http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dg5ns8pn_0chqsrpgp
Task: Sustainable Societies in History
Society and Environment Year 10 ATP
Adam Chan
Original Description of ICP Criteria
Level Seven
The student investigates an issue or event by devising hypotheses and modifying and adapting the conduct of the investigation according to the resources and nature of the evidence available; and analyses the validity and consistency of conclusions drawn by self and others according to the sufficiency of the evidence gathered and avowed values positions.
(Processing & translating)
Students apply their generalisations about concepts and processes to develop questions and potential solutions. They evaluate their methods and inferences. They compare before-and-after situations, group and classify practices of people in society, apply categories such as laws or educational practices to societal behaviour at points in time and are sympathetic to differing viewpoints. They engage in reflective thinking about to analyse and clarify data and to justify a position. They identify strengths and weaknesses of their own planning methods and viewpoints and make modifications where necessary. They use appropriate technology as a method of organising and analysing data. Students draw valid conclusions consistent with the evidence gathered and evaluate them in relation to their knowledge of broader perspectives.
Breakdown of ICP Criteria
Verb Noun
Investigate An Issue (in this case, sustainable societies)
Devise A hypothesis
Modifies Hypothesis according to evidence
Analyses Validity & Consistency of Conclusions according to evidence and value positions
PROCESSING AND TRANSLATING
Compare Situations (before and after the situation)
Group & Classify Practices of the society
Divide Information into Categories (e.g. Education, Laws)
Use/Apply these categories To behaviours of society (different context) Different Viewpoints (e.g. minority of society)
Reflect Data/Evidence then:
Analyse & Clarify The data/evidence so I can:
Justify/Argue a position
Identify/Review/Edit Planning/Position
Use Technology to:
Manage Data
Draw Conclusions
Evaluate conclusions by comparison
A Sustainable Society
Q: What is it and what are the principles of a sustainable society?
Original Hypothesis
A sustainable society is one which can remain in a stable and positive condition indefinitely through various levels of sustainable design which negate/nullify the society’s anthropogenic effects. Sustainable design is a method of achieving social, economic and environmental sustainability. It can permeate every aspect of society. For example: The way products are produced, distributed, used and the way the resulting waste is managed can all be affected by sustainable design. Therefore, a society can achieve economic, environmental and social sustainability is through effective use of sustainable design. Example: One aspect of achieving economic and environmental stability is to apply sustainable design to how we utilize our resources to create products, the overarching goal being to maximize our economic productivity within the limits of renewable resources and minimizing our anthropogenic effects on nature to a level of sustainability.
Modifying my Original Hypothesis
My original hypothesis was both not entirely focused on answering the question and inefficient in expressing the answer, shown by its unnecessary length (compared to my second hypothesis). This was because it was written before my investigation into past, successful, complex societies. Additionally, there was a focus on sustainable design, which is rather narrow in scope, as it is one of the many methods of achieving social, economic and environmental sustainability.
2nd Hypothesis
To sustain is to maintain, to not be in a precarious state or state of collapse. Therefore, a sustainable society is one which is in a stable state, and not under threat of collapse. There are three major components of sustainability; social/political, ecological and economic sustainability. The three of these factors contribute to whether a society is sustainable or not. If a society can achieve the sustainability of these three factors, then it can be considered a sustainable society.
Modifying my 2nd Hypothesis
This hypothesis was much clearer and easier to understand. Notice the exclusion of the concept of sustainable design, as I wanted to focus on the question of what factors create a sustainable society, and not go into detail on these factors, saving this information for my main model. My original hypothesis about the three main principles were relatively unchanged as my investigation yielded examples which fell under one or more of the categories. My position is not a new one however, as the idea of these three main principles has also been adopted by other groups, including the Swedish Government, which in a National Strategy for Sustainable Development, identified these three main areas. (Source: http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/02/05/15/a64eb2d7.pdf). However, note the addition of a political factor to the equation. This came from the evidence of societies which may have met the other criteria but collapsed, due to outside forces such as military conquest. Therefore, politics aka power between and within countries became a part of the equation.
A: A sustainable society is a stable society not under the threat of collapse. The three major principles of a sustainable society are:
1. ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY
2. ECONOMICAL GROWTH
3. SOCIAL/POLITICAL STABILITY
Therefore, if a society can achieve all three of the above, the society is sustainable.
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MODEL
The Three Principles
Q: So what do these principles consist of and how do we practise them? Are there relationships between them? More importantly, who have taken steps (both in the past and present) to uphold these principles?
Ecological Sustainability
Ecology is the study of organisms and their relationship with the environment, including other organisms. So to have ecological sustainability, we must maintain a healthy relationship with the environment. However the relationship between humans and the environment has changed little over time though with a growing population, the strain on this relationship is increasing dramatically.
