examine the trilieu of economic thought which exple bottom line of ‘people, planet, cludes the possibility of economic Do developed countries profit’ for developmental purposes growth combined with conserva- have the right to control the it seems that for an economy to tion of the environment. To ex- path of industrial growth in develop in a sustainable manner plore whether it is possible to both developing countries? (protecting the ‘planet’ aspect) then have growth and care for the envieither we must accept a sacrifice of ronment we can start with the Brundtland Commis- ‘people’ or ‘profit’. To sacrifice ‘people’ would mean sion’s definition of sustainable development: to widen the already substantial inequality in developing countries; not a very desirable option for an Development that meets the needs of the present ethical so-called development economist. Therefore without compromising the ability of future generawe are left with ‘profit’ as the variable which must tions to meet their own needs be left at the side for people-friendly and environ(United Nations, 1987) mentally friendly growth. The profit is decreased because of the greater economic costs of using The bottom level of Maslow’s pyramid (Maslow, ‘appropriate technology’. It can be reasoned that 1943) that consists of physiological needs could these greater financial costs will impede the speed in easily be satisfied for the entire human population which a country develops in economic terms, both with our current level of production, however the in the short run and the long run. The question now further up the pyramid we go, the arises whether developed countries less important economics becomes In our world 20% of the have the right to control the path in satisfying those needs. It is pos- population consumes 80% of industrial growth in developsible to get bogged down with the of the natural resources. ing countries. Although a worthy abstract idea of a ‘need’ so instead debate, let us examine the consewe can move to the work of E.F. Schumacher, who quences for developed countries. in the book Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If PeoIn a world where 20% of the population conple Mattered (Schumacher, 1973), transformed the sumes 80% of the natural resources (Clémentin & concept of ‘need’ into that of ‘appropriate technol- Cheynet, 2005), it is impossible that this level and

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distribution of consumption could ever be sustainable. So far we are following the aforementioned neoclassical economic growth theories, expending all our natural resources. It is clear that there is a great need for the developed world to move to a sustainable path. However switching to ‘appropriate technology’ in the developed world can have more drastic economic effects than slowed growth: the consequence for developing countries. For developed economies to achieve a sustainable state by

using ‘appropriate technology’ they must first go through a stage of readjustment. This would have to be a period of sustained de-growth. An unsettling conclusion for a development economist, once working for growth, who now must make a seemingly hypocritical U-turn by advocating the use of ‘appropriate technology’ and therefore de-growth.

This stark reasoning leaves the developed world only one option if it wants to be sustainable; this is the era of the end of growth.

References • Sen, A. 1983. Development: Which Way Now?, Economic Journal, 93(372):745-762.

• Rostow, W.W. 1960. The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto, Cambridge University Press.

Cambridge: England.

• Solow, R.M. 1956. A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth, Quarterly Journal of Economics, 70(1): 65–94 • Meadows, D.H. et al. 1972. The Limits to Growth, Universe Books. New York: United States of America.

• Schumpeter, J. 1942. Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy, Harper & Brothers. New York: United States of America.

• Vijayaraghavan, Y.B. & Bhattarai, M. 2000. The Environmental Kuznets Curve: A Primer, The Property and Environment Research Center.

• Jevons, W. S. 1865. The Coal Question; An Inquiry Concerning the Progress of the Nation, and the Probable Exhaustion of Our Coal Mines, Macmillan & Co. London: United Kingdom.

• United Nations. 1987. Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, General Assembly RES 42/187.

• Maslow, A.H. 1943. A Theory of Human Motivation, Psychological Review 50(4): 370-396.

• Schumacher, E.F. 1973. Small Is Beautiful: Economics, As If People Mattered, Blond & Briggs. New York: United States of America.

• Clémentin, B. & Cheynet, V. 2005. Speech to the students of the Masters “Ethics and sustainable development” Lyon III. Contre le développement durable.

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How do 8 million people move around?

Juan Manuel Oviedo.

Transport is an important part of human life. When humans were nomads they moved around looking for food and shelter, but when they built permanent settlements the population grew and so did the amount of transport in the communities. Nowadays, transport can be compared to blood vessels of modern society, and a key factor that increased global trade and economy and shrank the globalised world.

