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** International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability **
Paper submissions are now open for Volume 5 of the Journal. If you wish to submit a paper to the Journal, you will first need to submit a proposal to http://s09.cg-conference.com/proposal-entry-intro. If your Conference proposal is accepted, you may submit a written paper to The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability.

** Volume 4 **
Papers are in the process of being typeset and published. Authors will be notified when their paper has been typeset. Please check the typeset proof and submit any corrections. Once the author has accepted the typeset proof, the paper will be published. Detailed instructions on how to access the paper and the Journal will be emailed to the author(s).

** Creator Sites **
All officially registered Sustainability Conference participants may make their own Creator Website. Please visit the CGPublisher Creator page at http://www.cgpublisher.com/ui/about/for_creators.html.

** Review of Articles **
Authors and readers often find post-publication reviews to be extremely helpful. For more information, visit: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/78.

** Would you like to be an Associate Editor? **
All referees will be credited as Associate Editors for the volume of the Journal to which they have contributed (the particular papers they refereed will not be identified). If you would like to referee papers, please email cg-support@commongroundpublishing.com and provide a short resume along with any research interests. If we have any appropriate papers, we will contact you.

** Fifth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability **
5-7 January 2009
University of Technology, Mauritius
www.Sustainability-Conference.com

** Plenary Speakers **
http://s09.cg-conference.com/main-speakers
* Tom Baum, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
* Davina Boyd, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia (2008 winner of the International Award for Excellence in the International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability)
* Ramesh Durbarry, University of Technology, Mauritius
* Amareswar Galla, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
* Souad Halila, University of Tunis and Sousse, Tunisia
* Charlie Hargroves and Cheryl Desha, The Natural Edge Project, Nathan, Australia

** Conference Themes **
For a detailed version of the Conference themes, visit: http://s09.cg-conference.com/themes.

** Call for Papers **
If you intend to present a paper at the Conference, your participation begins with submission of a paper proposal. For information on proposals, presentation types, and other options, see: http://s09.cg-conference.com/proposal-types. To submit a proposal, see: http://s09.cg-conference.com/proposal-entry-intro. Please note that if your proposal is accepted, you will then need to register for the Conference.

** Registration **
Those who submit paper proposals should register following the acceptance of the proposal. Conference delegates who do not intend to present may register at any time. For registration options, see: http://s09.cg-conference.com/options-fees. To register for the 2009 Sustainability Conference, see: http://s09.cg-conference.com/registration.

** Conference Tours **
Information on 'Discover Mauritius - The Sustainability Pathway' may be found at
http://s09.cg-conference.com/activities-extras.

** Accommodation **
For accommodation information, visit: http://s09.cg-conference.com/accommodation.

** Sustainability News **
Common Fisheries Policy Review
See: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/90

World First Launch of Social Science for Climate Change Research Network (SSCCRN)
See: www.ssccrn.net
Contact: m.nursey-bray@amc.edu.au

** Conferences **
International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts and Responses
9-11 January 2009
Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research, Pune, India
See: http://www.Climate-Conference.com

47th International Making Cities Livable Conference on True Urbanism: Cities for Health & Well-Being
10-14 May 2009, Portland, Oregon, USA
See: http://www.livablecities.org/

City Futures in a Globalising World
International Conference on Globalism and Urban Change
4-6 June 2009, Madrid, Spain
See: cityfutures09@gmail.com

Sixth Annual Global Health Conference
Achieving Global Goals Through Innovation
18-19 April 2009, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
See: http://www.uniteforsight.org/conference

Fourth International Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning
13-15 May 2009, Cyprus
Sponsored by the Wessex Institute of Technology, UK and the University of Thessaly, Greece
See: http://www2.wessex.ac.uk/09-conferences/sustainable-development-2009.html

** Publications **
Walk the Talk - Strengthening Indigenous Participation in the Management of Australia's Oceans
See:
http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Talk-Strengthening-Indigenous-Participation/dp/363901118X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224630085&sr=8-3

EUROSTATS, the Statistical Office of the European Communities has now published its report on Population projections 2008-2060: Eurostat, Statistics in Focus, 72/2008 "Ageing Characterises the Demographic Perspectives of the European Societies", available free of charge in PDF format on the Eurostat web site.
See: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/80

Socially Just Conservation: Towards Collaborative Hunting Management of Green Turtles and Dugongs in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, Australia
See:
http://www.amazon.com/Socially-Just-Conservation-Collaborative-Management/dp/383649440X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224629366&sr=8-5

European Communities, 2008, EU Research for the Environment 2007-2013 Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2008, ISBN 978-92-79-09386-9
See: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/environment/docs/brochure-env.pdf/

**Journal Subscription**
To find out more information about a Sustainability Journal subscription, please visit http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/subscriptions.html and look at http://ijs.cg-conference.com/diary/76.

