I was reading yesterday the guest blog by Paul Thomas for the Guardian Leeds. The title of which is "Does Leeds want to become a sustainable City". The blog by Paul and the comments following were very interesting reading.
Apparently sustainability is not the way forward in Paul's mind and for other people it absolutely is, we need to be greener, leaner and manage our resources better. However this led me back to my overriding issue with the word sustainability. Whilst I think the word is valuable the use of the word isn't valuable at all.
Having done a quick dictionary search on the meaning of sustainability, it is clear that most people have got it all wrong. It doesn't mean hand made jumpers, beards and long hair. It doesn't mean wind turbines, cycling to work and communal living either. Sustainability derives form sustain, to hold up, to provide, to support.
With this piece of insight why would anybody not want a sustainable society? One where communities support each other. Where food, housing and transport needs are met for all. Does this sound like a society restricted from growth or consumption? No, it is purely a society that sustains itself.
Should Leeds be a sustainable city? Yes, undoubtedly. For the benefit of its citizens it should be sustainable. Now we can talk about how, but I think the bigger question is whether Leeds can be a sustainable City? More importantly does it have it in it to break some barriers and be different?
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Is our future Nuclear?
Recent, tragic occurrences in Japan have raised yet more concerns over the use of Nuclear power in the long term. The government has been a key driver in the establishment of Nuclear Fuels in the UK funding research and build costs of power stations up and down the country.
However, this is also, potentially, the most environmentally damaging energy source. Whilst it is low carbon and a good chunk of the material can be recycled it can have devastating implications on the global environment when it goes wrong. The mining of Uranium is hardly clean either.
The question has to be, why does the government continue to support and plough capital into Nuclear power but is so reticent to do so with true renewable energy such as tidal, wave, wind and hydro? With our geography and topography these are surely where our future energy opportunities are. When will people sit up and start thinking long term.
I am sure that all those NIMBY's who oppose wind turbines would rather have 20 turbines on the landscape than a new Nuclear Power Station on their doorstep. It seems to be that we have to start making that choice sooner rather than later, however to achieve the scale needed we need national and local government to support with more than just words.
However, this is also, potentially, the most environmentally damaging energy source. Whilst it is low carbon and a good chunk of the material can be recycled it can have devastating implications on the global environment when it goes wrong. The mining of Uranium is hardly clean either.
The question has to be, why does the government continue to support and plough capital into Nuclear power but is so reticent to do so with true renewable energy such as tidal, wave, wind and hydro? With our geography and topography these are surely where our future energy opportunities are. When will people sit up and start thinking long term.
I am sure that all those NIMBY's who oppose wind turbines would rather have 20 turbines on the landscape than a new Nuclear Power Station on their doorstep. It seems to be that we have to start making that choice sooner rather than later, however to achieve the scale needed we need national and local government to support with more than just words.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Can we really change?
I was at a climate change meeting yesterday where the challenge was put to the group to shift from a linear to a circular economy.
The challenges were made around market forces driving change and innovation and how cities can develop naturally as ecosystems.
In reality, the will always be a wasteful race. We have always been. Recycling has been around for years but is not in our nature. We are developed beings that will always be wasteful with the resources we have. We will be greedy and take resource from others.
Can we truly change how we behave and live? Do we have the courage to forget about self? Can you change?
The challenges were made around market forces driving change and innovation and how cities can develop naturally as ecosystems.
In reality, the will always be a wasteful race. We have always been. Recycling has been around for years but is not in our nature. We are developed beings that will always be wasteful with the resources we have. We will be greedy and take resource from others.
Can we truly change how we behave and live? Do we have the courage to forget about self? Can you change?
Monday, 29 November 2010
An economy we can no longer service...
I have just been reading an article outline the work done by Tesco and Sainsburys creating jobs in growing stores and they call this Corporate Responsibility (CR).
Do we now have to rely on charity from Corporates to create new jobs? Have we completely lost the idea and hope of a growing economy?
I have always being troubled by the statistic that 80% of UK employment is in the form of the Service industry. Not making primary or secondary industry but pure tertiary work, servicing the consumers in the UK. We are continually recycling our income and wealth and with a growing rate of unemployment these service industries are under threat as the disposable income to service each other will diminish.
