Sustainability (Definitions & Consumption)

Sustainability

Once upon a time the earth was in perfect balance (probably). Then humans evolved or where molded out of clay, fell from the heavens (whichever you prefer).

Over time we moved from a hunter gather society of small tribes and cultures to a society based around farming and agriculture.

We invented violence and greed, business and consumerism. We became a people with disposable income, and the earth has suffered because of this.
All is not lost, but much has been misplaced.

We have to change. Our consumption patterns are wasteful and excessive. We need three earths to support what we are currently consuming.

But we have to want to change, it won't happen without that acknowledgement.

We need to change;

• The psychology of desire = The things we want.

• Our beliefs and actions = What we believe in and consider important.

We need to preserve;

• Cultures = Change has to be cultural.

• Habitats = Habitats must be preserved.

We also have to be creative, we need to create;
Equality = for people.
Enjoyment = in the things we have and do.
Systems = that support us, without oppressing others.
Beliefs (not neccesarily religious) = that encourage us and don't persecute others.

Definitions
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non living things on earth.

More Definitions
The word sustainability is derived from the Latin sustinere (tenere, to hold; sus, up). Dictionaries provide more than ten meanings for sustain, the main ones being to “maintain", "support", or "endure”.


Sustainability is now used more in the sense of human Sustainability on planet earth. We need to "meet the needs of the present without comprimising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". (Brundtland commision 1987)
 
Sustainability effects us socially, enviromentally and economically. 

The Earth Charter talks of "a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace".

Re-thinking the way we produce

 

Mining/sourcing, processing/refining, transport, packaging, shelf life/use, scale, impact, neccessity; all of these must be considered before we create a product. In order fo us to avoid unnecessary production and waste.

The most conventional way of approaching a life cycle analysis is to follow a particular material or product through its lifetime. Therefore the first consideration would be the impact of materials extraction, and then production and manufacture, product use and finally end-of-life considerations.

 

 We too often create things without thinking of these important issues. We have become a scoiety addicted to...

Consumption

Consumption now defines us, we "buy" a lifestyle. Social pressures and trends revolve around comsumption (and are heavily commercialized). Brands use psychology and peer/social pressures to encourages us to buy.

Consumerism increases stress and rising debts put pressures on families.

• What is really important in life?
• What is neccesity and what is luxury?
• How does what we need effect the enviroment?
• How do consumption habits change cultures or societies?
• Businesses and advertising are major engines in promoting the consumption of products so that they may survive. How much of what we consume is influenced by their needs versus our needs?
• Also influential is the very culture of today in many countries, as well as the media and the political institutions themselves. What is the impact on poorer nations and people on the demands of the wealthier nations and people that are able to afford to consume more?
• How do material values influence our relationships with other people?
• What impact does that have on our personal values?

An Introduction To Sustainability

What is sustainability?

Sustainability is the idea that things can keep going and sustain themselves, can continue to progress into the future exponentially.

As humans the sustainability of our planet is crucial as it means that it can continue to do what it is designed to do, and provide;

 fresh air - clean water - food - and a (good) quality of life for all the creatures that live here.

Un-sustainability means the opposite, that it cannot sustain us. This is (though some would disagree) the situation that we find ourselves in now.

20 years ago some scientists got together in Sweden and developed a definition for sustainability with four key principles. Try to imagine that the earth is a system with everyone and everything fulfilling certain roles and jobs each dependant on the other (symbiotic). Everything is intrinsically linked; society - environment - economy.

The four principles that they came up with are a bit like the instruction manual for that system. If we follow these guidelines it is good for both the planet and us. As human beings we exist as part of the planets system, we are not separate from it, we cannot exist without it.

The four principles are;

1. Reduce our dependence on heavy metals and fossil fuels.
2. Reduce our dependence on harmful synthetic chemicals.
3. Reduce our destruction of the natural environment and its resources. 
4. Ensure that across the globe, human beings are not being stopped from meeting their basic needs.

As our global population increases (currently 7 million) so does our demand on the earths natural resources (as our living standards rise the earths ability to produce the things we need diminishes)

Humanities endless search for prosperity growth and success is destroying the natural system that we rely upon to exist. We have become a threat to our own existence.

The only way to become more sustainable is to follow these four principles. Change the way we act, consume and live on earth to produce less pollution and waste.