In the face of a food and energy crisis, how can society improve its wellbeing?

This is the question posed by the European PVC Industry in an international essay competition in January 2009, and 2nd prize was awarded to MSLS graduate Fiona Wright for “providing real balance and vision, grounded in concrete proposals on how to deal with the issues at hand”.  Congratulations, Fiona! 

Wright wrote: “Overcoming the challenge of a food and energy crisis can be accomplished by focusing on transforming our societal systems into ones that create an enabling environment for people to meet their fundamental needs while not simultaneously degrading the environment. We can learn from the microcosm of Cuba’s food and energy crisis and how they worked together to manage it…”

Over 200 essays were submitted, and 5 winners selected. The essays are under 1000 words and can be viewed in an animated ebook.

This essay contest was part of Vinyl2010, a ten-year voluntary programme on sustainable development by the European PVC industry that has set out concrete targets, initiatives and actions to help the whole industry move towards the goals of environmental sustainability.  Vinyl2010 has recently published its 2009 progress report, showing that the industry is on track to meet its voluntary targets for 2010.

Karl-Henrik Robèrt and David Cook presented to a meeting of the Vinyl 2010 group on Berlin in May 2009. They put forward ways in which a new Vinyl 2020 commitment could be invigorated with sustainable development at its heart. Click on the following link for more on our work with the PVC industry.

Congratulations to Fiona and the Vinyl2010 initiative for their successes in their ongoing sustainability work.