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Resources on Ecological and Sustainable Economics
Websites and articles available on-line, by sub-topic:
Ecological Economics - general information
Articles on Sustainable Economics: Assorted articles
can be found at this site. http://www.context.org/GUIDES/econ.htm
Businesses for Social Responsibility: A non-profit
organization working to promote sustainable business practices. Contains
case studies and examples of "best practices." http://www.bsr.org
Carbohydrate Economy: A nonprofit research group focusing
on the transition to plant-based energy systems and manufacturing. Site
includes current policies and practices from around the country. http://www.carbohydrateeconomy.org
Coop America: A non-profit organization working on
sustainable business issues. Contains links to other sites on green
investing and responsible consumerism. http://www.coopamerica.org
Coalition of Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES):
This coalition of business and environmental groups has developed the
CERES principles, a ten-point code of conduct for responsible corporate
behavior. The site has good information about sustainable business practices.
http://www.ceres.org
Council of Canadians: This site contains suggestions
for humane trade policies, based on the UN Convention for Human Rights.
http://www.canadians.org
Dow Jones Sustainability Index: An index of companies that
meet a rigorous set of criteria for sustainable business practices.
Lists industry-specific surveys for assessing sustainability. http://www.sustainability-indexes.com/
The Ceres Principles: Guidelines for responsible business.
http://www.ceres.org
McDonough and Associates: Website of one of the leading ecological
designers and architects, William McDonough, who was named a "hero
of the planet" by Time magazine. http://www.mcdonough.com/
Economic Policy Institute: Research institute that
focuses on domestic and global economic issues, including sustainability.
http://www.epinet.org
Environomics: Links to documents and organizations
relevant to ecological economics. http://www.environomics.org/index.html
Friends of the Commons: The commons are shared natural
resources and social creations, such as water, air, culture , and science.
http://friendsofthecommons.org
Friends of the Earth: Involved in efforts to democratize
economic globalization. Their 'Green Scissors Report' provides details
about subsidies for mining, timber, etc. http://www.foe.org
Gross Domestic Product article: "If the GDP Is
Up, Why Is America Down?" Clifford Cobb, Ted Halstead, and Jonathon
Rowe. The Atlantic Monthly, October 1995. Eye-opening article illuminating
the differences between economic progress as measured by the GDP and
genuine social and environmental progress. Available on-line at: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ecbig/gdp.htm.
Access requires a subscription.
Institute for Policy Studies: A research institute focusing
on global issues, national economic policy, and sustainability. http://www.ips-dc.org
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: A research institute
focusing on the impacts of globalization on food security and hunger.
http://www.iatp.org
Institute for Local Self-Reliance: A nonprofit research
group promoting local economies and self-reliant communities. http://www.ilsr.org
International Institute for Sustainable Development: Canadian
research organization tracking global negotiations in major policy areas.
Scholarly, in-depth writing. http://www.iisd.ca
International Society for Ecological Economics: Based
at the University of Maryland, this institute focuses on ecological
economics research and publications. http://www.ecoeco.org
"Natural Capitalism": A good introduction to sustainable
economics by business leader Paul Hawken. http://www.naturalcapitalism.org
Natural Step: A global movement to align business practices
with laws of natural systems. One of the most important movements in
sustainability. http://www.naturalstep.org
Green Pages: Information on environmentally-friendly
products and services. http://www.greenpages.org
National Recycling Coalition: This site has valuable information
about how everyday products are recycled as well as links to the companies
doing it. http://www.nrc-recycle.org
Redefining Progress: A research institute that developed the
Genuine Progress Indicator as an alternative to the GDP. The site contains
information on the Ecological Footprint and environmental taxes. http://www.rprogress.org
Sierra Club: Involved in efforts to democratize economic
globalization. http://www.sierraclub.org
Sustainable Business: Providing news, resources, insight,
and inspiration to accelerate momentum toward a green economy. http://sustainablebusiness.com
Triple Bottom Line - The Global Reporting Initiative: The Global
Reporting Initiative is an international effort to develop a common
framework for corporations to measure their "triple bottom line:"
a combination of economic, environmental, and social performance. This
initiative is leading the way for this type of measurement tool. http://www.globalreporting.org
United for a Fair Economy : This organization offers
books, resources, and training programs on US tax policies, economic
inequality, and coporate welfare . Their "Recovery Watchdog"
site tracks layoffs, tax cuts, and bailout plans. http://www.faireconomy.org
World Business Council on Sustainable Development: An international
coalition of businesses working on sustainability. The site includes
updates, case studies, "best practices", and other resources.
