THE I ISUS TAI NACB)I)L ITY

middotmiddotbull middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot umiddotmiddot vmiddotmiddot0middot LmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddotUmiddotmiddotmiddot middot~middot 17 N ImiddotmiddotmiddotD bull 1lt) R - - - -~

portrait omiddot 9 paradlg hm SIft

ANDRES R EDWARDS foreword by David w Orr

3~~~middot~middotH~J~ -

~ NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS

The Birth of Sustainabljty

As to methods there may be a million and th~fl som~~

butprinfiPI~s are few The man who gra$psjJrincples can successfully sdect his own methods The man wpp tries methods ignoringprinciples is sure to k4Ve trouble

-R~ph Waldo Emerson

Small shifts in deeply hed beliefs 4nd values Cfn massively alters)ciet4Ib~ha1Ji~r 4ndresuts - in fact may be the ordy thing$ that ever hape

-I)eeHock

The Context

AT THE DAWN OF THE 21ST CENTURY a new revolution is gainshy middotingstrength - the Sustainability Revolution The purpose of

this work is to help those ihs~de this revolution as well as those

presently outside better understand where sustainability is coming from and where it might be going

We will begin with a pre-history ofthe SustainabilityRevolution

paying special attention to its relationship with itsrnain precursor the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s Next we will

follow the emergence of the Sustainability Revo1ution in the 1980s

and its extraordinary flowering beginning in the 1990s Then we will examine the reasons for the methodology we will use to grasp the revolutions profound and fruitful diversity We then will be in a

11

IL ITYR Evb LUTr ON

~v~~tc~~atcenta multidimensIonalmiddot portrai~ rd-fh~~l t~lS~j~~~~l)ll[ity ~~tQ1ll()day

~~-~~~ -

~~rPill~rtJi$m Th~Pr$curSor i~cMdlfr-$q$tI~AbUit~

l1etu~Qp~n~~S80~fheh~1lt~~~ttr -~tt1flux of light and

middot~iiei~~~~~t=~~ rtl~a~ty~-b~autYl~nguage discipline idealis11l spirits and ptospects2

-~~~~-~()Mth~s~ f~ccenttSl intum)~upp()rts the intuition and io$pilation ofth~individ4~middot __ _ shy

~ -~lt i _

~ih~tso)-rs cteScentripdofi of the natural world is afillrrot was

use I icanshy

wishett jtt1Lr amplr~ai1d ~eejfI~-~otil - - Icame

to -di-e-qi~c()-veuroi c- _The~orksd

- -- --_ _--- - -shy

bull J

-~~transGen

ietthanced -MeJijfthese

tta~~Jjalist-and

-

middotaerita[ist~ll1oVen1~fit1smiddotyenpound~~

byomel writetS cll1dtr WaSrneeaitly- -~(~hcicentntliii~-

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 13

conservationist John Muir who played a pivotal role in bringing

attention to the importance of preserving-Americas wildlands

Unlike the transcendentalists - who saw nature as a way to

reflect the divjne aspect within themselves -- Muir stressed the sysshy

tematic character of the natural world nnd the resulting importance

ofprotecting such vital resources as forests and water supply He also

stressed the crucial role ofwilderness fOrrellleation artdupliftingthe

human spirit Everybody needs beauty asWelLasbreadip1aces to play in and pray in where nature may heaLand give strength to body

1 alk 4and sou 1 e

In books such as Our National Parks (1901) and The Yosemite (1912) Muir traced the impact on Americas wildlands of activities

like sheep and cattle grazing In this way he influenced hiscontemshy

porades including President Theodore Roosevelt to establish a series

of conservation programs and to create Yosemite National Park Muir also was involved in establishing the Sequoia Mount Rainier Petrified Forest and Gtahd Canyon national parks In 1892 he and

hismiddot colleagues founded the Sierra Club) which has hadmiddot a lasting influence on conservation issues to do something for wildness and make the mountains glads

- Following Muirs lead the 1940s American conservationistAldo

Leopold extended the notion of nature as not merely a mirror and

teacher but an ecosystem directly tied to our survival For Leopold cOhservation called for an ethical approach based on respect for the environment

In his essay The Land Ethic inA Sand County Almanac (1949)

he stated

An ethic may be regarded as a mode of guidance for

meeting ecological situations so new or intricate) or

involving such deferred reactions~ that the path of

social expediency is not discernible to the average individuaL Animal instincts are modes of guidance for the individual in meeting such situations Ethics are poss~bly a kind of -community instinct in

the-making6

itAthligtughtl)is waswritten Qyen~~lta~Q)LeQPQld~s vision still starltb ~t) irlilest0J1e iwhoselt6ncern for ethics underlie and inform the Sustaina tPday7 middotArnefi~al1VVrit(ltand natlJr~9~s publication 0pound

~~~~~~~t ~ll Pl~U~t~~$QgA~~ cent1)vipQllm~J1r ~trYern

bull

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tit~ti$~f

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jA~~~~ mr~ fT im h i~(ii~~f~P ~9i~la~$~meWk~~~~i~rueo~st ~1~ ~~lO~c((Js$Qf~P4y~t~jliJfngttn

Pti1OO

middothJlm~s

9syenstems

fJtSpring ptcentd by the

ifttsion ofenvi~ ~~yen Calsonand

j$lili970 with the

~bple toenthusi~

~t~tl1efir$tEarih Day ed 1 1

~~tllcent)$~PPt~~~iis]centnphUsia$tic responseat theigras~tootsmiddot Nqthing

~~tp=~i~~~~==~ernshyQf=~~=~~~~t~~~= thatl~d dt~middotUSgqv~rnw~nt tQPa~~~~~~sect~~middotmiddot degAir-Act r~tlJ1inp~IQlf$ni~~ter)A~tpiClr(ltoestabshy

tls~ltt~~ul~t9rygg~~~i~~JpoundgaJtt ltoreccion gt~~m~wf(euro~l~~whbsepilrp()~~ ~the envishy

~~-trJ~ ~ign)ficant middotgt~~(bQththcentpP~~middoti ~dsa1)cl united

middotCgt1cent~Jjps~ ~~r~~~ ~~~poundt1)fptlndspiritual tbt~lUl~~tn$$~ttLNV9~l~r2Dadeepunde~shy

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 15

standing of the biological interconnection of all parts of nature including human beings 3) an abiding concern with the potential damage of human impact on the environment and 4) a strongly held commitment to make ethics an integral part of all environshymental activism

Contemporary Environmentalism TheRoots of SustainabUitymiddot

A landmark ev~nt in the history ofc~ntemporaryenvironmentali~m~as the 1972 United Nations Conference on tfl~Human Environment in Stockholm Swden This gathering internationalized the concerns of the American Earth Day events and focused on the regional polshylution especially the acid rai~ problems ofnorthern Europe

Even more important the Stockholm conference marked ~he

first step toward what we -see today as the S1l~tainability Revolution This global fonpn beglliP tne attempt to find positiye]inks b~tweep environmental concerns and economic issues such as development growth and empl6yment 1O As a result of the Stockholm conference numerous national environmental protection agenCies were estabshylished as well as the United Nations Envitonment Programme (UNEP) whose mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring informing and enabliAg nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generationsll

During the 1970s Wes Jackson of The Land Institute and other pioneers brought i0 light the significance of sustainable practices By the late 1970s the disposal of hazardous materials by burning them or dumping them underground or into waterways had become unacceptable The out of sight out of mind approach to toxic waste disposal culminating in the contamination of Love Canal where President Jimmy Carter declared a State ofEmergency in 1978 spawned the creation by the US Congress of the Comprehensive Environmental Respqnse Compensation and Liability Act 0pound198

(CERCLA) comUlonly known as Superfund Superfund deals With

t~~1i~p~~ bullbullraquo) lt

aigalil middotinits~Q pOt~~lorm~t~ms

1~~~~~~f~~I~~J~l~G~~~~ jrJa~gcent~~t~Ji~~$~JRpJy~k~4 dWP()1J1ITli~sQP~ ~

~ tgiRJJPP~$~middotOngj~centl1~(~lYifQnm~pt~~xJapoundyenii~s~~fmiddot~~1lJiieviing susshytain~bl~4~~~J~Fl1lcentn~byenWeY~~~~Qmiddot~sect~~~~~~~1Jl~

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C~~=~

~~~~~lVP~9~~~~1f~~liq bull tipcent~nsi~~w~Y$~

nitY~middot4eaLmiddot

middotmiddot~=G~~~~

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 17

the problems of protectiJlg and enhancing the environment a long-term agenda for action during xhe coming decades and aspirational goals for the world community13

In 1984 Worldwatch Institute published its first State of the WorU annual report This repoFtprovided a 17hemost remembered quote

global perspective on the relation between the worlds resource base and

from th~ ~rundtland report

the dynamics of economic developshy defined sustainable

ment We aremiddot living beyond our means largely by b6rrowingagainst the

development as development

future14 Subsequent Worldwatch that meets the needs of the

annual reports helped create aglQbal consciousness about the interconnec

preser1t without compromising

tion of ecologicaleconomic alld the ability of future generations

social issues -shy an awJren~ss soon thrust intolntelnaliinal prornipence

to meet their own needs

by the publkatitgtniof the3rurtdtland report Our Common Future in 1987

The most temembered quote from the Brundtland report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability offuturegenshyerations to meet their own needs l5 While ihis definition ulldoubtedly is important the Brundtland report helped deHfie the Sustainability Revolution in two even more significant ways Institutionally it created the first framework for concerted action to protect the Earth~s life support systel1lswhile promotingmiddot both ecoshynomic andsocial justice goals Conceptually the report contained the first articulation of the key tocontemporarysustainability - the importance of evaluating any proposed iilitiative with reference to theinteracti0l- of threemiddot fundamental criteria ecologyenvironment economyemployment and equityequality known today as the Three Es

Ecology and economy are becoming ever more intershywoven - locally regionally nationally and globally

~ - --- - shy - imiddot

~ih~middot~~i~h-i~-~~~~iiif~~~~J~(~i~~rt

M~~~tl~~1~~~j~C n~eqs QpoundalJ~ndcentxteriding toaHthe oppdrtdti[tyen to f41f1U rneiraspiratloJ1stormiddot flHetter middotlifemiddotAWorlttliln ~~jcllP9y~rtY isende~jc wi11~wayshe

~Wl~r==~

S~~~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

prone to 1-

--

~wliliii~S~Mli~rJlIbhir1~~ia ancliwwtldfltds of

noijli~l~~middots~~taidev~lQpiTientlI~~sQlatcid fields andad([)pted a

glQBalJ~ita~~aM middotfQtJetidil (j))n su~ta1kabl~ develQprrt~n1 iluough AgeIWdan~Qi

middotmiddot~f=~74~~middotmiddot 0 ~~~it~j~~)~~~t 110shy

The~arthampummtt ~$ogelIcenttf1~~~ill~lth~~tat~me1tQpoundPrindples on th~M~ntig~p~nt~0prlservfliti~icentt~~illsecttaJPiable ID(Velop1Jlent of

~SllJl ~Osti(lsth11l~t~stfQt

The Birth of Sustainabljty

As to methods there may be a million and th~fl som~~

butprinfiPI~s are few The man who gra$psjJrincples can successfully sdect his own methods The man wpp tries methods ignoringprinciples is sure to k4Ve trouble

-R~ph Waldo Emerson

Small shifts in deeply hed beliefs 4nd values Cfn massively alters)ciet4Ib~ha1Ji~r 4ndresuts - in fact may be the ordy thing$ that ever hape

-I)eeHock

The Context

AT THE DAWN OF THE 21ST CENTURY a new revolution is gainshy middotingstrength - the Sustainability Revolution The purpose of

this work is to help those ihs~de this revolution as well as those

presently outside better understand where sustainability is coming from and where it might be going

We will begin with a pre-history ofthe SustainabilityRevolution

paying special attention to its relationship with itsrnain precursor the environmental movement of the 1960s and 1970s Next we will

follow the emergence of the Sustainability Revo1ution in the 1980s

and its extraordinary flowering beginning in the 1990s Then we will examine the reasons for the methodology we will use to grasp the revolutions profound and fruitful diversity We then will be in a

11

IL ITYR Evb LUTr ON

~v~~tc~~atcenta multidimensIonalmiddot portrai~ rd-fh~~l t~lS~j~~~~l)ll[ity ~~tQ1ll()day

~~-~~~ -

~~rPill~rtJi$m Th~Pr$curSor i~cMdlfr-$q$tI~AbUit~

l1etu~Qp~n~~S80~fheh~1lt~~~ttr -~tt1flux of light and

middot~iiei~~~~~t=~~ rtl~a~ty~-b~autYl~nguage discipline idealis11l spirits and ptospects2

