Sustainability Advocates -- Those That Recognize They Are and
Those That Don't Yet
In case you are not already receiving the free bi-weekly on-line
newsletter, "Sustainability Review," below you will find a copy
of our second issue to see what you are missing. Join more than
2,200 colleagues, peers, and regular citizens from 47 different
countries who have subscribed for free to this worthwhile
publication. Irrespective of their professional or personal
interest, our readers realize that sustainability cuts across all
parts of our lives. To demonstrate this, every two weeks we will
publish multiple topic contributed articles from people who walk
many different paths and come from many different pasts. The
newsletter is intended to be provocative and stimulate dialogue
about important sustainable development issues world-wide.
Please feel free to join us. Simple do a "reply" on this e-mail
with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. Or follow the
simple directions in the copy of Issue 2 below.
Regards,
Warren Flint
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SUSTAINABILITY REVIEW
Issue 2 -- September 20, 1999
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"Sustainability Review" is published every other week and distributed
to over 2,200 Internet subscribers from 47 different countries who
have asked to receive it. Subscribers include those interested in the
most current information on ideas, methodologies, tools, and success
stories involving people, places, and organizations attempting
sustainable development by their integration of economic,
environmental, and social equity issues into problem-solving actions.
Thanks for joining us.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. EDITORIAL: Building Sustainable Communities
2. FEATURE ARTICLE: Sustainable Development in Action
3. GUEST ARTICLE: The End of Growth
4. CHALLENGE CORNER: Eco-Tax on Tourism
5. READER TALK-BACK: The Subscribers Feedback Section
6. SD INTERNET RESOURCES
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Through this newsletter we will address the many views presently held
about sustainable development in order to stimulate an open dialogue.
We welcome submission of an article for publication consideration. We
also will promote the work of organizations and firms specializing in
areas of sustainable development, to assist our subscribers in
addressing their particular needs. Contact -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] --
if you want to submit an article or inquire about promoting your
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1. EDITORIAL: Building Sustainable Communities
Recently I read an article by Tracy Fraker, abstracted in the May/June
1999 issue of "Population Press," regarding a speech she gave to the
League of Women Voters National Conference in 1996. This prompted my
own thoughts on what acting as a sustainable community is really all
about.
My wife says I bring everything into a discussion, including the
"kitchen sink." When I am thinking and talking about sustainability
issues, I cannot narrow my focus down to just one issue. Maybe I just
have a commitment problem. Or, could it be that this is really what
sustainable communities are all about -- integrating social, economic,
and environmental concerns, rather than addressing each one alone.
For example, as Tracy Fraker so aptly expresses "Environmentalism
means nothing to someone with an empty stomach. Should
environmentalists be interested in programs to solve the economic
problems of the poor? Absolutely."
Global concerns about the environment, population increases, foreign
policy, climate change -- these are big issues that can easily
overwhelm us. It is a natural reaction to simply put these things out
of our minds and carry-on with everyday living. In committing to the
goal of sustainable development, however, communities are forcing
themselves to keep the whole picture in mind, to try to find the root
causes to their problems. Maybe that is why I bring the "kitchen
sink" into everything.
Tracy Fraker says that "we must start asking the right questions and
measuring our progress in different ways. We cannot ask
environmentalists to become experts in economics or the larger social
issues of poverty, but sustainability encourages those in these areas
to start working together." That's the splendor of sustainable
development: coalitions become the outcome of collaborative efforts
among social, economic, and environmental concerns. "It forces us to
keep an eye on the big picture for the long-term."
Because of my children, I have a desire to contribute to a more
perfect world for the future. I also want them to have very high
expectations, because if they can't imagine it, explain their vision,
and have some tools to do their part, sustainability will never
happen. As Tracy Fraker goes on to say, "attaining sustainability may
well start with merely getting people to ask, What If?" If we offer
our children poorly designed development and if we accept an ugly,
ignored environment, how will our children have any idea that it could
be different? When the majority of community members make
sustainability a part of everyday decisions while shopping, building,
recreating, working, and voting, then these communities will achieve
sustainability.