Basic Needs
The most important feature of this relationship is how the environment satisfies our basic needs of oxygen, water and etc. These resources are different from say oil, as there are no substitutes for them. Therefore it is important that we maintain these resources as well as because they are essential to our survival, thus basic needs. Additionally, because there is a set amount of water on earth that must be used and reused indefinitely we must realize that there will come a time where these basic resources will not be enough to support us and the environment. In a situation like this, there are a number of outcomes. The first is that the resource is used more effectively and thus able to support a larger population though this simply delays the problem. Another is that the population gradually decreases to a level where the available resources can support ithe last and most detrimental course is that we don’t adapt to the lack of resources and the population greatly decreases as a result. The stage where we can maintain our population balanced with the available resources is a form of ecological sustainability. There are few cases of past societies with this problem, as they usually did not last long enough to create a lasting impact on the environment. This is why areas low in these basic resources such as deserts are not home to successful past societies in comparison to Egypt and the Nile or even Mesopotamia with the Tigris and Euphrates. However, with new technology such as irrigation, dams and water pumps we have been able to live in areas past societies found impossible.
Foods
Another basic need that is heavily dependent on water is food. The first humans hunted other animals for survival. In modern times, we don’t hunt animals, we have domesticated them and we breed them but for the same reasons; survival and admittedly luxury. The use of agriculture has also allowed us to support a larger population. However, it has become clear that it is becoming harder and harder to supply adequate amount of food to everyone, a recent example being the recent food crisis in
Energy Sources
But food is a resource which can be continuously produced quite readily. How about resources which do not replenish themselves or cannot recover at the rate we are using them like fossil fuels? It is obvious with our rate of consumption that alternative energy sources are needed. This is not however the first time we have resorted to other methods of producing energy. In history, the use of new energy sources was always accompanied by a need for a new one. We originally used wood as fuel for thousands of years, and with the apparent deforestation of 16th century
Economic Growth
This principle has much to do with sustainable development or growth. If we have a look at history, the growth have mankind has been rapid, almost exponential. For example, in the few hundred years of the
At all times, the society should aim to be earning more than it is losing. In the area of trade, the society must be able to make a profit on its exports then spending on their imports. However, if a country is entirely self sustainable, then they do not need to rely on this rule but societies like this are rare. Societies who adhere to this rule include
Social/Political Stability
The way our societies are organized and managed plays an important role in whether that society is sustainable or not. An autocratic society for example has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Because decisions are made by a single individual, and thus without question, his/her orders are carried out quickly and efficiently. This allows this society to react and make big changes very quickly. However, because there is no ability to question the orders, the fate of the society is very much dependent on the decisions the leader makes. Similar to ‘putting all your eggs in one basket’, this approach to society is very risky. However, in societies where things just need to be done quickly, to for example achieve sustainability, it can be advantageous. For example, the
A heavily polarized society also has its benefits/problems. It allows easy work division and categorization and thus management. However, excessive segregation can often build conflict between the groups of that society. This can escalate to civil war and often a reorganization of the society. The Mayans had a revolt where because of the polarization of their society, specifically classes of society caused discontent. This is obviously not social stability, a feature of a sustainable society, and the Mayans soon went into decline, this instability a factor of their collapse.
Political stability is having a stable power base on the world stage. The objective is to maximize the amount of allies the society as well as minimize the number of enemies. However, it is preferable to have allies who also have a strong power base than one without friends. Various groups bound together by treaties hold a defensive pact, an agreement between two or more societies to provide military aid in the event of an invasion. The most famous defensive pact today is NATO. Its counterpart, the Warsaw Pact no longer exists, a relic of the
Relationships between these Principles
Social/Political Stability & Ecological Sustainability
The relationship between these two principles is important to sustainability. If the society values the environment, it is obviously easier to take care of and thus easier to achieve ecological sustainability. Certain relationships and treaties between countries can also encourage ecological sustainability, such as the Kyoto Protocol. Certain countries have political legislation that deal with ecological sustainability, certain rules and regulations that must be followed by companies (e.g. Alcoa) and people (e.g. sprinkler restrictions).
Social/Political Stability & Economic Growth
The rules of a society determined by politics impact the society’s economy. Additionally, the society’s structure also affects the economy. For example, a communist run society has a much differently operating economic system to say a capitalist free market society. Additionally, economic strength can be translated into political clout on the world stage. A perfect example in out modern context is
Economic Growth and Ecological Sustainability
The selling and buying of physical products is very much dependent on the society’s environment. For example, if a country has all the resources it needs to create a product inside itself, it will be more successful than a country which has to import resources to create its own product. Additionally, it makes sense in economical thinking to have a sustainable environment as it ensures a steady flow of resources. Also, using these resources more efficiently in the creation of products is also in the interest of both principles. Therefore it is important to understand that these two principles are complementary. For example, today there has been an influx of companies which deal with ecological sustainability, which then translates to economic growth. This is because of the need for ecological sustainability.
Wikipedia. (2008, April 16). Sustainability. Retrieved April 17th, 2008 from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
University of New Mexico (288, February 12). What is Sustainability, Retrieved April 17th, 2008 from:
http://www.unm.edu/~cleugh/whatissustainability.html
Wikipedia. (2008, April 13). Sustainable Design. Retrieved April 17th, 2008 from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_design
By Adam Chan
