I had no involvement in the development of the agenda for the Libraries
and CED conference which I forwarded to this list among others, although I
will be presenting a paper there.
However, had I organized the conference on this general area it would look
very much like this one. Steve Kurtz raises an extremely useful issue
which is often skirted over in the circles I frequent (including present
company), that is how (if at all) it is possible to reconcile efforts such
as my own in Cape Breton to promote "economic development" within OR
without the context of environmental/energy/resource use "sustainability".
There is somehow the presumption that since the kinds of folks who are
working towards local economic development (in lagging regions of
developed countries or in developing countries) seem to be more or less
similar kinds of folks to the "sustainable development" crowd and talk
somewhat similar lingos...that the work they are both doing are somehow
and at some level compatible. Steve Kurtz has put the cat among the
pigeons by asking if this is in fact the case.
My answer, as somene who has been working rather long and rather hard at
trying to figure out how to make the shattered economy of a peripheral
region sufficient to financially sustain its current population, is that I
don't know. Certainly the issue of longer term environmental or resource
sustainability is not uppermost in the thinking of those working for local
economic development...nice if it is compatible, regrettable if it isn't.
I probably wouldn't support an industry for Cape Breton which was
obviously polluting, resource extravagant, or dangerous for the folks
downstream...but many of those who are allies in the local development
struggles aren't so choosy and staring at 30% unemployment and an eroded
social safety net and a population that is dwindling as one watches, its
hard not to be sympathetic.
At a deeper level there seems to be some compatability between
environmental sustainability and economic sustainability...certainly the
things that have failed in the past have often been neither...whether the
attempts at developing things that are both, such as I'm trying to do by
linking ICT and local economic development, will have a greater measure
of success in the future remains to be seen.
I do know that there is a very strong strain of skepticism and even
resentment in my community about folks "from away" who come in "preaching"
about the environment from a lofty perch of civil service or academic or
other "pink fingered" jobs. Around here, those for whom the threat of
permanent unemployment and grinding relentless semi-rural poverty is but a
quaint memory from one's fathers don't seem to get a great deal of
attention (or respect).
I'ld like to think that there could be a natural alliance between the two
groups but its not something that can be taken for granted.
Mikeg
On Wed, 13 May 1998, Steve Kurtz wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> Although I'm not 100% certain that MG sent this to me via FW, I'd bet on it.
> Apologies if I'm mistaken. My comments are intended as suggestions for improving
> these types of agendas, not as negative criticism.
>
> Sounds like a fairly comprehensive conference, but one glaring omission jumped
> out at me. There is no mention of *sustainable* anything: economy, environment,
> cities, population... I'm aware that "local" economic activity has many
> advantages such as knowledge about the content of locally produced foods and
> other products & services, easy recourse if any is needed, and energy &
> pollution savings over longer distance sourcing. "Growth" is mentioned as
> desirable; surely that needs careful explanation and qualification.
>
> I strongly support libraries & information technologies, and believe that they
> are a plus for humans in striving for a sustainable future ("the Problematique"
> is the Club of Rome term for the sum of the problems challenging us). I'm just
> puzzled how a conference of diverse esteemed individuals can develop an agenda
> that seems to have missed the forest for the trees. Better "ergonomics" while
> pursuing "growth" may make workers happier in the short term, but the big
> picture deserves inclusion when designing best uses of libraries & Info. Tech.
> At least that's how I see things.
>
> Steve Kurtz
> Fitzwilliam NH
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > A TWO DAY INTERNATIONAL PRE-CONFERENCE TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
> > OF THE CANADIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
> >
> > TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1998, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
> > (Special Tuesday Evening Session 7:00 - 8:30 PM)
> > WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 1998, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
> >
> > The Victoria Conference Centre,
> > Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
> >
> > This unique, two-day event will combine process with product:
> > The outcome will be a set of strategies, useable models, and
> > skill sets/competencies for libraries to follow in order to
> > become actively involved in local economic development.
> (snip)
>
>
Michael Gurstein, Ph.D.
ECBC/NSERC/SSHRC Associate Chair in the Management of Technological Change
Director: Centre for Community and Enterprise Networking (C\CEN)
University College of Cape Breton, POBox 5300, Sydney, NS, CANADA B1P 6L2
Tel. 902-563-1369 (o) 902-562-1055 (h) 902-562-0119 (fax)
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://ccen.uccb.ns.ca
