Students, Science and Sustainability
BRISBANE — The second "Students, Science and Sustainability" Conference, held at Griffith University July 15-17, drew between 150 and 200 students from around the country.
The conference was organised around talks by keynote speakers. Professor Ted Trainer spoke on his view of the necessity for de-development in the advanced industrialised countries and for reducing living standards in order to cut destructive consumption and production patterns. Karenne Jurd, the executive director of the Wilderness Society, spoke on "Personal Action Strategies". Jim Soorley, the ALP lord mayor of Brisbane, also spoke, as did state environment minister Pat Comben.
A panel on "Implementing Ecologically Sustainable Development" was the key feature of the second day, with John Coulter from the Democrats, Dawson Petie from the ACTU, John Cole from the Environmental Management Industry Association and Christine Bongers from the timber industry. Aidan Ricketts, from the North East Forest Alliance, received loud applause when he invited attendees to back up their principles with action and join the blockades in the north-east forests.
The National Union of Students used the conference to announce the launching of an Environment Committee within NUS. This is to be "semi-autonomous" and plans to bring out a national newsletter.
The final day featured a panel of people who had attended the UN Conference on Environment and Development. Judy Henderson of ACFOA, Danny Kennedy from Macquarie University and Aviva Imhof from the University of NSW all spoke on the limitations and disappointments of UNCED.
The conference also passed a motion in support of the "Austudy Five", the students in Melbourne arrested in dawn raids in May.
Full Conference proceedings are available from the Sustainability Club, c/- BCS, Griffith University, Nathan Qld.