My thoughts and reflections Essay

SustainabilityI hadnt considered the inter-plays that exist between the social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainability, I subscribe to the three pillars of sustainability (figure 1), that is each has an impact but they are independent of each other.Figure 1 Three pillars of sustainabilitySource Wallis, A. M., Gray much, M. L. M., & Richards, A. J. (2011) p.596.Class discussions and research enabled me to leave the interactions between these pillars and I started to contemplate sustainability more than as an interactive process aligned with the three spheres of sustainability (figure 2) which I interpret as being of equal vastness and that is you connect them all you will achieve sustainability.Figure 2 Three spheres of sustainabilitySource Wallis, A. M., Graymore, M. L. M., & Richards, A. J. (2011) p.596.My ecological footprint gave me personal insights into my impact on the environment. I reflected on what I could do to reduce my footprint an all-electric house, jo b with extensive car travel and I am a meat eater. What future was I release my children and what could I intensify? I could reduce my consumption of red meat, saving a planet, however the economic and social impact on our farmers for me outweighs the impact on the planet after all that is their livelihood. I domiciliate reduce my energy usage by turning appliances off at home and work and I can use technology for meetings to reduce my travel imprint.I watched a number of documentaries on congenital disasters and asked myself why we befool done zippo to hinder these and what have we learnt. I reflectedon the impact of the recent drought throughout Victoria. Ballarat almost ran out of potable water, our lake ran dry and tourism was in decline. This environmental burden was impacting on our economy and the social impact was and is still being felt today. Human behavior dislodged, current water demand remains at levels of the 1930s in that respectfore Ive concluded that huma ns need a crisis in order to change behaviour for the in effect(p) of the environment. But have we really learnt from this, the drought of the 1930s suggest not, evidence was there that we over used the land having a significant impact socially, economically and environmentally but yet natural disasters droughts still occur due to inadequate consideration of all aspects of sustainability.Worldviews and valueA light bulb moment I hadnt considered sustainability worldviews. Was I more inclined to lean towards the atomistic (individual-centred) view or the holistic (earth-centred) view? On reflection I think for me it is both, unless you hold strong beliefs one charge or the other I believe we hover in between we all interpret data differently based on our starting assumptions and values and are less likely to change our worldview.In particular I reflected on Indigenous Australians who hold to a traditional value, the land is sacred to them by holding this view they have a positive impact on the environment they only take what they need, they give back and believe in the tang of the land. They didnt need politicians to develop policies and legislation to make them reduce their carbon emissions or to look after the land. I am faced with the dilemma of how we as a nation can make a difference it appears that I have more questions than I have answers.Sustainability phasesMost organisations are slow adapters to change and usually do so as a result of compliance activities being enforced upon them due to new or reformed legislation, a good example of this is OH&S legislation in Australia. Are we doing enough through education to ensure the next generation of leaders will consider sustainability more than a buzz script? We have created a throwawaysociety, landfill is becoming scarce and yet our propensity to have the latest gadget is not decreasing, locally, across the nation and internationally we need to look at ways in which we can recycle or reuse the materia ls on a large scale that has a positive impact on the planet.Another light bulb moment came when we researched companies that we believe are sustainable and consider what phase of sustainability they are in. We looked at Acciona ability and concluded that they are in sustaining corporation phase as they are paving the way in sustainability. Not all would agree as there are people in Ballarat who are opposed to wind farms and their worldviews are strong in the belief the turbines are more harmful to your health and nothing will persuade them otherwise. This re-emphasises that our assumptions and values in many ways holds much stronger than any evidence that may be presented to us that may refute our views.My expeditionI have discussed and debated the values I hold and how by changing one small thing we can make a difference to our ecological footprint. If everyone made one small change in their lifestyle it may grow into something that will impact positively on the planet e.g. Eart h minute which started as a national event and is now a global phenomenon. Ive planted a vegetable garden, my meat consumption has decreased and I actively shop for locally produced vegetables and fruit. I have moved my thinking to that of the bullseye model (figure 3) which shows that the human system, which is broken up into social and economic systems, must hang in within the capacity of the social system to be sustainable. (Wallis, A. M., Graymore, M. L. M., & Richards, A. J. 2011. p.597)Figure 3 Bullseye modelSource Wallis, A. M., Graymore, M. L. M., & Richards, A. J. (2011) p.598.I have contemplated how we move sustainability from a buzz word without introducing legislation which may not change peoples worldview. I work in the not-for-profit sector we are at the compliance phase of sustainability,we can move to the efficiency phase by building the capacity of our community leaders raising their awareness of sustainability, allowing them to experience the impact of their deci sions and making a change that positively impacts the environment. I have seen sustainable behavioural change occur such as water demand, if the reason for change is compelling but we have to recognise that change is a journey and for each of us we have to subscribe to the view that we want to change.BibliographyWallis, A. M., Graymore, M. L. M., & Richards, A. J. (2011) Significance of environment in the assessment of sustainable development The case for south west victoria. Ecological Economics, 70(4), 595-605.