<p> This ethnography explores the practices and activities of an experiential learning program in sustainable agriculture, the Student Experimental Farm at the University of California, Davis, from a community development and social justice perspective. We need more dialogue about the work to imagine and live new futures&mdash;ways in which human beings might rectify the social and environmental contradictions created by structural and historical injustices in their own lives and organizations. We need more records of the activities and approaches of programs attempting to do the work of changing a system inside and out&mdash;the subversive work of peaceful and self-determined adaptation to a more just way of working with ourselves, other people and nature. And importantly, we need more records of programs working in public view; not just in the oft-detached realms of liberal counterculture, though these spaces can be creatively rejuvenating, but in the institutions of education and politics&mdash;land grant universities in particular&mdash;that still carry much weight in the agricultural field, to which many practitioners are connected, and which most still consult as a major resource for guidance and knowledge. </p><p> This research is framed by three broad relationships for inquiry: the individual&rsquo;s relationship to oneself in the learning process, social relationships between members of a learning community, and institutional relationships that frame activity. In discussion I address issues of the opportunity for critical transformation in experiential learning, meaning and motivation for individuals in the learning process, and emphasize the value of peer relationships and a broader learning community for successful results. I present various social tensions between responding to the needs of both novice and advanced learners; between education and production in the student farm setting; and in socio-spatial identity and meanings. I argue for building communities of inquiry in sustainable agriculture education more proactively, with the goal of acknowledging cultural difference and working for social equity from the inside out. </p><p> Additionally, I discuss institutional relationships and structures at the Student Farm and in the undergraduate major in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SA&amp;F) staff, educators and students have developed to adapt existing institutional structures for more shared power in decision-making and progressive learning aims. I offer research findings, discussion and recommendations as resources that can be consulted by educators, student farmers, and those interested in developing contextualized learning programs for the purposes of social justice, sustainability, and community development.</p>

Microfinance is many times used as a developmental tool to tackle hunger and other issues related to poverty. The adoption of microfinance as a tool to raise welfare in communities is rising in the sector of Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs). In recent times, development projects by Non-Governmental Organizations have been criticized for lacking financial sustainability and for leading people into a poverty trap created from a vicious cycle of borrowing. For entrepreneurship to flourish, micro-financial clients must first escape the poverty trap by becoming self-sufficient.The purpose of this thesis is to comprehend what strategies operational Non-Governmental Organizations use in developing countries in order for clients to escape the poverty trap with the help of sustainable microfinance.The stakeholder theory is the comprehensive approach used in this thesis to understand how a Non-Governmental Organization’s stakeholders influence their Microfinance Program and vice versa. The Non-Governmental Organizations need to incorporate all the stakeholders and assist these stakeholders to strive for a common goal. A qualitative case study was conducted on the global, non-profit, strategic organization; The Hunger Project.Our findings resulted in identifying the integrated holistic Epicenter strategy as The Hunger Project’s solution to tackling economic- and development inhibiting barriers. The findings indicate that a sustainable Microfinance Program may need to be integrated into all surrounding aspects influencing the micro-financial stakeholders.The implications of this study is that microfinance providers can gain an understanding of the requirements for sustainable Microfinance Programs. This understanding will result in organizations being able to contribute to a more sustainable development for underprivileged entrepreneurs. Our dissertation contributes in creating awareness in potential solutions for overcoming micro-financial criticism, by implementing and integrating sustainable principles along with the society.

Purpose The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the challenges related to measuring sustainability within the textile industry. The study concentrates on the industry-specific self-assessment tool Higg Index and strives to point out the challenges of using the tool. In order to find a solution for the measurement problems, the purpose is to investigate how the current, non-financial Higg Index indicators could be translated into financial ones. Method The nature of the research is qualitative and it comprises of two parts: structured interviews and a desk research. Methodological triangulation is used in order to gain data on different levels – both from the users of the Higg Index and from literature. The data collection has been conducted through four structured interviews with the users of the Higg Index. The second part of the thesis is concerned with converting the non-financial indicators of the Higg Index into financial indicators using the balanced scorecard approach. Conclusion Measuring sustainability has been considered difficult due to the qualitative nature of the measured matters. Higg Index has proven to be a comprehensive self-assessment tool for organizations in the textile industry to use. It is considered to enhance communication, increase information sharing, and facilitate benchmarking. However, in order to develop the tool and make it more attractive to non-users, there are opportunities for improvement. These opportunities include adding verification and making the data collection easier. Transforming non-financial indicators of the Higg Index into financial indicators can simplify the data collection and increase the attractiveness of sustainability performance measurement tools.

