"...working toward development that provides meaningful, long term employment that sustains the earth and builds healthy communities"

Founded in 1987, the Nova Scotia Environment & Development Coalition works for sustainable communities the world over. Through research, education and advocacy, we highlight the connections among ecology, community economics and social justice issues, and between the North (Developed nations) and the South (Developing Nations).

Oringally, the E&D Coalition was formed of individuals and community organizations including the Ecology Action Center, CUSO Atlantic and Oxfam-Deveric. Our membership includes environmentalists, international development educators, researchers and community activists. Our hope is to work with community groups and community initiatives by providing support in the areas of public education , research, media outreach and advocacy.

We also support coalition-building and networking, provincially, regionally and nationally. We currently hold membership on the Ecology Action Center Board of Directors, the Nova Scotia Environmental Network, the CUSO Atlantic Regional Committee and the Canadian Environmental Network's International Affairs Caucus.

Recently, the Nova Scotia Environment and Development Coalition decided to merge with the Ecology Action Centre. This was decided on for many reasons. Mainly because of financial pressures and a lack of human resources.

OUR OBJECTIVES

• providing a critique of policies and actions that do not advance sustainability and take power away from those affected by development decisions

• lobbying for the implementation of policies that promote sustainability founded on principles of social justice and environmental ethics

• researching alternative community strategies, and promoting these examples in the general public

OUR MAIN ACTIVITIES

• Distribution of our video: So Who Lives Here Anyway?: Alternative Visions of Sustainable Communities. Thailand - Nova Scotia Environmental Linkage Project

• Research on sustainable alternatives in forestry, fisheries and farming- Public education on environment and development issues

• Support for international advocacy campaigns

• Development of the Sustainable Communities Network of Nova Scotia

GET INVOLVED!

NOVA SCOTIA ENVIRONMENT & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

EMail: env-sust@chebucto.ns.ca

We need new members committed to a vision of sustainability.

And there is lots to do: research, education , organizing, lobbying. Give us a call at 429-2202!