-~~~~-~()Mth~s~ f~ccenttSl intum)~upp()rts the intuition and io$pilation ofth~individ4~middot __ _ shy

~ -~lt i _

~ih~tso)-rs cteScentripdofi of the natural world is afillrrot was

use I icanshy

wishett jtt1Lr amplr~ai1d ~eejfI~-~otil - - Icame

to -di-e-qi~c()-veuroi c- _The~orksd

- -- --_ _--- - -shy

bull J

-~~transGen

ietthanced -MeJijfthese

tta~~Jjalist-and

-

middotaerita[ist~ll1oVen1~fit1smiddotyenpound~~

byomel writetS cll1dtr WaSrneeaitly- -~(~hcicentntliii~-

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 13

conservationist John Muir who played a pivotal role in bringing

attention to the importance of preserving-Americas wildlands

Unlike the transcendentalists - who saw nature as a way to

reflect the divjne aspect within themselves -- Muir stressed the sysshy

tematic character of the natural world nnd the resulting importance

ofprotecting such vital resources as forests and water supply He also

stressed the crucial role ofwilderness fOrrellleation artdupliftingthe

human spirit Everybody needs beauty asWelLasbreadip1aces to play in and pray in where nature may heaLand give strength to body

1 alk 4and sou 1 e

In books such as Our National Parks (1901) and The Yosemite (1912) Muir traced the impact on Americas wildlands of activities

like sheep and cattle grazing In this way he influenced hiscontemshy

porades including President Theodore Roosevelt to establish a series

of conservation programs and to create Yosemite National Park Muir also was involved in establishing the Sequoia Mount Rainier Petrified Forest and Gtahd Canyon national parks In 1892 he and

hismiddot colleagues founded the Sierra Club) which has hadmiddot a lasting influence on conservation issues to do something for wildness and make the mountains glads

- Following Muirs lead the 1940s American conservationistAldo

Leopold extended the notion of nature as not merely a mirror and

teacher but an ecosystem directly tied to our survival For Leopold cOhservation called for an ethical approach based on respect for the environment

In his essay The Land Ethic inA Sand County Almanac (1949)

he stated

An ethic may be regarded as a mode of guidance for

meeting ecological situations so new or intricate) or

involving such deferred reactions~ that the path of

social expediency is not discernible to the average individuaL Animal instincts are modes of guidance for the individual in meeting such situations Ethics are poss~bly a kind of -community instinct in

the-making6

itAthligtughtl)is waswritten Qyen~~lta~Q)LeQPQld~s vision still starltb ~t) irlilest0J1e iwhoselt6ncern for ethics underlie and inform the Sustaina tPday7 middotArnefi~al1VVrit(ltand natlJr~9~s publication 0pound

~~~~~~~t ~ll Pl~U~t~~$QgA~~ cent1)vipQllm~J1r ~trYern

bull

Slit~tajllah~tf~t~j ()nt11~~~~J~~ltf~~ o~hcentrcenttj

tit~ti$~f

ast~i~~Ait~Ws8i

jA~~~~ mr~ fT im h i~(ii~~f~P ~9i~la~$~meWk~~~~i~rueo~st ~1~ ~~lO~c((Js$Qf~P4y~t~jliJfngttn

Pti1OO

middothJlm~s

9syenstems

fJtSpring ptcentd by the

ifttsion ofenvi~ ~~yen Calsonand

j$lili970 with the

~bple toenthusi~

~t~tl1efir$tEarih Day ed 1 1

~~tllcent)$~PPt~~~iis]centnphUsia$tic responseat theigras~tootsmiddot Nqthing

~~tp=~i~~~~==~ernshyQf=~~=~~~~t~~~= thatl~d dt~middotUSgqv~rnw~nt tQPa~~~~~~sect~~middotmiddot degAir-Act r~tlJ1inp~IQlf$ni~~ter)A~tpiClr(ltoestabshy

tls~ltt~~ul~t9rygg~~~i~~JpoundgaJtt ltoreccion gt~~m~wf(euro~l~~whbsepilrp()~~ ~the envishy

~~-trJ~ ~ign)ficant middotgt~~(bQththcentpP~~middoti ~dsa1)cl united

middotCgt1cent~Jjps~ ~~r~~~ ~~~poundt1)fptlndspiritual tbt~lUl~~tn$$~ttLNV9~l~r2Dadeepunde~shy

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 15

standing of the biological interconnection of all parts of nature including human beings 3) an abiding concern with the potential damage of human impact on the environment and 4) a strongly held commitment to make ethics an integral part of all environshymental activism

Contemporary Environmentalism TheRoots of SustainabUitymiddot

A landmark ev~nt in the history ofc~ntemporaryenvironmentali~m~as the 1972 United Nations Conference on tfl~Human Environment in Stockholm Swden This gathering internationalized the concerns of the American Earth Day events and focused on the regional polshylution especially the acid rai~ problems ofnorthern Europe

Even more important the Stockholm conference marked ~he

first step toward what we -see today as the S1l~tainability Revolution This global fonpn beglliP tne attempt to find positiye]inks b~tweep environmental concerns and economic issues such as development growth and empl6yment 1O As a result of the Stockholm conference numerous national environmental protection agenCies were estabshylished as well as the United Nations Envitonment Programme (UNEP) whose mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring informing and enabliAg nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generationsll

During the 1970s Wes Jackson of The Land Institute and other pioneers brought i0 light the significance of sustainable practices By the late 1970s the disposal of hazardous materials by burning them or dumping them underground or into waterways had become unacceptable The out of sight out of mind approach to toxic waste disposal culminating in the contamination of Love Canal where President Jimmy Carter declared a State ofEmergency in 1978 spawned the creation by the US Congress of the Comprehensive Environmental Respqnse Compensation and Liability Act 0pound198

(CERCLA) comUlonly known as Superfund Superfund deals With

t~~1i~p~~ bullbullraquo) lt

aigalil middotinits~Q pOt~~lorm~t~ms

1~~~~~~f~~I~~J~l~G~~~~ jrJa~gcent~~t~Ji~~$~JRpJy~k~4 dWP()1J1ITli~sQP~ ~

~ tgiRJJPP~$~middotOngj~centl1~(~lYifQnm~pt~~xJapoundyenii~s~~fmiddot~~1lJiieviing susshytain~bl~4~~~J~Fl1lcentn~byenWeY~~~~Qmiddot~sect~~~~~~~1Jl~

1Jcent0mmlil~

middotnbullceirmsmiddotand

C~~=~

~~~~~lVP~9~~~~1f~~liq bull tipcent~nsi~~w~Y$~

nitY~middot4eaLmiddot

middotmiddot~=G~~~~

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 17

the problems of protectiJlg and enhancing the environment a long-term agenda for action during xhe coming decades and aspirational goals for the world community13

In 1984 Worldwatch Institute published its first State of the WorU annual report This repoFtprovided a 17hemost remembered quote

global perspective on the relation between the worlds resource base and

from th~ ~rundtland report

the dynamics of economic developshy defined sustainable

ment We aremiddot living beyond our means largely by b6rrowingagainst the

development as development

future14 Subsequent Worldwatch that meets the needs of the

annual reports helped create aglQbal consciousness about the interconnec

preser1t without compromising

tion of ecologicaleconomic alld the ability of future generations

social issues -shy an awJren~ss soon thrust intolntelnaliinal prornipence

to meet their own needs

by the publkatitgtniof the3rurtdtland report Our Common Future in 1987

The most temembered quote from the Brundtland report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability offuturegenshyerations to meet their own needs l5 While ihis definition ulldoubtedly is important the Brundtland report helped deHfie the Sustainability Revolution in two even more significant ways Institutionally it created the first framework for concerted action to protect the Earth~s life support systel1lswhile promotingmiddot both ecoshynomic andsocial justice goals Conceptually the report contained the first articulation of the key tocontemporarysustainability - the importance of evaluating any proposed iilitiative with reference to theinteracti0l- of threemiddot fundamental criteria ecologyenvironment economyemployment and equityequality known today as the Three Es

Ecology and economy are becoming ever more intershywoven - locally regionally nationally and globally

~ - --- - shy - imiddot

~ih~middot~~i~h-i~-~~~~iiif~~~~J~(~i~~rt

M~~~tl~~1~~~j~C n~eqs QpoundalJ~ndcentxteriding toaHthe oppdrtdti[tyen to f41f1U rneiraspiratloJ1stormiddot flHetter middotlifemiddotAWorlttliln ~~jcllP9y~rtY isende~jc wi11~wayshe

~Wl~r==~

S~~~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

prone to 1-

--

~wliliii~S~Mli~rJlIbhir1~~ia ancliwwtldfltds of

noijli~l~~middots~~taidev~lQpiTientlI~~sQlatcid fields andad([)pted a

glQBalJ~ita~~aM middotfQtJetidil (j))n su~ta1kabl~ develQprrt~n1 iluough AgeIWdan~Qi

middotmiddot~f=~74~~middotmiddot 0 ~~~it~j~~)~~~t 110shy

The~arthampummtt ~$ogelIcenttf1~~~ill~lth~~tat~me1tQpoundPrindples on th~M~ntig~p~nt~0prlservfliti~icentt~~illsecttaJPiable ID(Velop1Jlent of

~SllJl ~Osti(lsth11l~t~stfQt

IL ITYR Evb LUTr ON

~v~~tc~~atcenta multidimensIonalmiddot portrai~ rd-fh~~l t~lS~j~~~~l)ll[ity ~~tQ1ll()day

~~-~~~ -

~~rPill~rtJi$m Th~Pr$curSor i~cMdlfr-$q$tI~AbUit~

l1etu~Qp~n~~S80~fheh~1lt~~~ttr -~tt1flux of light and

middot~iiei~~~~~t=~~ rtl~a~ty~-b~autYl~nguage discipline idealis11l spirits and ptospects2

-~~~~-~()Mth~s~ f~ccenttSl intum)~upp()rts the intuition and io$pilation ofth~individ4~middot __ _ shy

~ -~lt i _

~ih~tso)-rs cteScentripdofi of the natural world is afillrrot was

use I icanshy

wishett jtt1Lr amplr~ai1d ~eejfI~-~otil - - Icame

to -di-e-qi~c()-veuroi c- _The~orksd

- -- --_ _--- - -shy

bull J

-~~transGen

ietthanced -MeJijfthese

tta~~Jjalist-and

-

middotaerita[ist~ll1oVen1~fit1smiddotyenpound~~

byomel writetS cll1dtr WaSrneeaitly- -~(~hcicentntliii~-

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 13

conservationist John Muir who played a pivotal role in bringing

attention to the importance of preserving-Americas wildlands

Unlike the transcendentalists - who saw nature as a way to

reflect the divjne aspect within themselves -- Muir stressed the sysshy

tematic character of the natural world nnd the resulting importance

ofprotecting such vital resources as forests and water supply He also

stressed the crucial role ofwilderness fOrrellleation artdupliftingthe

human spirit Everybody needs beauty asWelLasbreadip1aces to play in and pray in where nature may heaLand give strength to body

1 alk 4and sou 1 e

In books such as Our National Parks (1901) and The Yosemite (1912) Muir traced the impact on Americas wildlands of activities

like sheep and cattle grazing In this way he influenced hiscontemshy

porades including President Theodore Roosevelt to establish a series

of conservation programs and to create Yosemite National Park Muir also was involved in establishing the Sequoia Mount Rainier Petrified Forest and Gtahd Canyon national parks In 1892 he and

hismiddot colleagues founded the Sierra Club) which has hadmiddot a lasting influence on conservation issues to do something for wildness and make the mountains glads

- Following Muirs lead the 1940s American conservationistAldo

Leopold extended the notion of nature as not merely a mirror and

teacher but an ecosystem directly tied to our survival For Leopold cOhservation called for an ethical approach based on respect for the environment

