Discussion Resources for a Sustainable Future

Local Libraries: Global Awareness

Collection of Suggested Readings

You are encouraged to use all or some of the following readings as the basis for a discussion group in a local library or in another educational setting.  The readings are grouped under four topics for a four part discussion series.  A list of complementary videos is also provided as stimulating discussion starters.  In addition, an excellent guide to facilitating discussions from the Study Circles Resource Center concludes these resources.  Please send your comments, suggestions for improvements, and any reactions to having used any of these resources to globallearning@worldnet.att.net.   Thank you very much!

	SUSTAINABLE AMERICA: excerpts introduce the President's Council on Sustainable Development; shows US response to Rio Conference on the Environment and Development.
	YEARNING FOR BALANCE: helps to begin where people are/might be and then move out to sustainable development as a possible response to this "yearning".
	WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?   An overview
	FROM ONE EARTH TO ONE WORLD: excerpts from Our Common Future, the seminal report from the United Nations on sustainable development
	WHAT DO HUMAN RIGHTS HAVE TO DO WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION? EVERYTHING: links environment with equity issues, giving examples from around the globe.

II. ECONOMICS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 1997 excerpts: gives a hopeful picture of changes that have been made and what needs to get done for a better global future.
	CITIES ON THE BRINK: gives global examples of challenges and hopeful responses.
	A GLOBAL GAME OF WINNERS AND LOSERS: some of the tensions of globalization
	TRADE AND LABOR: a labor perspective
	ECO-INDUSTRIAL PARKS: a local/global example of practical steps toward solutions

III. U.S. GOVERNMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AROUND THE WORLD

	PUBLIC OPINION POLL: VIEWS ON FOREIGN AID: introductory activity for discussion group
	THE U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STATES ITS CASE: selected from 3 USAID sources
	INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS STRATEGIC OVERVIEW & FY 1998 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BUDGET: a brief foreign policy overview and breakdown of expenditures from U.S. Department of State's strategic plan
	FOREIGN ASSISTANCE: a progressive critique
	SHARPENING THE TOOLS OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY: a conservative critique

IV. THINKING GLOBALLY, ACTING LOCALLY

	DIALOGUE AND EDUCATION: KEYS TO SUSTAINABILITY: an overview of ways individuals can/do act for sustainability
	A VISION OF COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY: MODEL PRINCIPLES: focuses on sustainable communities as local options for citizen action
	CITY OF PORTLAND SUSTAINABLE CITY PRINCIPLES: at work on the streets since 1994
	POLITICS FOR A HUMANE, SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: succinct yet visionary view of political action
	PRINCIPLES OF A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY: a thoughtful, philosophical statement
	THE EARTH CHARTER: a philosophical introduction to one global movement (Earth Charter Project in Costa Rica)
	WHAT YOU CAN DO: can be used as either a handout after the above readings, or as a total group reading to be discussed after the above readings.

V. SUPPLEMENTAL VIDEOES

VI. THE STUDY CIRCLE HANDBOOK
(A manual for Study Circle discussion leaders, organizers, and participants)

	INTRODUCTION
	WHAT IS A STUDY CIRCLE?
	OVERVIEW OF A TYPICAL STUDY CIRCLE
	TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE DISCUSSION LEADERSHIP
	DEALING WITH TYPICAL CHALLENGES
	THE ROLE OF THE ORGANIZER
	THE ROLE OF THE PARTICIPANT
	A COMPARISON OF DIALOGUE AND DEBATE
	STIMULATE INTERACTION: DEVELOP THOUGHT-PROVOKING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

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