Our SLTS Manifesto
Opening Thoughts of the SLTS Class of 2006-07
2006 August 29
I. Our Motivation
We are the Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability class of 2006-7. We choose to challenge ourselves at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden where dedicated pioneers of sustainability find inspiration and support amongst the tradition of this innovative and holistic Master’s program. We choose to form networks and exchange ideas and experience with a growing community of international students and professors. We welcome diversity of experience and cultural perspectives when exploring sustainability topics and leadership skills. We strive to learn sound sustainability principles based on systems thinking, and the successes and short comings of current sustainability initiatives. We wish to gain and strengthen our leadership skills, and tools for implementing sustainability practices personally, in our communities, businesses and government. We desire to introduce, improve and implement sustainability strategies in developing countries. We recognize social equity, economic prosperity and peaceful relations to be important components of sustainable processes. We hope to find personal fulfillment and sustainability success through right livelihood and a strengthened awareness and connection to the earth community.
II. The following questions lie at the heart of our work as sustainability leaders:
Tools
How can we creatively energize the sustainability movement?
How can you focus in a subject with endless direction?
How can a group of people with diverse backgrounds and personalities self-organize and work together to learn and create a practical and positive impact?
What are the practical tools and processes that we can gain from The Natural Step Principles that can be applied to bring about a paradigm shift and solve problems?
How do we measure progress towards sustainability?
Applications
We are inspired by the application of sustainable principles, technologies and frameworks. Specifically, we will explore these applications to further develop our abilities, skills and collective knowledge.
How do we integrate sustainability into the initial phases of planning and innovation?
How can we change our lifestyle to meet the requirements of a sustainable society?
How can we influence strategic planning in a non-sustainable society?
How do I begin implementing the process of change towards sustainability?
How can we implement new educational strategies for improving our environmental systems?
How do we incorporate the TNS framework within the media for better promotion of sustainability?
Community
Community is understood as the physical and virtual realm in which people lead their lives. Community is the level at which individuals can successfully effect change as they interact with one another, governments and other organizations.
- How can we bring people together to create a sustainable society?
- How can we create a community dialogue that fosters sustainability?
- How can cities be designed and managed sustainably taking land use, energy, waste, transportation and social needs into account?
- How can we promote simple and joyful living in the context of community for all humanity?
Business
Within a framework set by society and governments, businesses gather people, resources and capital to create wealth. Very often, businesses have pursued profits at the expense of all other goals and have thus led to unsustainable societies, even unintentionally.
- How does one implement cooperative business models to foster sustainable business initiatives?
- How can the triple bottom line approach become the economic standard for business?
- How can greenwashing be turned around to be true sustainable growth?
Government
Along with citizens, community groups, other members of “civil society” and private sector organizations, governments at all levels (national, regional and municipal), with their democratic mandate, are key actors in implementing sustainability, for example in establishing the right policy and fiscal frameworks for society’s stakeholders to act upon.
- How do we encourage governing bodies to support sustainability?
- What level of policy is needed or acceptable for shifting behavioural consciousness towards sustainability?
- How can government structures and functions be modified to implement sustainability?
Enhancing Leadership Capacity
How can I best lead people to sustainable practices (personal skills/tools)?
How to motivate others to join a movement for positive change?
How can I inspire others?
How to convince and engage people in sustainable pathways?
What are sustainability leaders?
How to be an effective and compassionate leader in my work place, family, and community?
How to convince decision makers?
How can a sustainability leader encourage proactivity?
How can we engage the masses to participate in the same dialogue we are having?
Personal Explorations
How can I participate on the route towards sustainable development?
How can I do my best, maintain personal integrity and work within a framework of sustainability in a way that includes and respects all parties involved?
How can I effect change?
What is my contribution?
How is sustainability affected by and/or affect self-awareness/self understanding?
How to keep a balance between personal hope and imposition of personal agenda within development and sustainability projects?
Provocative questions about Systems and Definitions
Is there a potential for changing the world globally?
In a western culture heavily rooted in consumerism, how can we avoid contradictions inherent in sustainability?
How to define sustainability or can there be a clear universal understanding of sustainability and how can this be achieved?
Can we live without oil?
How can we turn the sustainability term into reality (so it won’t be only a nice word on the board)?
III. Expectations
We expect from the faculty and ourselves to be challenged and supported in a respectful and rigorous learning community.
We expect to trust each other. We choose to embrace and support cultural and linguistic differences; we will not be afraid to confront each other. We will speak up when we are not heard. We expect to feel loved and accepted as a community, having mutual respect for individual backgrounds, aspirations and objectives; a community in which everyone is free to learn, to make mistakes and to evolve as individuals. We are committed to consensus decision making and group process. Through rigorous academics, we expect to receive a world-class and holistic intellectual challenge rich with creativity and innovation. We expect to take away tangible tools and knowledge of sustainability for effective use. We expect to learn how to practically implement the processes of sustainability; to be able to confidently share the tools necessary to encourage others and ourselves to implement The Natural Step Framework. We expect to be visionary and skilled leaders providing unlimited possibilities within the scope of sustainability. We expect to emerge prepared and invigorated with clear purpose within the sustainability field and able to apply all that we have learned in our home countries. Most of all, we expect to have a great group experience and to have fun!