--- This Issue ---
Few dream of doing great things with sewage. In the following pages
you will find a very intriguing article on a project in Arcata,
California that has actually put the operationalization of sustainable
development into motion. Following this feature article is a
contribution from Andy Kerr, President of Alternatives to Growth
Oregon that discusses the provocative ins and outs of a place growing
bigger, which may not necessarily mean growing better.
We have had several responses back from the articles in our inaugural
issue of "Sustainability Review." As promised, with this issue you
will find the start of a "Talk Back" section where we publish readers
submitted comments regarding past articles.
And finally, you will find our SD Internet Resource section that lists
some of the more recent web sites we have found or readers have
contributed that deal with issues of sustainable development.
Enjoy!
Warren Flint, Ph.D.
Editor -- "Sustainability Review"
Five E's Unlimited, Pungoteague, VA (USA)
Web site: http://www.eeeee.net
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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GLOBAL EC0-CRISIS (Abstracted from the Environment News Service)
Postponing action to solve global environmental problems is no longer
an option says a comprehensive United Nations (UN) assessment. "GEO-
2000" outlines progress in tackling existing problems and points to
new dangers. "Despite successes on various fronts, time is running
out fast" said Klaus Toepfer, the UN Environment Program's executive
director. Two hundred scientists from 50 countries identified water
shortage and global warming as the two most pressing problems for the
new millennium. Deforestation at the national and regional levels was
also a frequently cited concern. "GEO-2000" calls for environmental
integration into other areas of life because surveys suggest that now
the "environment remains largely outside the mainstream of everyday
human consciousness, still considered an add-on." To view this report
in its entirety, go to the web site http://www.unep.org/geo2000
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2. FEATURE ARTICLE: Sustainable Development in Action
Arcata, California (USA) had a big problem in the late 1970s. It had
an antiquated sewage treatment system that was dumping raw sewage into
Humboldt Bay. The city also did not have the money to share in the
cost of building a regional high-tech treatment plant. What Arcata
did have was a lot of open space, which many large urban communities
do not.
Few dream of doing great things with sewage. Robert Gearheart, a
sanitation engineer, and George Allen, a fisheries expert, proposed to
turn a local Arcata garbage dump into a low-tech treatment plant,
wildlife refuge, and salmon-spawning habitat. They set about
designing and building the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary which
today hundreds of towns in the US and abroad have copied for treating
their sewage.
But the marsh holds appeal for more than just sanitation engineers.
Just minutes from downtown Arcata, herons, snowy egrets, pelicans, and
clapper rails hunt the marsh's chain of ponds. Arcata has become a
tourist destination. Every year 150,000 people flock to this town of
17,000 to visit the 154 acre refuge (and sewage treatment plant). Few
visitors are aware that the marsh plants are drawing bacteria and
other toxins out of the ponds in which they grow. Filter-feeding
organisms in the marsh water eat the bacteria that attach to the
plants. The ponds serve as a giant filtration system, cleansing the
water before it goes into Humboldt Bay. The system needs neither the
massive infrastructure nor heavy chemical treatment used to remove
bacteria in more traditional sewage plants.
Birders and eco-tourists come to observe the thousands of migrating
birds that rest and feed in the Arcata sanctuary every spring and
fall. The tourists often don't even realize that the sanctuary's
paths lead them through part of Arcata's sewage treatment plant. And
the project saved the Town considerable money. Its $5.3 million price
tag was less than half what the Town would have needed to share in a
regional project. In addition, because of its tourist attraction, the
wastewater treatment/wildlife sanctuary has directly contributed to
the region's economy -- a win/win situation all the way around.
