Do Now: Needs vs Wants
Background
Activity 1
NOTES:
Activity 2: Read and Respond
In the past, the entire human population was small and civilizations had very few needs. At that time, natural resources seemed limitless because the capacity of nature to regenerate was much higher than the rate at which human beings used up resources. Today, our needs are much greater—some would say our needs are unlimited—and we are painfully beginning to learn that environmental resources to meet those needs are limited and are quite sensitive to everything that we do. We are starting to experience the effects of the actions of generations that came before us.
To make sure that future generations will not experience a situation worse than ours, we need to be aware of the ideals and requirements of sustainability. Sustainability is the ability to maintain a certain status or process in existing systems. Sustainability is important because all the choices we pursue and all the actions that we make today will affect everything in the future.
For example, if we continue wasting water and polluting the dwindling supply of fresh water that we have today, we leave future generations with no other choice than to desalinate saltwater or treat contaminated water for their consumption and daily use. We can also be assured that, if that happens, all life that depends on clean fresh water will become extinct.
The same goes with the supply of soil that we currently have. Without proper care, our soils can easily lose quality enough that they will no longer be able to encourage growth and sustain life. If that happens, future civilizations will be void of crop and other natural sources of food. They will then have no other choice but to create man-made sources for nourishment and sustenance.
The two examples described above may seem frightening but, in fact, those are not the worst circumstances we can leave the future of mankind. If clean water and good soil become scarce enough, all life on Earth can become extinct. Keep in mind that this does not just apply to soil and water. The fact is that all resources, including human resources, are becoming scarce and being outweighed by our unlimited needs and wants.
As we become aware, we need to put what we learn into action, as that is the only way we can allow nature to catch up with the rate at which our requirements grow. This does not mean having to stifle human development. On the contrary, it means sustaining the supply of resources so that we can, in turn, sustain human development.
We need to make sound decisions at present in order to avoid limiting the choices of generations to come. Understanding and valuing sustainability will help us make those sound decisions.
To make sure that future generations will not experience a situation worse than ours, we need to be aware of the ideals and requirements of sustainability. Sustainability is the ability to maintain a certain status or process in existing systems. Sustainability is important because all the choices we pursue and all the actions that we make today will affect everything in the future.
For example, if we continue wasting water and polluting the dwindling supply of fresh water that we have today, we leave future generations with no other choice than to desalinate saltwater or treat contaminated water for their consumption and daily use. We can also be assured that, if that happens, all life that depends on clean fresh water will become extinct.
The same goes with the supply of soil that we currently have. Without proper care, our soils can easily lose quality enough that they will no longer be able to encourage growth and sustain life. If that happens, future civilizations will be void of crop and other natural sources of food. They will then have no other choice but to create man-made sources for nourishment and sustenance.
The two examples described above may seem frightening but, in fact, those are not the worst circumstances we can leave the future of mankind. If clean water and good soil become scarce enough, all life on Earth can become extinct. Keep in mind that this does not just apply to soil and water. The fact is that all resources, including human resources, are becoming scarce and being outweighed by our unlimited needs and wants.
As we become aware, we need to put what we learn into action, as that is the only way we can allow nature to catch up with the rate at which our requirements grow. This does not mean having to stifle human development. On the contrary, it means sustaining the supply of resources so that we can, in turn, sustain human development.
We need to make sound decisions at present in order to avoid limiting the choices of generations to come. Understanding and valuing sustainability will help us make those sound decisions.