Consumerism vs sustainability

[Bikernereid]

Really love it, very clever and poignant.

[Badjelly]

• Just enough is plenty.

As exemplified by your FJR1300T?

Sorry, cheap shot, couldn't help it.

[Hitcher]

As exemplified by your FJR1300T?

Indeed. Anything more would be flagrantly wasteful.

[Pwalo]

This may relate to the US rather than New Zealand, but it still gives pause for thought about the legacy we are creating for future generations.

http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=7

• Rage against waste and want.
• Just enough is plenty.
• Reject the limits of division and self interest.
• Seek freedom. Freedom from greed and from poverty, freedom to learn, freedom to share, freedom to wonder.
• Connect. Our capacity for supporting one another is humanity’s defining virtue.
• Draw strength from unity. Alone we are precious, together we are powerful.
• Take control. We are what we do.

Nice sentiments, but like most poitical statements it makes the assumption that consumerism and sustainability must be mutually exclusive, and that 'Freedom' will save us all.

I certainly agree that we could all do with making the most of what we have, but I also think that a bit of self interest, and difference is a jolly good thing.

Sorry old chum, it just sounds a bit trite, and post-hippy hand wringing.

[Usarka]

i put a whole uneaten lamb chop in the bin last night.

[Ixion]

My great-great-grandmother used to say in such cases "They who will in wilful waste indulge, woeful want must know". Then fetch the culprit an almighty whack with her stick. Consider yourself great-great-grandmothered.

[Blackbird]

All piss-taking aside Brett, it is an issue which our children and grandchildren are going to have to deal with - what a terrible legacy we've left them!

Through my work, I'm heavily involved with sustainability issues surrounding forest-based products i.e, pulp, paper sawn timber etc. NZ is pretty much unique in having such a high proportion of renewable plantation-grown wood at its disposal. In 2002, the European Union alone imported the equivalent of over 83 milllion tonnes of illegally logged wood from around the world. The social impact from this level of rape and pillage is appalling. Fortunately, some end users are now specifying traceable evidence of source prior to purchase. Let's just hope this increased social responsibility spreads to other areas.

[007XX]

• Connect. Our capacity for supporting one another is humanity’s defining virtue.
• Draw strength from unity. Alone we are precious, together we are powerful.
• Take control. We are what we do.

These points are the ones who get to me the most I have to admit...

The fact that we are in a society where people care less and less for each other terrifies me.

Or care even less about the fact that they have the power to make a difference but are too lazy to do so.

To me, a good representation of this was this movie. Call it sensationalism or whatever, I don't care...But the message was clear. I wonder how many people actually gave a crap after seeing it?

[Beemer]

Sustainability... hmm sounds like a great idea.

Except I can't think of anything we have actually ever run-out of !

Looks like everything is sustainable, as long as we have to pay the real price of using it.

What about water, which is tipped to be as precious as gold in coming years?

I've just done a couple of articles about sustainability in early childhood teaching - not only teaching kids about it but also practising what they preach in terms of reducing waste, recycling, etc. One woman I interviewed was talking about water play being an integral part of the early childhood curriculum and how a Somalian family had been horrified to see children playing with and wasting water when for them it was a precious resource.

Whether you believe in climate change and global warming or not, running out of resources will affect all of us and maybe even in our lifetimes, so it's worth taking an interest in. Already they are finding overseas that a lot of land is being given over to growing crops for biofuel that it's limiting the amount of food that can be produced in some areas. And look at the effect of drought on Australia and parts of NZ.

I compost food scraps and recycle glass and plastic, etc, and I am already looking at ways to reduce the things I *need* - for instance I use vinegar for cleaning windows and as a rinse in the dishwasher - works a treat and it's cheap as too! Years ago our ancestors didn't use 20 different products for cleaning their home, they used soap, baking soda and vinegar. And their houses were probably cleaner and smelled better that those of today's generation.

And 007XX is right - sustainability isn't just about reducing waste, it's about finding better ways of doing things to ensure sustainability in the future - AND it's about caring for others as well as the land. Education for sustainability (EfS) is an emerging concept with its roots in the environmental education movement, although with a broader scope. It encourages people to connect with, and care for, others and the environment in which they live. This quote about EfS came from UNESCO in 2005 - “... encompasses a new vision of education that seeks to empower people of all ages to assume responsibility for creating a sustainable future.”

[Pwalo]

What about water, which is tipped to be as precious as gold in coming years?

I've just done a couple of articles about sustainability in early childhood teaching - not only teaching kids about it but also practising what they preach in terms of reducing waste, recycling, etc. One woman I interviewed was talking about water play being an integral part of the early childhood curriculum and how a Somalian family had been horrified to see children playing with and wasting water when for them it was a precious resource.

