Sustainability is an attempt to provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments both now and into the indefinite future. It relates to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society, as well as the non-human environment. It is intended to be a means of configuring civilization and human activity so that society, its members and its economies are able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, while preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and planning and acting for the ability to maintain these ideals in a very long term. Sustainability affects every level of organization, from the local neighborhood to the entire planet.

Wikipedia

This may be the first time that I look for a definition of a word in wikipedia and it is able to encompass the main concepts covered in the readings. The definition is clear despite the broadness of the ideas it defines, and one understands the different scales and depth the processes are implemented. Is the ability to define sustainability in such a manner a resultant of a growing consensus in society as to the functioning of our “spaceship”? Paul Hawken in Natural Capitalism would say so. He suggests that despite the different colored interests groups, (red, blue, green, and white), and the different competing industries, that a general consensus of the world’s path is growing. “What is remarkable about this period is the degree of agreement that is forming globally about the relationship between human and living systems…Now they are being joined by the deeper voice of international organizations and companies, large and small….Never before in history have such disparate and independent groups created common framework of understanding around the world” (pg. 321-322). He describes that framework as a comprehensive and complex system full of interconnections in which natural capitalism plays a key role. If we were to compare the notion of natural capital to a term that Buckminster Fuller would have used it would be Space Ship Earth’s manual. Hawken argues that the groups and organizations taking on the task to create a user’s manual are the world’s new capitalist. “Arguably they have now become the world’s real capitalists. By addressing such issues … they are now doing more to preserve a viable business future than are all the world’s chambers of commerce put together” (pg. 315).

During my daily activities I came across something that related very much to Roger’s writings in Sustainable cities. He stresses the concept of “compact city” as a new model for future cities, basing that through the proximity of resources as being more efficient and healthier. He looks at transport, energy sources, and a sense of community. I was confronted with this idea of proximity today when walking to Wurster I came across the selling of produce from community gardens, and a huge flyer with the red words of sustainability were plaster on their tarp billboard. The idea was that they were selling high quality produce at a cheap rate. They were local growers and using natural methods to harvest their crops. Also because of their location less energy was used to get the products to the people resulting in situation that benefited consumers and the environment.