James asks…
Is the current prevalent market economy and resulting consumerism in the west really sustainable development?
If the consumerism of the west would be equally present in the rest of the world, then additional five earth-like planets would be necessary to have enough resources to uphold this ideal. Is this kind of market economy really sustainable development? Wouldn’t a tighter plan economy and increasingly socialist policies, be needed to combat this and create sustainable development?
The Expert answers:
On the one hand, your criticism is correct: the current economic model is simply not sustainable.
On the other hand, it is always much easier to criticize than to offer a reasonable alternative. What in the history of mankind leads you to believe that planned economies and socialist policies are in any way more effective over the long term? Russia’s command economy failed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_economy
and China gave up and initiated all sorts of free-market reforms once Mao died:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_reform_in_the_People’s_Republic_of_China
This isn’t to say that governments will not try planning. They already plan various parts of the economy in every country:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_economy
and will be happy for an excuse to take more control, but there is no reason to believe they are going to be effective in any way:
1. Even the planning by non-command economies – such as Japan and South Korea – has not been seen as a great success.
Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_International_Trade_and_Industry
http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Japan.html
2. Governments are always close to the rich. Have you any reason to believe that will change? If so, have you any reason to believe they will work for the country as a whole?
In the U.S. The Republicans are closer to the rich than the Democrats, and the results show in the economic figures:
http://rodrik.typepad.com/dani_rodriks_weblog/2008/03/american-politi.html
Daniel asks…
What do you understand by the term sustainable development and why?
Sustainable development have been defined so many times by different NGOs and of course the UN in such long worthy sentences and often it is very difficult for many people to grasp and understand and implement. How do we define the term in a much more user friendly way so that we could educate others to follow and understand it in an easier format with graphical diagrams where possible?
The Expert answers:
It actually does work within the concept of PHI, the golden mean, also known as the divine balance. We must be stewards of our resources, and enhance that which advances the entirety of the society, and reject that which is deleterious to the society as a whole.
Sandra asks…
What is sustainable development and explain the three main pillars?
Sustainable development and the three main pillars explained with latest concrete examples
The Expert answers:
The three pillars or systems key to sustainable development are economic, social and environmental systems. It is said that satisfying any one of these three sustainability systems without also satisfying the others is deemed insufficient.
Chris asks…
what is the relationship between sustainable development and environmental awareness?
I’m not quite sure what is meant by sustainable development, or how I could link it with the other one.
I need it for a short speech I’ll be doing.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance 🙂
The Expert answers:
Sustainable development is the building of a community in a way that is environmentally friendly and uses renewable resources. Things to look for in sustainable development are:
-transportation: walking/biking/public transportation efficient
-energy: renewable energy source located close by
-city government: new bylaws encourage citizens to build individual homes in an environmentally friendly way
environmental awarness is needed for sustainability, but is more about individuals making green choices in their every day lives.
Helen asks…
What should I include in my project about SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?
so far i’ve got an introduction explaining what sustainable development is and i’ve got a page about how our agriculture is different today. i’m starting my bit about personal transport.
what else should i put?
this is about environmental sustainable development, for my science biology project. has to be 5 pages.
The Expert answers:
Include how our natural resources are being exploited. You can say about Groundwater resources… Or Crude Oil.
Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development#Environmental_sustainability
That could also help.
You could also talk about pollution and the methods to control it.
You could also include topics like Wildlife, Soil, Oceans, Freshwater, etc
http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/esd/menu.html
This link will be very useful too.
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