Sustainable Development
Copyright © 1997 Karen Barker
-- All Rights Reserved.
It is disappointing to note that the world we live in today, is not a perfect one. There are many things about our society and environment, which can be viewed in both a despairing and critical light, as well as with great appreciation and gratitude. For example, our advancement in technology has brought about more knowledge of the use of the world we live in as well as contributing to the destruction of it. Unfortunately, we are the cause of more destruction than we are for improvement and betterment of the world. In this imperfect world we have created with wars, prejudice, poverty, crime and pollutions; I think our greatest flaw lies in our even more imperfect society. And I strongly believe that it is because of this flaw that there is the existence of the other factors which prevents us from having an equilibrium for a peaceful, enriching and almost perfect world.
In this world I have envisioned, it is a place where everything is systematically balanced as it had been originally designed to be, if not for our negligence and shortsightedness for life. There technology is used to its fullest potential without taking too much out of the environment and it is made beneficial to all living things. Computers are more frequently used in assisting with research in environmental care. Industrial waste are made recyclable and productive in regeneration of plant life. In essence, anything which is taken from the environment is put back in twice the ratio.
In this world, greater knowledge in education and medicine will certainly save the society from increases in deathlcrimes, overpopulation, discrimination and hopefully wars. Health care is administered without discrimination of class or economic distinction. Everyone receives equal educational opportunity which would certainly upgrade the social standard and prevent more unemployment, poverty and crimes. Wars would certainly be a thing of the past. Mankind would work together to prevent rather than start or instigate conflicts, through effective(knowledge)communication and mutual understanding and respect of diversity.
In conclusion, I do not believe that the world I have described is at all too idealistic or farfetched. Although, it is a disadvantage to us to now realized the importance of our environment in relation to our survival as a being. We are in fact, slowly moving in the direction in achieving what could only be termed as an ecologically balanced world.
Paradigm Shift: Old versus
the New
A paradigm is defined as being the way in which one perceives the world in relation to oneself and ones society. A person's paradigm may either be one that is scientifically determined, or one that is based on rationalization. The paradigm in any epoch is shaped by certain influencing factors, which affects the society. In this century, mankind has been forced to change from the old paradigm to one that owes its origin from the need for an environmental growth consciousness. Certainly, there is a shift in our way of seeing the world and it has become more evident in how we solve problems in the past in comparison to now. It is the conversion of a power/domination paradigm to one that is geared towards sustainable.
In the old paradigm, there were many problems unforeseen by the political thinkers of the time. These problems are clearly seen in mankind's self-interested u se of the environment. The old paradigm has seen both the destruction of the environment and the degradation of its society. In creating a world influenced by power and domination, many cities were used with a concern with money making activities, such as industrialization, and commerce. Many cities builders are more concern with making their cities profitable and affluent. Neither industry nor commerce is interested in the impact by their exploitation of the land and people left behind after the millions has been made. The text has stated that, A Money has no ecological consciousness.
Many investment decisions are based on the profitability and cheaply available resources. Because, it was a society with a consumption dependency on industrially produced goods, the emergence of the idealism, "out of sight, out of mind"; has made problems such as pollution and over-population ignored and inadequately dealt with.
In the need to put back all that has been taken from nature and undermine our dependency on domination and power, a new form of thinking has emerged. The idea of "Thinking globally but acting locally," has certainly alerted people to their responsibility to their surroundings and to the impact of their resounding neglect over time. But it has become more evident that we need to also take more active measures in reducing and possibly eliminate all the destructive factors which threatens sustenance. As a result the need to act both globally as well as locally is essential in creating this sustainable empowerment paradigm. In order for the concept of sustainability and ecologically consciousness to become feasible, many cites must take measures in which the output of the economy is regenerated and made re-usable for the environment. The text has suggested that we should be prudent in our consumption. And rather than throw out or put out of sight waste, we should devise means to make waste recyclable and reused, as a part a circular metabolism. Many governments have now seen the need to make their country sustainable rather than powerful. The idea that the responsibility of the environment is in our hands to mold and reshape according to our lifestyles, is becoming greatly replaced by the idea to live in more symbiosis relationship with nature. Mankind has realized its dependency on nature and the role we play in preserving the our relationship with her.
