Sustainable Learning Communities Resilient and Prosperous Communities of Wellbeing

Four Habits of Sustainability Thought Sara Parkin, Positive Deviant: Sustainability Leadership in a Perverse World Resilience – Am I enhancing the capacity of any ecological or social system to stay strong or become stronger so as to absorb large shocks yet remain fundamentally unchanged? Relationships- Am I creating and protecting the good and many relationships that underpin resilience in individuals and in systems? Reflection- Am I taking time to think about things so as to learn from experience and apply the lessons to the future? Reverence- Am I demonstrating a ‘respectful awe’ for the power of the natural world and the intimacy of our biological relationship with it? (I have unknowns I know about. I have unknowns I don’t know about)

The Sustainable Learning Community by John Aber, Tom Kelly, & Bruce Mallory Chapter 1 – Sustainability as an Organizing Principle for Higher Education

Rules of Nature We must operate within natural laws and principles rather than attempting to overcome them. Scientists agree on the following non-negotiable facts about the Earth The Earth is a closed system with respect to matter. Nothing enters or leaves. The Earth is an open system with respect to energy. (The sun’s energy drives everything) Life exists in the thin layer around the Earth called the biosphere – which is fragile Photosynthetic organisms capture the sun’s energy and use it to power their growth – photosynthesis pays the bills All life on Earth depends on complex, self-regulating systems that circulate materials and energy in closed-loop cycles

Four Principles for a Sustainable Society In a sustainable society we will: Reduce and eventually eliminate our contribution to the systematic accumulation of materials from the Earth’s crust (use all mined materials efficiently) Reduce and eliminate our contribution to the systematic accumulation of substances produced by society (substitute persistent and unnatural with normally abundant or biodegradable - use all substances produced by society efficiently) Reduce and eliminate our contribution to the ongoing physical degradation of nature. (drawing resources only from well-managed eco- systems; exercising caution in modification of nature) Reduce and eliminate our contribution to conditions that systematically undermine people’s ability to meet their basic needs. (respect human rights, ensure income, safe and healthy, good living conditions meet citizen’s needs)

Sustainable Development – Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations Manfred Max –Neef (Chilean economist and winner of the prestigious Right Livelihood Award) Nine Fundamental Human Needs – considered to be universal across all cultures and historical time periods SubsistenceProtectionAffection UnderstandingParticipation Leisure CreationIdentityFreedom

Sustainable development is a dynamic process which enables all people to realize their potential and to improve their quality of life in ways which simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth’s life support system. (Forum for the Future-Sara Parkin)

What Sustains Us?