Chris ALLEN:Mediterranean Region Receives New US and Greek Partners for Sustainable Development

L'espace méditerranéen et la philosophie de l'action

NOUVEL EVENEMENT SD-MED !!!! : voir www.sd-med.org et www.sd-med.com

SB08MED&EXPO, Janvier 2008, 10-12, Athènes :

Construisons la ville à bas-carbone pour une planète durable !

"La ville méditerranéenne face au changement climatique : Innovation, investissement, gouvernance, pour une ville à bas-carbone"

Bienvenue sur le blog "SD Med" Observations ....SD Med, acronyme utilisé, depuis plus de deux ans, par une équipe internationale ( www.sd-med.org) ayant comme objectif la promotion de la coopération en matière de développement durable en Méditerranée, vient du " Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean " et il est évident que suivi par le mot Observation, ce sera une sorte d'observatoire dans le bassin méditerranéen pour les projets et les opérations exemplaires d'application du développement durable au cadre bâti, dans le quartier, à la ville, aux territoires, que se soient les bassins de vie ( pays), les agglomérations, les parcs naturels régionaux....

Le débat sur le développement durable est déjà trop développé...vous pouvez découvrir une richesse d'approches au travers les liens présentés dans ce blog.... pourtant les instruments et les outils pour l'application (et l'évaluation ) des principes du développement durable dans les projets territoriaux, de la ville, du bâtiment, y compris les instruments financiers innovants d'investissement en économie d'energie par exemple ou en qualité environnementale (financement par des tiers, partenariats public-privé) ne sont pas aussi largement connus...d'autant moins les opérations elles-mêmes et leurs acteurs.

"....L'espace méditerranéen ne ressemble à aucun autre. Ses paysages, son climat, ses hommes avec leur histoire, leur culture, leur manière de vivre, conduisent naturellement à une adaptation des principes du développement durable : le développement durable n'a de sens que s'il fait toute sa place à la diversité des espaces. Nous savons ce que nos valeurs d'aujourd'hui doivent au monde méditerranéen. Il est important qu'il avance vers le développement durable sans cesser d'être lui-même..."

Avec ces mots de Robert Savy, Ancien Président du Conseil Régional du Limousin lors de son avant-propos dans un petit livre introduisant une démarche méditerranéenne inspirée par la démarche française HQE ( haute qualité environnementale) , permettant d'appliquer le développement durable dans le cadre bâti, nous nous permettons d'ouvrir ce blog et de vous demander de présenter vos projets, vos opérations, vos recherches, vos initiatives, ou tout simplement vos commentaires et vos idées......

Ce n'est pas au hasard que ce blog est inauguré le 11 Janvier 2007...ce n'est que pour initier, entre autres, la réalisation d'un événement majeur qui se tiendra, sous le soleil hivernal d'Athènes, les 10-11-12 Janvier de l'année prochaine, une conférence méditerranéenne et en même temps internationale intitulée " Construisons la ville à bas-carbone pour une planète durable !" ou "La ville méditerranéenne face au changement climatique", structurée autours les grands axes de la qualité environnementale, liée à l'énergie, à l'eau, aux bâtiments, aux transports....de la gestion et de la gouvernance urbaines, des NTIC qui transforment la vie en ville et les opportunités d'investissements envisagées par les villes si elles decident d'agir contre le changement climatique....

Nous vous invitons de participer à cet échange multidimensionnel, pour faire, dès aujourd’hui cet événement un "pôle" ouvert d'échange de connaissance, de bonnes pratiques, de savoir-faire. Pour apprendre agir pour une ville à bas-carbone et vivre mieux dans les villes. Pour visualiser et concrétiser ce but universel, régional ou local, collectif ou individuel de faire opérer dans l'espace cette philosophie de l'action, pour vous communiquer une expression merveilleuse de Dominique Bidou, qui est le développement durable….

A bientôt d’avoir vos réactions et suggestions !

Pour plus d'information, pour soummettre un sommaire de présentation ou pour vous préinscrire à la SB07MED&EXPO, veuillez-visiter : www.sd-med.org

Nouvelle date limite de soummission de sommaires : 5 Octobre 2007 .
La pré-inscription électronique en français et en anglais est maintenant ouverte sur www.sd-med.org

NEW EVENT SD-MED !!!!! : see www.sd-med.org and www.sd-med.com

SB08MED&EXPO, January 2008, 10-12,Athens :

Let us build the low-carbon city towards a sustainable planet !

or "The Mediterranean city facing climate change : Innovation, Investment, governance, in the low-carbon city !"

Welcome on blog "SD Med" Observations ... SD Med, acronym used, for more than two years, by an international team ( www.sd-med.org) having like objective the promotion of the co-operation as regards sustainable development in the Mediterranean, has come from the " Sustainable Development in the Mediterranean" and it is obvious that followed by the word Observation, it will be a kind of observatory in the Mediterranean basin for the projects and the exemplary operations of application of sustainable development to the built environment, in the district, at the city, with the territories, that are either the basins of life (country), the agglomerations, the regional natural reserves....

The debate on sustainable development is developed already too much... you can discover a richness of approaches to through the links presented in this blog.... however the instruments and the tools for the application (and the evaluation) of the principles of sustainable development in the territorial projects, those of the city, or the building, including innovative financial instruments ( third party financing, energy performance contracting, public private partnerships) are not largely known... of as much less the operations themselves and their actors.

"... Mediterranean space does not resemble to any other. Its landscapes, its climate, its men with their history, their culture, their manner of living, lead naturally to an adaptation of the principles of sustainable development: sustainable development has sense only if it makes all its place with the diversity of spaces. We know what our values of today owe with the Mediterranean world. It is important that it advances towards sustainable development without ceasing being itself... "

With these words of Robert Savy, Former President of the Regional Council of the Limousin at the time of its foreword in a small book introducing a Mediterranean process inspired by the French process HQE (high environmental quality), allowing to apply sustainable development within the built environemt, we allow ourselves to open this blog and to ask you to present your projects, your operations, your research, your initiatives, or quite simply your comments and your ideas......

