The Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living 
451 Hammet Road 
Coventry, RI   02816-5008 
(401) 397-3430
www.apeiron.org 

Mr. Bradley Hyson
Executive Director

Grant: $40,000 

Strategy:  Policy, Advocacy and Systems Reform 
Region Served:  Rhode Island

PROJECT TITLE:  The Sustainable Rhode Island Initiative

WHY THIS GRANT:
In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.

For hundreds of years the Iroquois have begun each council meeting with this declaration.  Built into Iroquois decision-making is an equal vote for an individual who is specifically charged with representing those future generations.

Contemporary American social and political organization does not lend itself to such long-term thinking.  Elected officials often find it difficult to consider implications beyond the length of their term in office.  Interest groups often are limited to the immediate concerns of their constituencies.   

The above-noted difficulties are multiplied when considering environmental issues. With this grant The Apeiron Institute for Environmental Living will continue its Sustainable Rhode Island Initiative, dedicated to ensuring that the state capitalizes on its small size and becomes a national leader in integrating sustainable development principles into its overall economic and social development agenda.  Since 2001 Apeiron, with its broad base of collaborators, has been working to establish clear strategies and benchmarks for up to 14 major important components of life in the state including, among others, energy, air, water, buildings, health, business/resource use, food, transportation, and land use.  The Sustainable Rhode Island vision document seeks to ensure that the bigger picture is not forgotten as individual organizations and their respective constituencies work on their individual agendas. 

In the coming year the principal focus of the Initiative is to:

• publicize the vision document via the web and traditional media,
• encourage broad-based comment on the vision,
• expand and strengthen the committees responsible for developing specific strategies,
• create and deepen the relationships with public and private entities necessary to implement the strategies,
• begin implementation of a select group of short-term activities, and
• coordinate among the various component committees to maximize impact and reduce duplication.

The Foundation’s grant will partially fund the personnel expenses of the Sustainable Rhode Island Initiative.  The Foundation will evaluate this grant by assessing Apeiron’s ability to:

• attract and sustain the participation in the Initiative’s working groups of individuals and representatives of organizations that can implement the specific identified activities,
• integrate the Initiative within the overall mission of the organization, and
• make substantial progress on developing its organizational membership base.

RELEVANT PRIOR FUNDING OVER PAST 3 YEARS:
2006      $4,000 Sustainable Rhode Island Initiative.
2004      $5,000 Sustainable Rhode Island Initiative
2003      $2,500 Visit of international environmentalist Satish Kumar