In his essay The Land Ethic inA Sand County Almanac (1949)

he stated

An ethic may be regarded as a mode of guidance for

meeting ecological situations so new or intricate) or

involving such deferred reactions~ that the path of

social expediency is not discernible to the average individuaL Animal instincts are modes of guidance for the individual in meeting such situations Ethics are poss~bly a kind of -community instinct in

the-making6

itAthligtughtl)is waswritten Qyen~~lta~Q)LeQPQld~s vision still starltb ~t) irlilest0J1e iwhoselt6ncern for ethics underlie and inform the Sustaina tPday7 middotArnefi~al1VVrit(ltand natlJr~9~s publication 0pound

~~~~~~~t ~ll Pl~U~t~~$QgA~~ cent1)vipQllm~J1r ~trYern

bull

Slit~tajllah~tf~t~j ()nt11~~~~J~~ltf~~ o~hcentrcenttj

tit~ti$~f

ast~i~~Ait~Ws8i

jA~~~~ mr~ fT im h i~(ii~~f~P ~9i~la~$~meWk~~~~i~rueo~st ~1~ ~~lO~c((Js$Qf~P4y~t~jliJfngttn

Pti1OO

middothJlm~s

9syenstems

fJtSpring ptcentd by the

ifttsion ofenvi~ ~~yen Calsonand

j$lili970 with the

~bple toenthusi~

~t~tl1efir$tEarih Day ed 1 1

~~tllcent)$~PPt~~~iis]centnphUsia$tic responseat theigras~tootsmiddot Nqthing

~~tp=~i~~~~==~ernshyQf=~~=~~~~t~~~= thatl~d dt~middotUSgqv~rnw~nt tQPa~~~~~~sect~~middotmiddot degAir-Act r~tlJ1inp~IQlf$ni~~ter)A~tpiClr(ltoestabshy

tls~ltt~~ul~t9rygg~~~i~~JpoundgaJtt ltoreccion gt~~m~wf(euro~l~~whbsepilrp()~~ ~the envishy

~~-trJ~ ~ign)ficant middotgt~~(bQththcentpP~~middoti ~dsa1)cl united

middotCgt1cent~Jjps~ ~~r~~~ ~~~poundt1)fptlndspiritual tbt~lUl~~tn$$~ttLNV9~l~r2Dadeepunde~shy

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 15

standing of the biological interconnection of all parts of nature including human beings 3) an abiding concern with the potential damage of human impact on the environment and 4) a strongly held commitment to make ethics an integral part of all environshymental activism

Contemporary Environmentalism TheRoots of SustainabUitymiddot

A landmark ev~nt in the history ofc~ntemporaryenvironmentali~m~as the 1972 United Nations Conference on tfl~Human Environment in Stockholm Swden This gathering internationalized the concerns of the American Earth Day events and focused on the regional polshylution especially the acid rai~ problems ofnorthern Europe

Even more important the Stockholm conference marked ~he

first step toward what we -see today as the S1l~tainability Revolution This global fonpn beglliP tne attempt to find positiye]inks b~tweep environmental concerns and economic issues such as development growth and empl6yment 1O As a result of the Stockholm conference numerous national environmental protection agenCies were estabshylished as well as the United Nations Envitonment Programme (UNEP) whose mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring informing and enabliAg nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generationsll

During the 1970s Wes Jackson of The Land Institute and other pioneers brought i0 light the significance of sustainable practices By the late 1970s the disposal of hazardous materials by burning them or dumping them underground or into waterways had become unacceptable The out of sight out of mind approach to toxic waste disposal culminating in the contamination of Love Canal where President Jimmy Carter declared a State ofEmergency in 1978 spawned the creation by the US Congress of the Comprehensive Environmental Respqnse Compensation and Liability Act 0pound198

(CERCLA) comUlonly known as Superfund Superfund deals With

t~~1i~p~~ bullbullraquo) lt

aigalil middotinits~Q pOt~~lorm~t~ms

1~~~~~~f~~I~~J~l~G~~~~ jrJa~gcent~~t~Ji~~$~JRpJy~k~4 dWP()1J1ITli~sQP~ ~

~ tgiRJJPP~$~middotOngj~centl1~(~lYifQnm~pt~~xJapoundyenii~s~~fmiddot~~1lJiieviing susshytain~bl~4~~~J~Fl1lcentn~byenWeY~~~~Qmiddot~sect~~~~~~~1Jl~

1Jcent0mmlil~

middotnbullceirmsmiddotand

C~~=~

~~~~~lVP~9~~~~1f~~liq bull tipcent~nsi~~w~Y$~

nitY~middot4eaLmiddot

middotmiddot~=G~~~~

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 17

the problems of protectiJlg and enhancing the environment a long-term agenda for action during xhe coming decades and aspirational goals for the world community13

In 1984 Worldwatch Institute published its first State of the WorU annual report This repoFtprovided a 17hemost remembered quote

global perspective on the relation between the worlds resource base and

from th~ ~rundtland report

the dynamics of economic developshy defined sustainable

ment We aremiddot living beyond our means largely by b6rrowingagainst the

development as development

future14 Subsequent Worldwatch that meets the needs of the

annual reports helped create aglQbal consciousness about the interconnec

preser1t without compromising

tion of ecologicaleconomic alld the ability of future generations

social issues -shy an awJren~ss soon thrust intolntelnaliinal prornipence

to meet their own needs

by the publkatitgtniof the3rurtdtland report Our Common Future in 1987

The most temembered quote from the Brundtland report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability offuturegenshyerations to meet their own needs l5 While ihis definition ulldoubtedly is important the Brundtland report helped deHfie the Sustainability Revolution in two even more significant ways Institutionally it created the first framework for concerted action to protect the Earth~s life support systel1lswhile promotingmiddot both ecoshynomic andsocial justice goals Conceptually the report contained the first articulation of the key tocontemporarysustainability - the importance of evaluating any proposed iilitiative with reference to theinteracti0l- of threemiddot fundamental criteria ecologyenvironment economyemployment and equityequality known today as the Three Es

Ecology and economy are becoming ever more intershywoven - locally regionally nationally and globally

~ - --- - shy - imiddot

~ih~middot~~i~h-i~-~~~~iiif~~~~J~(~i~~rt

M~~~tl~~1~~~j~C n~eqs QpoundalJ~ndcentxteriding toaHthe oppdrtdti[tyen to f41f1U rneiraspiratloJ1stormiddot flHetter middotlifemiddotAWorlttliln ~~jcllP9y~rtY isende~jc wi11~wayshe

~Wl~r==~

S~~~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

prone to 1-

--

~wliliii~S~Mli~rJlIbhir1~~ia ancliwwtldfltds of

noijli~l~~middots~~taidev~lQpiTientlI~~sQlatcid fields andad([)pted a

glQBalJ~ita~~aM middotfQtJetidil (j))n su~ta1kabl~ develQprrt~n1 iluough AgeIWdan~Qi

middotmiddot~f=~74~~middotmiddot 0 ~~~it~j~~)~~~t 110shy

The~arthampummtt ~$ogelIcenttf1~~~ill~lth~~tat~me1tQpoundPrindples on th~M~ntig~p~nt~0prlservfliti~icentt~~illsecttaJPiable ID(Velop1Jlent of

~SllJl ~Osti(lsth11l~t~stfQt

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 13

conservationist John Muir who played a pivotal role in bringing

attention to the importance of preserving-Americas wildlands

Unlike the transcendentalists - who saw nature as a way to

reflect the divjne aspect within themselves -- Muir stressed the sysshy

tematic character of the natural world nnd the resulting importance

ofprotecting such vital resources as forests and water supply He also

stressed the crucial role ofwilderness fOrrellleation artdupliftingthe

human spirit Everybody needs beauty asWelLasbreadip1aces to play in and pray in where nature may heaLand give strength to body

1 alk 4and sou 1 e

In books such as Our National Parks (1901) and The Yosemite (1912) Muir traced the impact on Americas wildlands of activities

like sheep and cattle grazing In this way he influenced hiscontemshy

porades including President Theodore Roosevelt to establish a series

of conservation programs and to create Yosemite National Park Muir also was involved in establishing the Sequoia Mount Rainier Petrified Forest and Gtahd Canyon national parks In 1892 he and

hismiddot colleagues founded the Sierra Club) which has hadmiddot a lasting influence on conservation issues to do something for wildness and make the mountains glads

- Following Muirs lead the 1940s American conservationistAldo

Leopold extended the notion of nature as not merely a mirror and

teacher but an ecosystem directly tied to our survival For Leopold cOhservation called for an ethical approach based on respect for the environment

In his essay The Land Ethic inA Sand County Almanac (1949)

he stated

An ethic may be regarded as a mode of guidance for

meeting ecological situations so new or intricate) or

involving such deferred reactions~ that the path of

social expediency is not discernible to the average individuaL Animal instincts are modes of guidance for the individual in meeting such situations Ethics are poss~bly a kind of -community instinct in

the-making6

itAthligtughtl)is waswritten Qyen~~lta~Q)LeQPQld~s vision still starltb ~t) irlilest0J1e iwhoselt6ncern for ethics underlie and inform the Sustaina tPday7 middotArnefi~al1VVrit(ltand natlJr~9~s publication 0pound

~~~~~~~t ~ll Pl~U~t~~$QgA~~ cent1)vipQllm~J1r ~trYern

bull

Slit~tajllah~tf~t~j ()nt11~~~~J~~ltf~~ o~hcentrcenttj

tit~ti$~f

ast~i~~Ait~Ws8i

jA~~~~ mr~ fT im h i~(ii~~f~P ~9i~la~$~meWk~~~~i~rueo~st ~1~ ~~lO~c((Js$Qf~P4y~t~jliJfngttn

Pti1OO

middothJlm~s

9syenstems

fJtSpring ptcentd by the

ifttsion ofenvi~ ~~yen Calsonand

j$lili970 with the

~bple toenthusi~

~t~tl1efir$tEarih Day ed 1 1

~~tllcent)$~PPt~~~iis]centnphUsia$tic responseat theigras~tootsmiddot Nqthing

~~tp=~i~~~~==~ernshyQf=~~=~~~~t~~~= thatl~d dt~middotUSgqv~rnw~nt tQPa~~~~~~sect~~middotmiddot degAir-Act r~tlJ1inp~IQlf$ni~~ter)A~tpiClr(ltoestabshy

tls~ltt~~ul~t9rygg~~~i~~JpoundgaJtt ltoreccion gt~~m~wf(euro~l~~whbsepilrp()~~ ~the envishy

~~-trJ~ ~ign)ficant middotgt~~(bQththcentpP~~middoti ~dsa1)cl united

middotCgt1cent~Jjps~ ~~r~~~ ~~~poundt1)fptlndspiritual tbt~lUl~~tn$$~ttLNV9~l~r2Dadeepunde~shy

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 15

standing of the biological interconnection of all parts of nature including human beings 3) an abiding concern with the potential damage of human impact on the environment and 4) a strongly held commitment to make ethics an integral part of all environshymental activism

Contemporary Environmentalism TheRoots of SustainabUitymiddot

A landmark ev~nt in the history ofc~ntemporaryenvironmentali~m~as the 1972 United Nations Conference on tfl~Human Environment in Stockholm Swden This gathering internationalized the concerns of the American Earth Day events and focused on the regional polshylution especially the acid rai~ problems ofnorthern Europe

Even more important the Stockholm conference marked ~he

first step toward what we -see today as the S1l~tainability Revolution This global fonpn beglliP tne attempt to find positiye]inks b~tweep environmental concerns and economic issues such as development growth and empl6yment 1O As a result of the Stockholm conference numerous national environmental protection agenCies were estabshylished as well as the United Nations Envitonment Programme (UNEP) whose mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring informing and enabliAg nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generationsll

During the 1970s Wes Jackson of The Land Institute and other pioneers brought i0 light the significance of sustainable practices By the late 1970s the disposal of hazardous materials by burning them or dumping them underground or into waterways had become unacceptable The out of sight out of mind approach to toxic waste disposal culminating in the contamination of Love Canal where President Jimmy Carter declared a State ofEmergency in 1978 spawned the creation by the US Congress of the Comprehensive Environmental Respqnse Compensation and Liability Act 0pound198

(CERCLA) comUlonly known as Superfund Superfund deals With

t~~1i~p~~ bullbullraquo) lt

aigalil middotinits~Q pOt~~lorm~t~ms

1~~~~~~f~~I~~J~l~G~~~~ jrJa~gcent~~t~Ji~~$~JRpJy~k~4 dWP()1J1ITli~sQP~ ~

~ tgiRJJPP~$~middotOngj~centl1~(~lYifQnm~pt~~xJapoundyenii~s~~fmiddot~~1lJiieviing susshytain~bl~4~~~J~Fl1lcentn~byenWeY~~~~Qmiddot~sect~~~~~~~1Jl~

1Jcent0mmlil~

middotnbullceirmsmiddotand

C~~=~

~~~~~lVP~9~~~~1f~~liq bull tipcent~nsi~~w~Y$~

nitY~middot4eaLmiddot

middotmiddot~=G~~~~

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 17

the problems of protectiJlg and enhancing the environment a long-term agenda for action during xhe coming decades and aspirational goals for the world community13