Whether you believe in climate change and global warming or not, running out of resources will affect all of us and maybe even in our lifetimes, so it's worth taking an interest in. Already they are finding overseas that a lot of land is being given over to growing crops for biofuel that it's limiting the amount of food that can be produced in some areas. And look at the effect of drought on Australia and parts of NZ.

I compost food scraps and recycle glass and plastic, etc, and I am already looking at ways to reduce the things I *need* - for instance I use vinegar for cleaning windows and as a rinse in the dishwasher - works a treat and it's cheap as too! Years ago our ancestors didn't use 20 different products for cleaning their home, they used soap, baking soda and vinegar. And their houses were probably cleaner and smelled better that those of today's generation.

And 007XX is right - sustainability isn't just about reducing waste, it's about finding better ways of doing things to ensure sustainability in the future - AND it's about caring for others as well as the land. Education for sustainability (EfS) is an emerging concept with its roots in the environmental education movement, although with a broader scope. It encourages people to connect with, and care for, others and the environment in which they live. This quote about EfS came from UNESCO in 2005 - “... encompasses a new vision of education that seeks to empower people of all ages to assume responsibility for creating a sustainable future.”

These are all noble and admirable sentiments, but they are no more than what our parents, grandparents did wrapped up with a bit of PC whimsy.

I totally agree with reducing waste, and making the most of what you have available, but I'm afraid that in order to survive we must consume resources; be it food, shelter or energy.

Besides I reckon we're all just salving our consciences as we work on our PCs, ride our bikes, etc.

No I don't worry about my children's or their children's world. The human race is pretty damned smart (well perhaps cunning), and I'd hate to think that my decisions stopped them from future developments, or ideas. In fact that what frustates me about this whole thread. We can't go back, like it or not.

Enough of my bollocks, but I think you guys need to lighten up a bit. Mankind has always lived on the edge of disaster so it's just situation normal.

[Hitcher]

Sustainability isn't about "going backwards", unless you're a member of the Green Party.

One of the better definitions of "sustainability" is "the ability to meet the needs of today's people and environment without compromising that of subsequent generations".

It's about being thoughtful and sensible, not about fearmongering dogma.

[Beemer]

These are all noble and admirable sentiments, but they are no more than what our parents, grandparents did wrapped up with a bit of PC whimsy...

...No I don't worry about my children's or their children's world. The human race is pretty damned smart (well perhaps cunning), and I'd hate to think that my decisions stopped them from future developments, or ideas. In fact that what frustates me about this whole thread. We can't go back, like it or not.

Enough of my bollocks, but I think you guys need to lighten up a bit. Mankind has always lived on the edge of disaster so it's just situation normal.

Wow, mankind may be smart and cunning, but we're not going to get far with that attitude. Development is one thing, sustainable development is another. I'm all for progression and I would hate to live in a house without power and running water, but I'm not prepared to live my life regardless of the consequences.

Thankfully there is a growing number of people who are prepared to work towards solutions that will be sustainable for all of us. God help us if we all carried on with the "I'm all right Jack" attitude that has got us into the shit on many occasions!

[Finn]

Trouble is, if everybody stopped buying "one better than the Jones", we'd all be homeless and eating our own snot.

[Pwalo]

Wow, mankind may be smart and cunning, but we're not going to get far with that attitude. Development is one thing, sustainable development is another. I'm all for progression and I would hate to live in a house without power and running water, but I'm not prepared to live my life regardless of the consequences.

Thankfully there is a growing number of people who are prepared to work towards solutions that will be sustainable for all of us. God help us if we all carried on with the "I'm all right Jack" attitude that has got us into the shit on many occasions!

I don't believe I said "I'll be right Jack" anywhere. I stand by my reasoning that we must be careful not put too may restraints on the way that future generations can act, or think.

I'd hate to think that everyone had to think the same way that I did.

And I don't understand your comment about the shit.

[Beemer]

I don't believe I said "I'll be right Jack" anywhere. I stand by my reasoning that we must be careful not put too may restraints on the way that future generations can act, or think.

I'd hate to think that everyone had to think the same way that I did.

And I don't understand your comment about the shit.

I can't see anywhere in my post where I said YOU personally had said "I'll be right Jack" - it was meant to imply that many people tend to not worry about anyone else as long as their life was okay.

As for the comment about shit - people were warned about global warming and climate change years ago but either didn't believe it or didn't think it would affect them. I'd say that even the majority of the doubters would now accept the world is changing and not necessarily for the better either. Unsustainable practices are just that - they cannot go on for ever without severely affecting other areas such as water supplies, energy supplies, erosion of land, etc.