What is Sustainable Living?
Our definition is "A life that is deeply satisfying, fulfilling, and appealing – and at the same time, environmentally responsible."
To understand what sustainable living is, it helps to understand what it's not.
First of all, it's not about living in the woods, eating nuts and berries, and wearing tie-dyed clothes. It's for mainstream adults – typical Americans with two cars in their garage, one of which might be a sport utility vehicle. It's for people who ski, watch TV, hike, read, snowmobile, go to movies, rollerblade, play video games, bowl, and camp. For people with mortgages and those who drop their kids off at child care. It's for people with credit cards and those who shop at malls. And for people who regularly drive up to fast food windows.
Second, sustainable living is not about never buying anything again. It is about making thoughtful decisions, considering the impacts of our consumer choices, and finding alternatives.
Third, sustainable living is not competitive. Individuals have different needs and values. Sustainable living is deeply personal, based on individual definitions of quality of life. For example, this quote might express your sentiments exactly – or it might not.
Fourth, sustainable living is not guilt-driven. It focuses not on what was done in the past but on what will be done in the future. It combines practical ideas – such as turning off lights – with intangibles such as lifestyle values and personal quality of life.
And finally, sustainable living is not "gloom and doom." It does, however, put our individual actions into a global context. While it's about taking positive steps at the individual and family level, the world we live in is an important consideration. Wackernagel and Rees, in Our Ecological Footprint, state, "It would require four Earths for everybody on the planet to live the lifestyle of North Americans."
Articles:
Looking for Oregon's Future: What is Sustainability?
The Oregon State University Extension Service's goals for this Web site and the related printed publication are to "promote dialog among Oregonians concerning the future of our communities, industries, resources and economy, and concerning the quality of life we want to make possible for our grandchildren."
The Enigma of Kerala
Viviane Simon-Brown
The state of Kerala in India goes a long way to prove that living simply and sustainably is very possible in this modern world.
Resources:
The Orion Society's mission is to inform, inspire, and engage individuals and grassroots organizations in becoming a significant cultural force for healing nature and community. Their magazines contain thought-provoking ideas and articles.
http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php
"Sustainability Institute" is a think-do tank dedicated to sustainable resource use, sustainable economics, and sustainable community
http://www.sustainer.org/
In Context magazine was published from 1983 through 1996. Its thoughtful articles on the philosophy of sustainability are still relevant today, and they also provide a strong historical foundation:
http://www.context.org/