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In Colombia, transportation of goods has been Historically we can see that transportation of goods all over the world has improved the quality of life in complicated due to geographical reasons. Having the societies. It allowed several countries to get different Andes mountain range and large rivers to cross in orfoods that helped to diminish the effects of starvation der to transport to and from a capital city located far periods. In fact since European colonial expansion, away from the main harbours has complicated transthe American Continent was ‘discovered’ and it pro- portation significantly. In addition, the economic and vided Europeans with key food crops such as pota- social differences together with an undeveloped natoes, which today form part of their typical national tional infrastructure held back the country´s develdishes and everyday diets. Transportation continues opment throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. For to be a very important factor in today’s societies. example Bogotá became part of the national railway Modern trains, cars, ships and airplanes amongst network in 1889. At the beginning four routes were other forms of transport have allowed moving indi- built: the central one in the middle of the country viduals and products over large distances, and have comprising Bogotá, one in Magdalena in the Cariballowed people to gain a first-hand understanding of bean region, one in Santander in the North-eastern our world based on cross-cultural experience. It has part of the country and one in the pacific region. been through transportation systems and communi- However, these railways were not connected to each cation improvements that the world is increasingly other because mountains and rivers continued to globalised every day. Regarding nations’ develop- represent insurmountable barriers. The railways, that had almost 3600 km, were built ment we can wonder about what only for freight and not for passenhappens in a country that has not Transportation systems gers. But during the period of 1899 developed its transportation system and communication and 1902 Colombia suffered a civil yet. Does life quality improve for improvements have war called “La Guerra de los mil the population when it gets devel- increasingly globalised the días” (the thousand day war) that oped? If we look at Jakarta for ex- world. left the country with a lot of damagample, where public transportation systems remain scarce; we can see a change due to es including severe ones in the railway system. All the a smart urban transport introduced in early 2004. roads and railways were destroyed and the national This was the implementation of TransJakarta bus- government focused on the recovery of national way (a bus with its own lane). By 2008 the city had roads; the investments in railways diminished by already gained a positive result such as 14% of the 90% and this led to the loss of the trains in Colompopulation shifting from using private car to public bia. Today, there are only a few functional kilometres transport (Sinaga, 2008). Therefore if we look at it used from the original railway, such as “El tren de la in a long term perspective, this decrease in private sabana” that is only used for tourism around Bogotá driving leads to less traffic and air pollution that rep- and a train that goes to Cerrejón mines in Guajira in the Northern part of Colombia. resent improvements of life quality.

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In 1908 a tram was installed in Bogotá but by the second decade of 20th century that the population of over 200,000 people had used the tram over its limits. By 1950 the population had grown up to 700,000 inhabitants and the tram was still the most common way to transport around the city. On the 9th of April 1948, Bogotá turned into chaos because Jorge Eliécer Gaitán was murdered during his presidential campaign. The crowd destroyed a third of the tram system and Bogota’s citizens subsequently lost faith in it. This political situation may have not been the key-turning point for the local transportation system, but it was definitely the starting point in discussing the convenience of it.

In 1952 the local government decided to take away the tram because there were no Colombian owners and the general opinion was that the system should not be owned by a foreign company.

Moreover the Mayor at that time said it was “inconvenient” to have a tram that was not capable of covering the whole city from north to south and east to west. The truth is that the city had expanded quicker than the tram’s owners could keep up with.

Then a new kind of mass transportation system was installed in 1956 the Trolebuses (Trolleybuses, electric buses that use trolley poles), that were supposed to transport larger amounts of people compared to the previous trams.

