Hi there, I am working toward the completion of my doctorate in psychology as applied to leadership development and collaborative community learning for a sustainable global future. A really exciting part of this work is the research and development of a quantitative assessment instrument that helps to determine and set personal and social development goals necessary for the transition toward g...
The Truth About A Sustainable Future
The truth is we do not have a concrete operational definition of sustainable development (SD) and sustainability.
A consensus definition within local and global contexts is the best we can do.
The truth is a global transition toward SD and sustainability is about more than "going green", it requires improvement of human-environment and human-human relationships.
So, a sustainable future is something we have to generate together.
The truth is, that all the science and technology (S&T) we can invent to help the environment will not be enough to save the environment if the people that need to put the S&T into practice don't put it into practice.
While we all need to implement these "green solutions", the truth is, based on numbers alone, most of the people that need to implement the S&T solutions reside at the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid. There will soon be about 6 billion there compared to the 3 billion of us in the upper parts of the pyramid.
While we also have a moral/ethical obligation (not only one for a global transition to SD and sustainability) to help people at the bottom of the socioeconomic pyramid improve the quality of their lives, we also have a follow-up obligation to support the changes to the socio-cultural structureSD and sustainabilitychanges will bring.
Lastly, while all of the above is important, all will be futile if corporations do not continue to expand their actions of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
So,
Q: How do we deal with a lack of definition of SD and sustainability, the needed improvement in human-environment/human-human relationships, the needed implementation of S&T for SD and sustainability by everyone, and the needed expansion of CSR all at the same time?
A: Bring all the stakeholders to the table and engage them in a collaborative/supportive action research/learning network. Such as the one that is happening here at JustMeans and the one I am generating at Ecosphere Net.
The truth is a sustainable future is possible when we work together across all global societies.
EJ Wensing
US Virgin Islands
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Orlando Baker 08am April 03 You raise very valid points that identify the multiple layers of the problem--including the socioeconomic pyramid. Unfortunately, any soluti...
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