In 1984 Worldwatch Institute published its first State of the WorU annual report This repoFtprovided a 17hemost remembered quote

global perspective on the relation between the worlds resource base and

from th~ ~rundtland report

the dynamics of economic developshy defined sustainable

ment We aremiddot living beyond our means largely by b6rrowingagainst the

development as development

future14 Subsequent Worldwatch that meets the needs of the

annual reports helped create aglQbal consciousness about the interconnec

preser1t without compromising

tion of ecologicaleconomic alld the ability of future generations

social issues -shy an awJren~ss soon thrust intolntelnaliinal prornipence

to meet their own needs

by the publkatitgtniof the3rurtdtland report Our Common Future in 1987

The most temembered quote from the Brundtland report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability offuturegenshyerations to meet their own needs l5 While ihis definition ulldoubtedly is important the Brundtland report helped deHfie the Sustainability Revolution in two even more significant ways Institutionally it created the first framework for concerted action to protect the Earth~s life support systel1lswhile promotingmiddot both ecoshynomic andsocial justice goals Conceptually the report contained the first articulation of the key tocontemporarysustainability - the importance of evaluating any proposed iilitiative with reference to theinteracti0l- of threemiddot fundamental criteria ecologyenvironment economyemployment and equityequality known today as the Three Es

Ecology and economy are becoming ever more intershywoven - locally regionally nationally and globally

~ - --- - shy - imiddot

~ih~middot~~i~h-i~-~~~~iiif~~~~J~(~i~~rt

M~~~tl~~1~~~j~C n~eqs QpoundalJ~ndcentxteriding toaHthe oppdrtdti[tyen to f41f1U rneiraspiratloJ1stormiddot flHetter middotlifemiddotAWorlttliln ~~jcllP9y~rtY isende~jc wi11~wayshe

~Wl~r==~

S~~~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

prone to 1-

--

~wliliii~S~Mli~rJlIbhir1~~ia ancliwwtldfltds of

noijli~l~~middots~~taidev~lQpiTientlI~~sQlatcid fields andad([)pted a

glQBalJ~ita~~aM middotfQtJetidil (j))n su~ta1kabl~ develQprrt~n1 iluough AgeIWdan~Qi

middotmiddot~f=~74~~middotmiddot 0 ~~~it~j~~)~~~t 110shy

The~arthampummtt ~$ogelIcenttf1~~~ill~lth~~tat~me1tQpoundPrindples on th~M~ntig~p~nt~0prlservfliti~icentt~~illsecttaJPiable ID(Velop1Jlent of

~SllJl ~Osti(lsth11l~t~stfQt

itAthligtughtl)is waswritten Qyen~~lta~Q)LeQPQld~s vision still starltb ~t) irlilest0J1e iwhoselt6ncern for ethics underlie and inform the Sustaina tPday7 middotArnefi~al1VVrit(ltand natlJr~9~s publication 0pound

~~~~~~~t ~ll Pl~U~t~~$QgA~~ cent1)vipQllm~J1r ~trYern

bull

Slit~tajllah~tf~t~j ()nt11~~~~J~~ltf~~ o~hcentrcenttj

tit~ti$~f

ast~i~~Ait~Ws8i

jA~~~~ mr~ fT im h i~(ii~~f~P ~9i~la~$~meWk~~~~i~rueo~st ~1~ ~~lO~c((Js$Qf~P4y~t~jliJfngttn

Pti1OO

middothJlm~s

9syenstems

fJtSpring ptcentd by the

ifttsion ofenvi~ ~~yen Calsonand

j$lili970 with the

~bple toenthusi~

~t~tl1efir$tEarih Day ed 1 1

~~tllcent)$~PPt~~~iis]centnphUsia$tic responseat theigras~tootsmiddot Nqthing

~~tp=~i~~~~==~ernshyQf=~~=~~~~t~~~= thatl~d dt~middotUSgqv~rnw~nt tQPa~~~~~~sect~~middotmiddot degAir-Act r~tlJ1inp~IQlf$ni~~ter)A~tpiClr(ltoestabshy

tls~ltt~~ul~t9rygg~~~i~~JpoundgaJtt ltoreccion gt~~m~wf(euro~l~~whbsepilrp()~~ ~the envishy

~~-trJ~ ~ign)ficant middotgt~~(bQththcentpP~~middoti ~dsa1)cl united

middotCgt1cent~Jjps~ ~~r~~~ ~~~poundt1)fptlndspiritual tbt~lUl~~tn$$~ttLNV9~l~r2Dadeepunde~shy

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 15

standing of the biological interconnection of all parts of nature including human beings 3) an abiding concern with the potential damage of human impact on the environment and 4) a strongly held commitment to make ethics an integral part of all environshymental activism

Contemporary Environmentalism TheRoots of SustainabUitymiddot

A landmark ev~nt in the history ofc~ntemporaryenvironmentali~m~as the 1972 United Nations Conference on tfl~Human Environment in Stockholm Swden This gathering internationalized the concerns of the American Earth Day events and focused on the regional polshylution especially the acid rai~ problems ofnorthern Europe

Even more important the Stockholm conference marked ~he

first step toward what we -see today as the S1l~tainability Revolution This global fonpn beglliP tne attempt to find positiye]inks b~tweep environmental concerns and economic issues such as development growth and empl6yment 1O As a result of the Stockholm conference numerous national environmental protection agenCies were estabshylished as well as the United Nations Envitonment Programme (UNEP) whose mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring informing and enabliAg nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generationsll

During the 1970s Wes Jackson of The Land Institute and other pioneers brought i0 light the significance of sustainable practices By the late 1970s the disposal of hazardous materials by burning them or dumping them underground or into waterways had become unacceptable The out of sight out of mind approach to toxic waste disposal culminating in the contamination of Love Canal where President Jimmy Carter declared a State ofEmergency in 1978 spawned the creation by the US Congress of the Comprehensive Environmental Respqnse Compensation and Liability Act 0pound198

(CERCLA) comUlonly known as Superfund Superfund deals With

t~~1i~p~~ bullbullraquo) lt

aigalil middotinits~Q pOt~~lorm~t~ms

1~~~~~~f~~I~~J~l~G~~~~ jrJa~gcent~~t~Ji~~$~JRpJy~k~4 dWP()1J1ITli~sQP~ ~

~ tgiRJJPP~$~middotOngj~centl1~(~lYifQnm~pt~~xJapoundyenii~s~~fmiddot~~1lJiieviing susshytain~bl~4~~~J~Fl1lcentn~byenWeY~~~~Qmiddot~sect~~~~~~~1Jl~

1Jcent0mmlil~

middotnbullceirmsmiddotand

C~~=~

~~~~~lVP~9~~~~1f~~liq bull tipcent~nsi~~w~Y$~

nitY~middot4eaLmiddot

middotmiddot~=G~~~~

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 17

the problems of protectiJlg and enhancing the environment a long-term agenda for action during xhe coming decades and aspirational goals for the world community13

In 1984 Worldwatch Institute published its first State of the WorU annual report This repoFtprovided a 17hemost remembered quote

global perspective on the relation between the worlds resource base and

from th~ ~rundtland report

the dynamics of economic developshy defined sustainable

ment We aremiddot living beyond our means largely by b6rrowingagainst the

development as development

future14 Subsequent Worldwatch that meets the needs of the

annual reports helped create aglQbal consciousness about the interconnec

preser1t without compromising

tion of ecologicaleconomic alld the ability of future generations

social issues -shy an awJren~ss soon thrust intolntelnaliinal prornipence

to meet their own needs

by the publkatitgtniof the3rurtdtland report Our Common Future in 1987

The most temembered quote from the Brundtland report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability offuturegenshyerations to meet their own needs l5 While ihis definition ulldoubtedly is important the Brundtland report helped deHfie the Sustainability Revolution in two even more significant ways Institutionally it created the first framework for concerted action to protect the Earth~s life support systel1lswhile promotingmiddot both ecoshynomic andsocial justice goals Conceptually the report contained the first articulation of the key tocontemporarysustainability - the importance of evaluating any proposed iilitiative with reference to theinteracti0l- of threemiddot fundamental criteria ecologyenvironment economyemployment and equityequality known today as the Three Es

Ecology and economy are becoming ever more intershywoven - locally regionally nationally and globally

~ - --- - shy - imiddot

~ih~middot~~i~h-i~-~~~~iiif~~~~J~(~i~~rt

M~~~tl~~1~~~j~C n~eqs QpoundalJ~ndcentxteriding toaHthe oppdrtdti[tyen to f41f1U rneiraspiratloJ1stormiddot flHetter middotlifemiddotAWorlttliln ~~jcllP9y~rtY isende~jc wi11~wayshe

~Wl~r==~

S~~~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

prone to 1-

--

~wliliii~S~Mli~rJlIbhir1~~ia ancliwwtldfltds of

noijli~l~~middots~~taidev~lQpiTientlI~~sQlatcid fields andad([)pted a

glQBalJ~ita~~aM middotfQtJetidil (j))n su~ta1kabl~ develQprrt~n1 iluough AgeIWdan~Qi

middotmiddot~f=~74~~middotmiddot 0 ~~~it~j~~)~~~t 110shy

The~arthampummtt ~$ogelIcenttf1~~~ill~lth~~tat~me1tQpoundPrindples on th~M~ntig~p~nt~0prlservfliti~icentt~~illsecttaJPiable ID(Velop1Jlent of

~SllJl ~Osti(lsth11l~t~stfQt

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 15

standing of the biological interconnection of all parts of nature including human beings 3) an abiding concern with the potential damage of human impact on the environment and 4) a strongly held commitment to make ethics an integral part of all environshymental activism

Contemporary Environmentalism TheRoots of SustainabUitymiddot

A landmark ev~nt in the history ofc~ntemporaryenvironmentali~m~as the 1972 United Nations Conference on tfl~Human Environment in Stockholm Swden This gathering internationalized the concerns of the American Earth Day events and focused on the regional polshylution especially the acid rai~ problems ofnorthern Europe

Even more important the Stockholm conference marked ~he

first step toward what we -see today as the S1l~tainability Revolution This global fonpn beglliP tne attempt to find positiye]inks b~tweep environmental concerns and economic issues such as development growth and empl6yment 1O As a result of the Stockholm conference numerous national environmental protection agenCies were estabshylished as well as the United Nations Envitonment Programme (UNEP) whose mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring informing and enabliAg nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generationsll

During the 1970s Wes Jackson of The Land Institute and other pioneers brought i0 light the significance of sustainable practices By the late 1970s the disposal of hazardous materials by burning them or dumping them underground or into waterways had become unacceptable The out of sight out of mind approach to toxic waste disposal culminating in the contamination of Love Canal where President Jimmy Carter declared a State ofEmergency in 1978 spawned the creation by the US Congress of the Comprehensive Environmental Respqnse Compensation and Liability Act 0pound198

(CERCLA) comUlonly known as Superfund Superfund deals With

t~~1i~p~~ bullbullraquo) lt

aigalil middotinits~Q pOt~~lorm~t~ms

1~~~~~~f~~I~~J~l~G~~~~ jrJa~gcent~~t~Ji~~$~JRpJy~k~4 dWP()1J1ITli~sQP~ ~

~ tgiRJJPP~$~middotOngj~centl1~(~lYifQnm~pt~~xJapoundyenii~s~~fmiddot~~1lJiieviing susshytain~bl~4~~~J~Fl1lcentn~byenWeY~~~~Qmiddot~sect~~~~~~~1Jl~

