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Satya has
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In 1992 the world's nations met in Rio De Janeiro to discuss the challenges of meeting human economic needs while protecting the earth's environment. After substantial debate, over 100 countries agreed to the concept of "sustainable development" as a way to balance these seemingly contradictory demands. Sustainable development was defined as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own need." Inspired by the Summit, delegates left the conference committed to fostering sustainability in their own countries. In the five years that have passed few of the sweeping legislative and regulatory initiatives promised at the Summit have been achieved through governmental reforms. Surprisingly, the greatest accomplishments have been the steps taken by communities and villages throughout the world. There is a lesson here. For those of us seeking sustainable solutions, we should focus our attention on our own backyard. "Thinking globally, but acting locally," may bring about the most significant improvements, for it is in our communities that we have the greatest influence. Beginnings: A Compelling Vision Quietly and without fanfare a growing number of people from all walks of life are pooling their skills, talents and resources toward collaborative problem-solving. They are searching for ways to meet their economic needs and still sustain their environment and quality of life. Two western communities, Seattle, Washington and Red Lodge, Montana, though vastly different in size, are using the collaborative approach to protect the values community members hold dear. Both began with a vision. Activists in both Red Lodge and Seattle have organized public forums that encourage the participation of diverse interests in a non-confrontational atmosphere. Everyone in the community is encouraged to participate. During the forums, participants discuss community values, discover common ground and develop a shared vision for the future with both short and long-term actions to achieve the vision. Instead of relying solely on elected leaders for follow-through, community members take responsibility for implementing the plans. [See "Successful Communities" by John Clayton for more on Red Lodge] The next step involves establishing a community organization to coordinate follow-up activities. In King County, Sustainable Seattle was formed to guide the county toward a sustainable future. Sustainable Seattle describes the importance of starting with a common vision in this way: "a sustainable world can never come into being if it cannot be envisioned. The vision must be built up from the contribution of many people before it is complete and compelling." The third step is to determine the current state of the community in question, whereby citizens assess the health of their natural environment, the state of their community's infrastructure and the building blocks of their economy. In Seattle, residents developed indicators of progress to determine the status of larger ecosystems and the effects of various activities on them. Finally, both communities continue to build broad public support for the efforts needed to achieve their vision. They make the public aware of the challenges and opportunities facing the community, by involving the public in meaningful ways and increasing understanding of the common ground that links people together as neighbors, regardless of their political interests. Most importantly, community activists have identified the role individuals, organizations, small businesses, schools, local government, companies, agencies and the media can constructively play in achieving the vision. The key to building sustainable communities is to recognize the interdependence of people, culture, the economy and nature. Ultimately though, communities must define "sustainability" for themselves -- because once sustainability is determined locally, citizens are far more likely to take actions equal to the magnitude of the challenges they face. Lill Erickson is Executive Director of the Corporation for the Northern Rockies (CNR), a regional non-profit organization based in Livingston, Montana. Erickson served on the Western Regional Team of the President's Council on Sustainable Development.
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