George Allen was quoted as saying, "it is hard to imagine that two
decades ago, the birth of this peaceful place was preceded by battles
so bitter they are known in Humboldt County as the 'Waste Water
Wars.'" Allen and Gearheart say the marsh battle was really about
common sense, about using what is at hand and getting the most out of
resources without diminishing their value. But with the ecotourism
component Arcata significantly added value to their existing resources
while solving a very pressing environmental problem.
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This article was summarized from an article by Mary Curtis of the Los
Angeles Times in January 1999.
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3. GUEST ARTICLE: The End of Growth
by Andy Kerr
A developer who served on the State of Oregon (USA) Governor's Task
Force on Growth said he didn't see any problem with another two
million people in Oregon or "however many God wants to send us."
Since most Oregonians say they don't want our state to become another
California the question arises -- When do we stop growing? How long
will it be before all the radio stations are doing 24-hour traffic
reports, even on weekends?
Growth is a race one loses the faster one runs. Growth is neither
desirable, nor inevitable. A few Oregonians are making a killing on
growth, more are making a living on growth, while most Oregonians are
paying for growth that is killing the Oregon we love. We've falsely
limited ourselves to two planning choices: sprawl like California or
densify like California. Actually, we are choosing to do both. Since
62% of Oregonians believe that growth is undesirable, the option of
not growing should be preferred.
Oregon's population is expected to double in four decades. Population
is increasing in the Pacific Northwest at twice the national rate and
50% more than global rates. Like an adult human, Oregon has matured.
Any further physical growth is either fat or cancer. Oregonians
should not be misled into believing that planning is all we must or
can do to maintain livability.
Smart growth is an oxymoron. Just managing growth in the face of
population increase won't keep Oregon Oregon. We could book our
favorite fishing hole or mountain top through Ticketmaster, but is
that the Oregon we want to live in? Oregon is on its way to becoming
a better-planned California; the Willamette Valley another Puget
Sound; and Portland a Los Angeles with (maybe) light rail.
Demographically, Ashland, Bend, and the coast are becoming the
southern-, eastern- and western-most extensions of the Willamette
Valley.
At least $33,000 of taxpayer subsidies go to every new house built in
Oregon. These are costs that are not paid by either the developer nor
the new house owner. New schools, sewers, roads and more are all
required to service new development. But for every new development
you see, you don't see a new fire fighter, police officer, school
teacher, or librarian. With all this new growth and development, our
taxes are going up, but our government services are going down.
As the Governor's Task Force on Growth noted, growth exacerbates
government revenue problems, it does not relieve them. It would be
cheaper for local government to buy up all the undeveloped land within
their borders to prevent rather than subsidize its development. In
the name of jobs, taxpayers are also subsidizing corporations. Big
companies often get huge tax breaks to locate in communities, with the
promise of bringing in more jobs. But these jobs attract new
residents, which in turn demand new developments, which in turn
require more tax subsidies. The growth cycle continues and our
quality of life diminishes.
Growth causes air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, lost
mobility, lost fish and wildlife habitat, higher cost of housing,
higher cost of living, more crime, less safety, and loss of community.
Growth increases taxes, increases public debt, and reduces public
services. Yes, Oregonians are paying to foul our own nest.
Besides the obvious losses to citizens that growth causes, another is
the erosion of democracy and freedom. As there are more of us, each
vote is worth less. As there are more of us, we are closer together,
and therefore need more rules and regulations to maintain a civil
society.
Several steps can be taken to limit Oregon's population. Here are
some. Lets change tax policies to discourage large families and
encourage small ones. Let's make Oregon government growth-neutral and
quit paying people to move here. Let's spend the money saved making
Oregon better, not bigger.
Nationally, let's set immigration equal to that of emigration.
Twenty-six years, 57 million less Americans, and over one million less
Oregonians ago, a Nixon-appointed commission on population noted:
"There would be no benefits to a growing population: the health of our
economy does not depend upon it; the life of the average citizen is
not enhanced by it; the democratic representation is diluted by it;
and most of our serious problems would be easier to solve if we
stopped growing." While we must plan for growth, let us also -- as
our first choice -- plan not to grow.