BACKGROUND Exploring literature about corporate sustainability and cost leadership strategy and to study the collusion of the two concepts through the case of Ikea. AIM Researching whether firms can align corporate sustainability approach to doing business on the imperatives of a cost leadership strategy. The contribution aims to provide guidance on choosing appropriate sustainability activities within the context of cost leadership strategy. Furthermore, it should be noted that this paper sets out to analyze the compatibility between sustainability and cost leadership remaining/gaining competitiveness. METHODOLOGY The study regards Ikea’s implementation of sustainable business practices through a mixed method, via informal interview, bottom-employees survey and secondary data. FINDINGS Companies having a deep understanding of sustainability can achieve to conciliate their efforts toward sustainability with their cost leadership strategy. KEYWORDS Corporate sustainability, cost leadership strategy, triple bottom line, maturity phase, challenges, competitive advantage

This study examines the relationship between indigenous identity, ancestral land, and socio-politics in Brazil. The author analyzes the practices by which contemporary indigenous communities in Brazil physically reclaim their land from cattle ranchers and the impact of these practices on their self-representation, ideology, and social discourse. The first section of the study provides a historical overview of cultural politics from colonization to the 1991 Constitutional Decree that guaranteed Indians' rights allowing for the demarcation of ancestral lands. The second section examines the Xukuru do Ororubá in Northeastern Brazil with a focus on their struggle with local cattle ranchers and government officials as they move from peasant-farmers who rented their ancestral land from fazendeiros (ranchers or plantation owners) to legal occupants of their demarcated territory. The third section introduces the organization made up of Xukuru and non-indigenous advocates at the helm of projects in “sustainability”, and analyzes how and why these projects promote a new subjectivity and become en emblem of indigeneity and land ownership. / text

Fast fashion retailers bring apparel products to market much more quickly than in traditional apparel retailing. Fast fashion retailers are able to respond quickly to both fashion trends and consumer demand. Yet the emphasis on speed has quickened the consumption of fast fashion apparel products, which are produced with low quality and thus have short product lifespans. Critics of fast fashion cite these negatives, combined with chemicals, water and energy used in production, among other issues, as detrimental to the environment. However, some fast fashion retailers have implemented sustainable options into their product offerings. This study analyzes consumers’ perceptions of a sustainable brand extension introduced by a fast fashion retailer. The research is divided into two studies. First, an exploratory study was conducted to assess consumer knowledge of sustainability and fast fashion and to uncover potential factors for the model of the second study. Findings show a low level of knowledge of the holistic principle of sustainability and specific adverse effects of the apparel industry and of the concept of fast fashion. Despite some skepticism, participants feel steps must be taken towards sustainability and that every effort helps. The second part of the research tested consumer perceptions of a potential sustainable line extension introduced by a specific fast fashion retailer. Following brand extension theory, study two tests the influence of brand knowledge and affect on both the perceptions of brand-cause fit and brand-extension fit and the influence of cause knowledge and involvement on the perceptions of fit between brand and cause. The influence of brand-extension fit and brand-cause fit on attitude toward the extension was also analyzed. An online self-administrated survey using the written scenario approach resulted in 598 responses. Findings show the influence of brand knowledge and affect on brand-extension fit and brand-cause fit and cause knowledge and involvement on cause-brand fit. Implications for retailers include leveraging consumers’ past knowledge and affect of the brand through marketing of the sustainable product. Overall the study shows that consumers do view sustainable products as fitting with fast fashion retailers, based on their previous knowledge and affect of the brand and cause. / text

Achieving the Dream (AtD) assumes that leadership is critical for student success. These Leader Colleges have been able to demonstrate innovation sustainability through specific practices leading to increased student outcomes, while others have not been able to sustain the same level of student success. Limited research exists which highlights specific leadership practices employed by Achieving the Dream colleges, particularly Leader Colleges, which are known for being successful in sustaining innovations. The purpose of this study was to ascertain leadership practices used to increase student success through sustained innovation at two Achieving the Dream Leader Colleges. This study may add to the knowledge base regarding Achieving the Dream colleges as well as sustainability practices leading to increased student success in community colleges. The research was guided by the following questions: What leadership practices were employed by the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Trustees, Leadership Team, and Faculty to sustain innovation that led to increased student success?; What was the perception of the AtD coach and data facilitator regarding the leadership practices that contributed to student success?; What obstacles to change were encountered by internal stakeholders during innovation sustainability? This qualitative study consisted of three components: interviews, focus group, and document reviews with purposeful sampling. The participants included Chief Executive Officers, Board of Trustees members, the Leadership Team, faculty, and Achieving the Dream coaches and data facilitators at two AtD Leader Colleges. Findings from the study indicated: (a) commitment and support must be priorities of the Chief Executive Officer and senior leaders of the institution; (b) using data to inform decisions illuminates achievement gaps; (c) communication between internal and external stakeholders is imperative to affect change; (d) the institutionalization of interventions is essential to sustain student success; and (e) leading with passion is a critical component of leadership. / text

