June 2012 ISSN 2070-4593 - NGC

Also, if they are following a development
model similar to our own, they will eventually
have to restrict their food exports to feed
themselves. Can we develop a society
without having some control over the food
we produce? Is that sustainable?
When it comes to matters regarding
development and our relationship with the
environment, the debate is often heated.
Improving the quality of life in a manner
that can be sustained is a challenging goal.
Sustainability itself is a challenge to define.
It encompasses dozens of issues including
the economy; the social dynamic; the
environment; planning; law; lifestyles; as
well as ethical considerations.
Challenge or not, we want a better life
now… today. We have come to expect
instant relief and immediate gratification.
Policymakers often play to these expectations
as they promise to deliver (within 5 years)
the standard of living we demand. Growth
and development are desirable goals and
few would argue against them, the difficulty
comes in deciding on the best route to those
objectives.
One of the popular models aiming to satisfy
our need to expand and improve, without
destroying the very resources that growth
is built upon, is Sustainable Development.
The International Institute for Sustainable
Development (IISD) uses a definition from
the Brundtland Report:
“Sustainable development is development
that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.”
http://www.iisd.org/sd/
The IISD believes “All definitions of
sustainable development require that we
see the world as a system—a system that
connects space; and a system that connects
time. When you think of the world as a system
over space, you grow to understand that
air pollution from North America affects air
quality in Asia, and that pesticides sprayed
in Argentina could harm fish stocks off the
coast of Australia.”
While the young man at that workshop
had the best interests of his community at
heart, he believes only the infrastructural
and economic components of development
are worthy of consideration. He gave little
thought to how those two factors balanced
with the many other elements that constitute
a society. Society itself is a system and for it
to thrive, thought has to be given to practices
that can be put in place and continue to run
for the long haul – sustainability.
“A sustainable society is a society in
which each human being has the opportunity
to develop himself/herself in freedom,
within a well-balanced society
and in harmony with his/
her surroundings.”
Society itself is a system
and for it to thrive, thought
has to be given to practices
that can be put in place and
continue to run for the long
haul – sustainability.
Garfield King is an independent radio
producer, presenter and writer with almost
30 years broadcast experience.As a trainer,
he conducts workshops on public speaking,
presentation skills and communication
dynamics. inkings@tstt.net.tt
June 2012 Earth Conscious 25