Sustainable means forever
Where's the responsibility?
Sent to the local print media and to Salmon Arm council today:
Dear Sirs:
I almost feel sorry for Salmon Arm Councillor Kevin Flynn. Almost.
Every time he comments on growth and development, he demonstrates again and again how shallow and irresponsible is his understanding of environmental issues.
His latest and greatest is the amazing comment that the large number of waterfowl and other life around Shuswap Lake is evidence that more development can occur.
Flynn clearly does not understand the link between population growth at a certain scale, and the destruction of the environment. Scientific American clearly does, with the comment that “human pressure is to blame” for the current mass extinction of species world-wide – the “sixth great extinction” as many are calling it. Species are always coming and going, but the current level of extinction is 100 to 1000 times the natural “background level,” and we are causing it.
Sure, some growth occurred in the past, and seems to have had little local effect. Some argue that that growth is already unsustainable if we look at the global picture. Be that as it may, continued growth always –always–causes every species, including us, to reach a biological “tipping point” where support systems collapse, water and food shortages occur, and population numbers decline, or crash.
Flynn and others would lead us closer to, or even over, that tipping point. In the process, they would undo years of hard work on the part of local volunteer and environmental organizations; food shortages in other countries have already led to the collapse of other native species as they are hunted to extinction. In the process, Flynn and others will clearly show that “sustainable growth” is an oxymoron, and that their type of “development” is really “destructionment.”
Flynn is an unabashed free-enterpriser. That in itself is not an issue. The issue is that Flynn, the Smart Centre developer, and virtually every corporation seem to actively avoid the hidden partner of free enterprise: responsibility.
We have a responsibility to our present and future generations to leave this planet in better shape than the disaster we have created, and are creating. We have a responsibility to our fellow human beings to help them up, rather than hold them down in sweatshop conditions and poverty so that we can buy cheaply-made goods at what we are fooled into thinking is a bargain price. And we have a responsibility to ensure the survival and viability of the other species on our planet , even if it’s only because biodiversity and healthy ecological support systems are a benefit to us.
If free-enterprisers can move from a childish and amoral belief that they have license to do anything they wish provided that they have the money, and can move to accepting responsibility for the large part they are playing in the destruction of our civilization, then perhaps we stand a chance.
Anything else could hardly be called sane. Or civilized.
Sincerely,
Rick Shea,
Salmon Arm, B.C.
Dear Sirs:
I almost feel sorry for Salmon Arm Councillor Kevin Flynn. Almost.
Every time he comments on growth and development, he demonstrates again and again how shallow and irresponsible is his understanding of environmental issues.
His latest and greatest is the amazing comment that the large number of waterfowl and other life around Shuswap Lake is evidence that more development can occur.
Flynn clearly does not understand the link between population growth at a certain scale, and the destruction of the environment. Scientific American clearly does, with the comment that “human pressure is to blame” for the current mass extinction of species world-wide – the “sixth great extinction” as many are calling it. Species are always coming and going, but the current level of extinction is 100 to 1000 times the natural “background level,” and we are causing it.
Sure, some growth occurred in the past, and seems to have had little local effect. Some argue that that growth is already unsustainable if we look at the global picture. Be that as it may, continued growth always –always–causes every species, including us, to reach a biological “tipping point” where support systems collapse, water and food shortages occur, and population numbers decline, or crash.
Flynn and others would lead us closer to, or even over, that tipping point. In the process, they would undo years of hard work on the part of local volunteer and environmental organizations; food shortages in other countries have already led to the collapse of other native species as they are hunted to extinction. In the process, Flynn and others will clearly show that “sustainable growth” is an oxymoron, and that their type of “development” is really “destructionment.”
Flynn is an unabashed free-enterpriser. That in itself is not an issue. The issue is that Flynn, the Smart Centre developer, and virtually every corporation seem to actively avoid the hidden partner of free enterprise: responsibility.
We have a responsibility to our present and future generations to leave this planet in better shape than the disaster we have created, and are creating. We have a responsibility to our fellow human beings to help them up, rather than hold them down in sweatshop conditions and poverty so that we can buy cheaply-made goods at what we are fooled into thinking is a bargain price. And we have a responsibility to ensure the survival and viability of the other species on our planet , even if it’s only because biodiversity and healthy ecological support systems are a benefit to us.
If free-enterprisers can move from a childish and amoral belief that they have license to do anything they wish provided that they have the money, and can move to accepting responsibility for the large part they are playing in the destruction of our civilization, then perhaps we stand a chance.
Anything else could hardly be called sane. Or civilized.
Sincerely,
Rick Shea,
Salmon Arm, B.C.
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