Sustainability.
S - seeking perpetuity in the ability to deliver.
U - understanding the long-term consequences of actions.
S - securing the welfare of all through thoughtful planning.
T - taking only what is necessary and regenerating where possible.
A - aiming for generational continuity.
I - intelligent use of resources.
N - natural processes that replace damaging practices.
A - acting responsibly toward others and the environment.
B - building systems that focus on renewability.
I - investing in solutions.
L - long-term thinking.
I - integrating economic and environmental systems.
T - teaching responsibility for and to others.
Y - yielding to needs beyond self.
I've been spending time digging into some of the new agricultural technology -- or, at least reading about it. The buzzword of "sustainability" gets tossed around a lot. I am a firm believer in sustainability, but I think sometimes the word gets used and abused in ways that subvert the meaning.
Ultimately, sustainability means to look beyond oneself. All of us follow the natural tendency to focus first on our personal needs and then on the needs of our immediate family. Rarely, you find those who reach beyond that to their community. Even more rarely do you see someone who thinks on a broader basis -- to the needs of humanity. Most of those have some angle that is driving at financial wealth.
We need more people who think in terms of global impact who recognize that we are all -- no matter of race, creed or country -- passengers together on this giant marble swinging around the sun as it hurtles through space. We need to realize that actions have consequence beyond ourselves.
Am I a globalist? No. But, I do believe in a phrase captured in the Declaration of Independence in the words of Thomas Jefferson that "all men are created equal." In spite of those who would make him an atheist, Jefferson was echoing a Biblical tenet in that we all are descendants of Adam. We are all part of the human race. Come to think of it, Darwinians think the same way, but they see us as descendants of primordial ooze.
"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: 'He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.'" -- 2 Corinthians 8:13-15
Feeding mankind will become increasingly challenging as populations continue to grow. Weather factors affect production in various areas every year. Seeking ways that work with the local climate, yet recognizing that it won't always cooperate, we must realize that the efforts in one geographic area may ultimately be the salvation of another. We are dependent on each other -- globally -- for food. Here in the U.S. many of our fruits and vegetables come from other countries. They are often luxury foods, rather than our primary foods. In some other countries that isn't always the case. Many of them are virtually dependent on imported food to feed themselves.
Profit is necessary in order to fund growth. It shouldn't be the total focus of man's endeavors, but must be a part of it. Profit can be defined as "increase" above the cost to produce. The "increase" of a herd are the calves born. The "increase" of a crop is that each seed produces many hundreds of seeds. U.S. food production is profit driven. In most parts of the world it is survival driven. We are fortunate to have an economic system that allows us the luxury of building a food system, through its profitability, that surpasses anything in the world. We must remain aware though, that we cannot feed the world alone and that as our own population grows, there will be increasing pressure on resources by competing needs.
Sustainable practices here can inform sustainable practices worldwide. We must continue to do more with less.
As to globalism vs. nationalism, I am unashamably a nationalist. I believe in my country and our system of government. It is being threatened at a level never before seen -- internally. Those who would destroy it use everything possible against it -- even food production. We need to be exporting our beliefs and our systems rather than allowing the destruction of those very things by those who would tear us down in order to build something else.
I suppose I have rambled a bit this morning. Reading the mess in the news sometimes does that to me....
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