From 1950 to 2000 Bogotá became one of the most important cities in South America. It became the 5th largest city in Latin America with a population of over 8 million people. It also turned into a key spot for conflict resolution studies and the capital of a country with a diverse history. In the late 70s Procicla (an independent pro-bicycle

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photo Economy

Photo by Oscar Amaya

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organisation) decided to start promoting the innova- of inhabitants. However, decision makers have been tive idea of ciclovia. The initiative, which started in facing a challenge in the last couple of years because 1974 as cooperative work among cyclists, encour- Transmilenio is not big enough for Bogotá’s growaged citizens to take part in a weekly event that ing population and the need for a more efficient promoted the use of bikes as a sustainable action way of public transportation. In fact, during the last towards the environment, and as a fun way of ex- mayoral elections the key discussion point was to ercising and pursuing healthier lifestyles. During its decide on a plan to construct an underground line. first phase ciclovia developed quickly and became However the discussions are still ongoing. the largest in the world and by the end of 1990s Bogotá is a great example to help understand it had 130 km of cycle lanes. Even now some of development in modern societies and the importhe main roads in Bogotá are closed for cars and tance of transportation in major cities. Judging left only for bikes to use them. This happens every by the history of Colombia we can say societies Sunday as the ciclovia activity. The project became face major challenges when new technologies are an example for other cities in the world. not used at the right time. The growing populaBy the end of the millennium, Bogotá had a bad tion’s demand for transportation has exacerbated reputation as a capital of drug dealing and conflict. issues like oil scarcity that represent a main topic The main task of the mayors in that in political and research agendas. period was to restore a culture of Societies face major Even though other sectors of the citizenship. At the beginning of the challenges when new economy can rely on alternatives, 1990s Bogotá became an example technologies are not used at such as renewable energy sources, for other cities in developing coun- the right time. there is a need to look at the altertries because it was a pioneer with native opportunities for transport. respect to pedestrians, cycling, and as a newly or- First of all we need behavioural changes aiming to ganised city. The pollution and the chaos in the city reduce the overuse of any type of transportation. led the mayor to establish new rules for living. They For example we can shift to less-polluting modes of even forbade the traffic of private cars on certain transport like biking, change our destination choicdays in order to create a new transportation system, es, combine trips and encourage car sharing (Steg called the Transmilenio. & Gifford, 2005). The way we think cities work and The idea of Transmilenio was to create a huge how we will build new ones has to change to a more transportation system, which began as a series of community-based model. We need people to work privately-owned public buses that were able to trans- and live in smaller sectors of the cities to decrease port over 3 million people from north to south daily. people’s mobility. Our cities need to start focusing Today it has 7 different lines and over 5 million us- on local and compact societies that are capable ers daily. The system was a complete success for the of sustaining the existent industries but requiring city because it allowed the mobilisation of millions less energy. Also we must transform the cities into

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places where people can do almost everything in their daily lives by only walking.

However since the goal is to move our population and goods around without destroying our landscapes, we also need technological changes.

We should use energy efficient transportation systems; integrate the existing public transportation, develop new forms of road paving to reduce the level of traffic noise and use sustainable engineering to build and improve national infrastructure (Steg & Gifford, 2005). But such solutions are not

enough, in addition we have to ensure the development of city centers and accurately predict the growth so transportation systems do not become obsolete after 10 years of use. Transportation is a key factor in urban and national development and that as future decision makers we have to be able to ensure a sustainable way for developing this sector based on new technologies and population dynamics studies that will allow us to predict the growth without jeopardising any type of resources for future generations.

References • Sinaga, E.A. 2008. Development of mass public transport for large and medium-sized cities in Indonesia. Presented on CODATU XIII, Vietnam.

• Steg, L. & Gifford, R. 2005. Sustainable transport and quality of life. Journal of Transport Geography 13: 59-69.

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Shopping, the cure for everything?

Karianne Sørbø.

Norway has one of the highest GDP’s in the world. The two biggest hobbies in Norway are shopping and interior design. Based on the generally high income there is today a historically high possibility for self-realisation of the individual, still people demand more and more.

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During the first half of our “I have a Mango” project period which we spent in Norway, we chose the topic of consumerism for our interactive workshops with different youth groups around the country. Here we saw that environmental problems are something that is very present in the minds of the young people we met. Yet they love to buy clothes, preferably in large quantities and for as little money as possible.

We all need clothes; although often we do not know anything about the textile products except that they might look nice and keep us warm. Each piece of clothing has a long story as they go from merely raw material, to design, production, distribution, sale, use and disposal. However most of us are not aware of the whole story.