The early noughties supported this shift in employment as more people had money, could borrow money etc.. but as the economy declines so does the value of this economy. As it grew itself it will also shrink itself.
We need to radically look at where jobs can be created and where the value in our economy should be coming from. Not emerging opportunities but existing opportunities in a global market.
Do we now have to rely on charity from Corporates to create new jobs? Have we completely lost the idea and hope of a growing economy?
I have always being troubled by the statistic that 80% of UK employment is in the form of the Service industry. Not making primary or secondary industry but pure tertiary work, servicing the consumers in the UK. We are continually recycling our income and wealth and with a growing rate of unemployment these service industries are under threat as the disposable income to service each other will diminish.
The early noughties supported this shift in employment as more people had money, could borrow money etc.. but as the economy declines so does the value of this economy. As it grew itself it will also shrink itself.
We need to radically look at where jobs can be created and where the value in our economy should be coming from. Not emerging opportunities but existing opportunities in a global market.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Tribal Movement
Will sustainability ever become a mass market "tribal" idea. It seems that few people get it. Those that do, live it and are passionate about. Those that don't, steer clear and those in the middle are totally apathetic to it.
Do we try to force people to live more sustainably, do we financial encourage them to do it or do we take the lead and show them what the difference is.
The Green Party in the UK has exactly this challenge. Annomously their policies appeal to people, probably enough to be a major political force in the UK. The wrapper however isn't so appealing.
Is it just the brand, is it the apathy or is it that we need to stop talking about sustainability and talk about equality, fairness and economic value??
Do we try to force people to live more sustainably, do we financial encourage them to do it or do we take the lead and show them what the difference is.
The Green Party in the UK has exactly this challenge. Annomously their policies appeal to people, probably enough to be a major political force in the UK. The wrapper however isn't so appealing.
Is it just the brand, is it the apathy or is it that we need to stop talking about sustainability and talk about equality, fairness and economic value??
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Quick ways to make a difference.
Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with low energy light bulbs.
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Try multiplying that around your house and it soon starts making a big difference.
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Try multiplying that around your house and it soon starts making a big difference.
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Localism and Global Issues
Localism has been something I have been passionate about for several years now. The idea of developing local communities, helping people re-engage with their neighbourhood and preventing big corporate culture from dominating our high streets.
With a low carbon economy, these ideas begin to be more relevant as we look at restrictions on global travel, renewable energy production requiring smart grids to be effective etc.. But we still live in a planet challenged by resource deprivation, mass poverty and poor health care.
I have heard the saying charity begins at home all my life and I do agree that principle, but if we focus purely on our neighbour do we miss a chance to make real change.
In reality our neighbour has never been further away, whilst at the same time never closer. The communications era has lead to a shrinking world. Someone living in my village has never read my blog, but I know people as far away as South Korea have. Does the term neighbour redefining in our global network.
The skills and ideas that we generate in the UK are equally relevant in South Korea, Libya or Argentina. Whilst the Global mastodons will continue to grow and reach new markets so the challenge of localism becomes ever more important. Towns in the sub continent and Africa need the skills and ideas to become self supproting to create jobs and provide food for their families in the same way that we do.
We should not be focussed on localism solving local issues but localism and networks of locallities changing the global framework and reinventing how we live our life.
With a low carbon economy, these ideas begin to be more relevant as we look at restrictions on global travel, renewable energy production requiring smart grids to be effective etc.. But we still live in a planet challenged by resource deprivation, mass poverty and poor health care.
I have heard the saying charity begins at home all my life and I do agree that principle, but if we focus purely on our neighbour do we miss a chance to make real change.
In reality our neighbour has never been further away, whilst at the same time never closer. The communications era has lead to a shrinking world. Someone living in my village has never read my blog, but I know people as far away as South Korea have. Does the term neighbour redefining in our global network.
The skills and ideas that we generate in the UK are equally relevant in South Korea, Libya or Argentina. Whilst the Global mastodons will continue to grow and reach new markets so the challenge of localism becomes ever more important. Towns in the sub continent and Africa need the skills and ideas to become self supproting to create jobs and provide food for their families in the same way that we do.
We should not be focussed on localism solving local issues but localism and networks of locallities changing the global framework and reinventing how we live our life.
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