There is an increasing recognition in environmental sustainability research of the significance of Indigenous land and water management practices that are locally developed and grounded in traditional resource use. This dissertation explores land and water management policies and practices in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) region of Bangladesh, with a particular focus on traditional Indigenous and invasive government and non-governmental policies and practices enacted within the Laitu Khyeng Indigenous community located in the CHT. Three main questions guide the study: (1) What were traditional Indigenous Laitu Khyeng land-management customs and practices, particularly in relation to environmental sustainability? (2) To what extent were Laitu Khyeng community members affected by introduced land-management policies, such as those promoted by government, NGOs, commercial companies, and multinational agencies? And, (3) What were Laitu Khyeng hopes and expectations regarding land management policies and practices, particularly in relation to environmental sustainability? Data collection methods included: traditional sharing circles, individual story sharing, photovoice, participant observation, and commonplace books. The research findings revealed that current management practices, imposed by both government and non-government agencies, have seriously undermined local, traditional land and water management practices. The effects of these management projects include: dramatic increase in the non-Indigenous population resulting from an outsider brick-field industrial project within the last 10 years; increased destitution, displacement, and deforestation of natural resources resultant from force, fraud, and manipulated occupation of forest and plain land over two decades; recent expansion of the Bangladesh Forest Department and private companies’ lumber plantation projects by outsiders; and increase in national and multinational corporations’ tobacco plantation projects within last 15 years. Addressing questions of resource management and sustainability, participating Elders, knowledge-holders, and community leaders articulated meanings of land and water management in terms traditional cultivation culture, administrative structures, and spiritual practices. In addition to these themes, youth participants emphasized land and water management as involving key responsibilities, including learning traditional cultivation knowledge from Elders, and organizing peaceful campaigns to protect their land, water, and identity rights. The research findings demonstrate that the Laitu Khyeng Indigenous traditional land and water management practices value biodiversity, human and nonhuman relationships, spirituality, conservation, historical practices protection, and also draw from non-Indigenous knowledge and practice in environmental resource management. To achieve environmental sustainability in the community, participants emphasized that all youth in the community learn local Indigenous knowledge and practices in order to protect the environment.