H&M’s dirty laundry The Swedish clothes chain H&M has had ‘dirty laundry’ to do lately (Dagsavisen, 2011). Greenpeace has shown that the clothing chain uses the poisonous chemical nonylphenol1, a by-product from nonylphenoltoxylat. This is a cheap chemical that is used in cleaning out left-over colour from the textiles. Nonylphenol kills living organisms relatively fast once it is released as it breaks down into a bioaccumulative toxin2. The message from Greenpeace is: H&M should have an environmental policy that is comprehensive. For people to respect them H&M need to include responsibility into their work. The term environment cannot just mean the use of a cer1 Nonylphenol is absorbed in the body and deforms into a toxin in the cells. The toxin reacts with the cells and is stored in the tissues.

2 A toxic substance or element that is stored and accumulated in body cells and tissues.

tain fabric; it needs to also include workers’ rights, local carbon emissions, etc. How I interpret Greenpeace is that we need a holistic approach; meanings in this case an approach that includes all stages of production and the consequences.

By the end of 2011, H&M finally decided to end the use of the chemical nonylfenol in their production by the year 2020. Brands like Adidas, Puma and Nike agreed to also cut the toxic substance from their productions earlier this year. This is at least a step in the right direction, but it looks like removing the toxin will take an awfully long time. This is because to produce poison free clothes the producers will have to pay more and find other methods of production. Truls Gulowsen, head of Greenpeace Norway, tells Dagsavisen that H&M’s decision will send an important signal to the whole textile business. Let us hope he is right, and that the decision makers within the textile industry start putting a higher value also on things that do not necessarily give a short-term economic profit.

Consumerism and solidarity Many accidents have occurred recently in the Asian textile industry. Since the year 2000, as many as 399 workers have died during working hours. In addition, the workers who make our clothes also suffer from poisoning of their air and water. This is an example of a social factor of sustainable development – worker’s rights. The way it is linked to climate change is the gap between toxic emissions in rich western countries and toxic emissions in developing countries. To put it very categorical we as Scandinavians get to breathe fresh air, drink non-toxic water and shop ‘til we drop’. Asian textile

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employees work under challenging conditions, be low-paid and in addition must suffer from the consequences of a toxic environment. Sustainable development for everyone requires that we move the focus towards human living conditions; health and fairness for all.

It is hard for me to see that in a country like Norway, where practically everyone can afford to spend a little extra on clothes, we still chose the cheapest option. So what can we do? In the production chain there is not so much we can do as individual consumers, but we can at least with our wallets show what we – as participants in the As consumers we can be part market – wish to of the fight for basic human contribute to the rights for everyone. safeguarding of basic human rights for everyone. For example it is possible to buy Fair Trade clothes that reassure that the workers get fair payment and that their human rights are safeguarded. Today this costs a little bit extra, but if we look at the average Norwegian pay check this is, for most people, no big sacrifice.

Maybe it is just in our culture to think The way textile production is linked to climate change is the gap between toxic emissions in rich western countries and toxic emissions in developing countries.

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of quantity before international solidarity when we shop. Furthermore, the more we buy Fair Trade as opposed to cheap mass-produced brands the lower the prices will get. Let us simply ask ourselves: who suffers from our desire to have as many clothes as we can get?

To have your cake and eat it too Let us move back to the starting point of this article: the paradox of having more and more freedom while being more and more demanding. The Norwegian philosopher Arne Johan Vetlesen claims that this has a lot to do with consumerism and the economy. The individual of today has too many options, and Vetlesen believes that overall in society there are signs that imply that increased freedom has become increased strain. The case as he sees it is that we have a modern society without limits, hence the needs of the people no longer stand in accordance with the possibilities to get them satisfied.

According to Durkheim, in situations like these when the needs keep on increasing and immediately needs to be fulfilled, a spiral of needs with no end starts to evolve. This goes especially for the field of economy because here the needs are literally endless; you can set the economic goal as high as you wish. From this philosophical analysis I draw that it is the expectations of the people that are twisted once you experience very rapid economic rise as is the case for Norway. Hence the satisfactions that one may get will never be in accordance with the expectations.