http://www.wbcsd.org
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Finance and Microcredit
Accion International: A microcredit institution working
mostly in Latin America. http://www.accion.org
Grameen Bank: A Bangladeshi bank and a world leader
on microcredit. http://www.grameen-info.org
International Monetary Fund: Sister organization to
the World Bank. http://www.imf.org
Securities and Exchange Commission: Federal regulatory
agency for the stock market. http://www.sec.gov
World Bank: Information on global lending, debt, and
other global fiscal matters. http://www.worldbank.org
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Globalization
Sweatshop site: User-friendly site providing an overview
of why sweatshops exist, how to fight them, and how various businesses
(including Disney and Nike) rate in terms of accountability. http://www.sweatshops.org
Corporate Watch: Nonprofit group tracking corporate
behavior. http://www.corpwatch.org
Council of Canadians: Suggestions for humane trade
policies, based on the UN Convention for
Human Rights. http://www.canadians.org
Economic Policy Institute: Research institute focusing
on domestic and global economic issues, including sustainability.http://www.epinet.org
Friends of the Earth: Involved in efforts to democratize
economic globalization. http://www.foe.org
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy: A research
institute addressing the impacts of globalization on food security.
http://www.iatp.org
Institute for Food and Development Policy (Food First):
A research institute that focuses on the causes of and solutions for
global poverty, hunger, and environmental degredation. http://www.foodfirst.org
Institute for Policy Studies: A research institute
focusing of global issues, national economic policy, and sustainability.
http://www.ips-dc.org
International Forum on Globalization: An umbrella group
working to democratize the WTO and other institutions. http://www.ifg.org
International Institute for Sustainable Development:
Canadian research organization tracking global negotiations in major
policy areas, including global trade. Scholarly, in-depth writing. http://www.iisd.ca
Public Citizen: A Washington-based watchdog group. Useful information
on global trade issues. http://www.citizen.org
Redefining Progress: Developed the Genuine Progress
Indicator as an alternative to the GDP. http://www.rprogress.org
Sierra Club: Involved in efforts to democratize globalization.
http://www.sierraclub.org
Sustainable Business: Providing news, resources, insight and
inspiration to accelerate momentum toward a green economy. http://sustainablebusiness.com
Third World Network: One of the best sites for perspectives
from the 'developing world' not found elsewhere. http://www.twnside.org.sg/
World Bank: Information on global lending and debt.
http://www.worldbank.org
World Trade Organization: International organization that creates
trade rules and settles disputes. http://www.wto.org
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Labor
AFL-CIO: Federation of major labor unions. The site
has research on labor issues and links to major labor organizations.
http://www.aflcio.org
International Labor Organization: UN agency covering
global labor issues, including child labor. http://www.ilo.org
Labor Net: A computer network and database of labor
information. A good starting point for research on labor issues. http://www.labornet.org
National Labor Committee: Educates the US public on
labor abuses around the world. Includes reports on well-known companies.
http://www.nlcnet.org
Sweatshop sites: An overview of sweatshops, why they
exist, initiatives to fight them, and how various businesses (including
Disney and Nike) rate in terms of accountability. http://www.sweatshops.org
http://www.sweatshopwatch.org
US Department of Labor: http://www.dol.gov
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Suggested
print materials, organized by author
Benyus, Jeanine. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature.
1997. Links principles of biology to design and commerce.
Cobb, Clifford, Ted Halstead, and Jonathon Rowe. "If
the GDP Is Up, Why Is America Down?" The Atlantic Monthly,
October 1995. Eye-opening article illuminating the differences between
economic progress as measured by the GDP and genuine social and environmental
progress. Available on-line at http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/ecbig/gdp.htm
Costanza, Robert et. al. "The Value of the World's Ecosystems
Services and Natural Capital." Nature, Volume 387, May 1997,
pp. 253-259.
