Sustainable Living2

7/18/2019 Sustainable Living2

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Sustainable Living

Think globally – act neighborly



Sustainability is….

… providing for the NEEDS of

ALL people alive today, without

jeopardizing future generations.

and we know that….



But first…..

if Sustainable Living is the answer…



But first…..

if Sustainable Living is the answer…

….what’s the problem?



Globalization and loss of small

businesses

Globalization and loss of small

businesses

Globalization and loss of small farms and businesses



Poverty and hunger



Accumulation of toxic waste

CO2



Environmental Degradation

…and consumption of resources



And the big one!

• Humankind uses in one year an amount of

fossil fuel that it took Mother Nature

roughly a million years to make.



World Population

16

15

14

13

12

11 B i l l i on s

of p e o pl e

?

?

?

10

9

8

7

6

5

43

2

1

0

2-5 millionyears

8000 6000 4000 2000 2000 2100

Hunting and

gathering

Black Death–the Plague

Time

Industrial

revolution

Agricultural revolution

B.C. A.D.



Two problems….

•Too many people, and

•The impact per person



Ecological Footprint: A

measure of the “load”imposed by a givenpopulation (or a person)on nature.

Our Ecological Footprint , by M. Wackernagel and W. Rees



Land area to produce and dump my stuff…



The Global Footprint

• Average global footprint = 6 acres

• Amount available worldwide = 5 acres

(we are in 20% overshoot)

So, where do we get the additional one acre?



We use 20% more ecologicalresources than are produced by

Mother Earth - each year!

By “mining” resources

produced in previous years.



What about the U.S Footprint

• Average US footprint = 24 acres

• Amount available in US = 14 acres

So, where do we get the

other 10 acres of

resources?



The rest of the planet!

We buy it or take it



Global Ecological Footprint



The result…..Globalization and loss of small

businesses

Globalization and loss o f small

businessesGlobalization and loss of small farms and businesses

Poverty and hunger Poverty and hunger

Accumulation of toxic waste Accumulation of toxic waste

CO2

Environmental DegradationEnvironmental Degradation

…and consumption of resources…and consumption o f resources



Global Ecological Footprint

I believe that when I use more than my “earthshare”, I

contribute to the underlying conditions that result in

hunger, war and ecological crisis.

20%



This is not a sustainable plan

NaturalResources

Goods andServices

Pollution, Wasteand Environmental

Disturbances







The planet is limited



And it is an Inconvenient Truth



And it is an Inconvenient Truth

But unless we can imagine

an alternative we won’t

even see the problem!



So what do I do?



Three Key Perspectives

• The Sustainability “triangle”• Systems and holism

• Ecological principles



The Sustainability Triangle

The quest for sustainability

Economic Environmental

Vitality Integrity

Social Equity




– The Sustainability “triangle”

• Systems and holism – Ecological principles



Healthy Self

PersonalSelf



Healthy Self

Community Self

PersonalSelf



Healthy Self

Earth Self

Community Self

PersonalSelf



Sustainable Living is about healing of the self……



Sustainable Living is about healing of the self……

….at many levels of “ self”

Healthy Self Healthy Self

Earth Self

Community Self

PersonalSelf



Okay, but I’m a “ sinner” …..

(I’m not “perfect”)

And how do I know if something is sustainable?



So what do I do?

I choose to do everything I reasonably can do…..



So what do I do?

I choose to do everything I reasonably can do and trust the

“Goddess of Sustainability” to handle the rest…..

…what?



My Ecological Footprint

I am part of a family and a community. In this context, what is reasonable for one American?

• Average US impact = 24 acres

• Amount available in US = 14 acres

(14 acres is my personal target…

I am currently at 17 acres)




– The Sustainability “triangle”

– Levels of complexity & inclusion

• Ecological principles

Ecosystems can only be




sustainable if they….

1. … rely on sunlight for energy 2. …cycle everything material

3. …are biologically diverse and

socially just






1. … rely on sunlight for energy

I h bi d !



I have a big garden!



The unheated hoop house



Lettuce and greens in the winter



We use the sun to dry our clothes

A d d h t



And wood heat

E Effi i t A li



Energy Efficient Appliances

T ff th t !