Photo by Alejandra Echeverri.

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Profile:

Arild Hermstad Leader of Framtiden i våre hender (The future in our hands).

Favorite season Summer. It’s important to note that when I say my favorite season is summer; I am talking about the Norwegian summer. It’s much more entertaining to keep your goal of going swimming every morning once you risk to do it in fourteen degrees and rain.

Life motto “When you are trying to change the world, never fall into the dogmatic path. And more importantly; never believe that there is ever only one path.”

Often described as A committed person, and yes … I suppose I am regarded as a bit of an idealist.

A friend of me once noted that if you took the first and last letter in my first name and the first and last letter in my surname, you got ADHD. I don’t know what that should tell me.

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When did you start to think about sustainable development?

I am not sure exactly when this all started, and what exactly lead me to this chair. Something clearly changed in 1989 though; I started to see environmental issues in correlation with global justice. That people actually suffer directly from our overconsumption. Ever since, this is a message I became determined to repeat in the public sphere until people would see it.

How do you view the role of Framtiden i vĂĽre henders in the field of sustainable development?

FIVH is unique in the way that we hold people responsible for their actions and the future. The people shall be a part of the change seeing that they play a crucial role, not just wait along for politicians or corporations.

How do you regard your role?

As a leader it is simply important to do what you have said you are going to do. We all make mistakes, the same goes when you want to change the world, but don’t be afraid to make those mistakes on your way; keep trying.

What do you do outside of work?

I like to bicycle, especially mountain bike. Also I like skiing, and hiking in the mountain. Oh, and my new-found hobby is sailing. Yes, and I do enjoy going hunting every now and then.

Who would you rather get stuck in an elevator with?

Right now I would have to say the Canadian prime minister. Canada just announced their exit from the Kyoto protocol goal of CO2-emission cuts* and I would have liked to give him a lecture on that matter. Of course it has to do with their relations to the United States and national economic aspects, but still. This case really concerns me right now.

Do you have any wise words for the youth to round off with?

Travel out and see other parts of the world; see with your own eyes and then make your own analysis of how the world is linked together. Secondly; take climate research seriously. Avoid being dogmatic; stay open-minded.

Economy

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Profile

Juan Manuel Soto Economist and M.Phil in Social anthropology. He is CEO of the organisation Acci贸n Verde (Green Action).

Life motto Every green action helps evolution.

When did you first start thinking about sustainable development?

During my first job experience with the National Planning Department of Colombia, when I was asked to help plan a strategy for small scale fisheries and small scale forest dwellers, back in 1987. I realized that the amount of natural resources was limited, yet heavily being overexploited. I saw a limit coming fairly soon.

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How did you first get involved with the cause of sustainability?

What do you regard as the biggest challenge in today’s society?

I have been employed by the United Nations, the World Bank, the InterAmerican Development Bank, Greenpeace Australia and other NGOs. Now I am in charge of my own enterprise to promote reforestation in Colombia in very sensitive ecological regions, both for our country but also for the world, since we create buffer zones for Biosphere Reserves.

Bringing consumerism to its adequate (bearable) levels.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

That I could have had a future as a banker, as my father is a very prominent Colombian banker, but I chose a much earthier and people oriented career.

No regrets, despite the money constraints this has implicated throughout my life.

What do you wish other people knew about working towards sustainable development?

That not making a lot of money is a very viable and interesting way of life. You do go through hardships and sometimes even fall to forget your goals, but eventually, everything you do for the planet pays back in very unique ways.

What would you say to youth to empower them to work towards a greener world/future?

Once you have gone to a Museum and seen the incredibly large number of species of animals and plants (including trees) that no longer exist on planet Earth, you should consider acting, because one day we will see Humans in some bizarre interplanetary museum. We will go extict if we do not act as an intelligent species.

What is your bad environmental conscious?

I once left an enormous bag of waste on a mountain top, expecting the next group of trekkers would pick it up. I later found out that they didn’t collect it either! Some years later I learnt that a third group had collected it, but my laziness and lack of self-action could have been a gross environmental misdeed.

Can you give us some tips on how to be ”greener” in everyday life?

Walk, ride your bikes a lot, take public transport and avoid plastic in all its forms.

Economy

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Chapter 4

Our partners and us Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. I may be given credit for having blazed the trail, but when I look at the subsequent developments I feel the credit is due to others rather than to myself.

Alexander Graham Bell Economy

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CISV in Norway partnered up with CISV in Colombia, with the support of The Norwegian Children and Youth Council and Fredskorpset.

This match enabled us to present you this book, which will be hopefully read and used worldwide, to inspire actions that lead to a sustainably developed world.

CISV International CISV International is a global federation of over 60 volunteer-led National Associations and Promotional Associations. Each Association comprises one or more local CISV Chapters and youth-run Junior Branches. We work with like-minded organisations and partners around the world to achieve our vision of a more just and peaceful world.Our vision gives us a strong purpose, or mission, which is summed up in our Statement of Purpose, CISV educates and inspires action for a more just and peaceful world.

Founded 60 years ago, CISV International has become a worldwide volunteer movement working toward peace and intercultural cooperation and understanding. We have educated and inspired many thousands of children and young people,

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empowering them to achieve their full potential and to play an active role in creating a better world.

Our innovative and non-formal Peace Education learning experiences, which are facilitated by our dedicated volunteers, begin with our original and unique Village programme for 11 year olds. Our blend of international camp-based programmes, family exchanges, local community action and leadership training supports our participants of all ages to develop the attitude, skills and knowledge needed to act for positive change, in their communities and internationally.

As an international Peace Education organisation, CISV inspires action through our community of volunteers worldwide. And for 2012 CISVers all

over the world will focus on sustainable development, one of our four content areas. The I Have a Mango participants, with the support from the organisation’s Education Department, have explored this theme from two different perspectives, Norway and Colombia, and thinking about CISV’s multicultural community as they made this book.

I have a mango project A project to think, educate and act for sustainable development. CISV Norway had the chance to create this project with the support of The Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU) and Fredskorpset, inviting CISV Colombia as their partner.

The 1-year-long project was based as an exchange programme between two Colombians (Alejandra Echeverri and Juan Manuel Oviedo) and two Norwegians (Karianne Sorbo and Kamilla B. Haaland).

Spending 5 months in each country, they worked to empower CISV and its members to talk about and act towards sustainable development – the theme of the year in CISV International. Through this project, participants had to understand what sustainable development meant in general, and also specifically in Norway and Colombia. The Lunchbox is a product of their experiences, discoveries and reflections, having a North/South perspective.

LNU The Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU) is an umbrella organisation for more than 90 Norwegian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for children and youth. The member NGOs work within a wide range of areas, from education and politics through culture and music to scouting and

religious work.

LNU represents the youth organisations views in front of authorities and other important institutions. LNU is an expert on children and youth.

It also administrates 8 different trusts for activities and project for children and youth. With funds from Fredskorpset, LNU supports organisations that want to establish year long projects with partner organisations in the South, like CISV Norway and Colombia did.

Fredskorpset Fredskorpset Norway is a public body answerable to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and financed totally over the State Budget. For the year 2010, Fredskorpset has been allocated 185 million Norwegian Kroner. The organisation arranges reciprocal exchanges of personnel between organisations in Norway and developing countries. Over the past ten years, about 4300 people have participated in these exchanges. The objective is to contribute to lasting improvements in economic, social and political conditions in the world.

Through their programmes they promote reciprocal learning; help participants to integrate their know-how and experience into their own societies; help to develop and strengthen civil society in developing countries; enhance the ability of the people to set and achieve their own development goals and promote greater participation by developing countries in international cooperation. www.cisv.org www.cisv.no/mango www.lnu.no www. fredskorpset.no

The Lunchbox is a tool for education in sustainable development. It shows the complexity of the topic by offering different types of snacks: society, environment, economics. Discover short articles that give you an insight on what sustainable development means in different countries and cultures.

You can also find profiles of inspiring people, and as part of this Lunchbox you can find activities for CISV camps and external links for those who want some more. This is the perfect meal for those who want to know about sustainable development.