The Mediterranean is certainly a privileged zone of exchange between North and South, there is, consequenyly a necessity to establish places, instruments and opportunities of knowledge, know-how and technology transfer. This blog is such a virtual space or place. It is not randomly that this blog is on inaugurated January 11, 2007... is to only initiate, inter alia, the realisation of a major event which will be held, under the winter sun of Athens, January 10-11-12 of the next year, a Mediterranean and at the same time international conference " Let's construct the low carbon city towards a sustainable planet ! " or"The Mediterranean city facing climate change", structured around the large axes of the environmental quality, in energy, transport, water, waste, buidlings, on the emerging new forms of urban governance, on the NTIC which transform urban life...and mainly on the investment opportunities if cities decide to act now !

We invite you to take part in this multidimensional exchange, to make, as of today this event an open "pole" of exchange of information, good practices and know-how. To learn how to better act in the effort to tackle with climate change and better live in the cities.

To visualise and concretise this goal, universal, regional or local, collective or individual to make operate in space this philosophy of the action, to communicate to you a marvellous expression of Dominique Bidou, which is sustainable development….

Looking forward to having your reactions and suggestions !

Stella Kyvelou

For more details, or in order submit an abstract or to pre-register to the SB08MED&EXPO,
please visit : www.sd-med.org and www.sd-med.com

New deadline for the submission of abstracts : 5 October 2007

An on-line pre-registration in english and in french is now open on www.sd-med.org

Lundi 12 février 2007

Chris ALLEN:Mediterranean Region Receives New US and Greek Partners for Sustainable Development

Bellingham, Washington, USA – February 12, 2007 – A World Institute for Sustainable Humanity--International (A W.I.S.H) located in Bellingham, Washington, and its Athens, Greece, based affiliate AW.I.S.Hhellas, announced today a partnership with the Athens/Paris based SD-Med International Association to collaborate on sustainable development and green building practices in the Mediterranean region.

The organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for cooperation on a variety of areas, including development and sharing of best management practices, co-promotion of educational events, creation of educational products and services, and encouragement of the entrepreneurial green building and sustainable development industry.

“The partnership between A W.I.S.H. International, AWISHhellas, and SD-Med brings together a powerful combination of resources, experiences, and expertise from international organizations in , the , , the Mediterranean region, and the Balkan states dedicated to the far reaching goal of global sustainability,” said A W.I.S.H.hellas President Dr. Nicholas Zaferatos. “Achieving sustainability is dependent upon the ever increasing networking of local and regional organizations. We look forward to this new avenue of collaboration for moving the sustainability agenda forward and to join the efforts of our colleagues worldwide toward the pursuit for global community well-being,” he added.

“A W.I.S.H International, SD-Med, and A W.I.S.H.hellas share a common vision – to help communities, companies, and organizations work together to create healthy, vibrant, and sustainable environments,” said Michael Karp, A W.I.S.H. International chief executive officer. “New design principles, technologies, and construction practices are now available that can positively revolutionize the way we build and revitalize our communities. The challenge now around the world is to develop wide ranging strategies so that they can be rapidly adopted and effectively implemented. This partnership provides all the organizations involved with exciting new opportunities to meet this challenge,” he added.

“SD-Med is excited to join forces with A W.I.S.H. International and A.W.I.S.Hhellas toward our shared sustainable development vision for the Mediterranean ,” said Dr. Stella Kyvelou, President of the SD-Med Association. “The construction industry has to focus on innovation in order to reduce the negative impacts on the environment and especially on the climate. This partnership provides excellent opportunities to combine our resources and increase our ability to ensure that sustainable construction makes positive impacts on communities and the natural environment in the Mediterranean . Our first activities together include a series of conferences in 2007 and 2008 exploring best practices and technologies that will be critical to achieving sustainability,” she added. For more information on the upcoming conferences, visit www.sd-med.org

About the Organizations
A World Institute for Sustainable Humanity—International is based in Bellingham, Washington, and is global network of social entrepreneurs, technical professionals, and community leaders working for the vision of global sustainability with an emphasis on addressing issues related to poverty. A W.I.S.H’s Green Building Program works in partnership with governments, private industry, and NGOs to promote green building practices as a fundamental part of sustainable development. The program focuses on opportunities and challenges in sustainable affordable housing as a part of urban revitalization and rural economic development. For more information, see www.awish.net/gbp.

A World Institute for Sustainable Humanity—Hellas is based in Athens, , administers a sponsored university program on Kefalonia, emphasizing applied research in sustainable development practices. AWISHhellas’ goal is to promote understanding and education in community sustainable development. Activities include the development of model programs, applied research, seminars, academic programs and university partnerships, workshops and activities which demonstrate sustainable community development. For more information, see www.awish-hellas.org

SD-Med is a joint Greek, French, and international non-profit enterprise with an aim to strengthen cooperation for Mediterranean sustainable development and construction. Activities include acquiring and disseminating the knowledge required to foster positive innovations in the construction industry in the Mediterranean region, and to help develop the policies of individual countries that support sustainable construction and environmental quality. For more information, see www.sd-med.org

* Many thanks to Chris ALLEN, member of the AWISH International Board and member of the SD-MED International Forum for his contibution to the above described cooperation and for the relevant Press release.

Chris Allen is Co-Coordinator of the Green Building Program of A World Institute for Sustainable Humanity. He is also Principal of Christopher Allen + Associates, a consulting firm offering strategy and project management services to clients worldwide pursuing sustainable development.