Sustainability
Lecture Part 2
SOC165
Spring 2010
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
2
In Part 2
•Social and ecological dimensions of sustainability
1934 bamboo oil%20stocck
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
3
Dimensions of Sustainability
•Worldwatch article: 4 dimensions of sustainable development
1.Human survival
2.Biological diversity
3.Social equity
4.Quality of life
Similar to Maslow’s hierarchy?
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
4
Human Survival
•The survival of homo sapiens as a species is not threatened
•But risks do threaten individuals, and whole populations
Halton_outfall iStock_000002933363XSmall GMOtour_velka
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
5
Biological Diversity
•Values of biodiversity:
•
•Intrinsic value of nature
–Vandana Shiva: ecosystem stability & health
–
•Utilitarian – use by humans
–Vandana Shiva: food security
•
B1a251OX-WildflowersYankeeBoyBasin_650 0426_jpg
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
6
Threats to Biodiversity
•
•Economic globalization
–ToP: corporations and governments conspire to use resources
•Examples:
•Bio-piracy
•“Beerodiversity”
pirate%5B3%5D_1 OktoberfestStein
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
7
Threats to Biodiversity
•Agricultural monoculture
–GMO corn & soybeans; forestry
•
•Pesticides
–Destroy natural systems for pest control
–Kill wildlife
–Increase human cancer rates
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
8
Social Equity
•Inequity can lead to social destabilization:
–Epidemics – AIDS in Africa, bird flu pandemic is hard to stop in poor countries
–Exploitation: unhealthy mining practices & bad labor conditions in mines
–More natural disasters – landslides in Honduras after hurricane Mitch
–Wars for resources & terrorism resulting from anger over exploitation
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
9
Social Equity
•Environmental problems result from social problems – and cause social problems
•Today income inequality is growing – between Global North & South, and within nations
mumbai-slum-demolition SLUM skwale-caracas-petare-01
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
10
Social Equity
RoyalMarinesJungleTraining jk Image:Peoples army.jpg
•Redefine “national security” to include global environmental and economic justice, not simply
military protection
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
11
Quality of Life
•There is more to life than material well-being
•
•GDP cannot measure the true level of material well-being
Flood car-accident lightening
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
12
Quality of Life
•Overconsumption has become a problem in many developed nations
•Lifestyle diseases: obesity, diabetes
•Economists: The hedonic treadmill may not make us happy
cubicle cubicle cubicle%20dwellers wbOBESITY2_wideweb__470x352,0
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
13
Prescriptions for Sustainable Development
•For global sustainability, the economy must harmonize with the earth’s natural systems
–Seek new energy sources
–Protect habitat
–Control consumption
–Control human population
seedling-replant-no-icc solar-panel
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
14
The Big Social Risk
•Threat to modern society from damaged environment
•
•Social suicide through overexploitation of nature
insurance
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
15
End of Part 2
Continue to Part 3.
Monsanto%20logo monsanto3
[USEMAP]

Sustainability ● Part 2
16
Citations used in this lecture
•BBC News (2006) “Deep-sea Fish Stocks ‘Plundered.’” May 19.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4996268.stm (Accessed February 14, 2007).
•
•O’Brien, C. (2006) “How Microbrew Can Save the World.” http://www.alternet.org/story/43435/
(Accessed on October 25, 2006).
•
•Prugh, T., Assadourian, E. (2003) “What is Sustainability, Anyway?” Worldwatch magazine,
September/October, pp. 10-21.
•