Jeff wrote:
> Definition of sustainable living. - satisfying life
> - appealing life
> - environmentally responsible
The order of these interested me. I am more interested in sustainability
than sustainable living, so this may just be my own twist on this.
I think sustainable living can be satisfying and appealing, but sustainable
living can also be unsatisfying and unappealing. Sustainable living must
be environmentally responsible.
"Sustainable" has nothing to do with "satisfying" and "appealing", although
I understand why people add in things like that to definitions of
"sustainable living". But, I often wonder why people need to lump things
together, and if doing so will confuse some of the issues.
As the term "sustainable living" is used, by most, "satisfying" and
"appealing" are included. The idea seems to be a mixture of sustainable
and quality of life. They often use ideas like, if it's not satisfying and
appealing people won't continue to do them, therefore it is unsustainable.
I also hear people talk about not getting paid enough as unsustainable
becaus ehtey will not be able to continue working there if they aren;t
getting enough money. While I see the connection, I wonder if the idea of
sustainable will suffer in the long run.
Humans have been very good at "satisfying" and "appealing", at least for
themselves if not others. But what we need to get through our heads is
"environmentally responsible". This seems to elude us. Humans have
learned powers that can easily overwhelm natural systems. With power comes
responsibility, responsibility that humans have not yet learned.
I also see the need to make "sustainable" appealing, but that is different
from making sustainable living appealing. Perhaps you can see what I mean
by confusing issues.
I think that if the focus is on "sustainable" (environmentally
responsible), "sustainable living" will be an easier step. People will
make things more appealing and satisfying (perhaps that is what
"sustainable living" is doing?), but the emphasis on the idea of
sustainable is key to the purpose of the whole effort. Focusing on
satisfying and appealing, or even a balanced approach, will make it much
harder to become sustainable. People are very quick to turn "satisfying
and appealing" into selfish irresponsible behavior.
The list of three aspects of sustainable living gave me the impression
that, at best, all three were equal, at worst they were in order of
importance. But, again, maybe that's just my twist on this. I'll stop
rambling. It's probably too early to be trying to write this.
Eric Storm