------------------- About the Author -------------------
Mr. Kerr has a long history of environmental activism with the Oregon
Natural Resources Council, the last five years as Executive Director
before his retirement two years ago. Andy presently serves as
President of the Board for the organization Alternatives to Growth
Oregon (AGO). For comments and questions concerning this article,
contact Mr. Kerr at e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more
information about AGO go to www.AGOregon.org, call 503/282-0282, or
mail P.O. Box 80334, Portland 97280.
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**** NOTICE **** Television Documentary on Population Growth
It took from the beginning of mankind to the early 19th century for
the global population to reach 1 billion people. This October, less
than 200 years later, the count is expected to hit 6 billion. Marking
the historic moment, an hour-long documentary "Six Billion and
Beyond," broadcast on Public Broadcast Stations (PBS) in the U.S. on
October 8, 1999 at 9 PM Eastern time, will explore the global impact
of population growth. Half the world's population is under the age of
25 and this film emphasizes that the decisions young adults make
regarding how many children to have will be a critical factor in
shaping life on Earth during the next 50 years. The film explores how
countries, cultures and individuals in six nations -- Mexico, Kenya,
India, China, Italy, and the U.S. -- can make reasonable choices about
population growth, social change, and personal lifestyles that will
determine the future of human history.
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Interested in contributing ideas to the future sustainable natural
resource management of the Chesapeake Bay watershed? US federal/state
government officials and the Chesapeake Bay Program Office are seeking
ideas, suggestions, and/or criticisms on how to accomplish this
extraordinary task. Visit the Program's web site at http://
www.chesapeakebay.net. Or find out what the Chesapeake Bay Foundation
has to say in their annual "State of the Bay Report" by visiting their
web site at http://www.cbf.org/state_of_the_bay/sotbr_99_a.htm.
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4. CHALLENGE CORNER: Eco-Tax on Tourism
One of Spain's major tourist destinations, the island of Minorca, is
to become the first place in Europe to experiment with an eco-tax on
tourism. The tax is expected to alleviate the effects of mass tourism
on the environment. The dedicated revenue will be earmarked for the
maintenance of national parks and the restoration of damaged
coastlines.
Tourism is the world's largest generator of jobs. Eco-tourism is a
high growth area within tourism and a new platform for enhancing the
competitive strength of regions as international destinations.
Because of its implied reliance on good quality environments, eco-
tourism has even been considered by worldwide organizations as the
industry that will lead the world into sustainable development.
Similar to Spain's strategy, to enhance sustainable economic
development and lessen poverty in the two depressed counties of
Virginia's (USA) Eastern Shore, a dedicated source of revenue from a
value-added tax (VAT) on all non-essential goods and services
generated from nature-based business activities has been quietly
talked about. An analogy to this kind of taxing idea is readily found
in most major urban areas that have implemented a "occupancy tax" for
support of community development initiatives.
A VAT on the consumption of nature-based business goods and services,
exempting those consumer items and activities most sought by low-
income populations, could be used to finance the transition of a
region's neediest to a better quality of life and in-turn a more
amenable setting to further enhance economic development in the
region. By imposing a targeted, value-added tax used exclusively to
build infrastructure and finance other community development actions
that improve the lives of disproportionately impacted populations, a
closed loop is created between the market economy, the importance of
good quality environmental resources, and low-income populations.
Thus, the nexus of sustainable development and equity.
The CHALLENGE to your imaginations and creative juices: WHAT's THE
UPSIDE AND DOWNSIDE OF THIS KIND OF TAXING STRUCTURE, especially with
respect to sustainable development initiatives? Send your ideas and
comments to [EMAIL PROTECTED] for inclusion in future issues of
"Sustainability Review"
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and finding effective solutions to achieve sustainable development?
The work of Five E's Unlimited is intended to assist individuals and
organizations explore the meaning of sustainability and identify
unique and innovative actions to achieve their self-defined goals for
becoming more sustainable. Visit http://www.eeeee.net to find out
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5. READER TALK-BACK
This section offers reader's perspectives on the different articles
published in this newsletter over time. It is your chance to share
with the readership your own ideas concerning previous newsletter
articles that will continue a constructive discussion on important
issues. Comments for this section can be sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
TALK-BACK #1:
THE CHALLENGE -- What do we do to stop talking the walk and begin
walking the talk? (Sustainability Review - Issue 1)
RESPONSE: William Alexander, Emeritus Professor, California
Polytechnic State Univ. -- e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The first step for walking the talk is to accept that the choices
under human control are related to human behavior. That is,
sustainability is the limited taking by humans from the ecosystem
combined with a high level of efficiency in the creation of human
well-being in the utilization of this limited taking. Development is
the encouragement of human motivation for human sustainability.
Second, define those ecosystem services which humans may take from the
ecosystem for their use without destroying the capacity of the
ecosystem to regenerate itself. Third, define the smallest per capita
amounts of ecosystem services which humans must take from the
ecosystem in order to create a level of well-being for themselves
which causes population growth to stabilize or decline.
Assume that as gross domestic product per capita increases in any
jurisdiction (country) the ecosystem services taken per capita also
increases. List the large population units (countries) for which
gross domestic product per capita is measured and arrange these units
from the least to the most. Look for the population unit which has
the smallest gross domestic product per capita, which also has a
stable total fertility rate of two or less. Measure the ecosystem
services utilized per capita in this most efficient society.
Use this resulting data to calculate the relative efficiency of each
of the countries which have achieved total fertility rates of two or
less. Ask why one society is more efficient than another. This is
the educational process necessary to encourage the less efficient
societies to examine the more efficient methods of creation of the
high well-being measures which cause birth rate declines.
TALK-BACK #2:
EDITORIAL -- A Journey to Detroit. (Sustainability Review - Issue 1)
RESPONSE: Suhario Haditirto, Community & Nature Association --
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
After giving some thought to your questions -- "What is the problem?
What is real? What is possible?" -- I realized the answer to each
question lies within the question itself. Clearly, what is needed is
that we all wage the seeking of "life-knowledge" and promote the
"right-kind of education." By this it does NOT mean taking more
courses in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, etc.; nor
teaching them with psychology and philosophy; or enrolling more
students. Rather it means that everyone enhances an awareness of what
is life and get a deep understanding of the human consciousness --
not in theory or intellectual abstraction, but in real practical
actuality.
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6. SD INTERNET RESOURCES:
Below is a listing of World Wide Web (WWW) sites that offer
information on different aspects of sustainable development readers of
this newsletter might find useful in their work. The "Sustainability
Review" Publisher does not endorse any one of these sites just because
of their appearance here. Previous newsletter listings of Internet
resource sites can be found at www.eeeee.net.
***** If you have a favorite sustainable development resource
site, let us know at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Florida Sustainable Communities Network
http://sustainable.state.fl.us
- International Institute on Sustainable Development
http://iisd.ca
- Smart Growth
http://www.smartgrowth.org
- Sustainable Development (SD) Gateway
http://sdgateway.net
- Toxics Use Reduction Institute
http://www.turi.org
- Urban Options - Sustainable Lansing (MI)
http://urbanoptions.org
- The World Watch Institute
http://www.worldwatch.org
Again, if you want to view all Sustainable Development Internet
Resources sites previously listed in issues of this newsletter, go to
www.eeeee.net.
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Have a sustainable development question for our readership? Want to
share your thoughts? SEND your ideas to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Have you done something involving issues of sustainable development or
want to provide input to an on-going dialogue on a sustainable
development topic? CONTRIBUTE AN ARTICLE of approximately 800 words!
SEND your contribution to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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