1Jcent0mmlil~

middotnbullceirmsmiddotand

C~~=~

~~~~~lVP~9~~~~1f~~liq bull tipcent~nsi~~w~Y$~

nitY~middot4eaLmiddot

middotmiddot~=G~~~~

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 17

the problems of protectiJlg and enhancing the environment a long-term agenda for action during xhe coming decades and aspirational goals for the world community13

In 1984 Worldwatch Institute published its first State of the WorU annual report This repoFtprovided a 17hemost remembered quote

global perspective on the relation between the worlds resource base and

from th~ ~rundtland report

the dynamics of economic developshy defined sustainable

ment We aremiddot living beyond our means largely by b6rrowingagainst the

development as development

future14 Subsequent Worldwatch that meets the needs of the

annual reports helped create aglQbal consciousness about the interconnec

preser1t without compromising

tion of ecologicaleconomic alld the ability of future generations

social issues -shy an awJren~ss soon thrust intolntelnaliinal prornipence

to meet their own needs

by the publkatitgtniof the3rurtdtland report Our Common Future in 1987

The most temembered quote from the Brundtland report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability offuturegenshyerations to meet their own needs l5 While ihis definition ulldoubtedly is important the Brundtland report helped deHfie the Sustainability Revolution in two even more significant ways Institutionally it created the first framework for concerted action to protect the Earth~s life support systel1lswhile promotingmiddot both ecoshynomic andsocial justice goals Conceptually the report contained the first articulation of the key tocontemporarysustainability - the importance of evaluating any proposed iilitiative with reference to theinteracti0l- of threemiddot fundamental criteria ecologyenvironment economyemployment and equityequality known today as the Three Es

Ecology and economy are becoming ever more intershywoven - locally regionally nationally and globally

~ - --- - shy - imiddot

~ih~middot~~i~h-i~-~~~~iiif~~~~J~(~i~~rt

M~~~tl~~1~~~j~C n~eqs QpoundalJ~ndcentxteriding toaHthe oppdrtdti[tyen to f41f1U rneiraspiratloJ1stormiddot flHetter middotlifemiddotAWorlttliln ~~jcllP9y~rtY isende~jc wi11~wayshe

~Wl~r==~

S~~~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

prone to 1-

--

~wliliii~S~Mli~rJlIbhir1~~ia ancliwwtldfltds of

noijli~l~~middots~~taidev~lQpiTientlI~~sQlatcid fields andad([)pted a

glQBalJ~ita~~aM middotfQtJetidil (j))n su~ta1kabl~ develQprrt~n1 iluough AgeIWdan~Qi

middotmiddot~f=~74~~middotmiddot 0 ~~~it~j~~)~~~t 110shy

The~arthampummtt ~$ogelIcenttf1~~~ill~lth~~tat~me1tQpoundPrindples on th~M~ntig~p~nt~0prlservfliti~icentt~~illsecttaJPiable ID(Velop1Jlent of

~SllJl ~Osti(lsth11l~t~stfQt

t~~1i~p~~ bullbullraquo) lt

aigalil middotinits~Q pOt~~lorm~t~ms

1~~~~~~f~~I~~J~l~G~~~~ jrJa~gcent~~t~Ji~~$~JRpJy~k~4 dWP()1J1ITli~sQP~ ~

~ tgiRJJPP~$~middotOngj~centl1~(~lYifQnm~pt~~xJapoundyenii~s~~fmiddot~~1lJiieviing susshytain~bl~4~~~J~Fl1lcentn~byenWeY~~~~Qmiddot~sect~~~~~~~1Jl~

1Jcent0mmlil~

middotnbullceirmsmiddotand

C~~=~

~~~~~lVP~9~~~~1f~~liq bull tipcent~nsi~~w~Y$~

nitY~middot4eaLmiddot

middotmiddot~=G~~~~

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 17

the problems of protectiJlg and enhancing the environment a long-term agenda for action during xhe coming decades and aspirational goals for the world community13

In 1984 Worldwatch Institute published its first State of the WorU annual report This repoFtprovided a 17hemost remembered quote

global perspective on the relation between the worlds resource base and

from th~ ~rundtland report

the dynamics of economic developshy defined sustainable

ment We aremiddot living beyond our means largely by b6rrowingagainst the

development as development

future14 Subsequent Worldwatch that meets the needs of the

annual reports helped create aglQbal consciousness about the interconnec

preser1t without compromising

tion of ecologicaleconomic alld the ability of future generations

social issues -shy an awJren~ss soon thrust intolntelnaliinal prornipence

to meet their own needs

by the publkatitgtniof the3rurtdtland report Our Common Future in 1987

The most temembered quote from the Brundtland report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability offuturegenshyerations to meet their own needs l5 While ihis definition ulldoubtedly is important the Brundtland report helped deHfie the Sustainability Revolution in two even more significant ways Institutionally it created the first framework for concerted action to protect the Earth~s life support systel1lswhile promotingmiddot both ecoshynomic andsocial justice goals Conceptually the report contained the first articulation of the key tocontemporarysustainability - the importance of evaluating any proposed iilitiative with reference to theinteracti0l- of threemiddot fundamental criteria ecologyenvironment economyemployment and equityequality known today as the Three Es

Ecology and economy are becoming ever more intershywoven - locally regionally nationally and globally

~ - --- - shy - imiddot

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prone to 1-

--

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~SllJl ~Osti(lsth11l~t~stfQt

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 17

the problems of protectiJlg and enhancing the environment a long-term agenda for action during xhe coming decades and aspirational goals for the world community13

In 1984 Worldwatch Institute published its first State of the WorU annual report This repoFtprovided a 17hemost remembered quote

global perspective on the relation between the worlds resource base and

from th~ ~rundtland report

the dynamics of economic developshy defined sustainable

ment We aremiddot living beyond our means largely by b6rrowingagainst the

development as development

future14 Subsequent Worldwatch that meets the needs of the

annual reports helped create aglQbal consciousness about the interconnec

preser1t without compromising

tion of ecologicaleconomic alld the ability of future generations

social issues -shy an awJren~ss soon thrust intolntelnaliinal prornipence

to meet their own needs

by the publkatitgtniof the3rurtdtland report Our Common Future in 1987

The most temembered quote from the Brundtland report defined sustainable development as development that meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability offuturegenshyerations to meet their own needs l5 While ihis definition ulldoubtedly is important the Brundtland report helped deHfie the Sustainability Revolution in two even more significant ways Institutionally it created the first framework for concerted action to protect the Earth~s life support systel1lswhile promotingmiddot both ecoshynomic andsocial justice goals Conceptually the report contained the first articulation of the key tocontemporarysustainability - the importance of evaluating any proposed iilitiative with reference to theinteracti0l- of threemiddot fundamental criteria ecologyenvironment economyemployment and equityequality known today as the Three Es

Ecology and economy are becoming ever more intershywoven - locally regionally nationally and globally

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~Wl~r==~

S~~~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

prone to 1-

--

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The~arthampummtt ~$ogelIcenttf1~~~ill~lth~~tat~me1tQpoundPrindples on th~M~ntig~p~nt~0prlservfliti~icentt~~illsecttaJPiable ID(Velop1Jlent of

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~ - --- - shy - imiddot

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~Wl~r==~

S~~~middotmiddotmiddotmiddotmiddot

prone to 1-

--

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noijli~l~~middots~~taidev~lQpiTientlI~~sQlatcid fields andad([)pted a

glQBalJ~ita~~aM middotfQtJetidil (j))n su~ta1kabl~ develQprrt~n1 iluough AgeIWdan~Qi

middotmiddot~f=~74~~middotmiddot 0 ~~~it~j~~)~~~t 110shy

The~arthampummtt ~$ogelIcenttf1~~~ill~lth~~tat~me1tQpoundPrindples on th~M~ntig~p~nt~0prlservfliti~icentt~~illsecttaJPiable ID(Velop1Jlent of

~SllJl ~Osti(lsth11l~t~stfQt

THE BIRTH OF SUSTAINABILITY 19

All Types of Forests 2) the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 3) the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and 4) a

2orecommendation for an internationalconventioli on desertification

Following the Earth Summit President Bill Clinton in 1993 established the Presidents Coul1cilon Sustainable Development (PCSD) headed by Ray Anderson chairman and CEO ofInterface

Iric~ Building on the work of the Earth Summit the Council proshyvided a domemiddotstic agenda for sustainable development The nHssion of the PCSD was to

bull Porge consensus on policy by bringing together diverse interests to identify and aevelop innovative economic envrro~niel1tal arid social policies and strategies

bull Demonstrate implememation of policy that fosterssustaitpble development by working with diverse int~rests to identify and qemonstrate implementatIon of sustainable development

bull Get the word OqtaPoUt susr~nable development and -

bull Evaluate andrltport pn progress by recommending national community and ~pterpri$e level frameworks for tracking susshytainable development+1

In 1999 after more than 40 public meetings and workshops the Council completed its third and final teport Towards a Sustainable America AdvanCing Prosperity Opportunity and a Healthy Environment for the 21st Century The report recommended 140 actions that aimed to improve our economy protect our environshy

ment and improve our quality of life Many of ~hes~ action~ address important current issues like sprawl climate chang~ urban renewal

and corporate environmental responsibi1ity~22

In 2002 the World Summit on Sustainable Development WSSD) conference was held in Johannesburg South Mrica with

the intention middotof having a review ten years after the 1992 Earth $ommit in Rio The outcomes ofthe conference included a Inan of

ilimplementationandThcohannesburgDeclarationon Sustainable Wevelopment The Plan of Implementation designed a me~sJbr

r~ bull tni~sect~F~ifAlNAJr I

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lA Sustainahi~ityRev61utioh became a middotdiy~r$e~~Q~Wid~multicultutalai1d multiperspective revolution hgtiU1t~t~itiJQthe ThreeE-smiddotl ~cplQ~~nvillQnment 2) econmy

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THE BI RTHO F SUS TA I NAB IL IT Y 21

In this dual context the key innovation of sustainability is its

expansion of the earlier focus of environmentalism on the preservashy

tion and management of ecologyenvironment the First E to

include on an equal basis issues related to cconomyemployment

(the Second E) and equityequality the Third B) Beca~se of this

expanded focus the So-stainability Revolution offers the possibility

of a much broader coalition forpo~itive change both within and among societies Rather than pittingccrreeJ1luggers against lumbershy

jacks -- so often the trope of environmental discourse -- sustain

ability seeks a context in which the legititnateinterests of all parties

can be satisfied to a greater or lesser extent always within the frame

work of concern for equity

At the global level sustainahilitymiddot is briented toward solutions

that do not doom developing countries to a permanently secondary

place in the world economy under the rubric of environmental proshy

tection If for exainple -the industrial nations want Brazil to stop

the catastrophic deciri1ation of the Amazon rainforest they must

help Brazil flndan alternative path to economic development -shy

preferably one that will contribute to the eradication of the brUtal

favelas in which so many poor Brazilians live

With this background understood we now can turn to a brief

examination of each of the ThreeEs

The firstE ec()logyenvir9nm~nt

There are three crucial issues in eGological sustainability 1) shortshy

term versus long-term perspective 2) piecemeal versus systemic

understanding of the indispensability of ecosystems for the viability

of human existence and 3) the concept of built-in limits to the

human impact that ecosystems can sustain

Environmental sustainability requires the lorig-termviability ofour

resource use especially in areas such as resource extraction agriculture

transportation manufacturing and building At the same time civishy

lized human existence necessarily includes such basics as clean air and

water heating and coolil)g and food that is safe to eat -allofwhich

are dependentmiddot on the successful functioning of major ecosys~ems

THlt$USTA IIJABI LITY REVO LUTI a N

lhftib5i~JcoJltextthe concept of ecosyStem servi(JeuroSrbecomes sigshynificantBroadly speaking these can be definedas(tdTe conditions andproceurosses through which natural ecosystems and the species that p1~~fheJ11up~ SJlstaiJlanclfulflU human life These services ~ri~lticleApuriflcatiblfofair~nd middotwa~er mitigation of floods and cdr~1tlltamptssd~tbxifitationanltdmiddotdedotnPositjon ofwastes ~ bull taudJp011i natiQnotcropsand naiuralvegercanion bullbull 7~

TIhed~istel)~eof1iwi~sOllIeco~ystemscID1 besimply illustrated bX theecologicalclisisfatidIQngtermecQnotpic dislocadoncreated by

the-desiruCt1ltigtfl ofoceapsby~Yerfi$hlng~ fbl1esrsby cleatcuttingmiddotand fresh af~amp bytQXl1iHi

l$d poliliurainis

J The $_00(1 JE eCQnQm~~rnpIQYllJet - Economic sustainabilitydeparts fromtraditional environmentalism ill itsltt~~(I)glljti9nof the Jmportance of providing secure long-term employment without j~opardizing tIre health of ecosysterrrs~

are~tinfra heal~hyenjenvit9~ent~dpoundteeoKpolhltionancltoIDc waste apd$inntltarrcentltitu~IYfproNi-clingthebasis for a dynamketoitomythat ~fHendtlrei formiddot a~extencled feriodare viewed ascompl~meritary rather than conflicting endeavors middotlit is cfuciaLtonote that what Paul Hawken and Amory

and Hunter Lovins call naturalcapital made up ofresources living systems arid ecosystem services is as important for economic development as the more convehfional1y reGoghiz~dmiddothumafl

financial and manufactured forms of capital26 By pointing oUt this key (though often ignored) aspect ofecQnQhticdevelopshymentsustaiilabiHtyPJak~s tmoryr~alJstic asse-SS1ntflt of the dy~ami~s of lon~tett1iltfc91iQmisiptivityiPhan=dbmiddot~conventional economics ~ an ach1everoenttnaOcent middot~Utheampl1lore powerful andappeaUngmiddot byasiinJ4Ititrr~tgtils ~aWi~icentmiddotness ~f tire need for social jtls~ice Ug y

