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Address
By the Rt. Hon. Sir Ninian Stephen
on the occasion of the launch of
“THE NATURAL ADVANTAGE OF NATIONS: Business
Opportunities, Innovation and Governance in the 21st
Century”
Editors - Karlson ‘Charlie’ Hargroves,
Michael H. Smith
The National Business Leaders Forum for Sustainable
Development,
THE CROWN TOWERS, SOUTHBANK
MONDAY, 4 APRIL, 2005
I feel very privileged to be here launching “The
Natural Advantage of Nations”. Like this
forum this book is all about innovation, solutions,
competitiveness and profitability and the bringing
together to this end, as does this forum, leaders
from business, government, academia and non-government
organisations.
It has as its thesis the pursuit of sustainable
development leading to economic growth and with
it increased employment while solving some of
our social and environmental problems. It presents
a bold vision of an ecologically sustainable future,
to be attained by building on the lessons of the
theory of competitive advantage, proving a synthesis
of what is new in the fields of sustainability,
economics and innovation in business and governance.
It covers significant developments in the day
to day practice of sustainable development by
all the organs of our society and of other societies
from around the world.
What I found in reading the book was how the pursuit
of sustainable development whether on a small
scale in domestic organisations or on a national
or international scale is no walk into the unknown.
In a host of areas solutions already exist and
are being implemented around the world by companies,
and governments and, too, by social groupings
whether trade unions, universities, schools, churches
or professional bodies. All this the book provides
through relevant and successful solutions already
being applied and experienced first hand by the
co-authors working at the very seat of change
either as part of these processes of reform within
significant institutions or as advisors to them.
To read this book is to speculate about possibilities;
what if governments were to resolve to achieve
a ninety per cent reduction of their present negative
environmental impacts over the next half century,
as the Netherlands is seeking to do; what if all
our governments were to follow Western Australia’s
example and determine to halve their ecological
footprints over the next twenty years or if, like
the goa 2100 project which that Indian state has
adopted, every nation tackled wholeheartedly the
problem of creating sustainable cities and doing
so cost effectively over the next thirty years?
It is achievements of this nature and others that
this book recounts and to read it is to be persuaded
that, given the necessary inspiration, much is
possible here in Australia, possessing as we do
world-leading expertise and lacking only the immediate
resolve to put it to appropriate use.
This book is, then, the giver of just such inspiration,
inspiration to achieve ecologically sustainable
development, at first in one’s own area
of activity and ultimately Australia wide.
Our two editors, Charlie Hargroves and Michael
Smith, and the other members of The Natural Edge
Project Secretariat, Cheryl Paten and Nick Palousis,
have been extraordinary helped in what has been
a mammoth task, you have only to glance through
the book to appreciate its extent, helped by so
many who are named and thanked in the detailed
“acknowledgement” section of the book.
They have asked me to repeat their thanks for
all that those named have done to make this whole
work possible and on their behalf personally to
thank the many of them here tonight.
Michael has suggested that in conclusion i quote
to you a passage from William Murray. It is lengthy
but let me read it to you. It spells out so much
of what has helped create “The Natural Advantage
of Nations” - It reads:
‘Until one is committed, there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back, concerning all acts of
initiative (and creation), there is one elementary
truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas
and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely
commits oneself, then providence moves too. All
sorts of things occur to help one that would never
otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events
issues from the decision, raising in one’s
favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and
meetings and material assistance, which no man
could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever
you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness
has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now’.
(William Murray)
and with that long quote, I end it now!
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