Friday, April 25, 2008

Year 10 Hand-in Assignment: Sustainable Societies

Below is a link to a Google Docs version of my task as well as the actual assignment (includes a breakdown of the assignment criteria)
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.

__________________________________________________________________

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. Australia is one of the countries facing this problem and we have responded with various water restrictions, new technologies (desalination and treatment plants) and others to deal with this problem.

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 Haiti (http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=4691282&page=1). This problem is also due to a growing demand from a growing population and the imbalanced/inefficient distribution of food. However, food shortages are very much frequent in history even with a lower population. This is because of our ability to elevate levels of food with new farming techniques, which increase energy efficiency. For example, the crop harvester does a job that usually would take longer and more energy. Additionally modern fertilizer increases the yield of the crop, increasing supply. Therefore, it could be argued that new technologies can ‘keep in check’ the ecological problems we face today in an effort to achieve sustainability. In the past the Chinese, using new farming technologies transformed useless hilly country into terraced fields of crops, satisfying their civilizations need for sustenance (this is an example of humans modifying their environment, in this case terrain for their benefit). A modern example is GM crops, genetically modified crops designed to be cheap to grow and give generous yields. However, like the intensive farming conducted by the Chinese, it is inevitable that this new technology will alter our relationship with the environment, possibly with positive or negative effects. A comparison of two countries’ approach to resource management, particularly food is Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Haiti, to satisfy its need for food, has cut down its forests and undertaken intensive farming. Today, Haiti still suffers sever food shortages and poverty (see above article) yet its neighbour remains in a much more stable state in comparison.

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 Europe a search for an alternative fuel began. The result was coal. Other countries dealt with the crisis differently. Tokugawa Japan for example, failed to find an alternative resource such as coal, so they developed a way to manage the forests sustainably. This is an example of how sustainable societies are affected by their surrounding environment, in this case, the absence/lack of a resource (coal) and how they dealt with it (forest management). However, oil and gas are still the most easily used and most efficient sources of energy compared to alternatives such as solar energy today. A few of the alternatives such as solar energy, nuclear fusion and nuclear fission are very abundant and easy to attain, though the cost of using these methods are still higher than oil/gas. Today, the search continues for new energy sources to replace rapidly disappearing oil and gas reserves.

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 Roman Empire, not much had changed, but in the few centuries prior to today, we have made a multitude of advances. It could be said that in the past few centuries we have experienced great growth, thought not necessarily sustainable growth/development.

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 Japan, whose exports include televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices. The Phoenicians, also specialized in trade, though they also exported their culture and knowledge as well.

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 Roman Empire when it was not a republic was very dependent on its emperor, evidenced by large differences in its success depending on its emperor.

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 USSR. Previous to these two, during and prior to World War II, the Tripartite Pact was signed by Nazi Germany, Japan and Italy. Additionally, simply being an ally of a few powerful countries is all you need to safeguard yourself from invasion. This is the case in Bhutan which is a small country sandwiched in the middle of India and China. Due to it having no military clout it has resorted to maintaining good relations with both countries, protecting itself from almost certain collapse.

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). Japan would’ve never been able to enforce its rules of forest management without a stable government. This just shows the interdependence of these principles. Additionally, your physical location on the world map has a way of determining a society’s importance to another. For example, Japan is a natural ally of the US due to its strategic position in relation to other societies such as Korea and China. In comparison, Saudi Arabia is an ally of the US because of its massive oil reserves. The latter differs from the former in that the relationship between these societies is based on resources, rather down political influence.

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 China, who, due to its production power and thus economic strength holds a large amount of power on the world stage.

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.

REFERENCES



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


United Nations University. (2007, November 26) Realization of a Sustainable Society --Zero Emission Approaches. Retried April 18th, 2008 from:

http://www.unu.edu/zef/publications_e/suzuki_intro_ZE.pdf


Sweden Government Home (2002, February 17th) Sweden's National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2002. Retrieved April 18th, 2008 from:

http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/02/05/15/a64eb2d7.pdf


EROEI. (N/A) What is EROEI?. Retrieved April 18th, 2008 from:

http://www.eroei.com/


SymbioCity. (N/A) Sweden and Sustainability. Retrieved April 17th, 2008 from:

http://www.symbiocity.org/?pageId=9


Hubbert Peak (1999) Reflections on Sustainability, Population Growth, and the Environment -Revisited. Retrieved April 18th, 2008 from:

http://www.hubbertpeak.com/bartlett/reflections.htm


Government Communication (2003) A Swedish Strategy for Sustainable Development-Economic, Social and Environmental. Retrieved April 18th, 2008 from:

http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/02/52/75/98358436.pdf


Open Directory (2008, March 11th) Science: Environment: Sustainability. Retrieved April 19th, 2008 from:

http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Environment/Sustainability/


The World Wide Web Virtual Library (2008, January 24th) Sustainable Development. Retrieved April 20th, 2008 from:

http://www.ulb.ac.be/ceese/meta/sustvl.html


ISEE Conference (2008) ISEE 2008 Nairobi. Retrieved April 20th, 2008 from:

http://www.ecoeco.org/conference08/home.php



By Adam Chan

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