In a move that enhances ULSF's benefits and services and provides
greater organizational strength, ULSF merged with the Center for
Respect of Life and Environment (CRLE) on July 1, 1997.
Common vision
CRLE, located in Washington, DC, is an affiliate of The Humane
Society of the United States. Its mission is to foster earth ethics
and sustainable practices in international development and higher
education.
"Joining forces with CRLE marks an exciting new phase in
ULSF's growth," says Thomas Kelly, Ph.D., former ULSF director.
"CRLE and ULSF have always had a mutual commitment to sustainable
development through higher education. I am thrilled that we have
been able to enhance ULSF's effectiveness through such an ideal
marriage of common vision, goals and resources."
Strength through union
"We are now in a much stronger position to address the complex
issues facing colleges and universities as they strive to achieve
global environmental literacy," explains Richard Clugston,
Ph.D., executive director of CRLE and the new head of ULSF. "This
union provides a more stable financial and administrative base
of operations for ULSF while expanding CRLE's international outreach
to colleges and universities."
By merging resources and programs, ULSF can enrich its membership
services to include CRLE publications, conference discounts, and
other valuable resources. In addition, the combined networks of
the two organizations provide greater opportunity to increase
the number of signatories to the Talloires Declaration.
Value added
CRLE was established in 1986 to awaken people's ecological sensibilities
and to transform life-styles, institutional practices, and social
policies to support the whole Earth community. CRLE's major programs
identify approaches to economic and social development that recognize
the links between ecology, spirituality, and sustainability.
These programs focus on the greening of higher education, with
an emphasis on theological education (see Spotlight article on
page 2), and on the ethics and practices of sustainable development.
Since 1992 the Center has assisted colleges and universities in
designing academic curricula, campus institutional practices,
and outreach services that are ecologically sound, socially just,
and humane.
Since 1990 CRLE has been actively involved in international efforts
to establish a new global ethic and to establish those policies
and practices which would ensure a sustainable future. CRLE is
collaborating with the Harvard Center for the Study of World Religions
on five events which deal with critical issues in Religion and
Ecology. The Center also cosponsors with St. Thomas University,
in Miami, Florida, the annual "Spirituality and Sustainability"
conference held in Assisi, Italy.
The Earth Charter process is a major CRLE focus (see "Research"
article). The Center is gathering input from key constituencies
on the Earth Charter Benchmark Draft, as well as acting as the
Secretariat for the US Earth Charter Process. Center staff also
serve on the National Steering Committee of the Citizen's Network
for Sustainable Development. As an NGO in Consultative Status
with the United Nations, CRLE is intensely involved in NGO activities
(such as policy advocacy and NGO organizing) during the annual
meetings of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD).
The Staff
Following 12 years as a faculty member and administrator at the
University of Minnesota, Richard Clugston, Ph.D., became the executive
director of CRLE seven years ago. He now assumes the leadership
of ULSF as well. Dr. Kelly has taken a new position as Director
of Sustainability Programs at the University of New Hampshire
(UNH). However, he will remain an integral member of the ULSF
team as a senior consultant and he will continue to oversee the
Environmental Literacy Institutes (ELIs), which will now be held
annually in June at UNH.
Thomas Rogers, Associate Director of CRLE, has assumed the same
role with ULSF. Wynn Calder is the new Coordinator of Outreach
& Membership for ULSF. Julie Newman continues as the Coordinator
of Education & Training. She and Dr. Kelly, working out of
their offices at UNH, are already planning the 1998 Environmental
Literacy Institute (ELI), which is scheduled for June 8-19.
The New ULSF
The current priority for ULSF is a smooth transition for its
members. "Once all our communication systems are functioning
effectively, we will introduce our updated member services and
benefits. These will continue to be improved and expanded over
time," says Calder.
Immediate new benefits include a subscription to Earth Ethics,
(the CRLE quarterly journal) and discounts on CRLE publications
and conferences. In addition, ULSF will continue CRLE's work with
"lead institutions." These are colleges and universities
which demonstrate sustainability in their curricula, research,
operations, and outreach. CRLE will continue to host conferences
and workshops on critical issues in reforming higher education
and to form working groups on faculty development as well as on
indicators for sustainability.
Staying in touch
For more information on the ULSF merger with CRLE or information
on ULSF membership, please contact Wynn Calder at:
ULSF
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037 USA
Phone: +1-202-778-6133
Fax: +1-202-778-6138
Email: ULSF@aol.com
Please note the new address and contact information and update
your records.
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