Question 2: What does sustainability look like to you? How do we get there?
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- Question 2: What does sustainability look like to you? How do we get there?
- Question 3: How do humans need to adapt to survive the changes predicted for this century?
- Question 4: How do we shift from “Me” to “We” on both the local and global levels?
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Sustainability is just a future possibility. Nobody has a working crystal ball. Sustainability look like a domain with no certainty. It is a goal, It is a Graal. How do we get there is a problem because we have different opinion on what is worth having, what is worth keeping, what is better junked. How do we solve this problem? In my opinion we solve it by convincing other that our choice are good choices or else we can also accept other people choice as good. Clearly this mean that we need to communicate. Clearly to communicate we must make ourself accessible to other people proposal, to listen and only after listening we can build an interpretation of what was communicated and share that and then listen again to feedback. Clearly we also need to be vulnerable, willing to be convince, willing to change our mind for the better. This is not a short order. And it is evident that, for a multitude of poor reasons our present social systems are actually week on its willingness to listen. Assuming dignity is rare and expensive. This may be an area for progress in how to get there.
Athens Ohio
Hi again! I totally agree with the need for improved listening and communication skills as fundamental in all efforts. Our area has held a Sustainability Festival for something like 8 years and it still seems to come down to these fundamental aspects of interpersonal communication.
Our CW group chose question number 3 but as I posted there, it was a toss up with this question. This is an excerpt of what I posted in the #3 blog:
“We are talking about raw survival around here, neighborhood and business networking, and strengthening our community infrastructure to better handle any emergencies that may arise. The white knight with the cavalry isn’t going to show up on our horizon. We are talking about mitigation, preparedness, response, and adapting our systems to survive the changes that are predicted for this century while creating a good place with less suffering for our young ones.
And, in this way, it was a toss up for us between choosing this question and the one about sustainability.”
And for us, or at least some of us, sustainability equals preparedness and this new system must be based upon the triple bottom line of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. (Some would like to throw in a category to address the spiritual component.) And, our children must be taught these things from an early age. I think Holistic Management should be taught in all our classrooms. So, again, it’s all interconnected, dynamic, and absolutely fascinating.
And, I’ve got to say, I really don’t think sustainability is just a future possibility. It’s being demonstrated in numerous areas and the shift is already happening; now it just needs each one of us to make changes in our own lives while conversing with others whenever we get the chance and holding our public leaders accountable. I remember when sustainability was like a dirty word and very few even had a clue of what I was talking about…we’ve come a long way!
Good luck to all who have chosen this question. I am really looking forward to reading what comes out of your conversations!
I most definitely don’t agree that sustainability is just one future possibility, for long term viability, it is the only possibility, becuase that is what it means. People often get confused about the meaning of the word sustainability, but what it really means is the ability to be sustained, or the ability to go on. When we say that something isn’t sustainable, it doesn’t just mean it has a bad environmental policy, it means that IT WILL, EVENTUALLY, COLLAPSE.
However, I also agree that communication is essential for any further discussions on what the world is going to look like, and that it is already happening, to some extent.
I will try to make my choice of word clearer. Is sustainable impossible? my point is that it might be.
If sustainability is possible, then it is a possibility.Do you agree that some bad things are sometime sustainable as well as bad, like the fact that we are all, one day going to die. Not a pleasant thing, but sustaining itself.(some think there is room for hope!) I also added “Just a” because many more thing are possible. For instance, I strongly believe that it is possible to enjoy working, that work is a possible opportunity to have fun. If you disagree you need to argue this affirmation by showing evidence that it is impossible to be working and enjoy yourself. stop to endure. For instance we have a sustainable healthy body by if we roll it under a bulldozer it may stop to be healthy… That does not mean it was not sustainable. It mean don’t let yourself roll over by a bulldozer. The US constitution is sustainable but if the administration succeed to act unconstitutionally we are victim of an abuse of power and we should do something about it… like going to court. ( but here I may be naive)
Something went wrong. I wanted to correct it but I do not know how I could go back over my comment. Where your read stop to endure there was a few line that I accidently deleted. They were important lines for I was not trying to put Kathy wrong and thinking I was right as usual… see what I mean? I am very interested in Kathy’s post and just try to understand… I simply not sure that I understand it correctly and I seek more info. I hope you will forgive me when I sound a bit of a know it all. I am curious by nature and I really do not know much. I would like all this to be fun for all.
Hi!