**Article Submissions**
International Journal of Sustainability - Volume 4 (2008)
Papers are in the process of being typeset and published. Authors are notified when their paper has been typeset. Please check the typeset proof and submit any corrections. Once the author has accepted the typeset proof the paper is published and detailed instructions on how to access the paper and the Journal will be emailed to the author(s).

International Journal of Sustainability - Volume 5 (2009)
Paper submissions are now open for Volume 5 of the Journal. If you wish to submit a paper to the Journal you will first need to submit a proposal: http://s09.cg-conference.com/proposal-entry-intro. If your Conference proposal is accepted you may submit a written paper to The International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability. 5 October 2008 is the final date for submission of papers for double blind refereeing - 3 months prior to the start of the conference.

**Award winner announcement**
Congratulations to Davina Boyd, Rob Phillips and Goen Ho, whose paper is the winning paper of the International Award for Excellence in the area environmental, cultural, economic and social sustainability.

The winning paper, Developing Indonesian Capacity in Water and Sanitation: Lessons Learned and the Constraints Associated with Challenging Convention, may be accessed in the online bookstore: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.41/prod.389 . To read the abstract please visit http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/81.

If you have purchased or read this paper, your review would be appreciated at
http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.41/prod.389/addRevi ew.

**International Award Winner Runner-up**
You may read the list at http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/83.

**Creator Sites*
All officially registered Sustainability Conference participants can make their own Creator Website. The first step is visiting the CGPublisher Creator page at http://www.cg-conference.com/ui/about/for_creators.html.

**Review of Articles**
Authors and Readers Want Your Feedback Authors of papers, and people who are about to read an article often find post-publication reviews to be extremely helpful. For more information, visit http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/78.

**Associate Editor**
If you would like to be an Associate Editor, please visit: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/77.

**Sustainability News**
EU Biofuels Target
In September, the European Parliament's Industry and Energy Committee has voted in favour of a report calling for a 5% share of renewables in transport fuel by 2015 and a 10% target by 2020. For further information see: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/89.

Common Fisheries Policy Review
The EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to undergo a mid-term review with the ambition for a major reform to be proposed by 2012. A report has outlined the deficiencies and shortcomings of the CFP following the latest reform of the policy in 2002. For further information see: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/90.

World First launch of social science for climate change research network (SSCCRN)
Climate change is a global issue but in a world first, an innovative organisation is offering help right down to the grass roots level with the launch of its new website. Using local, national and international expertise, the Social Science Climate Change Research Network is developing new and more effective ways to work with organisations, such as local governments and industry, and individuals who are on the frontline of climate change issues. For more information please visit www.ssccrn.net. You may also contact Dr. Melissa Nursey-Bray at m.nursey-bray@amc.edu.au.

** Conferences **
International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts and Responses
9-11 January 2009
Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research, Pune, India
http://www.Climate-Conference.com

47th International Making Cities Livable Conference on True Urbanism: Cities for Health & Well-Being
10-14 May 2009, Portland, Oregon, USA
Co-sponsored by The City of Portland & Portland Metro Planning Council
Deadline for paper submission: 15 October 2008
Please send to: Suzanne.Lennard@LivableCities.org
For more information, see http://www.livablecities.org/Conferences_Call.htm.

City Futures in a Globalising World
International conference on globalism and urban change
4-6 June 2009, Madrid, Spain
For more information, contact: cityfutures09@gmail.com

Sixth Annual Global Health Conference
Achieving Global Goals Through Innovation
18-19 April 2009, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
For further information, please see the website of the conference: http://www.uniteforsight.org/conference

Fourth International Conference on Sustainable Development and Planning
13-15 May 2009, Cyprus
Sponsored by the Wessex Institute of Technology, UK and the University of Thessaly, Greece.
For further information, please look at the conference website:
http://www2.wessex.ac.uk/09-conferences/sus tainable-development-2009.html

**Publications**
EUROSTATS, the Statistical Office of the European Communities has now published its report on Population projections 2008-2060: Eurostat, Statistics in Focus, 72/2008 "Ageing characterises the demographic perspectives of the European societies", available free of charge in PDF format on the Eurostat web site.
For further information, please see: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/80

**Short Article on the Weblog**
Please read the short article "Climate Change, Coastal Communities and Governance: Developing solutions for change, Australia" by Dr. Melissa Nursey-Bray at: http://ijs.cgpublisher.com/diary/91

** Fifth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability **
5-7 January 2009
University of Technology, Mauritius
www.Sustainability-Conference.com

**Conference Plenary Speakers**
Plenary speakers include:
* Tom Baum, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
* Davina Boyd, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia (2008 winner of the International Award for Excellence in the International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability)
* Ramesh Durbarry, University of Technology, Mauritius
* Amareswar Galla, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
* Souad Halila, University of Tunis and Sousse, Tunisia
* Charlie Hargroves and Cheryl Desha, The Natural Edge Project, Nathan, Australia

Please continue to visit http://s09.cg-conference.com/main-speakers as new plenary speakers are added to the conference.

