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The goal of Sustainable Island Development is "to enable people to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising future generations." If
we leave this world in worse shape than we received it, we have failed
as civilization. We all want to leave a better world for our children
& grandchildren!
It is about respecting and caring for the land - Malama Aina - www.malamaaina.org
Why? “For the first time in history, humanity faces the possibility of global ecological collapse.”
We
must stop taking too much from the earth without giving something back.
The way we live now pollutes the air we breathe, the water we drink,
the food we eat and the soil where we grow our food. The amount of
carbon dioxide we pump into the atmosphere from using fossile fuel is
changing the climate patterns of the world and along the way we are all
getting fatter. No place to walk for our children.
Hawai`i
Island is blessed with abundance of resources, but it is also one of
the most isolate areas in the world. We should start encouraging and
supporting island self-reliance by creating local jobs through
agriculture, community based business and incentives for sustainable
industries.
Some examples of how to achieve sustainablility for the future generations in Hawai`i
The Natural Step System Conditions - www.naturalstep.org In the sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing:
1. Concentrations of substances extracted from the Earth’s crust
2. Concentrations of substances produced by society
3. Degradation by physical means and, in that society,
4. Human needs are met worldwide
“
Planning for sustainability requires a systematic, integrated approach
that brings together environmental, economic and social goals and
actions directed toward…four objectives – American Planning
Association, Policy
Four Sustainability Objectives – American Planning Associations
1) Reduce Dependence upon fossil fuels, extracted underground metals and minerals:
2) Reduce dependence on chemicals and other manufactured substances that can accumulate in nature;
3) Reduce dependence on activities that harm life-sustaining ecosystems;
4) Meet the hierarchy of human needs fairly and efficiently
Here's an example of how one community is leading the way in making a path towards sustainable development - http://www.whistler.ca/Sustainability/Whistler_2020/
1) Mix land use 2) Take advantage of compact building design (less dependence on automobiles) 3) Create a range of housing opportunities and choices (affordable housing) 4) Create walkable communities (human scale) 5) Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place 6) Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical envrionmental areas 7) Strenghten and direct development toward existing communities 8) Provide a variety of transporation choices (bike, bus, train, car pool, etc.) 9) Make development decisions predictable, fair and cost-effective 10) Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions
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