The Need For Sustainability

Unfortunately, in our modern world, consumerism and sustainability have not found a healthy balance where they can coexist and interact peacefully. Humans, and especially America’s population have fallen into the modern trap of mindless consumerism. Mindless consumerism seems to scoff at sustainability, and we seem to always choose abundance even when we do not need it. Americans need to find a way to SUSTAINABLY consume, not just consume for the sake of consuming.

I think it is great in the first video when he talks about the closed loop. I think this could revolutionize how we use resources because almost nothing would be “trash” and everything would be useful. Too many products have a short life span then end up in the landfill. Planned obsolescence is corrupt and needs to be hindered somehow, and the closed loop system would definitely help this. We take waste for granted, but the fact is that waste is not truly necessary, if we put time and energy into finding ways to re-use waste we will find innovative ways. This is a change that society could definitely handle and I think people would be enthusiastic about it.

The desert project is very interesting and they are using extremely advanced and innovative strategies to accomplish their goal. However, I am not sure why they are trying to launch this because it seems there are more pressing issues than possible desertification. I would be interested to hear what the local people think about this project, and I think they definitely need to take their opinions and needs into careful consideration.

He makes such an important point when he says that so much negative language surrounds the environment and sustainability these days. We are always told we need to use less and cut back, and that is true with some things, but mostly we just need to use smarter and more efficiently. It is not about negatively taking away it is about positively enhancing less so it equals more.

Bio-mimicry is also something mentioned in both videos that needs to really take off. It is fascinating that nature can provide us with some of the most efficient ways to build buildings and other things, we just have to investigate more. We need to change old, inefficient building designs into designs inspired by nature that have been function and efficient in nature for thousands of years. The answers seem to be right in front of us, it just requires not being stubborn and prideful and implementing and making these awesome changes.