PLEASE NOTE ::::: IMPORTANT CHANGE.
On reflection, reflection papers are due at 9:00 am on Wednesday, the day prior to class. Please submit as usual to uwosustainability@gmail.com.
For the week of October 12: International Sustainability
envt HR.pdf
Ruggie address to Montreal.pdf
For the week of Oct 4: Ethics
For the week of Sept 29:
The discussion will address business sustainability. We view sustainable development from the perspective of society and from the perspective of business.
From the perspective of society, there are several readings. Hardin’s article on the Tragedy of the Commons (builds nicely on the Fishbank’s simulation from the first class) analyzes why sustainability is an issue. The WCED document, which came some years after Hardin’s article, illustrates the importance of sustainability and some of the factors that come into play. The video, “The Story of Stuff”, succinctly summarizes the societal and business forces that oppose sustainability.
From the perspective of business, you are given a bulls eye view of the dominant business paradigm in the Friedman article. Lash and Wellington’s article surfaces some of the newer thinking in this field.
In reviewing these readings, please give some thought to the following questions. These do not have to be addressed in your reflection papers, but will help to shape at least some of the discussion in class.
· What is the role of business in sustainability?
· Why are business actions not always sustainable? Who is the most culpable?
· How do you think business will respond to the Liberal Party’s GreenShift plan?
Required readings on business sustainability.
1. Friedman article (reading 1)
2. Tragedy of the Commons (Hardin Science 68.pdf)
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3.Liberal Party of Canada Green Shift Plan. http://www.thegreenshift.ca/pdfs/green_shift_brochure_en.pdf
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4.World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future, June 1987. United Nations. [Read Chapters 1 and 2] Available at: http://www.un-documents.net/wced-ocf.htm. (35 pages)
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5.Jonathan Lash and Fred Wellington, Competitive Advantage on a Warming Planet, Harvard Business Review, March 2007. Separate handout to be given in class (10 pages).
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6.Video: The Story of Stuff. Available at: http://www.storyofstuff.com/. (20 minutes)
To submit your reflection paper use uwosustainability@gmail.com
All the real news is in the syllabus which you can pick up here:
