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Public Linkage, Dialogue, and Education Task Force
Purpose
An educated public is our most powerful resource to meet the challenges
created by increasing environmental, economic and social demands.
Recognizing the importance of education, the Council created the Public
Linkage, Dialogue, and Education Task Force to serve as the vehicle
through which the work of the Council is accessible to the public for
information, review and comment. In addition, the Task Force promotes
dialogue and outreach between the PCSD and community networks.
Policy Development
The Education Working Group of the Task Force lead the policy formulation
efforts by developing policies on formal and non-formal education and
outreach at a forum, hosted by GREEN, in Ann Arbor, MI. The document was
disseminated to Task Force members as well as educators, businesses,
government leaders, NGOs, and religious and labor organizations for review
and comment. The document and comments will be reviewed and discussed at
a second policy forum sponsored by S.C. Johnson and Son in March 1995.
The final policy recommendations will be presented to the Council at the
meeting in San Francisco, and discussed during a national sustainable
development education teleconference. Members of the Task Force also
participated in a forum, hosted by Second Nature to formulate principles
for higher education on sustainable development. Bibliography references
on sustainable development and model university-level programs were
identified, collected, and compiled for future dissemination.
Outreach
Attaining wide-spread public support and understanding of sustainability
issues is critical to the success of the Council. The Task Force is
partnering with other PCSD task forces and a variety of public forums and
grass-roots projects to help facilitate its outreach efforts by:
Partnering with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy to hold both
a public meeting on the PCSD and a round table on Jobs, Labor, and
Sustainability during their New England Environmental Conference. These
meetings will give constituencies in the New England region an opportunity
to discuss sustainability issues with members of the Council, and showcase
local examples of sustainability.
Recognizing the importance of youth to the PCSD process by partnering
with the Sustainable Communities Task Force on two youth-related events.
The first is a Roundtable held in Boston which will connected youth-led
organizations to a common agenda with sustainable development as the
organizing paradigm. Invitees included youth leaders from national and
local organizations who have worked to promote community sustainability.
The second event will be a Youth Summit for Sustainable Communities held
in San Francisco. This public meeting will allow youth leaders from
around the nation to self-articulate their recommendations, views, and
experiences relating to community sustainability.
Organizing an Education Forum on Sustainability in San Francisco to
discuss the final policy recommendations; a third roundtable on jobs,
labor, and sustainability and outreach to scientific and international
networks. In addition, a site specific brochure will be disseminated
introducing the PCSD and highlighting San Francisco's accomplishments in
working toward sustainability.
Working with Chattanooga Venture and other 'visioning' organizations
to hold a Community Visioning Forum at the Presidio in San Francisco. The
Visioning Forum will focus on how to broaden and strengthen the existing
dialogue on sustainable development.
Facilitating electronic communications between the PCSD and the public
by working with the Chattanooga Sustainability Council and local
Chattanooga area schools to create a PCSD home page on the Internet by the
end of April.
Partnering with Global Action Plan for the Earth (GAP) in launching a
national community-based campaign empowering Americans to live
environmentally sustainable lifestyles. The premiere of the first GAP
group occurred at the Chattanooga meeting and two more groups are planned
in the San Francisco and San Jose areas.
Demonstration Project
The National Forum on Education about the Environment (NFEE) will assist
the Education Working Group with activities that will enhance the NFEE's
ability to impact national policy and craft a meaningful blueprint of
sustainable development education. Joint efforts will be made to craft
policies and a sustainable development curriculum and bibliography. NFEE
is also working to develop a Blueprint for Education About the Environment
that will detail partnerships and policies needed to ensure programs of
excellence are developed and sustained in every community.
Task Force Council Membership
Co-Chairs
Judith Espinosa, Former Secretary of the Environment, State of
New Mexico
Michele Perrault, International Vice President, Sierra Club
Members
Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, Co-Chair, Citizens' Network for
Sustainable Development
Samuel C. Johnson, Chairman, S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
Madeleine Kunin, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
Timothy E. Wirth, Under Secretary for Global Affairs, U.S.
Department of State
PCSD Home Page