The th ird Eteq~Yi~yt~q~Il~~~~ ThisthirdaspeeurotofSlls~~l~1)iLi~aeuroosa~ehie0pound cotnmllniry to the existin~ mix of ea(1)lQgi~a11iiiba8centd 101)~terfuecqn9fni(develop-

THE BI RTHO F 5 U 5TA I NAB I LIT y 23

ment Community~building recognizes the importance of coopera~

tionand concern for ones neighbor At a fundamental level membersofa sustainable community understand that the wellbeing of the individual and the larger cOIl11l1unity are Interdependent

Social cohesion compassion al-d tolerance are more likely to thrive inaneQviromnent where all members of the cOll1munity feeLthctt theircoritribution t6 the whole is appreciated and where anequi table distributiofl of resources is recqgnizedasessentialforthe long~terlll viability0f the society

At the level of the nation-state equityequality addressd the fair distribution of such resources as food affordable h~using health care education job training and professional opportunities Globally inequities such as famine and homelessness are seen as problems of distribution rather than lack of resources Just and equitable resource allocation is notsi11lply ethical but essential for the wellbeing of the larger community - in this case the

entire world

The three ~s plus one education28

The Three Es and their interaction are made even more powerful by an active commitment to public education Education is the catalyst for helping everyone unde~stand the dynamic nature of the interreshylationship of the Three Es Through education we gain knowledge with which to overcome the cognitive and normative- and hence emotional - obstacles to understanding our global dilemma Throligh education sustainability can become firmly established within the existing value structure of societies while simultaneously helping that value structure evolve toward a more viable long-term approach to systemic global problems

The Methodology F~damental Principles

It is in this context of the Three Es Plus One that we turn to the question ofhow tocreat~ a nuanced dynamic and multidimensionshyalportrait of the Sustainability-Revolution tOday

SU~rfillINA~ IL ITY - -- - shy

shy shy - - - -

simiddot~~~~reg ~pcenttspace

isA1agtii~~rbifSen$ttofthe

REVa Lutl a N

1Tt~t~1ieitclti1lV~fcanbestbe undertakenmiddot through ananalysis of the ~tyenl~riJent~pfincip~s that each organization identifying itselfwith sti$taimiddotni1hjUtt1ays out aMhe beginningofitspublicself-den11ition -- whethetiildaitochures booMets and otherstandardmedia or on webshy

~yen t~Q~$onundal1lentalFl1inoipl~s By deGnitionrapiiin91ple xeq1Ji1ements andobligations of right conshy

diUC)~I~~ARt~emerlt poundprinciples provides)thegwidingmiddotmiddotsensemiddotor basi~~ilt~otiotl5 middotthatltUy organizatiollwill MseinQr1(tnting itselfto the wotlclltUlphlin lptikingQe([)isjo~s lil-pound0t)Gl1etesituations Principles pl~y~ l~~Y r~le insetciflg tnecoutext for the ethical choices that or~izatioll~ makebull

Themiddotf0Cus on prillciplesltcan help uS makesense ofsustainability in the wake of the explosio11of groups identifying themselves with thet-eYoltl~iC)nsince the-publication of the Brundtlaad reportmiddotin 19$iJfh(jpoundloweting ofolganizations worldwide ~laimlrtg adherence tos-U$t~inabiliryi1lll$trates the popularity of this-selF-identification An Ibte)1let~(arcb on any aspect of sustainability yields thousands orindivfdufds organizatioflsanF goverrimet1tagendes professing al1~gJ~lnce]toiSl4stainablepractices Thehest way ito gain a wellshyrounuf1clperspectiveltbJ11 their multiple viewpoints isect tofocus-on the ftrndamentalmiddot principles these groups articulate

We s~~ flvemiddotteasotlst6focus on these fundamentai prinCiples

1 Amiddot statemeIltofJgtrinc~pLes isall110st wwaYs ope oflhe first messhys~gfsect thesft grolJps present ~nd th~r~for~ would seem very important to the groups theffis4ves

2 A1tnougl1 in s0rrreicaStlS there aregips tli(reisacfitiqU stnictutshy at conhecdon betWeen middottnepriiyenclples and tfie Mtions these groupscltteurolnipt tdtake

3 Thd~p1ttiic1pf~i pieS~fttF~Ji~middot~titliot~~ pets~etti~e~in their Ovyn words

4 Examin1ngmiddotStateDiletIlisofipri1l(11eurosmiddotis a euroooveuronintmiddot and concise tool for thcentaiia1y~iSLOeStJ~ftMna~i1iWas a~wh()leuro

THE BI RTHO F 5 US TAl NAB I LIT Y 25

5 To the best of our knowledge this is the first comprehensive analytical study of these statements of principles

Criteria for Selecting Principles 30

We have used five criteria for selecting the organizations and indishyviduals whose fundamental principles we will examine These criteshy

na are

1 obtaining a wide range of viewpoints on sustainability

2 including perspectives from individuals organizations and govshyernment agencies

3 incorporating cross-cultural viewpoints on sustainability by examinipg work done by groups from a variety of different culshytures and nation-states

4 examining industries that have a close association with our basic human needs (such as food shelter and energy) and natural resources (such as petroleum wood and fisheries)

5 including sustainability perspectives from various levels -local regional national global and from diverse fields of endeavor including science philosophy business and architecture

Using these criteria we have chosen to analyze sustainability principles in five basic categories These are

1 community

2 commerce

3 natural resources

4 ecological design

5 the biosphere

Although education originally was designated as a distinct cate~

gory it has been integrated into all the others Since it provides a way to understand and evaluate the perspectives of all the principles education is at the foundation of sustainability31

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~L26fkE SU8Tj JIJA BI LI T Y REVa LUT 10 N - j lgt --

-~ji---~i~~-- --- N ~- -- -- -

Formillennia the AlJ~tra1ian Abotigihes have relied onasysrgin of $ohgUne5 tracks created by their ancestors that qefine the phhical lapdsdtpe and serve as guid~posts during th~ir travels These ldnd~ niaikS~onjltreSt6ries illustIatihg the laws the Aborigines try to ft)ll6Wfotiiving with nature aridnavigating their seetnihgly4)~rtefi

and itrhospitable land They ref~rt0 th~ S~dglhyenes asthe~~Way of the LaWoJgt the

laquoFootiilfihtsQ~tfB~middot~~est()rsectt ptqyidjfig9Rtha land ethic and a

compaSS fo~ c()hnedlngih ahain1bl1ious way ~i~th~ land and their cOmfuVdll1ies curr~nt~iidpasectti

) i - -~

[Elach~ totemicahcsidrwltii1e trav~UHigtf1rough the country was thought to have sdittcentred a trail of

words and musical ncites along the Hnecnf his foot pDintsgnd ~~these Dreaming-tracks lay over the land as ~Ways of communication between the most

farYdIq1lg tlih(1s A song was bom m~PaAddirec- tioA~thlderPrqvi4illg you knew the songmiddotyen()1l could aJwilYsfll1d yQUIJ waytgrpss cou~try bull~ In theory at leastthe wh6leof Australia could be read as a musishy

caLS401i there washardly a rock OJ creek ill the cOllntry that could not [be] or had not beep-sung One shollld perhaps visualize the Songiines asa spaghetti of Iliads and Odysseys writhing this way arid that inwhieh every episode was teadable in

terms of geology32

The prindplesof S4stail1abilhy are like the Son~lines of the Abqrigines They tepresentthe footprints of the variciu~ groups that make up the $lrst~hability Revolution Like the Songlines these

statenlents)fftdricentlpl~$~dcoate al~~ioQps iUuesarczhtveits histoshyryandjfidicat~y thefutulcentdirectikit1centf ltsactihs Understanding thesestat~ments esecth~ltllightQJil the motivatiQusQfthegrQUps in the Sustainability Reolutiq~aniproviltle awayofttacking the evoshy

THlt$USTA IIJABI LITY REVO LUTI a N

lhftib5i~JcoJltextthe concept of ecosyStem servi(JeuroSrbecomes sigshynificantBroadly speaking these can be definedas(tdTe conditions andproceurosses through which natural ecosystems and the species that p1~~fheJ11up~ SJlstaiJlanclfulflU human life These services ~ri~lticleApuriflcatiblfofair~nd middotwa~er mitigation of floods and cdr~1tlltamptssd~tbxifitationanltdmiddotdedotnPositjon ofwastes ~ bull taudJp011i natiQnotcropsand naiuralvegercanion bullbull 7~

TIhed~istel)~eof1iwi~sOllIeco~ystemscID1 besimply illustrated bX theecologicalclisisfatidIQngtermecQnotpic dislocadoncreated by

the-desiruCt1ltigtfl ofoceapsby~Yerfi$hlng~ fbl1esrsby cleatcuttingmiddotand fresh af~amp bytQXl1iHi

l$d poliliurainis

J The $_00(1 JE eCQnQm~~rnpIQYllJet - Economic sustainabilitydeparts fromtraditional environmentalism ill itsltt~~(I)glljti9nof the Jmportance of providing secure long-term employment without j~opardizing tIre health of ecosysterrrs~

are~tinfra heal~hyenjenvit9~ent~dpoundteeoKpolhltionancltoIDc waste apd$inntltarrcentltitu~IYfproNi-clingthebasis for a dynamketoitomythat ~fHendtlrei formiddot a~extencled feriodare viewed ascompl~meritary rather than conflicting endeavors middotlit is cfuciaLtonote that what Paul Hawken and Amory

and Hunter Lovins call naturalcapital made up ofresources living systems arid ecosystem services is as important for economic development as the more convehfional1y reGoghiz~dmiddothumafl

financial and manufactured forms of capital26 By pointing oUt this key (though often ignored) aspect ofecQnQhticdevelopshymentsustaiilabiHtyPJak~s tmoryr~alJstic asse-SS1ntflt of the dy~ami~s of lon~tett1iltfc91iQmisiptivityiPhan=dbmiddot~conventional economics ~ an ach1everoenttnaOcent middot~Utheampl1lore powerful andappeaUngmiddot byasiinJ4Ititrr~tgtils ~aWi~icentmiddotness ~f tire need for social jtls~ice Ug y

The th ird Eteq~Yi~yt~q~Il~~~~ ThisthirdaspeeurotofSlls~~l~1)iLi~aeuroosa~ehie0pound cotnmllniry to the existin~ mix of ea(1)lQgi~a11iiiba8centd 101)~terfuecqn9fni(develop-

THE BI RTHO F 5 U 5TA I NAB I LIT y 23

ment Community~building recognizes the importance of coopera~

tionand concern for ones neighbor At a fundamental level membersofa sustainable community understand that the wellbeing of the individual and the larger cOIl11l1unity are Interdependent

Social cohesion compassion al-d tolerance are more likely to thrive inaneQviromnent where all members of the cOll1munity feeLthctt theircoritribution t6 the whole is appreciated and where anequi table distributiofl of resources is recqgnizedasessentialforthe long~terlll viability0f the society

At the level of the nation-state equityequality addressd the fair distribution of such resources as food affordable h~using health care education job training and professional opportunities Globally inequities such as famine and homelessness are seen as problems of distribution rather than lack of resources Just and equitable resource allocation is notsi11lply ethical but essential for the wellbeing of the larger community - in this case the

entire world

The three ~s plus one education28

The Three Es and their interaction are made even more powerful by an active commitment to public education Education is the catalyst for helping everyone unde~stand the dynamic nature of the interreshylationship of the Three Es Through education we gain knowledge with which to overcome the cognitive and normative- and hence emotional - obstacles to understanding our global dilemma Throligh education sustainability can become firmly established within the existing value structure of societies while simultaneously helping that value structure evolve toward a more viable long-term approach to systemic global problems

The Methodology F~damental Principles

It is in this context of the Three Es Plus One that we turn to the question ofhow tocreat~ a nuanced dynamic and multidimensionshyalportrait of the Sustainability-Revolution tOday

SU~rfillINA~ IL ITY - -- - shy

shy shy - - - -

simiddot~~~~reg ~pcenttspace

isA1agtii~~rbifSen$ttofthe

REVa Lutl a N

1Tt~t~1ieitclti1lV~fcanbestbe undertakenmiddot through ananalysis of the ~tyenl~riJent~pfincip~s that each organization identifying itselfwith sti$taimiddotni1hjUtt1ays out aMhe beginningofitspublicself-den11ition -- whethetiildaitochures booMets and otherstandardmedia or on webshy