Daly, Herman. "Introduction to the Steady-State Economy."
In Economics, Ecology, Ehtics: Essays Toward a Steady-State Economy.
Herman Daly, editor. San Franciso: W.H. Freeman and Company. 1980. Pages
16-23 provide an overview of entropy, stocks, heat waste, and how these
combine in a model of economic throughput.
Dunkiel, Brian, et. al. "Sharing the Wealth." E Magazine.
March/April 1999, pp. 29-35. Article that outlines the basics of 'green'
taxes.
Georgescu-Roegen, Nicholas. "The Entrop Law and the Economic
Problem." In Economics, Ecology, Ehtics: Essays Toward a Steady-State
Economy. Herman Daly, editor. San Franciso: W.H. Freeman and Company.
1980. pp. 49-60.
Hammond, M. Jeff, et. al. Tax Waste, Not Work: How Changing What
We Tax Can Lead to a Stronger Economy and a Cleaner Environment.
San Francisco: Redefining Progress, 1997.
Hawken, Paul. Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability.
Harper Business, 1993. An important introduction to principles of sustainability
from a business perspective.
Hawken, Paul, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins. Natural Capitalism.
New York: Little, Brown, 1999. The culmination of 20 years of work,
this book has been hailed by corporations as the most important book
for business in recent years. The book is also on-line at http://www.naturalcapitalism.org
Kelly, Marjorie. The Divine Right of Capital: Dethroning the Corporate
Aristocracy. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler. 2001.
Korten, David. When Corporations Rule the World, 2nd edition.
Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press. 2001. Presents the assumptions underlying
'free trade capitalism'. another of Korten's books, The Post-Corporate
World, presents options for a sustainable future.
Lovins, Amory B., L. Hunter Lovins, and Paul Hawken. "A Road
Map for Natural Capitalism" In Harvard Business Review, May-June
1999. Succinct introduction to the key principles of natural capitalism.
Mander, Jerry and Edward Goldsmith, eds. The Case Against the Global
Economy and for a Turn Toward the Local. San Francisco: Sierra
Club Books. Edited collection of articles critiquing globalization and
offering sustainable alternatives.
McDonough, William and Michael Braungart. "The NEXT Industrial
Revolution" In The Atlantic Monthly, October 1998. Good introduction
to principles of ecological design and ecologically sound communities.
Meadows, Donella, Dennis Measdown, Jorgen Randers. Beyond the Limits:
Envisioning a Sustainable Future. White River Junction: Chelsea
Green Publishing. 1992. Population growth is covered on pges 23-32.
Daly, Herman and John Cobb. (1989). For the Common Good: Redirecting
the economy toward community, the environment, and a sustainable future.
Boston: Beacon Press.
Ryan, John and Alan Thein Durning. Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday
Things. Available from Northwest Environmental Watch. Describes
the environmental and social impacts behind the production of everyday
things. (Excerpts available at http://www.northwestwatch.org/publications/stuff_excerpt.asp
Shuman, Michael H. Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities
in a Global Age. New York: Routledge. 2000.
Wendell, Berry. Another Turn of the Crank. Essays by Wendell
Berry. Washington: Counterpoint. Critiques the assumptions of free
trade and globalization in light of impacts on local economies and communities.
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Curricula
Economics for the Common Good: Linking Economic, Environmental,
and Community Well-being. From Creative
Change Educational Solutions. Three units address resource use and manufacturing,
economic policies and their impacts, and indicators of sustainability
(comparing the Gross Domestic Product to the Genuine Progress Indicator.)
Level: high school; some lessons suitable for middle school or elementary.
Downloads and on-line ordering coming Spring 2006.
In the meantime, view economics
programs offered by Creative Change.
College-level modules on environmental and social issues from
the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University.
Multiple modules, designed for use as supplements in undergraduate-level
courses, are available in PDF form at http://www.ase.tufts.edu/gdae/education_materials/modules.html
Center for a Sustainable Future: Site of one of the
largest sustainability education initiatives in the country. On-line
curriculum units on various sustainability topics, including economics.
http://csf.concord.org
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