("vulnerable" Kea in its natural habitat)

Biodiversity - the multitude of different animal - and plant species on earth is a very important factor to protect the ecosystems we live in. Only if those ecosystems work well is our planet capable of providing us with enough food, drinking water, shelter, recreational areas etc. .

Sustainability therefore includes caring about plants and animals!!!

Unfortunately there is a larg amount of species that is already in danger - Yet, most of them still have a chance to survive ...

See:
IUCN Redlist: http://www.iucnredlist.org/

Individual Actions for sustainability

Here is a suggestion of 52 actions that everyone could do to become more sustainable - Make an effort and integrate them in your lifestyle!!! (Still be critical - the list may not be complete and some of the actions may not have a positive impact in every community)

52 Individual Actions for Sustainability

Environmental

1. Limit use of private vehicles (unless carpooling)

2. Purchase energy efficient tyres

3. Learn how to drive more efficiently (reduce load in car etc....)

4. Avoid and reuse everyday items (shopping bags, mugs, drink bottles, etc.)

5. Hire/borrow items that you will only use once or twice rather than buying them

6. Use high quality products that can be repaired rather than disposed

7. Turn off appliances at the mains

8. Install a timer on your hot water cylinder

9. Recycle

10. Plant and maintain native plants. Only purchase water-efficient plants

11. Avoid printing, or print double-sided, use recycled/non-bleached paper. Get all your bills and bank statements sent via email

12. Insulate with natural materials where possible/ double-glaze your house, get thermal curtains. Close the doors, pull your curtains etc.....

13. Calculate and work towards reducing your ecological footprint and calculate your resource footprint

14. Limit household water consumption

15. Wash your laundry on cold wash. Use biodegradable washing powders, or make your own cleaning products (vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda works on most things!)

16. Buy and sell second hand where you can (or donate your stuff)

17. Eat less meat, be aware of where the meat is coming from and how it is produced

18. Buy carbon credits when travelling overseas

19. Switch to a greener electricity company

20. Get rid of your ‘insinkerator’

21. Buy energy efficient appliances (light bulbs, fridges etc...)

22. Buy in bulk where possible to reduce packaging

23. Grow your own veges or join a community garden

24. Compost or have a worm farm

25. Use stainless steel instead of aluminium

26. Use cloth nappies instead of disposable

27. Use push mowers

28. Limit fertilisers, use organic where you can

Social / cultural

29. Support charities helping to overcome poverty

30. Purchase fair trade items

31. Develop your understanding of and support indigenous culture

32. Give blood / become an organ donor

33. Smile

34. Enhance employee relations

35. Get involved in your neighbourhood

36. Stay in touch with family members

37. Organise a neighbourhood clean-up of a local river or park

38. Talk about ways to be more sustainable with your friends and family

39. Join a political party and encourage sustainability

40. Donate to a charity instead of giving Christmas presents

41. Volunteer your time

42. Enjoy nature

43. Be part of the environment

Economic

44. Consumers – support local businesses

45. Businesses – sell sustainably produced products

46. Use an EMS to increase business sustainability

47. Close the loop on resource flows

48. Before buying anything, ask yourself if you REALLY need it. Be a critical consumer (is the product sustainable?)

49. Buy locally produced goods where possible

50. Don’t make unnecessary trips

51. Video conferences

52. Inform yourself about monetary and social issues, and be critical of the current situation

Contribution 4

Here is something that was sent to me a few days ago – it gives a definition on how to maybe achieve sustainability:

“Sustainability can be best achieved by a society where everybody is aware of the consequences of his actions and behaviour with respect to the environment. That means that broad information and education should take place. This will only be fruitful when we succeed in interesting the broad public. In order to do so opinion leaders and celebrities should be addressed and integrated to help. The best results might be achieved when citizens get to know what actions they can take as an individual.” (s.a.)

In a few days I will publish a list with actions that everyone could do to contribute towards a more sustainable development. So stay tuned and question the things that are written here…

Contribution Nr. 3

Sustainability can also mean sharing moments together!
This is one of Lea's + friends' contribution for social sustainability... Thank you!!!

Contribution Nr. 2

A friend gave me some links on the education for sustainability! Thank's a lot!!!

http://www.econation.co.nz/
http://www.econation.co.nz/basic-sustainability-tips.html

http://www.greenkiwi.org.nz/
http://www.greenkiwi.org.nz/efs.html

This citation is from one of the pages:

"We need to teach our children and students the fundamental facts of life – that one species' waste is another species' food; that matter cycles continually through the web of life; that the energy driving the ecological cycles flows from the sun; that diversity assures resilience; and that life, from its beginning more than three billion years ago, did not take over the planet by combat but by networking."

