The Launch of Two New Journals: The Solutions Journal and The Journal of Sustainability Education

A couple of new journals about sustainability topics are adding new ideas and resources to the global dialog on green topics: The Solutions Journal, founded by Robert Costanza, Paul Hawken, David Orr and John Todd, and Prescott College's, Journal of Sustainability Education (JSE).

The Solutions Journal aims "to showcase bold and innovative ideas for solving the world's environmental, social and political problems." To this end, I am thrilled to see them launch their premier issue by publishing Donella Meadow's article "Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System."-- This is a classic piece that does a great job of presenting the importance of a systems approach to solving the challenges we face. The journal also includes articles by Robert Costanza, Bill McKibben, Frances Moore Lappé and others... All geared to solutions... to thinking beyond the basic approach... a glass half-full approach much needed in these times. Their website invites ideas and solutions from their readers.

The Journal of Sustainability Education (JSE) provides "a forum for academics and practitioners to share, critique, and promote research, practices, and initiatives that foster the integration of economic, ecological, and social-cultural dimensions of sustainability within formal and non-formal educational contexts." The peer reviewed JSE is in its launch phase and should be a great resource for advancing the ideas related to sustainability education.

Reliable Prosperity

Ecotrust, a Portland, Oregon based nonprofit doing some excellent work for over 20 years in support of viable local economies in coastal regions of western North America has taken a breath to look back.. and to look ahead... To this end, they asked for feedback from their members and have adopted "Reliable Prosperity" as a guiding principle.

The term, Reliable Prosperity comes form Jane Jacobs, who in her last book, The Nature of Economies wrote, "human beings exist wholly within nature as part of the natural order in every respect. . . This is difficult for many ecologists and economists to accept. . . . readers unwilling or unable to breach a barrier that they imagine separates humankind and its works from the rest of nature will be unable to hear what this book is saying." Ecotrust has adopted these values as part of their mission to "inspire fresh thinking that creates economic opportunity, social equity and environmental well-being."

What an elegant, simple and inspiring approach to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Beyond that, there are concrete organizations Ecotrust links to that support this vision. The Reliable Prosperity website does a great job of illustrating what the new green economy that is now in the mainstream news will look like (this website builds and expands from the original Conservation Economy website... with some practical applications that add to its relevance).