**Conference Themes**
For a detailed version of the conference themes, visit: http://s09.cg-conference.com/themes

**Call for Papers**
If you intend to present a paper at the Conference, your participation begins with submission of a paper proposal. For information on proposals, presentation types, and other options, see:
http://s09.cg-conference.com/proposal-types. To submit a proposal: http://s09.cg-conference.com/proposal_entry_intro. Please note that if your proposal is accepted, you will then need to register for the Conference.

**Registration**
Those who submit paper proposals should register following the acceptance of the proposal. Conference delegates who do not intend to present may register at any time. For registration options, see: http://s09.cg-conference.com/options-fees. To register for the 2009 Sustainability Conference see: http://s09.cg-conference.com/registrati on.

**Conference Tours**
Information on 'Discover Mauritius - The Sustainability Pathway' may be found at
http://s09.cg-conference.com/activities-extras

**Accommodation**
For accommodation information visit
http://s09.cg-conference.com/accommodation

An overview of policies for managing polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the Great Lakes basin

Jessica Ward

Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G5

Satya P. Mohapatra

Anne Mitchell

Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy, 130 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Canada

Environment International, Volume 34, Issue 8, November 2008, Pages 1148-1156

Abstract

The Great Lakes are an important environmental and economic resource for Canada and the United States. The ecological integrity of the Great Lakes, however, is becoming increasingly threatened by a number of persistent, bio-accumulative and harmful chemicals that enter the Great Lakes ecosystem through fluvial and atmospheric deposition. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame retardant, are among such chemicals, whose concentration in the Great Lakes has greatly increased in recent years. Despite growing concern over the possible health and environmental effects of these compounds, only four of the eight Great Lakes states have enacted regulations to ban/restrict the use of PBDE while the two Canadian Great Lakes provinces are yet to endorse any regulation. Of the three main commercial PBDE mixtures (pentaBDE, octaBDE and decaBDE), penta- and octaBDE are no longer manufactured or imported into the United States and Canada. DecaBDE, however, still finds use in a variety of products.

In the present paper, the authors review the current regulations and policies for managing PBDEs in the Great Lakes jurisdictions and briefly review commercially available non-bromine chemical alternatives to PBDE. As these alternatives are comparatively more expensive than PBDE, future adoption of more eco-friendly flame retardants by the polymer industry will likely depend on stricter legislation regulating the use of PBDE and/or an increased public demand for PBDE-free products.

Keywords: Great Lakes; Flame retardants; PBDE; Canada; United States; Policy; Regulations

Unpacking Participation: models, meanings and practices

Andrea Cornwall

Abstract

The world over, public institutions appear to be responding to the calls voiced by activists, development practitioners and progressive thinkers for greater public involvement in making the decisions that matter and holding governments to account for following through on their commitments. Yet what exactly ‘participation’ means to these different actors can vary enormously. This article explores some of the meanings and practices associated with participation, in theory and in practice. It suggests that it is vital to pay closer attention to who is participating, in what and for whose benefit. Vagueness about what participation means may have helped the promise of public involvement gain purchase, but it may be time for more of what Cohen and Uphoff term ‘clarity through specificity’ if the call for more participation is to realize its democratizing promise.

Community Development Journal Vol 43 No 3 July 2008 pp. 269–283

A new conceptual framework for sustainable development

Yosef Jabareen

Department of Urban Studies and Planning, MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2008,10, 179–192

Abstract

A critical review of the multidisciplinary literature on sustainable devel- opment reveals a lack of a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding sustainable development and its complexities. A critical review shows that the definitions of sustainable development are vague; there is a lack of operative definitions and disagreement over what should be sustained; the concept is unclear in terms of emotional commitment; and it ‘‘remains a confused topic’’, ‘‘fraught with con- tradictions’’. This article aims to theoretically synthesize the interdisciplinary literature on sustainable development, and then identify the results by broad categories. Therefore, this article uses conceptual analysis, which reviews multidisciplinary literature on sustainable development, which recognizes patterns and similarities within the literature, then it synthesizes the patterns to different categories and independent concepts, where each concept has distinctive meanings and represents close ideas on sustainability. The analytical process elaborates seven concepts that together assemble the theoretical framework of ‘sustainable development’ and each concept represents distinctive meanings of the theoretical framework.

Keywords: Conceptual Framework, Eco-form, Equity, Integrative Management, Global Agenda, Sustainable Development, Utopianism