As mentioned before, because of our shortsightedness in dealing effectively with the usage of the environment, we have undoubtedly began the desecration of our very existence. The old paradigm of domination made us into an avarice motivated society. It had made us careless and impassionate to the growing problems in the society. Problems such as homelessness and pollution took secondary role in our development; and unfortunately our life. As long as it did not affect us directly, it was not our concern. We simply ignore the issues and pretended that they did not exist. For example, we practiced linear metabolism; the environment feels the wrath of our disposal methods. Our water system is polluted with the waste we dumped in it each day. Rather than practiced and enforced community recycling, by imploring each family to separate organic rubbish from disposals such as tin-can, plastics, glass and so on.; we dispose of these things collectively and thus encourage health hazards . Our sewage system is so filthy that it desecrate the marine-life population, since we dump the sewage into rivers and the oceans.
Toxic fumes from the fuel exhaust of cars and the industrial factories has polluted the atmosphere. We thought that by en couraging technology we would be less dependent on the land,. and thus cease the excessive land erosion. Unfortunately, we did not foresaw that excessive withdrawal from the land also cause damages to both the air and the land. Each time we cut-down a tree for paper production, we remove a vital element from the soil. Many lumber companies refuse to practiced reforestation because it is too time costly and expensive. We turn away from facing problem of homelessness in our society, because it is not our problem. High-rising buildings were thought to be the solution to the problem of overpopulation. But in fact, it has only contributed to housing very few at a great price; most suicide attempts are made from people we live in high-rising buildings. Factories were thought of as the natural solution to some counties' unemployment problems, however we know that many of these factories has detrimental health consequences.
With this new consciousness we hope that we may be able to find more suitable solutions to the problems mentioned about. Apart of this paradigm of sustainable and empowerment, is that it opens our eyes to the aspect we neglected in the past. For example, the computer networks has made it easier to analyze and devise means to improve our consciousness, by it contribution in the idea of globalopolis. Environment groups are now linked globally and are working to devise better means at reforestation, air and water pollution. many cities are improving their transportation system so as to cut back on fuel exhaust and inner-city flux and overpopulation. In tackling the problem of homelessness many cities are now looking at squatter dwellings in a whole new light. Rather than bulldozing these, depressing slum areas, a few cites are actually helping the squatters in upgrading these dilapidated structures, as a solution for cheap housing. Also the new paradigm has brought about the innovation of new construction methods, such as using prefabricated concrete panels which made construction technique expedient and less expensive. The society has become more aware of the serious health hazards waste disposal has, that the out of sight policy taken by businesses no longer pragmatic. Many companies are now realizing that recycling waste actually enhance the efficiency of the economy as well as improving the environment. By replanting trees, we are putting back the vital composite that nature has provided to counter our abuse.
In conclusion, this shift in the way we solve the converging problems of the age has certainly been more beneficial in the long-run. By beginning to view the world in a holotropic way it says that we are a society that has realized our relation with the earth. Soon enough, terms such as sewage control, smog, slums, infant morality, and so on, would certainly be a thing of the past. If not it would certainly be issues that are slowly being eliminated by our new paradigm for sustainable survival.
Habitat II is the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements expected to be held in Istanbul, Turkey from June 2-14, 1996. It also marked the 20th anniversary of the first Habitat Conference held in Vancouver, Canada. Urbanization is the premise of modern civilization, and therefore this conference will focus on the growth of cities, the elimination of widespread poverty and the offer of alternatives for shelter provisions.
Envisioning a world comprising of megacities inhabited by 10 million people is not so farfetched. We are faced with the prospect that population growth will exceeds the carrying-capacity of the earth. In an attempt to provide for the world 's growing overpopulation rate, people will be forced to live in closet space dwellings, as it is frequently depicted in torrid science fiction. The biggest reason for the downgrading of human settlement is the inability of governments to act and because of austerity demands, governments have stemmed the sponsoring of programs and measures that could counter poverty and overpopulation. The influx of the rural-urban shift in the population growth to many cities in the developing countries has resulted in a greater dependency on imported food to provide for the absence of a sustainable economy. The vicious circle of poverty continues to unfold.
In the past two years we proposed the White Helmets initiative, which was aimed to deliver assistance in cases of extreme urgency and to mobilize resources for specific instances of extreme poverty. This initiative has flourished since it proposals and was adopted by a consensus in resolution 49/139 B. In addition to calling upon government and international community to ensure food security, integrate antipoverty programs and resource measure, in accordance with Agenda 21, we implore nations to sponsor an international volunteer corps to respond to these emergencies of reducing the vulnerability in the elimination of widespread poverty.
Argentina reaffirm that human settlement involves shelter provisions, i.e. housing, social services and infrastructures and measures eliminating poverty, as affirmed in Agenda 21, and not the mere sustenance those human beings are forced to endure because of poverty.
