Routledge Community and Sustainable Development: Participation in the future

Books like this which bubble over with the fruits of many people experience and insight add new layers of meaning to (the concept if sustainable development) deepening our understanding of what for me is the most important political challenge of our age-by a very Long way... this timely and important book will be a real inspiration. ' from the foreword by JONATHON PORRITT Community and Sustainable Development is about the future - a future in which people have the resources to meet their needs. This basic message of sustainable development recognises the need to conserve environmental resources, but also to support and build the human resources through which the future will be realised, by ensuring that local people are able to participate in the decisions and activities which affect their living environment. Featuring contributions from many leading figures in the fields of community participation and sustainable development, this book shows how participation can extend democracy, citizenship and accountability. It also considers the role of science and expert knowledge in setting and achieving appropriate goals for development, and describes how participatory initiatives can inspire sustainable action on poverty and social inclusion. Originally pubished in 1998 Review .."the book succeeds well in raising awkward questions, highlighting good practice and principles, challenging cosy stereotypes, and in provoking thought and action for a better tomorrow. This book does help enormously in explaining the fields of community participation and sustainable development, by discussing many different facets by means of thirteen essays'. Hopefully, it will not only make decision makers sit up and take notice, but inspire them to investigate the alternative and more productive methods of using the planet's resources." --Habitat Journal