Hi, Cory.  I find the word "sustainability" being used a lot; however, I really don't know the 'real definition".  So I did a search online.  Wow!  I was overwhelmed by all the things that I found:  http://www.reference.com/search?q=sustainability  So it definitely has meaning in the sense of in what context it is meant to be (or applied). 

 

So with that vague (but also all encompassing) meaning of the "word", I guess I see various levels of sustainability.  In the most simplest form, you have system level sustainability (or insustainability) and individual level sustainability.  From there, there are different scenarios, for example, an individual can live sustainably, even though the system ultimately will not.  Or that the system can be sustained, but an individual cannot (because of his/her life style).  So, one can live sustainably outside of the system, or one cannot.  This of course depends on how we define "system".

 

If we are talking about the man-made "system", there could be a possibility that one can live outside of that.  Or if the system fails, since it's man-made, it can be made again.  However, if we are talking about the natural system, we absolutely cannot live outside of that system.  However, strangely, that's what we've been trying to do (to live outside of it), and compete with the natural system with our man-made system.  In essence, the man-made system can't sustain itself.  The natural system will keep going whether or not it involves us.  Perhaps from that perspective, the whole concept of "sustainability" is meaningless.  It's developed out of the homo sapien-centric view.  The concept of sustainability revolves around our (human) survival.  However, the world will keep going (in whatever state it will be in) with or without us. 

 

The ironic thing is that our survival-ship will depend on how likely we are willing to get rid of the homo sapien-centric view, and realize that we are part of the natural system in every sense.  Anyhow, just some of my random thoughts and 2 cents about "sustainability".

 

BTW, there was an article by Michael Pollan from the New York Times yesterday:

 

The Way We Live Now - Our Decrepit Food Factories

 

Cory Brennan <cory8570@yahoo.com> wrote:

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Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
                                   - Lao Tzu

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