Last Thursday we talked about many aspects of environments great and small and how circumstances affect people's health. The case study regarding the inequities caused by access to enclosed bathroom facilities was extremely eye-opening and a simple luxury we definitely take for granted. In addition, the video illustrating what is happening to communities where there is no sanitation was horrific and it is an atrocity that situations like this still exist in today's world. I was very impressed that our discussion regarding proposed solutions kept leading back to renewable technologies and sustainability. My thoughts crept back to some issues of Dwell magazine (my favorite!) and examples of sustainable practices, mainly architectural, at work all over the world. By the way, I whole-heartedly recommend this publication. There is something about sustainability in every issue and it's printed on recycled paper. There have been some amazing articles about sustainable green houses built in various cities, architectural firms designing and building sustainable green modular homes, even some that can be retrofitted to protect against earthquakes, and sustainable green products like toilets and energy efficient appliances. What is great about many of these inventions is that they are extremely affordable and cut costs on bills in the long run as well. Unfortunately, technologies like these are moving slowly to catch on, but at least it shows that good things are coming out of private enterprise. So it made me think that it might be possible to get some of these "good" companies to impart their wisdom in order to work on solutions to the basic environmental problems and needs, which would only benefit their cause. This could help build economies and communities with better, sustainable futures as well as stimulate this kind of change and growth in developed nations by creating a new market. It seems like a great place to start considering these sustainable technologies have been proven to be cost-effective short and long-term which would inspire more research and bring more funding. Eventually, we could maybe even go beyond sustainability....
"Sustainability is just a minimum. If I asked you, 'How's your relationship with your wife?', and you said, 'Sustainable', I'd say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry for you!'" - Michael Braungart published in Dwell, Sept. 2006 issue, pg. 19
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5 comments:
Robyn,
I'll have to check Dwell out... thanks for the suggestion.
I completely agree with you about how eye-opening it was to realize that we take toilets for granted. It is crazy, like so many other things in this country, some have the privilege to have a designer toilet to emphasize the decor of their bathroom, while others in the world live in terror of walking to an outhouse, or go without the facilities all together.
I'll have to check out Dwell too.
I like your thoughts on sustainability and the closing quote was priceless. I love your "green" way of thinking--even your blog looks so environmentally friendly.
Haha... that quote is hilarious - it really challenges us to consider our relationship to the environment...
It made me think of the way Native Americans were said to have interacted with Mother Earth. They were grateful for the bounty earth provided (giving thanks not only through rituals but also practically [by utilizing every part of the buffalo, for example])... indeed, they sought to cultivate a deeper relationship with Mother Earth and interacted with the environment with the hopes of reciprocal bounty rather than a sustainable relationship...
robyn,
i like that quote too...excellent point. the environment is not static, just as we aren't static. we have a dynamic relationship. david's mentioning the Native American view is interesting. it's sad that we've "come so far" that we've forgotten such a fundamental thing as our precious relationship with the earth.
Hello Robyn,
I love the quote at the end. We have so much excess in this country. Yet as is pointed out by the quote you shared, the standard that is sought for developing countries is just a minimum. Of course, the work has to start somewhere, but it is my hope that we will work toward equity in resource avaialabilty as well.
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