Τις τελευταίες δύο δεκαετίες, ιδιαίτερη έμφαση δίνεται στην έννοια της βιωσιμότητας (sustainability) ως αποτέλεσμα της έντασης των προβλημάτων όπως οι κλιματικές αλλαγές, η ατμοσφαιρική ρύπανση, ο θόρυβος, τα ατυχήματα, οι οικολογικές επιπτώσεις, οι ανισότητες, η εξάντληση των φυσικών πόρων και η κυκλοφοριακή συμφόρηση. Προκειμένου να ενσωματωθεί η έννοια της βιωσιμότητας στη διαδικασία λήψης αποφάσεων, που αφορούν τα συγκοινωνιακά έργα, απαιτείται η μετάφραση του όρου και των αρχών της βιωσιμότητας σε συγκεκριμένους στόχους, πολιτικές και μεθόδους αξιολόγησης. Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η ανάπτυξη ενός ολοκληρωμένου πλαισίου για την εκτίμηση της βιωσιμότητας των οδικών συγκοινωνιακών έργων, μέσα από τη αξιολόγηση των επιπτώσεών τους. Πιο συγκεκριμένα επιχειρείται η δημιουργία ενός υπολογιστικού μοντέλου, το οποίο θα μπορεί να αποδώσει χρηματικά το συνολικό οικονομικό «αποτύπωμα», που προκύπτει κυρίως από περιβαλλοντικές, αλλά και κοινωνικές και οικονομικές επιπτώσεις ενός οδικού συγκοινωνιακού έργου. Το προτεινόμενο πλαίσιο αναπτύσσεται σε 4 στάδια, τα οποία περιλαμβάνουν την επιλογή των επιπτώσεων-δεικτών των οδών, τη ποσοτικοποίησή τους, την αποτίμησή τους σε χρηματικές μονάδες και τέλος την ενσωμάτωσή τους σε δύο τελικούς δείκτες για τη διευκόλυνση χρήσης και ερμηνείας των αποτελεσμάτων. Το πρώτο στάδιο περιλαμβάνει την επιλογή των κατάλληλων επιπτώσεων-δεικτών για την αξιολόγηση της βιωσιμότητας μετά από μια πλήρη ανάλυση των επιπτώσεων των οδών στο περιβάλλον (φυσικό και ανθρωπογενές). Μέσω μιας διαδικασίας 4 βημάτων, επιλέγονται 11 δείκτες βιωσιμότητας, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη όλα τα στάδια παραγωγής έργων οδοποιίας, από τον σχεδιασμό και την κατασκευή μέχρι τη λειτουργία και τη συντήρηση. Στη λίστα των 11 δεικτών περιλαμβάνονται δείκτες όπως οι εκπομπές αερίων του θερμοκηπίου, η κατανάλωση καυσίμου, ο θόρυβος, τα ατυχήματα και το κόστος "κυρίου" του έργου και χρήστη, που έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί γενικά σε μελέτες συγκοινωνιακών έργων και συστημάτων, καθώς επίσης και δείκτες όπως οι οικολογικές επιπτώσεις, η εξάντληση των φυσικών πόρων (αδρανών), η προσπελασιμότητα και ο χρόνος μετακίνησης, που έχουν ιδιαίτερη σημασία στα έργα οδοποιίας, και οι οποίοι συχνά αγνοούνται. 7 Το δεύτερο στάδιο περιλαμβάνει την ποσοτικοποίηση των επιπτώσεων-δεικτών αυτών χρησιμοποιώντας μοντέλα από τη βιβλιογραφία, τα οποία συσχετίζουν τους δείκτες αυτούς με τα γεωμετρικά και κυκλοφοριακά χαρακτηριστικά της οδού και τα τοπογραφικά και μετεωρολογικά χαρακτηριστικά της ευρύτερης περιοχής του έργου. Στο τρίτο στάδιο γίνεται η οικονομική αποτίμηση των δεικτών, ώστε οι δείκτες που έχουν εκφραστεί σε διαφορετικές μονάδες κατά την ποσοτικοποίησή τους να κανονικοποιηθούν για να εισαχθούν στους τελικούς δείκτες βιωσιμότητας. Τέλος, στο τέταρτο στάδιο αναπτύσσονται οι δύο τελικοί δείκτες βιωσιμότητας οδών, από τους οποίους ο πρώτος αφορά το συνολικό ετήσιο κόστος όλων των επιπτώσεων-δεικτών, που λαμβάνει υπόψη το μοντέλο, ενώ ο δεύτερος προκύπτει από το συνολικό ετήσιο κόστος όλων των επιπτώσεων-δεικτών διαιρεμένο με τα ετήσια οχήματα της οδού. Εκτός, από τους δύο αυτούς βασικούς δείκτες, το μοντέλο καταλήγει και σε άλλους δύο δευτερεύοντες δείκτες, οι οποίοι είναι το συνολικό ετήσιο κόστος όλων των επιπτώσεων-δεικτών ανά χιλιόμετρο οδού και ανά ετήσια οχηματο-χιλιόμετρα. Έτσι, χρησιμοποιώντας αυτούς τους δείκτες μπορεί να διευκολυνθεί σημαντικά η ερμηνεία των αποτελεσμάτων και η χρήση τους στην αξιολόγηση και σύγκριση εναλλακτικών λύσεων. Ο οικονομικοί δείκτες βιωσιμότητας οδών, που αναπτύσσονται, αποτελούν ένα χρήσιμο εργαλείο για την αξιολόγηση νέων οδικών έργων, τη στήριξη αποφάσεων συντήρησης και ανακατασκευής υπαρχόντων οδικών έργων ή την αξιολόγηση εναλλακτικών έργων με βάση τη βιωσιμότητα. Η εφαρμογή του μοντέλου αυτού με δεδομένα, που προσομοιώνουν στοιχεία πραγματικών οδών, εξήγαγε λογικά αποτελέσματα γεγονός που υποδεικνύει ότι το προτεινόμενο μοντέλο μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί για την εκτίμηση της βιωσιμότητας των οδών ή την αξιολόγηση εναλλακτικών σχεδιασμών-κατασκευών οδών. Το προτεινόμενο πλαίσιο διερευνώντας τις επιπτώσεις από τα διάφορα στάδια παραγωγής έργων οδοποιίας στη βιωσιμότητα οδηγεί στην ανάπτυξη δύο βασικών και δυο δευτερευόντων δεικτών βιωσιμότητας. Ο δείκτες αυτοί θα αποτελέσουν πολύτιμο εργαλείο για την αξιολόγηση νέων οδικών έργων, τη στήριξη αποφάσεων συντήρησης και ανακατασκευής υπαρχόντων οδικών έργων ή την αξιολόγηση εναλλακτικών έργων με βάση τη βιωσιμότητα. / --

This is a talk prepared for The Bahamas At 40: Reflecting On The Past, Envisioning The Future Conference. This talk will be given in a session entitled: Small Island Sustainability on June 13, 2013.