Turn off the computer!

A d l f h t t



And solar power for hot water

L l S l



Local Solar

I t i bl



Invest in renewable energy

C b ff tti



Carbon offsetting

Th bi d i i !



The big decision!






2. …cycle everything material

Waste = FoodWaste = Food

C t i ll t d



Compost is collected

A d t d



And goes out every day

Then o t to the compost



Then out to the compost

Or to the worm compost



Or to the worm compost

The worm condo



The worm condo

You can do this too



You can do this too….

….the dorm room model

Old vegetables go to the hens!



Old vegetables go to the hens!

Inside the hen house



Inside the hen house

Old tomatoes hanging



Old tomatoes hanging

Compost collection in my office



Compost collection in my office

Newspapers go on the garden



Newspapers go on the garden

Which we save year round



Which we save year round

And old chicken feed bags



And old chicken feed bags

Covered with hay mulch



Covered with hay mulch

From a nearby farm



From a nearby farm



Plastic Bag Drier

Returning the milk bottles



Returning the milk bottles






3. …are biologically diverse andsocially just

Chickens in my backyard?



Chickens in my backyard?

Start small



Start small….





It takes a village



It takes a village…..

Turkeys



Turkeys

too…

Bees are very busy



Bees are very busy

Community Supported Agriculture



It takes a village….

Community Supported Agriculture

(www.buylocalfood.com)

Did k th t



Did you know that….

…a food item set before a U.S.consumer has traveled an average of

1300 miles to get there.

But I’m a student!



But I m a student!

- Demand local foods in the dining halls

- Don’t take more than you can eat- Avoid fast foods

and….

- Join a student garden….????

GardenShare – student garden



GardenShare student garden

PLSOILIN 298G - 1 credit/semester

Fair Trade Coffee



Fair Trade Coffee

What about hemp?



What about hemp?

A few other things I do



A few other things I do…..

• Recycle everything

• Bring bags to the grocery store

• Turn down the thermostat

• Gas efficient automobile

• Bike to work

• Serve on Town Conservation Commission

• Pray…..

I confess - I’m a “ sinner” …..



I confess I m a sinner …..

(I’m not “perfect”)

Do all you can reasonably do…..

Choose your own action



Choose your own action

“ Ch li ht th ld!”



“ Change a light, save the world!”

…SMALL actions can begin a journey toward….



…..big shifts in consciousness..

Lets look at…



Lets look at…

Earth Self

Community Self

PersonalSelf Individual level

Holistic Health & Healing



Holistic Health & Healing

Not Healthy Self



Not Healthy Self

Earth Self

Community Self

PersonalSelf

Not Healthy Self



Not Healthy Self

Community Self

PersonalSelf

Not Healthy Self



y

PersonalSelf

A Healthy Personal Self is Balanced



y

PersonalSelf

Mind Spirit

Body

Diminished “ spirit” Self



p

PersonalSelf

MindSpirit

Body

Diminished “ mind” self



PersonalSelf

Mind

Spirit

Body

We “ feed” the body



y

PersonalSelf Body

Our body “ wants” become



our life

The Problem and the



Solution get mixed up

Is this the story of humanity?



Is this the story of humanity?



…isn’t there another way?

Isn’t there a story of that helps us understand

l h j b d f ?



ourselves as more than just a body of wants?



Well, yes….

And it’s the greatest story



g y

ever told…..

This story began 15 billion years ago….













We are all stardust!



The universe story is

…older than the university

…older than religion…older than corporations

…older than governments

And the “rules” have been tested



for 15 billion years….

1. … rely on sunlight for energy 2. …cycle everything material

3. …are biologically diverse and

socially just



Barbara Kingsolver in Small Wonder

Our revolution will

have dancing andexcellent food!

Who will lead the way?



•Corporate leaders?

•Politicians?

•Common People?



Who thinks and acts in

sustainable time frames?



•CEO’s = 3 months• Politicians = 2-6 years

•Child born in 1985

= 75 years

• A caring adult= 7 generations

Time

horizon

forthinking

andplanning

the

future



That means you and me…..

But, I’m only one person….



What can one person do?…

And you are amazing



And you are amazing….

Ask yourself…..



Documents

Sustainable Living2