Sustainability - the basics

< Sustpedia
 "Treat the Earth well. It is not inherited from your parents, it is borrowed from your children." Kenyan proverb
This article is intended as a brief introduction with links to other more in depth articles.
=== Sustainability is ... ===
==== Bigger than a soundbite ====
Or at least anything that anyone 's come up with so far. It's big, deep and has many sides. This is a strength not a weakness.
==== About the bigger picture ====
All of what we do, here and now, affects the planet we leave as home to our children. The world is interconnected in many ways. Just as an example, though there's more to it than this, a healthy economy isn't sustainable if we don't respect the environment and society. As part of the bigger picture local communities matter too.
Sustainability encourages us to discover a more holistic and integrated awareness.
==== Respect for future generations ====
They matter too. They have needs too. We can be mature enough to meet our own needs without compromising the needs of future generations.
==== Learning as we go ====
We're fairly new to acting responsibly to future generations, so there's still a bit of making it up as we go. Sustainability as opportunity
==== Tempted to panic ====
Some would say we've let the situation get seriously out of hand. We desperately need a sense of urgency. "How can you not mention global warming?" Sustainability - reasons for urgency
=== What's in it for me? ===
Sustainability isn't just something for experts. It's about everyone's quality of life and we all have a part to play. People can sometimes feel powerless to influence decisions affecting their local communities. It doesn't have to be this way. We are not powerless, especially if we share, connect and come together with others, either in our local communities or via online networks (or preferably both).
=== Yes, but what actually is it? ===
What does it involve?
One of the best ways to get a flavour of what sustainability is about is to browse some of the issues or topics involved
=== Related ===
=== Comment on this article ===
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=== Global News 2007 ===
*March 20 - "Sustainable development is dead! Long live sustainable development!" The 20-year international effort to put the planet on a path to sustainable development has been woefully inadequate and will need a radical rethink if it is to achieve its aims, International Institute for Environment and Development
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