ICAs of America unite for sustainable development

By Isabel de la Maza

There are many questions locally and globally about sustainable development. We, in our countries with big corporations and multinational companies, use water, cut down forests, and set up thermoelectric and hydroelectric plants for energy. Who benefits? What are the consequences regarding the planet’s resources? How can we reflect collectively the kind of quality of life we want? How do we think about the kind of development that respects our environment and its living beings? How do we work and grow economically without intervening so heavily in our environment? How can we reflect a simpler lifestyle without the mindless consumerism? How do we create a collective consciousness about environmental issues? How do we get entrepreneurs to favour sustainable development? How do we engage the wider community in sustainable development?

As Vice President of the Americas, I started to look for Latin American allies who shared these values, and developed community activities and training related to sustainable development. We met trusted friends and committed ourselves to the task in Colombia, Guatemala, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile. After the ICA International Conference in Nepal last year, we found sustainable development to be the theme that allows the ICAs of America (North, Central and South America) to connect and collaborate. After our regional ICA International meeting on March 26th this year, we decided it would be a good idea to establish an American Network for Sustainable Development.

During 2011 to 2012, I had begun establishing some conventions and forming some inter-country teams to work with communities in Colombia. We helped to look for ToP facilitators from the ICA to work with communities in Brazil. We also began a dialogue with North America to institute a voluntary exchange program between ICAs. We visited Ecuador and Bolivia looking for other organizations working on sustainable development. We found project managers and consultants linked to the Dutch organization Hivos working on this theme.

At the regional meeting in March, participants said we should meet on the issue of sustainable development to create a common vision and a plan. We thought of an initial activity: Spanish facilitators skilled in ICA ToP methodology to address community work in environmental service projects.

For many of us, caring for the planet is urgent. Collaborative work among peers can help advance the issue of sustainable development in our Americas Region. We are also open to exchange with other regions.

The author is ICA Executive Director, Chile, and ICA vice president for the Americas