03/05/2023

Sustainable Living

03/05/2023 2© 2010, VITO NV

03/05/2023 3© 2010, VITO NV

In the first chapter, "The Problem of Production", Schumacher argues that the modern economy is unsustainable. Natural resources (like fossil fuels), are treated as expendable income, when in fact they should be treated as capital, since they are not renewable, and thus subject to eventual depletion. He further argues that nature's resistance to pollution is limited as well. He concludes that government effort must be concentrated on sustainable development, because relatively minor improvements, for example, technology transfer to Third World countries, will not solve the underlying problem of an unsustainable economy.Schumacher's philosophy is one of "enoughness," appreciating both human needs, limitations and appropriate use of technology. It grew out of his study of village-based economics, which he later termed "Buddhist economics," which is the subject of the book's fourth chapter.He faults conventional economic thinking for failing to consider the most appropriate scale for an activity, blasts notions that "growth is good," and that "bigger is better," and questions the appropriateness of using mass production in developing countries, promoting instead "production by the masses." Schumacher was one of the first economists to question the appropriateness of using GNP to measure human well being, emphasizing that "the aim ought to be to obtain the maximum amount of well being with the minimum amount of consumption."

03/05/2023 4© 2010, VITO NV

03/05/2023 5© 2010, VITO NV

The wildfire advance of the consumer lifestyle around the globe marks the most rapid and fundamental change in day-to-day existence the human species has ever experienced. Over a few short generations, we in the affluent fifth of humanity have become car drivers, television watchers, mall shoppers, and throwaway buyers.The tragic irony is that while the consumer society has been stunningly effective in harming the environment, it has failed to provide us with a sense of fulfillment. Consumerism has hoodwinked us into gorging on material things because we suffer from social, psychological, and spiritual hungers.Yet the opposite extreme "poverty" may be even worse for the human spirit and devastates the environment too, as hungry peasants put forests to the torch and steep slopes to the plow.If the Earth suffers when people have either too little or too much, the questions arise: How much is enough? What level of consumption can the planet support? When do more things cease to add appreciably to human life?Ultimately, Durning argues, the linked fates of humanity and the natural realm depend on us, the consumers. We can curtail our use of ecologically destructive things and cultivate the deeper, non-material sources of fulfillment that bring happiness: family and social relationships, meaningful work, and leisure.Or we can abrogate our responsibilities and allow our lifestyle to destroy the Earth.

03/05/2023 6© 2010, VITO NV

03/05/2023 7© 2010, VITO NV

03/05/2023 8© 2010, VITO NV

Bob’s lifestyle

Bob is not a problem solver!He is a problem to be solved!

The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we had when we created them. ..Albert Einstein

03/05/2023 9© 2010, VITO NV

Drivers of Change?

» Grand father….Unaware» Father…Partially aware» Us….Totally aware» Children…Future victims

03/05/2023 10© 2010, VITO NV

Action for Developed Countries

» Post Growth Society» Policies to temper growth while simultaneously improving social and

environmental well-being. » Restrictions on advertising; a new design for the twenty-first-century corporation;

incentives for local production and consumption; » Rigorous environmental, health, and consumer protection; greater economic and

social equality; heavy spending on public services » Initiatives to address population growth at home and abroad.» Profound commitment to social justice and environmental protection, a sustained

challenge to consumerism and commercialism and the lifestyles they offer,» Create a healthy skepticism of growth-mania and a new look at what society

should be striving to grow, » Pose a challenge to corporate dominance and a redefinition of the corporation

and its goals.

03/05/2023 11© 2010, VITO NV

Growth Development

» Resources cannot be created out of nothing» They cant be exited into nothing» Growth = Using natural resources and pushing them into the economy» Development = Balancing Quantitative growth (stuff) and improving

quality of life = Distributing knowledge (most renewable resource)

03/05/2023 12© 2010, VITO NV

Steady Economy?

» Failed Economic Growth Model…depends on wrong things for survivalMcDonaldsCars fuelled by IC enginesHealth Care costsConsumption GoodsHousing Costs

03/05/2023 13© 2010, VITO NV

03/05/2023 14© 2010, VITO NV

» "We're not paying for resource depletion, we're not paying for hazardous chemicals which are polluting our environment and currently we are not paying for collection and recycling," she says. "If products had to be really priced according to their impact then they would be a lot more expensive and people would hold onto them for longer."

03/05/2023 15© 2010, VITO NV

Sustainable Consumption

» Do I really need this item? » Can I produce it myself? » And then, when we have decided to buy something, to think critically

about each stage in the 'life-cycle' of a product:» Production » Transport and Retailing » Use» Disposal

03/05/2023 16© 2010, VITO NV

» Data suggests environmental challenges vs. materialistic values » Limit Marketing

03/05/2023 17© 2010, VITO NV

» In UK, consumption of goods account for 57% of the emissions…Monbiot

03/05/2023 18© 2010, VITO NV

» Research and innovation should be a supplement …not a substitute!» Sinking Titanic? (Figure)

03/05/2023 19© 2010, VITO NV

» The Rich has to live simply so the poor can simply live. » A Group of motivated individuals can change the world, in fact history

suggests that this is the only thing that has ever initiated any change.