Sustainability was defined by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Simply put, sustainability means using everything around us in a way that doesn’t run out. As human beings, we need a lot of things to survive, especially with the rate of technological growth. In the search for survival and to make ourselves feel more comfortable, we consume, destroy and alter. This work aims to tell a little story that can describe sustainability in the best possible way.
Assuming the land is a house occupied by a family of six consisting of a husband, a wife, and four children. The mother belongs to the working class and leaves home at 8 in the morning to return at 5 in the afternoon every day. The four children are in different schools and come back at different times. Younger children close school at 1:00 pm. While the older ones don’t come back until 3:00 p.m. M. The house mother gets up early to get the children ready for school and also makes arrangements for their lunch when they return. She prepares food, organizes snacks, and stores fruit and sweets for them in the kitchen; all children are shown where the various items are placed. Provisions are made for all four children and additional items are put away in case any of them are not satisfied.
The time is 1:00 pm and the first two children have returned from school. They rush to the kitchen for lunch, after consuming their portion of food prepared by their mother before leaving, they are full but out of greed, they pounce on the other lunch boxes. At this point they can no longer eat, but decide to waste the food and throw it away. After wasting the food, they take different snacks and start to play with the snacks, the fruits are squeezed, crushed on the floor and thrown into the bin. Over time, all the places get messy and all the food and snacks that her mother carefully organized before she left get scattered, destroyed and shredded, making them unfit for human consumption.
The other children return from school at 3 pm and after a long day, they are tired and hungry. They rush home with thoughts of the tasty food their mother made and served in their lunch boxes before leaving for work. When they got home, they learned that the whole house is in disarray, the food has been squashed, the sandwiches have been thrown away and they have practically nothing left to eat. At this point, the other two children run out of food until their mother returns. Unfortunately, an emergency arises at work and her mother is sent on official duty out of town and won’t be back until the next day. She goes on a trip believing that the children will have enough for lunch and will also manage for dinner.
From the above story, who to blame? The mother made the necessary arrangements before leaving, the older children have to be at school until closing time and it is not in her power to change that. Younger children who returned earlier will certainly be responsible for this. The same applies to the earth, we are the present generation and now is our time, we have everything in our possession and the option to use resources wisely to protect the interests of the future generation is in our hands. We can decide to destroy the environment, but what happens to the unborn generation when it is their time?
Some natural resources, if used wisely, can last longer; some processes, if refined, can protect and not destroy mother earth. The call for sustainability is a global call because it affects everyone. Regardless of its position or location, the earth is one and what affects Africa directly or indirectly affects America and what affects Asia affects Europe and on and on. The Triple Bottom Line concept developed by Elkington J. in 1998 provides a holistic approach to the problem of sustainable development. Although this concept has been criticized by various authors, it is a very good means of addressing sustainability issues while other models are being developed. I agree with the concept because it seeks to protect people, the planet and organizations (profit).
If we are all aware of the need to protect the three pillars of sustainability identified in the TBL concept, then we can make the world a better place and the unborn generation will find a truly livable world and if the message continues to spread, so too. They will assimilate the principles of sustainability in their lifestyle and ensure the protection of the generation after theirs and continues.
“Please spread the word, sustainability is the key to peaceful development”