~yen t~Q~$onundal1lentalFl1inoipl~s By deGnitionrapiiin91ple xeq1Ji1ements andobligations of right conshy

diUC)~I~~ARt~emerlt poundprinciples provides)thegwidingmiddotmiddotsensemiddotor basi~~ilt~otiotl5 middotthatltUy organizatiollwill MseinQr1(tnting itselfto the wotlclltUlphlin lptikingQe([)isjo~s lil-pound0t)Gl1etesituations Principles pl~y~ l~~Y r~le insetciflg tnecoutext for the ethical choices that or~izatioll~ makebull

Themiddotf0Cus on prillciplesltcan help uS makesense ofsustainability in the wake of the explosio11of groups identifying themselves with thet-eYoltl~iC)nsince the-publication of the Brundtlaad reportmiddotin 19$iJfh(jpoundloweting ofolganizations worldwide ~laimlrtg adherence tos-U$t~inabiliryi1lll$trates the popularity of this-selF-identification An Ibte)1let~(arcb on any aspect of sustainability yields thousands orindivfdufds organizatioflsanF goverrimet1tagendes professing al1~gJ~lnce]toiSl4stainablepractices Thehest way ito gain a wellshyrounuf1clperspectiveltbJ11 their multiple viewpoints isect tofocus-on the ftrndamentalmiddot principles these groups articulate

We s~~ flvemiddotteasotlst6focus on these fundamentai prinCiples

1 Amiddot statemeIltofJgtrinc~pLes isall110st wwaYs ope oflhe first messhys~gfsect thesft grolJps present ~nd th~r~for~ would seem very important to the groups theffis4ves

2 A1tnougl1 in s0rrreicaStlS there aregips tli(reisacfitiqU stnictutshy at conhecdon betWeen middottnepriiyenclples and tfie Mtions these groupscltteurolnipt tdtake

3 Thd~p1ttiic1pf~i pieS~fttF~Ji~middot~titliot~~ pets~etti~e~in their Ovyn words

4 Examin1ngmiddotStateDiletIlisofipri1l(11eurosmiddotis a euroooveuronintmiddot and concise tool for thcentaiia1y~iSLOeStJ~ftMna~i1iWas a~wh()leuro

THE BI RTHO F 5 US TAl NAB I LIT Y 25

5 To the best of our knowledge this is the first comprehensive analytical study of these statements of principles

Criteria for Selecting Principles 30

We have used five criteria for selecting the organizations and indishyviduals whose fundamental principles we will examine These criteshy

na are

1 obtaining a wide range of viewpoints on sustainability

2 including perspectives from individuals organizations and govshyernment agencies

3 incorporating cross-cultural viewpoints on sustainability by examinipg work done by groups from a variety of different culshytures and nation-states

4 examining industries that have a close association with our basic human needs (such as food shelter and energy) and natural resources (such as petroleum wood and fisheries)

5 including sustainability perspectives from various levels -local regional national global and from diverse fields of endeavor including science philosophy business and architecture

Using these criteria we have chosen to analyze sustainability principles in five basic categories These are

1 community

2 commerce

3 natural resources

4 ecological design

5 the biosphere

Although education originally was designated as a distinct cate~

gory it has been integrated into all the others Since it provides a way to understand and evaluate the perspectives of all the principles education is at the foundation of sustainability31

Pi~~t~middot~~~f~rymiddot~~ lt -

iit-shy

~L26fkE SU8Tj JIJA BI LI T Y REVa LUT 10 N - j lgt --

-~ji---~i~~-- --- N ~- -- -- -

Formillennia the AlJ~tra1ian Abotigihes have relied onasysrgin of $ohgUne5 tracks created by their ancestors that qefine the phhical lapdsdtpe and serve as guid~posts during th~ir travels These ldnd~ niaikS~onjltreSt6ries illustIatihg the laws the Aborigines try to ft)ll6Wfotiiving with nature aridnavigating their seetnihgly4)~rtefi

and itrhospitable land They ref~rt0 th~ S~dglhyenes asthe~~Way of the LaWoJgt the

laquoFootiilfihtsQ~tfB~middot~~est()rsectt ptqyidjfig9Rtha land ethic and a

compaSS fo~ c()hnedlngih ahain1bl1ious way ~i~th~ land and their cOmfuVdll1ies curr~nt~iidpasectti

) i - -~

[Elach~ totemicahcsidrwltii1e trav~UHigtf1rough the country was thought to have sdittcentred a trail of

words and musical ncites along the Hnecnf his foot pDintsgnd ~~these Dreaming-tracks lay over the land as ~Ways of communication between the most

farYdIq1lg tlih(1s A song was bom m~PaAddirec- tioA~thlderPrqvi4illg you knew the songmiddotyen()1l could aJwilYsfll1d yQUIJ waytgrpss cou~try bull~ In theory at leastthe wh6leof Australia could be read as a musishy

caLS401i there washardly a rock OJ creek ill the cOllntry that could not [be] or had not beep-sung One shollld perhaps visualize the Songiines asa spaghetti of Iliads and Odysseys writhing this way arid that inwhieh every episode was teadable in

terms of geology32

The prindplesof S4stail1abilhy are like the Son~lines of the Abqrigines They tepresentthe footprints of the variciu~ groups that make up the $lrst~hability Revolution Like the Songlines these

statenlents)fftdricentlpl~$~dcoate al~~ioQps iUuesarczhtveits histoshyryandjfidicat~y thefutulcentdirectikit1centf ltsactihs Understanding thesestat~ments esecth~ltllightQJil the motivatiQusQfthegrQUps in the Sustainability Reolutiq~aniproviltle awayofttacking the evoshy

THE BI RTHO F 5 U 5TA I NAB I LIT y 23

ment Community~building recognizes the importance of coopera~

tionand concern for ones neighbor At a fundamental level membersofa sustainable community understand that the wellbeing of the individual and the larger cOIl11l1unity are Interdependent

Social cohesion compassion al-d tolerance are more likely to thrive inaneQviromnent where all members of the cOll1munity feeLthctt theircoritribution t6 the whole is appreciated and where anequi table distributiofl of resources is recqgnizedasessentialforthe long~terlll viability0f the society

At the level of the nation-state equityequality addressd the fair distribution of such resources as food affordable h~using health care education job training and professional opportunities Globally inequities such as famine and homelessness are seen as problems of distribution rather than lack of resources Just and equitable resource allocation is notsi11lply ethical but essential for the wellbeing of the larger community - in this case the

entire world

The three ~s plus one education28

The Three Es and their interaction are made even more powerful by an active commitment to public education Education is the catalyst for helping everyone unde~stand the dynamic nature of the interreshylationship of the Three Es Through education we gain knowledge with which to overcome the cognitive and normative- and hence emotional - obstacles to understanding our global dilemma Throligh education sustainability can become firmly established within the existing value structure of societies while simultaneously helping that value structure evolve toward a more viable long-term approach to systemic global problems

The Methodology F~damental Principles

It is in this context of the Three Es Plus One that we turn to the question ofhow tocreat~ a nuanced dynamic and multidimensionshyalportrait of the Sustainability-Revolution tOday

SU~rfillINA~ IL ITY - -- - shy

shy shy - - - -

simiddot~~~~reg ~pcenttspace

isA1agtii~~rbifSen$ttofthe

REVa Lutl a N

1Tt~t~1ieitclti1lV~fcanbestbe undertakenmiddot through ananalysis of the ~tyenl~riJent~pfincip~s that each organization identifying itselfwith sti$taimiddotni1hjUtt1ays out aMhe beginningofitspublicself-den11ition -- whethetiildaitochures booMets and otherstandardmedia or on webshy

~yen t~Q~$onundal1lentalFl1inoipl~s By deGnitionrapiiin91ple xeq1Ji1ements andobligations of right conshy

diUC)~I~~ARt~emerlt poundprinciples provides)thegwidingmiddotmiddotsensemiddotor basi~~ilt~otiotl5 middotthatltUy organizatiollwill MseinQr1(tnting itselfto the wotlclltUlphlin lptikingQe([)isjo~s lil-pound0t)Gl1etesituations Principles pl~y~ l~~Y r~le insetciflg tnecoutext for the ethical choices that or~izatioll~ makebull

Themiddotf0Cus on prillciplesltcan help uS makesense ofsustainability in the wake of the explosio11of groups identifying themselves with thet-eYoltl~iC)nsince the-publication of the Brundtlaad reportmiddotin 19$iJfh(jpoundloweting ofolganizations worldwide ~laimlrtg adherence tos-U$t~inabiliryi1lll$trates the popularity of this-selF-identification An Ibte)1let~(arcb on any aspect of sustainability yields thousands orindivfdufds organizatioflsanF goverrimet1tagendes professing al1~gJ~lnce]toiSl4stainablepractices Thehest way ito gain a wellshyrounuf1clperspectiveltbJ11 their multiple viewpoints isect tofocus-on the ftrndamentalmiddot principles these groups articulate

We s~~ flvemiddotteasotlst6focus on these fundamentai prinCiples

1 Amiddot statemeIltofJgtrinc~pLes isall110st wwaYs ope oflhe first messhys~gfsect thesft grolJps present ~nd th~r~for~ would seem very important to the groups theffis4ves

2 A1tnougl1 in s0rrreicaStlS there aregips tli(reisacfitiqU stnictutshy at conhecdon betWeen middottnepriiyenclples and tfie Mtions these groupscltteurolnipt tdtake

3 Thd~p1ttiic1pf~i pieS~fttF~Ji~middot~titliot~~ pets~etti~e~in their Ovyn words

4 Examin1ngmiddotStateDiletIlisofipri1l(11eurosmiddotis a euroooveuronintmiddot and concise tool for thcentaiia1y~iSLOeStJ~ftMna~i1iWas a~wh()leuro

THE BI RTHO F 5 US TAl NAB I LIT Y 25

5 To the best of our knowledge this is the first comprehensive analytical study of these statements of principles

Criteria for Selecting Principles 30

We have used five criteria for selecting the organizations and indishyviduals whose fundamental principles we will examine These criteshy

na are

1 obtaining a wide range of viewpoints on sustainability

2 including perspectives from individuals organizations and govshyernment agencies

3 incorporating cross-cultural viewpoints on sustainability by examinipg work done by groups from a variety of different culshytures and nation-states

4 examining industries that have a close association with our basic human needs (such as food shelter and energy) and natural resources (such as petroleum wood and fisheries)

5 including sustainability perspectives from various levels -local regional national global and from diverse fields of endeavor including science philosophy business and architecture

Using these criteria we have chosen to analyze sustainability principles in five basic categories These are

1 community

2 commerce

3 natural resources

4 ecological design

5 the biosphere

Although education originally was designated as a distinct cate~

gory it has been integrated into all the others Since it provides a way to understand and evaluate the perspectives of all the principles education is at the foundation of sustainability31

Pi~~t~middot~~~f~rymiddot~~ lt -

iit-shy

~L26fkE SU8Tj JIJA BI LI T Y REVa LUT 10 N - j lgt --

-~ji---~i~~-- --- N ~- -- -- -

Formillennia the AlJ~tra1ian Abotigihes have relied onasysrgin of $ohgUne5 tracks created by their ancestors that qefine the phhical lapdsdtpe and serve as guid~posts during th~ir travels These ldnd~ niaikS~onjltreSt6ries illustIatihg the laws the Aborigines try to ft)ll6Wfotiiving with nature aridnavigating their seetnihgly4)~rtefi

and itrhospitable land They ref~rt0 th~ S~dglhyenes asthe~~Way of the LaWoJgt the

laquoFootiilfihtsQ~tfB~middot~~est()rsectt ptqyidjfig9Rtha land ethic and a

compaSS fo~ c()hnedlngih ahain1bl1ious way ~i~th~ land and their cOmfuVdll1ies curr~nt~iidpasectti

