THE SUSTAINABLITY TEST
Due February 4, 2008
Alternatives Journal is looking for articles that define the boundaries and test the soundness of sustainability in the 21st Century.
It’s been 20 years since Gro Harlem Brundtland coined the phrase “sustainable development.” Since then, the term has had amazing staying power. Although it has been co-opted to serve divergent interests and has taken on myriad meanings over the years, it is now part of our vernacular.
Skeptics believe the term has become a convenient instrument for
industry and government to promote the status quo. But a number of
recent project decisions may herald a new trend in how we measure the
sustainability of a project or activity.
Canada has reached a pivotal point with initiatives in BC, Nova Scotia
and the North West Territories (including Voisey’s Bay, Screech Lake,
Kemess North, White’s Point Quarry and the Mackenzie Valley Natural Gas
Project) being either rejected outright or approved with major
conditions. Regulatory agencies found that these initiatives were not
sustainable, and in some cases questioned how the proponents dealt with
aboriginal interests.
We invite you to submit article ideas that will help environmental
planners, corporate environmental officers, government reviewers and the
Canadian public better understand the current trends in sustainability.
Proposals may include ideas that:
• Get to the truth by describing how we can tell when sustainability
reporting is real or just greenwash.
• Describe projects in Canada or internationally that illustrate this
trend toward a new focus on sustainability
• Describe what a contemporary sustainable economy would look like
• Consider whether a sustainable energy project (e.g. wind, solar) is,
by definition, sustainable
• Discuss what sustainable development means today and in the future
• Investigate why and how these trends are emerging.
Alternatives combines the learned rigour of an academic journal with the
breezy style of a magazine. We aim to publish the best environmental
writing in the country – writing that is engaging, thought-provoking and
insightful.
Before responding to this call for submissions, please read several back
issues of the magazine so that you understand the nature of our
publication. We also suggest you go through the detailed guidelines on
our website (www.alternativesjournal.ca) to understand the types and
lengths of articles we accept.
Queries should explain, IN LESS THAN 300 WORDS, the content and scope of
your article, and should convey your intended approach, tone and style.
Please include a list of people you will interview, potential images or
sources for images and the number of words you propose to write. We
would also like to receive a very short bio. And if you have not written
for Alternatives before, please include other examples of your writing.
Articles range from about 500 to 2000 words in length.
Keep in mind that our lead time is several months. Articles should not
be so time-bound that they will seem dated once published.
Alternatives has a limited budget of about 10 cents per word for several
articles. This stipend is available to professional and amateur writers
and students only. Please indicate your interest in this funding in your
submission.
Send submissions electronically to Nicola Ross, Executive Editor (editor
@ alternativesjournal.ca) by February 4, 2008.
—
What do Faulty Towers, Harry Potter, insects and tomatoes all have in common?
They
all appear in Alternatives’ latest collection of provocative essays,
written to give you several “Aha, I wouldn’t have thought of it that
way” moments.
Engaging holiday reading. Excellent environmental gift.
On newsstands now …
www.alternativesjournal.ca
_____________________________
Marcia Ruby
Production Co-ordinator
Alternatives Journal
Canadian Environmental Ideas and Action
Faculty of Environmental Studies
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
phone: 519-888-4545; fax: 519-746-0292
email: mruby@fes.uwaterloo.ca
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