EVENT DETAILS

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Creating Wealth and the Created World

November 2-3, 2007       A conference on business and the environment

Conference Sessions

(see conference schedule for times)

Friday, November 2

Surveying the Scene:
The Challenge of Negotiating Business and Environmental Interests
Prof. Paul Williams & Prof. Loren Wilkinson

Personal Perspectives on the Challenge:
Political Perspective – Preston Manning
Business Perspective – Clive Mather
Environmental Perspective – Cal DeWitt

A Present Day Case Study: The Alberta Oil Sands

Saturday, November 3

The Christian Call to Stewardship and Reconciliation:
Prof. Iain Provan & Prof. Loren Wilkinson

Leadership in the Market Economy
Prof. Paul Williams

Case Study: How to mix oil and water
Perspectives on the Alberta Oil Sands
Preston Manning, Clive Mather, Cal DeWitt

The Way Forward:
Models and Visions for Moving Ahead

Workshops

Clive Mather
Leadership in Business

What it takes to get to the top? Is it different to other parts of society? What are the implications for Christians? Clive will look at the context and core characteristics of leadership, comparing the business world to other sectors. There are some important differences, but also some striking similarities. With much humour and humility he will offer some useful tips to those who aspire to leadership, in whatever area they plan to serve. This will be engaging, important and fun.

Cal Dewitt
Community Planning and Practical Environmental Stewardship

Cal will discuss how to engage in practical environmental stewardship in developing and implementing an environmental stewardship plan for your community. A presentation on the model stewardship plan of the Town of Dunn, winner of the Renew America Award in 1995.

Preston Manning
Christian Involvement in the Democratic Political Process

Wise as serpents and harmless as doves: Dos and Don’ts of Christian involvement in the democratic political process.

Paul Kariya
Commercial Fishing and Servant Leadership

This workshop will give participants an overview of the fishing industry in BC today.  It will also address a number of key questions.  Why are the financial prospects for black cod fishing optimistic while salmon fishing on the Fraser River is in crisis?  Where have all the salmon gone?  Why are there perennial conflicts between commercial, recreational and aboriginal fishermen?  Does it still make sense to have commercial capture fisheries in BC today?  Is aquaculture the answer?  A servant leadership approach will be proposed as a way to effectively address a range of management problems including the conundrum of conflicts, poor overall economics and declining stocks.

Markku Kostamo
Living the Tension: Farmland or Suburbia?

BC's Agricultural Land Reserve was initially created to preserve farmland and working farms. The pressures in BC's Lower Mainland of an increasing population, associated housing needs, and escalating land values have called into question our land-use priorities. What options exist that are sustainable for all the stakeholders involved? Are win-win solutions possible? This workshop begins to explore these complex issues from A Rocha Canada's vantage point as a small farm and Field Study Centre on the fringe of ALR land within a developing suburban neighbourhood.

Doug Makaroff
Eco-Forestry Conservation Communities

Can we find practical solutions to the problems caused by the timber industry’s standard practice of large scale clear-cutting of the forests? And, after the land is logged is there an alternative to selling the land for sprawling suburban development?

In light of the recent announcements by the large logging companies in BC to divest several hundred thousand acres of logged and semi-logged private land, what is the most sustainable and financially feasible prospect?

Living Forest Communities has found a means to establish ecosystem based forestry with on-going value-added manufacturing jobs, and create an attractive, low-impact residential hamlet in the midst of the forest. We believe that these small scale conservation communities can be part of the solution to the practice of "cut and run".

The Case Study will focus on the experience of the 150 acre Everwoods community on Cortes Island and the new 1000 acre Shawnigan Lake community, on Vancouver Island. Participants are encouraged to share complementary examples of sustainable living.

Annie McKitrick & David Holcomb
The Social Economy

This session will give participants an overview of what is meant by a Social Economy business, explore Christian models and discuss examples of social economy businesses. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the benefits of a social economy businesses and the suitability of the model for their business. JustWork, a social economy organization, will be featured.

John Nyboer
Sustainable Fossil Fuels

What is the role of fossil fuels in our energy future? Many believe we must quickly wean ourselves from coal, oil and gas to maintain a sustainable environment and prevent ecosystem collapse. This may be a misguided view; fossil fuels will need to play a key role in attaining tomorrow's sustainable energy systems.

Marie Connett-Porceddu
Climate Change Policy: True stories of reforestation and retaining carbon sinks

Climate change mitigation, all too frequently described solely in terms of planting trees as carbon offsets, is becoming increasingly mandated in some portions of the public square. Many drivers, regulations and standards are emerging, as is controversy about the release of carbon when forest or other biomass plantations are harvested for fuel or fibre.

Such controversy is intensified where forests face mounting pressure for multiple uses. The long-term risks are substantial if these pressures and uses are not understood. A case study about a planting programme under the CCB standards (Climate, Community and Biodiversity) will explore ways to address these complicated situations. Interestingly, the emerging standards have only begun to recognize the value of healthy forests and ecosystems as crucial facets of carbon sequestration aims.