Enabling Responsible Living
The book, published in 2012, focuses on responsible living as the individual`s contribution to sustainable Development. We belive that sustainable Development can only be achived if individual freedom and responsibilities are balanced on a high Level while taking social, ecological and economic needs into account. A crucial element to achieve this is to integrate different perspectives of stakeholders and co-create a joined approach through partnerships. While partnerships develop New opportunities for the stakeholders involved they also require a readiness for mutual understanding, respect and courage to co-create.
Investigation into and reflection upon the direct and indirect consequences of the choices of individuals make this a constantly developing field of research and action. The book is a selection of scientific papers presented at the International Conference of the Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living (PERL) held in 2011.
The book is devided in five parts. The introduction is followed by four parts that reflect the content and the relevance of topics which are imprtant for PERL. Part II "Understanding Responsible Living" consists of articles which help to understand responsible (consumer) behaviour. Part III "Policies for Responsible Living" applies a macro perspective and asks for the effect of different policies on responsible living. Part IV "Education for Responsible Living" addresses a core topic for PERL and its predecessor CCN: the question, how schools and universities can foster responsible living. Finally, Part V "Corporate Responsibility for Responsible Living" deals with corporations as an important factor for responsible living especially as providers of-more or less sustainable--consumer goods and jobs. The articles show that these topics are all interconnected and that in practice it is often hardly possible to separate them. The Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living will measure its impact by giving visibility to research done in the field of responsible living and creating a joined approach through partnerships. While partnerships develop new opportunities for the stakeholders involved they also require a readiness for mutual understanding, respect and courage to co-create. The work that has been carried out by PERL, including this publication, has had a significant effect on the partners involved and resulted in changed attitudes and behaviour. Although the partners themselves represent only a small fraction of those who have been exposed to PERL materials and activites, the report confirms that education and research about responsible living does have impact.External source(s)
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