Online Social Networking and Sustainable Development

Overview

The complex challenges now facing the world cannot be solved in a unilateral manner. Individuals and their institutions are therefore organizing themselves in new ways in an effort to meet those challenges. Such novel ways of interaction have supported the movement from vertical "government" to horizontal "governance", and given place to "networked governance".

Networked governance, charactetized by systems of communications, knowledge exchange, and dialogue, is underpinned by the Internet and brings together civil society, industry, and government. These actors, in the positions of users, content generators, and service providers, make key decisions about the Internet. However, critical uncertainties like environmental impacts of on-line interactions, privacy issues, and access barriers, among others, affect sustainable development. Taking these issues into account, Ms. Creech critically reflected about the use of communication technologies and governance arrangements in our times. Her aim was to answer if in the process of speeding up and expanding social connections, are we inadvertently:

• Underestimating the gaps in digital literacy?
• Causing governments to become incapable of making decisions and acting?
• Dumbing down the sustainability agenda?

Are we, as Internet users, making the right decisions? 

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Online Social Networking and Sustainable Development 

About the Speaker

Heather Creech is the Director of Global Connectivity at International Institute for Sustainable Development, responsible for the delivery of this institute´s program of work on how technology, in particular communications technology, is supporting and changing how we organize our governing systems, our economies, and our cultures in unprecedented ways. This new program builds on IISD’s earlier Knowledge Communications program.
The Focus areas of this program are:

1. Networked governance principles and practice, including the management of networks, partnerships and alliances;
2. Internet sector engagement and policy support;
3. Building capacity for leadership for the networked age.

Ms. Creech has gained broad experience in Canada and the South Pacific, establishing networks and providing information and training services in the legal and marine science fields. At the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, based in Fiji, she established the node for the Pacific Islands Marine Resources Information System. As the Law Librarian, University of Papua New Guinea, she managed the Pacific Islands Legal Information Network. Her earliest work at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Law focused on legal information retrieval systems and legal research training.

Ms. Creech is an adjunct professor at the Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies, University of South Australia, and the Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba. She also serves on the Board of the Canadian Committee for IUCN and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. She holds a certificate from the Sustainable Enterprise Academy, Schulich School of Business, York University, has studied ocean policy at Dalhousie University (Halifax), and holds an M.L.S from Dalhousie University (Halifax), and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Queens University (Kingston).

She has several publications addressing the issue of communication technology and network governance, many of which have served as inspiration to the topic of the current MEG Forum.

Some articles by Heather Creech

Public Policy Influence of International Development Networks: Review of IDRC Experience (1995-2005)
Terri Willard, Heather Creech, 2008
http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub_fr.aspx?id=1129

Innovation in the Governance of Technology and Society: Progress on Internet Governance
Tony Vetter, Maja Andjelkovic, Heather Creech, 2009
http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub_fr.aspx?id=1164

Sustainability of International Development Networks: Review of IDRC Experience (1995–2005)
Terri Willard, Heather Creech, 2006
http://www.iisd.org/publications/pub_fr.aspx?id=842

ENRAP II: Knowledge networking for rural development in Asia. A Mid Term Review
Heather Creech, Terri Willard, Chin Saik Yoon, 2005
http://www.iisd.org/about/staffbio_fr.aspx?id=289

For more information: http://www.iisd.org/about/staffbio.aspx?id=289