1995

Article #11: Noeleen Heyzer, "A Women’s Development Agenda for the 21st Century." As the new head of UNIFEM, Noeleen Heyzer announces a major UNIFEM policy initiative in support of efforts by the women’s movement to define an inclusive human agenda for the 21st century as the foundation of just, sustainable, and gender equitable societies.

Article #13: David C. Korten, "Help the Poor and Save the Environment: Eliminate Debt and End Foreign Aid." International debt and conventional forms of foreign aid increase the international economic dependence that is deepening injustice and unsustainability. It is possible to take steep cuts in foreign aid budgets and at the same time benefit both the poor and the environment.

Article #14: Frances F. Korten, "Environmental Lending May be Harmful to the Environment." A case study of Asian Development Bank forestry lending in the Philippines demonstrates that while environmental lending is one way to provide low income countries with unearned foreign exchange for non-essential purposes in the short-term, it is not an appropriate mechanism for dealing with environmental problems.

PCDForum PAPERS

David C. Korten, "Sustainability and the Global Economy: Beyond Bretton Woods." Opening Plenary presentation to the Environmental Grantmakers Association at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods on the fifth anniversary of the historic meeting that created the World Bank and the IMF to advance a vision of economic growth and globalization. The underlying flaws of that vision are examined with special attention to how the power to govern has shifted from governments to global corporations and a financial system that is running out of control and creating dangerous economic and social instability.

RESOURCE MATERIALS

The Council of Canadians, "The Citizens’ Agenda for Canada." Presents interim results from a broadly participatory citizen agenda building initiative through which ordinary Canadians are defining the kind of society they want for themselves and their children. This Canadian initiative is attracting the attention of groups around the world interested in carrying out similar efforts in their own countries.

North American Consultation, "Principles of Sustainable Livelihoods." The employment crisis cannot be resolved through conventional job creation. It is time to redefine the problem in terms of livelihoods. Participants in the North American Consultation on Sustainable Livelihoods organized by the Society for International Development, the International Development Conference, the Center for Respect of Life and Environment, and the PCDForum produced this statement of principles for a sustainable livelihoods economy.

"Our Cities, Our Homes." A declaration issued by the Asia Pacific Regional NGO Consultation in preparation for Habitat II. It articulates a citizen vision for the creation of socially just, ecologically sustainable, politically participatory, economically productive, and culturally vibrant communities.

"What's Ahead for the World Bank? The Big Picture." An interview with David C. Korten by Robert Wright for a study of the World Bank's role in sustainable development commissioned by the C.S. Mott Foundation. It develops the argument for why the multilateral development banks should be closed rather than reformed.

David C. Korten, "A Not So Radical Agenda for a Sustainable Future." Takes a step toward operationalizing the agenda for transformational change and observes that though the actions proposed require a radical departure from prevailing policy prescriptions, they are grounded in a basic common sense logic that is rapidly gaining adherents from the political mainstream. Suggests that the rediscovery of spiritual values is central to a transformational politics.