– Fritjof Capra

Comment: education is not only done in classrooms or during university lectures - you can contribute to show others what you think is important whenever, wherever and the way you think is most suitable!!!

Thank you for your contributions (Nr.1)

There have been a few contributions sent to me. it is really cool that actually some people seem to give thoughts to what is presented here...

Contribution one - HABITATS:

Habitats are the natural living space of every species (fauna/flora). Due to human influence these spaces are getting more and more scarce for the living beings (causes can be: urbanisation, farmland, introduced species that create competition for the native species...).

It is therefore important to find out what can be done to protect habitats that still exist and how to re-establish habitats that will provide space for vulnerable native species (this can be done eg. by modern "landscape design" to change structures in cities to raise the amount of different plant- and animal species together with providing a better living area for us humans)

UN-Habitat therefore annually celebrates "World Habitat Day" to "reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all, to adequate shelter".

Check out: http://www.unhabitat.org/categories.asp?catid=669

Course on sustainability

How could sustainability be educated at undergraduate level at a university?

Here is a suggestion... --> Parts of it can maybe also help you for your personal relationship to sustainable development!

_____________________________________________________________

General Information on the course:

· Beginning of each lecture: short presentation (5 min. + 5 min. discussion) on a sustainability issue (depending on the topic)

· General structure: from broad to narrow, from known to unknown

· Homeworks (what was dealt in class the week before? hand in every week a page on the topic eg. 10 times 3 %)… eg:

o Assignment 1: what is sustainability for you / understanding of the topic

o Assignment 2: Critique on sustainability…

o Assingment 10: Field Trip report

Lectures

1. Introduction

a. 10 min. of lecture – examples of sustainability

b. Why is sustainability important

c. What do you think

d. brief discussions on sustainability

2. Brundtland report + definition of sustainability

a. 3 pillars of sustainability +

b. Discussion of interdisciplinarity

c. Integration of all pillars (evenly/fit to situation)

d. How is sustainability recognized around the world (contracts)

3. Field Trip

a. Eg. Taking part in a tree planting day, local cleaning up project…

4. Critique on sustainability

a. Rehearsal of Field trip

b. What are problems of facing sustainability

c. Are there different points of view (cultures, social classes, religion)

d. eg what is: “Greenwashing”

5. Economic pillar

a. Money

b. Markets

c. Neo-classical theory

d. Role of business vs. finite resources

e. Ethics in economy

f. Environmental Management systems (eg. Natural step)

6. Social/cultural pillar

a. Modern values compared to former values

b. Consumerism

c. How did our problems come about

d. values

7. Environmental pillar

a. Ecological footprint

b. Global environmental issues

c. Changing personal habits

8. Guest lecturer

a. Be prepared for the lecture (questions/critical thinking…)

b. eg. principal advisor for sustainability at city council (eg. Tony Moore)

9. Education for sustainability

a. How can we inform others

b. Actions for sustainability

10. Field Trip

a. Local business

b. Or international NGO

11. Presentations on sustainability and how to put into practice

a. Other examples similar to field trip

12. Concluding class

a. Rehearsal

b. What have we learn

(Thank you: Shaun, Lena, Kana, Elisabeth, Luke, Lea)

Water Footprint and Virtual Water - What is this?

Ever heard of virtual water? It is the water that is needed to produce consumer goods. It means all the irigation, cleaning etc. that goes into the product...

Here are a few examples:
2700 litres for 1 cotton shirt
75 litres of water for one glass of beer
5000 litres of water for 1 kg of cheese
1500 litres of water for 1 kg of cane sugar
(Source: The Water Footprint Network (2011): http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/productgallery&product= [20.09.2011]

In some countries there might be enough water for the production of these goods, but what if production moves to a dry region (because it is cheaper), where people don't even have enough water to supply themselves? Just buy the new fancy T-shirt anyways?

Learn more about the so called "Water Footprint":

e.g. on The Water Footprint Network: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/home

the pillars of sustainability

In order to achieve sustainability there are four so called "pillars" that should equally be taken seriously... It is believed that only by being sustainable in all the four of them are we be able to guarantee our fellows but also our successors a life they deserve!

Here's the four pillars:
(Source: Sustainable Kingston (s.a.): Community Sustainability; in: http://www.sustainablekingston.ca/community-plan/four-pillars-of-sustainability [16.09.2011]

















What do you think... ?