2006 August 29
I. Our Motivation
We are the Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability class of 2006-7. We choose to challenge ourselves at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden where dedicated pioneers of sustainability find inspiration and support amongst the tradition of this innovative and holistic Master’s program. We choose to form networks and exchange ideas and experience with a growing community of international students and professors. We welcome diversity of experience and cultural perspectives when exploring sustainability topics and leadership skills. We strive to learn sound sustainability principles based on systems thinking, and the successes and short comings of current sustainability initiatives. We wish to gain and strengthen our leadership skills, and tools for implementing sustainability practices personally, in our communities, businesses and government. We desire to introduce, improve and implement sustainability strategies in developing countries. We recognize social equity, economic prosperity and peaceful relations to be important components of sustainable processes. We hope to find personal fulfillment and sustainability success through right livelihood and a strengthened awareness and connection to the earth community.
II. The following questions lie at the heart of our work as sustainability leaders:
Tools
How can we creatively energize the sustainability movement?
How can you focus in a subject with endless direction?
How can a group of people with diverse backgrounds and personalities self-organize and work together to learn and create a practical and positive impact?
What are the practical tools and processes that we can gain from The Natural Step Principles that can be applied to bring about a paradigm shift and solve problems?
How do we measure progress towards sustainability?
Applications
We are inspired by the application of sustainable principles, technologies and frameworks. Specifically, we will explore these applications to further develop our abilities, skills and collective knowledge.
How do we integrate sustainability into the initial phases of planning and innovation?
How can we change our lifestyle to meet the requirements of a sustainable society?
How can we influence strategic planning in a non-sustainable society?
How do I begin implementing the process of change towards sustainability?
How can we implement new educational strategies for improving our environmental systems?
How do we incorporate the TNS framework within the media for better promotion of sustainability?
Community
Community is understood as the physical and virtual realm in which people lead their lives. Community is the level at which individuals can successfully effect change as they interact with one another, governments and other organizations.
- How can we bring people together to create a sustainable society?
- How can we create a community dialogue that fosters sustainability?
- How can cities be designed and managed sustainably taking land use, energy, waste, transportation and social needs into account?
- How can we promote simple and joyful living in the context of community for all humanity?
Business
Within a framework set by society and governments, businesses gather people, resources and capital to create wealth. Very often, businesses have pursued profits at the expense of all other goals and have thus led to unsustainable societies, even unintentionally.
- How does one implement cooperative business models to foster sustainable business initiatives?
- How can the triple bottom line approach become the economic standard for business?
- How can greenwashing be turned around to be true sustainable growth?
Government
Along with citizens, community groups, other members of “civil society” and private sector organizations, governments at all levels (national, regional and municipal), with their democratic mandate, are key actors in implementing sustainability, for example in establishing the right policy and fiscal frameworks for society’s stakeholders to act upon.
- How do we encourage governing bodies to support sustainability?
- What level of policy is needed or acceptable for shifting behavioural consciousness towards sustainability?
- How can government structures and functions be modified to implement sustainability?
Enhancing Leadership Capacity
How can I best lead people to sustainable practices (personal skills/tools)?
How to motivate others to join a movement for positive change?
How can I inspire others?
How to convince and engage people in sustainable pathways?
What are sustainability leaders?
How to be an effective and compassionate leader in my work place, family, and community?
How to convince decision makers?
How can a sustainability leader encourage proactivity?
How can we engage the masses to participate in the same dialogue we are having?
Personal Explorations
How can I participate on the route towards sustainable development?
How can I do my best, maintain personal integrity and work within a framework of sustainability in a way that includes and respects all parties involved?
How can I effect change?
What is my contribution?
How is sustainability affected by and/or affect self-awareness/self understanding?
How to keep a balance between personal hope and imposition of personal agenda within development and sustainability projects?
Provocative questions about Systems and Definitions
Is there a potential for changing the world globally?
In a western culture heavily rooted in consumerism, how can we avoid contradictions inherent in sustainability?
How to define sustainability or can there be a clear universal understanding of sustainability and how can this be achieved?
Can we live without oil?
How can we turn the sustainability term into reality (so it won’t be only a nice word on the board)?
III. Expectations
We expect from the faculty and ourselves to be challenged and supported in a respectful and rigorous learning community.
We expect to trust each other. We choose to embrace and support cultural and linguistic differences; we will not be afraid to confront each other. We will speak up when we are not heard. We expect to feel loved and accepted as a community, having mutual respect for individual backgrounds, aspirations and objectives; a community in which everyone is free to learn, to make mistakes and to evolve as individuals. We are committed to consensus decision making and group process. Through rigorous academics, we expect to receive a world-class and holistic intellectual challenge rich with creativity and innovation. We expect to take away tangible tools and knowledge of sustainability for effective use. We expect to learn how to practically implement the processes of sustainability; to be able to confidently share the tools necessary to encourage others and ourselves to implement The Natural Step Framework. We expect to be visionary and skilled leaders providing unlimited possibilities within the scope of sustainability. We expect to emerge prepared and invigorated with clear purpose within the sustainability field and able to apply all that we have learned in our home countries. Most of all, we expect to have a great group experience and to have fun!
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3:23 PM
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