The Twenty-first century proposes a stark reality where taking a drive along a busy city street one can be invaded with the images of human sufferings through poverty, slum areas and the escalated pollution of the environment. Few have imagined that the development of civilization would bring more pollution, poverty, inadequate housing, overpopulation and degradation of human existence. As is the concern of most developing countries, providing adequate provision and sustainable human settlement is of great concern to Argentina. Our population which is approximately 34.3 million is threatened by the hazards from air pollution, inadequate land usage and chemically concentrated rivers. To make matters even more precarious is the fact that our unemployment rate has escalated due to the devaluation of the Mexican peso, the continued passage of illegal immigration and the increased privatization of the industries and commerce. It is predicted that world population will rise by 3.7 billion; 90 percent of that increase in developing countries and namely in highly urbanized areas such as some inner cities.
Already Argentina has signed international agreements to counter these problems on a global scale, such as the An atactic -Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling, Deserification, Law of the Sea and Marine Life Conservation. The problems of urbanization have been neglected for far too long by all nations. We should make it our duty to provide more adequate housing, and developed better infrastructures in facilitating human needs and dignity. In so doing achieve the goal in providing sustainable human settlements.
But how can governments stop the influx of population migration? In an attempt to curb population growth, government should conduct more intensive demographic studies by implementing integrated environment and development programs at local and global levels. In response to the shift in migration from rural to urban, governments and the private sectors should attempt to develop and modernize rural communities, in the areas of higher education and commerce. Governments should reconsider cutting agricultural programs in rural areas as well as consider the rise of service industries in growing cities. The success of future city planning relies on Democratization which will decentralize governmental role and encourage greater participation of the NGOs and public-private partnerships. Urban growth should be controlled. Future city planning should encompass achieving an ecologically sustainable relationship by the conservation of agricultural land and distant water resources which surround cities. We should practice circular metabolism rather than the failing linear metabolism, in making the environment again viable and affluent. Policies should be geared at remodeling, recycling, reusing rather than discarding, demolishing and destroying what resources we have at hand, such as slums and squatter areas in urbanized areas.
It is the human right of an individual to sustainable human settlement. This does not only imply a mere roof over one's head. This refers to basic structure of housing and providing affordable housing to encompassing of the necessities of Adequate privacy, adequate space, adequate basic infrastructure and adequate facilities in healthy environment. Future city planning should take into greater consideration the impact of the rural-urban shift. We propose that slum areas should be improved upon by providing aid to residents in the form of micro-loans. What is considered squatter settlement should be made viable or Alivable," i.e., by providing proper sewage and water pipes, proper waste disposals in exchange for low rents or surcharges for space usage. Overcrowding can be reduced by continued sponsorship of low cost housing or community subsidized rent. There should be more partnerships between public and the private sectors and/or through community operation and corporations.
Certain services should be guaranteed by the government, such as universal access to education; primary health care; safe water and sanitation; low-cost housing; and child care. Government should also stress the enhancement of social protection extending to women, children and people who are socially excluded because of their social status and the poverty level. Argentina realizes that in times of austerity measures, governments are unable to provide as many services as they did in the past. Argentina calls upon non-governmental organizations and inter-governmental organizations to renew its effort and commitment in finding new ways to meet the crisis's surrounding inferior housings.
Argentina believes that through higher level of education, the poverty level can be reduced. But education is not sole the answer. Although 95% of Argentina's population is literate, there is great evidence of growing poverty. There is the obvious necessity of providing more jobs. In poverty stricken areas such as highly condensed slums and ghettos, communities-based organizations should offer wage earning opportunities to the poor. Governments should support cooperatives and informal-sector enterprises. We recognize the reality that poverty manifests in different forms. Argentina call upon the multi-national corporations to expand their missions and consider the creation of jobs for human well being and not merely the narrow focus of gaining profit.
Argentina calls upon all governments to endorse measures aimed at the expansion of opportunities for work, and recommend that national economic policies strive to reduce unemployment. There should be more collaboration between Governments and NGOs in the following areas:
The International Labor Organization (ILO) should play a more active role in monitoring and formulating policies including the a ratification of the international labor agreements.
Conclusion
In our final year as a non permanent member of the Security Council, the Republic of Argentina implore all nations to take accountability in achieving sustainable human settlement. In tackling the challenges faced by us nations such as providing sustainable shelter provision and achieving the reduction of poverty, we need to aim higher than our original goals. Perhaps if we aimed at eliminating poverty, we may achieve reducing it. Perhaps if we accentuate human settlements in terms as creating ecologically balance cities and development, we may achieve sustainability. By practicing multilateralism, in which nations act locally in achieving global harmony. The Agenda 21 should be used as the premise to incorporate measures devised and or policies made to enable sustainable human development and settlements.