) i - -~

[Elach~ totemicahcsidrwltii1e trav~UHigtf1rough the country was thought to have sdittcentred a trail of

words and musical ncites along the Hnecnf his foot pDintsgnd ~~these Dreaming-tracks lay over the land as ~Ways of communication between the most

farYdIq1lg tlih(1s A song was bom m~PaAddirec- tioA~thlderPrqvi4illg you knew the songmiddotyen()1l could aJwilYsfll1d yQUIJ waytgrpss cou~try bull~ In theory at leastthe wh6leof Australia could be read as a musishy

caLS401i there washardly a rock OJ creek ill the cOllntry that could not [be] or had not beep-sung One shollld perhaps visualize the Songiines asa spaghetti of Iliads and Odysseys writhing this way arid that inwhieh every episode was teadable in

terms of geology32

The prindplesof S4stail1abilhy are like the Son~lines of the Abqrigines They tepresentthe footprints of the variciu~ groups that make up the $lrst~hability Revolution Like the Songlines these

statenlents)fftdricentlpl~$~dcoate al~~ioQps iUuesarczhtveits histoshyryandjfidicat~y thefutulcentdirectikit1centf ltsactihs Understanding thesestat~ments esecth~ltllightQJil the motivatiQusQfthegrQUps in the Sustainability Reolutiq~aniproviltle awayofttacking the evoshy

SU~rfillINA~ IL ITY - -- - shy

shy shy - - - -

simiddot~~~~reg ~pcenttspace

isA1agtii~~rbifSen$ttofthe

REVa Lutl a N

1Tt~t~1ieitclti1lV~fcanbestbe undertakenmiddot through ananalysis of the ~tyenl~riJent~pfincip~s that each organization identifying itselfwith sti$taimiddotni1hjUtt1ays out aMhe beginningofitspublicself-den11ition -- whethetiildaitochures booMets and otherstandardmedia or on webshy

~yen t~Q~$onundal1lentalFl1inoipl~s By deGnitionrapiiin91ple xeq1Ji1ements andobligations of right conshy

diUC)~I~~ARt~emerlt poundprinciples provides)thegwidingmiddotmiddotsensemiddotor basi~~ilt~otiotl5 middotthatltUy organizatiollwill MseinQr1(tnting itselfto the wotlclltUlphlin lptikingQe([)isjo~s lil-pound0t)Gl1etesituations Principles pl~y~ l~~Y r~le insetciflg tnecoutext for the ethical choices that or~izatioll~ makebull

Themiddotf0Cus on prillciplesltcan help uS makesense ofsustainability in the wake of the explosio11of groups identifying themselves with thet-eYoltl~iC)nsince the-publication of the Brundtlaad reportmiddotin 19$iJfh(jpoundloweting ofolganizations worldwide ~laimlrtg adherence tos-U$t~inabiliryi1lll$trates the popularity of this-selF-identification An Ibte)1let~(arcb on any aspect of sustainability yields thousands orindivfdufds organizatioflsanF goverrimet1tagendes professing al1~gJ~lnce]toiSl4stainablepractices Thehest way ito gain a wellshyrounuf1clperspectiveltbJ11 their multiple viewpoints isect tofocus-on the ftrndamentalmiddot principles these groups articulate

We s~~ flvemiddotteasotlst6focus on these fundamentai prinCiples

1 Amiddot statemeIltofJgtrinc~pLes isall110st wwaYs ope oflhe first messhys~gfsect thesft grolJps present ~nd th~r~for~ would seem very important to the groups theffis4ves

2 A1tnougl1 in s0rrreicaStlS there aregips tli(reisacfitiqU stnictutshy at conhecdon betWeen middottnepriiyenclples and tfie Mtions these groupscltteurolnipt tdtake

3 Thd~p1ttiic1pf~i pieS~fttF~Ji~middot~titliot~~ pets~etti~e~in their Ovyn words

4 Examin1ngmiddotStateDiletIlisofipri1l(11eurosmiddotis a euroooveuronintmiddot and concise tool for thcentaiia1y~iSLOeStJ~ftMna~i1iWas a~wh()leuro

THE BI RTHO F 5 US TAl NAB I LIT Y 25

5 To the best of our knowledge this is the first comprehensive analytical study of these statements of principles

Criteria for Selecting Principles 30

We have used five criteria for selecting the organizations and indishyviduals whose fundamental principles we will examine These criteshy

na are

1 obtaining a wide range of viewpoints on sustainability

2 including perspectives from individuals organizations and govshyernment agencies

3 incorporating cross-cultural viewpoints on sustainability by examinipg work done by groups from a variety of different culshytures and nation-states

4 examining industries that have a close association with our basic human needs (such as food shelter and energy) and natural resources (such as petroleum wood and fisheries)

5 including sustainability perspectives from various levels -local regional national global and from diverse fields of endeavor including science philosophy business and architecture

Using these criteria we have chosen to analyze sustainability principles in five basic categories These are

1 community

2 commerce

3 natural resources

4 ecological design

5 the biosphere

Although education originally was designated as a distinct cate~

gory it has been integrated into all the others Since it provides a way to understand and evaluate the perspectives of all the principles education is at the foundation of sustainability31

Pi~~t~middot~~~f~rymiddot~~ lt -

iit-shy

~L26fkE SU8Tj JIJA BI LI T Y REVa LUT 10 N - j lgt --

-~ji---~i~~-- --- N ~- -- -- -

Formillennia the AlJ~tra1ian Abotigihes have relied onasysrgin of $ohgUne5 tracks created by their ancestors that qefine the phhical lapdsdtpe and serve as guid~posts during th~ir travels These ldnd~ niaikS~onjltreSt6ries illustIatihg the laws the Aborigines try to ft)ll6Wfotiiving with nature aridnavigating their seetnihgly4)~rtefi

and itrhospitable land They ref~rt0 th~ S~dglhyenes asthe~~Way of the LaWoJgt the

laquoFootiilfihtsQ~tfB~middot~~est()rsectt ptqyidjfig9Rtha land ethic and a

compaSS fo~ c()hnedlngih ahain1bl1ious way ~i~th~ land and their cOmfuVdll1ies curr~nt~iidpasectti

) i - -~

[Elach~ totemicahcsidrwltii1e trav~UHigtf1rough the country was thought to have sdittcentred a trail of

words and musical ncites along the Hnecnf his foot pDintsgnd ~~these Dreaming-tracks lay over the land as ~Ways of communication between the most

farYdIq1lg tlih(1s A song was bom m~PaAddirec- tioA~thlderPrqvi4illg you knew the songmiddotyen()1l could aJwilYsfll1d yQUIJ waytgrpss cou~try bull~ In theory at leastthe wh6leof Australia could be read as a musishy

caLS401i there washardly a rock OJ creek ill the cOllntry that could not [be] or had not beep-sung One shollld perhaps visualize the Songiines asa spaghetti of Iliads and Odysseys writhing this way arid that inwhieh every episode was teadable in

terms of geology32

The prindplesof S4stail1abilhy are like the Son~lines of the Abqrigines They tepresentthe footprints of the variciu~ groups that make up the $lrst~hability Revolution Like the Songlines these

statenlents)fftdricentlpl~$~dcoate al~~ioQps iUuesarczhtveits histoshyryandjfidicat~y thefutulcentdirectikit1centf ltsactihs Understanding thesestat~ments esecth~ltllightQJil the motivatiQusQfthegrQUps in the Sustainability Reolutiq~aniproviltle awayofttacking the evoshy

THE BI RTHO F 5 US TAl NAB I LIT Y 25

5 To the best of our knowledge this is the first comprehensive analytical study of these statements of principles

Criteria for Selecting Principles 30

We have used five criteria for selecting the organizations and indishyviduals whose fundamental principles we will examine These criteshy

na are

1 obtaining a wide range of viewpoints on sustainability

2 including perspectives from individuals organizations and govshyernment agencies

3 incorporating cross-cultural viewpoints on sustainability by examinipg work done by groups from a variety of different culshytures and nation-states

4 examining industries that have a close association with our basic human needs (such as food shelter and energy) and natural resources (such as petroleum wood and fisheries)

5 including sustainability perspectives from various levels -local regional national global and from diverse fields of endeavor including science philosophy business and architecture

Using these criteria we have chosen to analyze sustainability principles in five basic categories These are

1 community

2 commerce

3 natural resources

4 ecological design

5 the biosphere

Although education originally was designated as a distinct cate~

gory it has been integrated into all the others Since it provides a way to understand and evaluate the perspectives of all the principles education is at the foundation of sustainability31

Pi~~t~middot~~~f~rymiddot~~ lt -

iit-shy

~L26fkE SU8Tj JIJA BI LI T Y REVa LUT 10 N - j lgt --

-~ji---~i~~-- --- N ~- -- -- -

Formillennia the AlJ~tra1ian Abotigihes have relied onasysrgin of $ohgUne5 tracks created by their ancestors that qefine the phhical lapdsdtpe and serve as guid~posts during th~ir travels These ldnd~ niaikS~onjltreSt6ries illustIatihg the laws the Aborigines try to ft)ll6Wfotiiving with nature aridnavigating their seetnihgly4)~rtefi

and itrhospitable land They ref~rt0 th~ S~dglhyenes asthe~~Way of the LaWoJgt the

laquoFootiilfihtsQ~tfB~middot~~est()rsectt ptqyidjfig9Rtha land ethic and a

compaSS fo~ c()hnedlngih ahain1bl1ious way ~i~th~ land and their cOmfuVdll1ies curr~nt~iidpasectti

) i - -~

[Elach~ totemicahcsidrwltii1e trav~UHigtf1rough the country was thought to have sdittcentred a trail of

words and musical ncites along the Hnecnf his foot pDintsgnd ~~these Dreaming-tracks lay over the land as ~Ways of communication between the most

farYdIq1lg tlih(1s A song was bom m~PaAddirec- tioA~thlderPrqvi4illg you knew the songmiddotyen()1l could aJwilYsfll1d yQUIJ waytgrpss cou~try bull~ In theory at leastthe wh6leof Australia could be read as a musishy

caLS401i there washardly a rock OJ creek ill the cOllntry that could not [be] or had not beep-sung One shollld perhaps visualize the Songiines asa spaghetti of Iliads and Odysseys writhing this way arid that inwhieh every episode was teadable in

terms of geology32

The prindplesof S4stail1abilhy are like the Son~lines of the Abqrigines They tepresentthe footprints of the variciu~ groups that make up the $lrst~hability Revolution Like the Songlines these

statenlents)fftdricentlpl~$~dcoate al~~ioQps iUuesarczhtveits histoshyryandjfidicat~y thefutulcentdirectikit1centf ltsactihs Understanding thesestat~ments esecth~ltllightQJil the motivatiQusQfthegrQUps in the Sustainability Reolutiq~aniproviltle awayofttacking the evoshy

Pi~~t~middot~~~f~rymiddot~~ lt -

iit-shy

~L26fkE SU8Tj JIJA BI LI T Y REVa LUT 10 N - j lgt --

-~ji---~i~~-- --- N ~- -- -- -

Formillennia the AlJ~tra1ian Abotigihes have relied onasysrgin of $ohgUne5 tracks created by their ancestors that qefine the phhical lapdsdtpe and serve as guid~posts during th~ir travels These ldnd~ niaikS~onjltreSt6ries illustIatihg the laws the Aborigines try to ft)ll6Wfotiiving with nature aridnavigating their seetnihgly4)~rtefi

and itrhospitable land They ref~rt0 th~ S~dglhyenes asthe~~Way of the LaWoJgt the

laquoFootiilfihtsQ~tfB~middot~~est()rsectt ptqyidjfig9Rtha land ethic and a

compaSS fo~ c()hnedlngih ahain1bl1ious way ~i~th~ land and their cOmfuVdll1ies curr~nt~iidpasectti

) i - -~

[Elach~ totemicahcsidrwltii1e trav~UHigtf1rough the country was thought to have sdittcentred a trail of

words and musical ncites along the Hnecnf his foot pDintsgnd ~~these Dreaming-tracks lay over the land as ~Ways of communication between the most

farYdIq1lg tlih(1s A song was bom m~PaAddirec- tioA~thlderPrqvi4illg you knew the songmiddotyen()1l could aJwilYsfll1d yQUIJ waytgrpss cou~try bull~ In theory at leastthe wh6leof Australia could be read as a musishy

caLS401i there washardly a rock OJ creek ill the cOllntry that could not [be] or had not beep-sung One shollld perhaps visualize the Songiines asa spaghetti of Iliads and Odysseys writhing this way arid that inwhieh every episode was teadable in

terms of geology32

The prindplesof S4stail1abilhy are like the Son~lines of the Abqrigines They tepresentthe footprints of the variciu~ groups that make up the $lrst~hability Revolution Like the Songlines these

statenlents)fftdricentlpl~$~dcoate al~~ioQps iUuesarczhtveits histoshyryandjfidicat~y thefutulcentdirectikit1centf ltsactihs Understanding thesestat~ments esecth~ltllightQJil the motivatiQusQfthegrQUps in the Sustainability Reolutiq~aniproviltle awayofttacking the evoshy