9. In reaching decisions about short-term priorities, evaluation of long-term consequences must concur with ethical priorities of justice and intergenerational environmental stewardship, taking into account both risks and uncertainties

One Canadian example of a business womens’ belief in the power of social and environmental enterprise and venture philanthropy.

Coro Strandberg is a sustainability entrepreneur and coach. She works internationally with businesses, governments and communities to inspire economic innovation that enhances quality of life and protects the environment…(finding)… innovative ways to direct capital and organize business operations, locally and globally, to achieve integrated financial, social and environmental returns.

She was a founding trustee of Ethical Funds Inc., the first family of socially-screened mutual funds in Canada. Later she championed VanCity’s regional economic development efforts which spawned the VanCity Capital Corporation, a $25 million company that invests in economic development, green economy, non-profit enterprise and co-operatives. In addition, Strandberg’s vision inspired the creation of the VanCity Community Foundation, now an $8 million foundation providing grants, loans and technical assistance to support community economic development.

She also spearheaded the creation of the International Community Investment Deposit, where the investments are channeled to support micro businesses in third world countries, helping families escape from poverty.

Coming out of Vancouver, the Sky Fish Project lauched the petition Recognition for Responsibility at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. Petition: RECOGNITION OF RESPONSIBILITY

Severun Cullis-Suzuki who is at the helm of this project worked not only with the First Nations on the West coast (she was adopted into the Haida Nation) she continues her work internationally.

“Often speaking on the necessity of defining our values, acting with the future in mind, and on individual responsibility; she is especially passionate about encouraging young people to speak out for their future.” [First drafted in 2002 Yale Student Environmental Coalition, the petition continues to circulate across the world, and has been “signed and endorsed by thousands of responsible individuals worldwide”.

“Skyfish is a world to which everyone should have the right. But most of us live in another world – a place where consumption and excess exists beside poverty and pollution. We exist in a schizophrenic society, in a time when we can no longer afford to be unaware of the consequences of pollution and globalization, or of the values of our current economic system – when the effects of one nation’s lifestyle can have an impact on all others. Now, more than ever, we live in a time when our thoughts and actions really matter”.

[1] more information is available on the web site

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