I suppose I sound like a self-rightous b****, and a know it all to some people, but I too am very curious, don’t know much, and just feel like we all need to try our hand at speaking up more. It seems that folks who voice opinions, assert themselve in a friendly fashion while seeking input are often put down for it. I’d like to see that change.
BOA 4 let it rip…I have pledged not to take things personally, not to assume, and to try my best. I love hearing what you and others have to say about things and it helps me with my learning processes.
Please let me know what additional info and or clarification you would like regarding my previous post.
Thanks! kj
Hi everybody,
I just want to post the key ideas that came out of the first World Cafe conversation in Bulgaria. Most importantly, they are now committted to continue to participate in Conversation Week each year.
Regards
Dora
World Café
University of Forestry, Sofia
Wednesday, 26 March 2008, 12.30-2.00 pm
Discussion Question 2: What does sustainability look like to you? How do we get there? Number of participants: 24 university students organised at four tables
Conversation language: Bulgarian
Host: Dora Marinova
Introduction
This was the first time any deliberative democracy technique was applied in Bulgaria, a former Eastern Block country. As the host of the conversation, I had the full support of several Bulgarian academics from the University of Forestry, including Associate Professor Katinka Mihova who helped tremendously in organising the World Café meeting during my one-week stay in the country.
What does sustainable development look like to you?
The themes covered broadly fall under the following categories (the translated key ideas are presented with dotted points):
(1) Concern about the natural environment
• The foundation of sustainable development is the protection of natural resources
• Humanity should aspire to protect the Earth and its resources
• The ecology is directly linked to human life and if we preserve it, we preserve humanity for the centuries to come
• To protect nature and use its goods in a way that provides for a better and healthier life for us and future generations
(2) Link to economic development
• Constant growth within the resource limits
• A process which involves constant growth but with natural resource monitoring and control of their use in parallel with looking for alternatives
• More capital investment and resources lead to sustainable development; however any changes in the natural environment should not disrupt its harmony
• Resource distribution in order to improve the quality of life
(3) Time and future generations dimension
• Sustainable development is about a balance between humans and nature to save the world for future generations
• To be aware that what we do today has consequences for tomorrow
• To think about the time dimension
• Development which continues in time despite changes
• Each property should be left improved for future generations
• Protection of property for future generations
(4) Governance and management
• Sustainable development is a system of principles applicable globally and locally
• Sustainable development is a system of many plans which are flexible and allow for changes in time according to resource availability
• The application of plans
• A consecutive, systematic and well organised program
• From global to local
(5) Technological dimension
• Sustainable development is about discovering alternatives to the non-renewable resources
• The new technologies should be ecological and preserve balance in nature
How can sustainable development be achieved?
The expressed key ideas fall broadly under the following categories:
(1) Raising awareness in society and conceptual changes
• We need to find a way to motivate society
• Interest from people
• A matter of good citizenship, self-consciousness, self-motivated initiatives
• Balance between economic, socially responsible and ecological interests
• Sustainable development needs to be connected to natural resources as nature is a circle
• For a global change to sustainability we need to start with the smallest changes
(2) Information and exchange of ideas
• Broad discussion in all areas
• More information about existing programs needed
• Communication between all sectors
(3) Technological dimension
• Recycling
• Biofuels
• Alternative energy sources, including solar and wind
• More waste processing and water treatment stations
• Less investment in technologies and more in protecting natural resources
(4) Governance and management
• Less government corruption
• Proper government policy
• Clear government and economic management for sustainability
• The institutions need to guarantee economic growth which is a condition for sustainable development
• Make it a priority for the government we elect
• The principles of sustainable development should be applied at all levels – nature, society, economy
(5) Particular initiatives
• Voluntary cleaning of the space between the blocks of apartments
• Shopping bags made out of material
• More expensive shopping bags to reduce the amount of plastic bags on the green spaces
• Planting more trees and looking after them
• Protecting the forests
• Stop littering
• Saving water, electricity and resources
• To change our university we need more investments and initiatives from management and students
Conclusion
The students expressed thorough concerns about the link between economic development and resource limitations. They also examined issues related to governance and use of technologies.
Some themes which commonly appear in the sustainability discourse however were missing within the Bulgarian context. These include:
• Biodiversity
• Consideration for other living species
• The socially weak
• Cultural diversity
• Consumerism.
Despite the question’s emphasis on the individual interpretation of sustainable development, most of the conversations were at the level of generalisation without taking a personal dimension, personal responsibility or making a practical commitment.
Nevertheless, there were some very strong messages being sent which point to the need for such conversations to continue.