I’m not sure if most people really understand the concept of sustainability. It’s not wondering whether a glass is half empty or half full; it’s recognizing whether the level is steady or if water is slowing draining out. This can apply to anything: the number of forested acres in the state of Kentucky, the volume of topsoil on Midwestern agricultural fields, or the total amount of petroleum in the Earth’s crust. All of these are slowly decreasing, and without serious changes in consumption patterns will someday run out.
As far as I can tell, the recent economic meltdown was not caused by the depletion of natural resources. However, it is kind of a similar situation. Too many homes were being built and finally there was no one left who could afford to pay for them. I truly hope we can use the current situation as an opportunity to rebuild an economy built on sustainable practices, instead of greasing up the old fossil fuel machine. If not, then it’s all going to collapse one day down the road, and then there will be little with which to rebuild.
Jill Flachskam
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment