SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT : Is This Really Necessary ?

Sustainable energy, sustainable ways of living, environmental sustainability , and still many more. The word of “sustainable” is quite famous and well-known issue nowadays. So, what exactly sustainable development is?
“Sustainable development is a pattern of growth in which resource use aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come. “ Said some experts.  As early as the 1970s "sustainability" was employed to describe an economy  which in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems . Some consider that the implementation of sustainable development would mean a reversion to pre-modern lifestyles. The point of it, is we should meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Why sustainable development issue is popping out recently? Why is it more urgent than Justin Bieber has a haircut? Why do we need to put some awareness on that issue? Okay, considering our much worse degradation environmental and population growth issues than a few years ago, I guess the urgency of looking for any kind of sustainable development in every aspect is kinda great.  Those issues on a global scale could imply extinction of humanity. That’s why the experts around the world are looking for any development that might be sustainable, especially the great urgency of alternative energy.

The fact is, sustainable development is said to set limits on the developing world. While current first world countries polluted significantly during their development, the same countries encourage third world countries to reduce pollution with some payment of which these poorer countries have to grow more trees.

While the genius people, the experts, researchers, environmental activists, governments trying and confusing how to reach those sustainable developments, what can we do to help exactly? Or I mean, at least what can we do to reduce ? Ways of living more sustainably can take many forms from controlling living conditions that would reduce the consumption of resources at the same time.  Sustainability isn’t just about saving forests, water, or animals, but it’s more to do with effective use of resources, including energy.

Sustainable development is about seeing the bigger picture, now and in the future. To give just one example, with improving green space in quality and quantity which is we don’t have as much as we needed in Indonesia (especially in big cities such Jakarta), we are not only improving the local infrastructure and environment , but also improving the community’s health and well-being.

Another fact that Indonesia now finds itself the unwelcome center of world attention, as domestic and international outrage mounts over the rampant destruction of a great natural resource. Tens of millions of Indonesians depend directly on these forests for their livelihoods, whether gathering forest products for their daily needs or working in the wood-processing sectors of the economy. Illegal logging has been rampant for years and is believed to have destroyed some 10 million ha of forest. Obviously, we need a BIG and clear signs of change in Indonesia.

More thing to consider, Hi people the greatest threats to our future is not global terrorism, global economic collapse, or even a nuclear bomb as a weapons mass destruction, but our mother nature. It’s said as was evident some years ago, Aceh’s tsunami , and also the increased irregular weather which is still happening now and keep going worse.
I wish whoever are us, we can give more awareness to this world’s big issues. This is a threat to our humanity. In a few years ahead, this problem is going to be bigger .
“Humanity can no longer simply think of existing from generation to generation, but must ensure that the world we leave behind is as good as, if not better than, the one we found”.

*my writing is gotten into Indonesian IR students blog http://indonesianirstudents.posterous.com/

References:
-    “Smart Growth Strategies for Sustainable Urban Development and Revitalization” , accessed from http://apps.ep.jhu.edu/ on 17 may 2012, 08.13
-    “Sustainable development” , accessed from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Sustainable_development, on 17 may 2012, 08.25
-    “What next for sustainable development”, accessed from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Sustainable_development , on 17 may 2012, 10.32
-    “The State of the Forest : Indonesia” , accessed from http://www.wri.org/publication/state-of-the-forest-indonesia , on 17 may 2012, 09.56