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Nature and Society From the chair of Nature and Society Forum's board, Brendan Mackey Signs of hope for sustainability in 2007 The Preamble to the Earth Charter argues that we ‘… stand at a critical moment in Earth’s history, a time when humanity must choose its future. As the world becomes increasingly interdependent and fragile, the future at once holds great peril and great promise’. As we look around locally, national and globally, it is easy to despair at the environmental degradation, the ongoing war and violence (with over one trillion dollars spent annually on the world’s military), poverty, increasing loss of biodiversity, deforestation, and of course global warming. However, if we peer beyond the gloom there are increasing signs of hope that the world is making the phase shift towards a more sustainable, just and peaceful world. Everywhere, in all sectors, at all levels, we find committed individuals and organisations who are working hard to bring about the real changes sustainability demands. The Nature and Society Forum is one such sign of hope. Unlike a conventional social club, where the members join for the benefits the club provides them, NSF exists as a vehicle for members to contribute to meeting the challenges of sustainability. In my work as a professor of environmental science at the Australian National University (and related activities such as being a member of the Earth Charter International Council), I am in contact with cognate community sustainability organisations throughout the world; such as the Center for Humans and Nature (USA) and Centre for Science and Environment (India). Although these organisations do great work, we perhaps do not sufficiently appreciate the quality of NSF’s intellectual capital and just how much the organisation achieves largely on a voluntary basis. The quality of NSF’s output is without doubt world class, and on a par with comparable international organisations. This is why I joined NSF and why I am honoured to chair its newly formulated board in 2007. As I hope you are all aware, the organisational structure of NSF has now changed, with the Management Committee being replaced by a Board. The role of the Board is to provide leadership in strengthening governance processes for NSF in keeping with the expansion of its mission, as well as continuing the important management role of the previous Management Committee. The new Board has a primary responsibility for ensuring NSF has the reach, profile and impact that is commensurate with its vision and intellectual capital. Over the last few months, the NSF Board has been focused on our organisation’s strategic plan. We have considered our vision and mission; and have arrived at a set of strategic objectives for 2007/2008. We have identified new opportunities for our beloved journal; and, have agreed on a major innovation for 2007 – every second month the public seminar is replaced with a Members’ Workshop (the first of these will be on 21 March). We are now in the final stage of the strategic planning process which involves determining the best approach to managing and integrating NSF’s major projects: (1) Social Change; (2) The Australian National Sustainability Initiative (ANSI); (3) SEE-Change and (4) the nomination of the ACT as a Biosphere Reserve. We must find ways of avoiding duplication of effort and cross-signalling to external interested parties. We need to share resources and create a stronger team and membership base with an influential voice. We must find the common ground that will allow us to work together and enable real change to take place. The March Members’ Workshop will focus on the draft strategic plan. We are inviting members to come along, discuss the plan, and identify ways that, through working together, it can be implemented. NSF has a unique contribution to make in advancing sustainability, with our integrative focus on ‘Healthy People, Healthy Planet’, innovative thinking, connections across sectors, and long term commitment to education as a prime catalyst of social change. NSF can be a much needed sign of hope for sustainability in 2007 and beyond. I look forward to working with you in the coming years to make this vision a reality. February - March 2007 edition accessible here Back to top ________________________________________________________________
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