The Future We Want – Sustainable Development in NL & Around the World

ST. JOHN’S – On Sunday April 1, a public forum on “The Future We Want” will be held at The Lantern, 35 Barnes Rd., St. John’s.  Author and journalist Gwynne Dyer will give the keynote address at 7:30pm where he will discuss the importance of building of global green economy.

Mr Dyer’s address will follow an afternoon discussion panel, from 2 pm to 4pm, which will explore sustainable development in Newfoundland and Labrador.   Featured speakers include Dr. Ian Fleming, Ocean Sciences Centre, who will speak on sustainable fisheries; David Bazeley, (retired) Director of Electricity Policy for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, will speak on our energy future; Dr. Luise Hermanutz, MUN, will speak on sustainable land use; and Kristie Jameson, NL Food Security Network, will speak on increasing food security in the province.

“Twenty years ago the first Earth Summit was convened in Rio.  It was here the world adopted key international agreements including the Climate Change Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity, “ said Bill Hynd of Oxfam Canada. “Today the world faces many major challenges including seriously depleted fish stocks, more extreme weather events as a result of climate change, and a growing global food crisis.  Surely this is not the present never mind the future we want.  These issues need to be taken seriously as they impact us all.”

“Sustainable development is a goal that we can all get behind in Newfoundland and Labrador,” stated Chris Hogan of NLEN. “Yet, our severely depleted groundfish stocks, a growing list of threatened and endangered species, and rising greenhouse gas emissions, point to the fact that making development sustainable remains a serious challenge for our province.”

Admission is $5 and tickets are available at The Lantern, the Oxfam Centre / Food For Thought and the NL Environment Network.  To reserve a ticket you can phone The Lantern at 753-8760.

The sponsoring agencies for this event include The Lantern, Oxfam Canada, the Newfoundland & Labrador Environment Network, Nature NL, The Conservation Corps NL and the MUN Students Union.

Additional resources:
Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
AN ACT RESPECTING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE PROVINCE

Complete event details:
“The Future We Want”, April 1, 2012

For more information please call:

Chris Hogan
Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network
753-7898
nlen.ed@gmail.com