Sustainable Communites - Essay Example

Teresa Balderas Christi Ream English 1301-8437 October 15, Sustainable Communities From the beginning of times, people have been corrupting and polluting the earth. The human race is responsible for the effect on environment, which makes it our duty to work on improving what our ancestors deteriorated. For this purpose nowadays there are many sustainable communities being developed. These sustainable communities are meant to promote sustainable living, to aware others about the effect of human activities on earth and to work on economic sustainability.

For Example, a sustainable community called Earth song Eco-Neighborhood, New Zealand works on cohousing and perma-culture. “Perma-culture is a sustainable method of edible landscaping that minimizes energy and water usage, while cohousing is the sharing of common resources by a group of people.” (Horton, 2011)Sustainable communities help in promoting sustainable living, which refers to a lifestyle that leads to reduction in usage of natural resources. The concept generated because it has been believed and is often believed even now, that only manufacturing companies are contributing to the ill health of earth.

The truth is, however, otherwise. Individuals on their own cause a lot of pollution and reduce earth’s life. Sustainable communities help individuals learn how they can improve their lives and the lives of their future generation. That is, they are taught how as individuals they can help in sustainable development. For example, Toyota has been working on reducing its carbon foot print. Accodrding to Toyota, 2011, “Toyota’s culture of shared environmental responsibility has enabled the company’s manufacturing facility to implement 1,700 energy-saving measures over the past five years—resulting in a CO2—emission reduction result of 120,000 tons—that’s roughly equivalent to planting 45,000 trees.

” I thought to myself what my carbon footprint is. I calculated it and I read different articles that helped me learn how I can reduce my own carbon foot print and help in making earth’s environment better in my own capacity.Moreover, sustainable communities also help in making others aware about sustainable development plus they give a platform for organizations to form partnerships and coalitions and work for the betterment of the environment and people. “The Stern Review (2006) concluded that climate change presents very serious global risks, and it demands an urgent global response.

” (INFED). This means that companies need to work together for a better cause. Some companies like Coco-Cola have been fighting against HIV/AIDS in the communities that they operate in. (Coca-Cola). Through the awareness campaigns conducted by different countries, people learn about what they can do as individuals to help earth. These campaigns are not only health related but are also related to volunteering for climate improvement. For example, Nespresso’s recycle the capsule campaign in which they collect Nespresso’s empty or used capsules and recycle them.

Also, we have been taught throughout our lives how planting a tree can help the earth and us. Such educational parameters help in improving earth’s state. Furthermore, the sustainable communities help in improving economic conditions. This is done because the sustainable communities help in creation of employment opportunities, less energy use which means less cost for people, education for those who are unaware or are not literate and in improving health conditions of an area as well (Sustainable Communities Online).

Also, the activities organized due to sustainable communities help the people of a community come together to enjoy health relationships with one another. It gives opportunity for people to socialize and to become involved in working for a common goal. Plus, it helps the citizens to voice their opinions, which improves political conditions and helps in creation of new and innovative ideas. Thus, with the help of sustainable communities the world as we know it can change into a better place.

The concept of giving people knowledge, tools and skills they need to inspire active citizens, is what sustainable communities is all about (Institute for Sustainable Communities). We can make our mother earth happy by working together to improve living conditions, to create awareness among people and to improve economic conditions. ReferencesInstitute for Sustainable Communities. 2011. Web. 15 October 2011. < http://www.iscvt.org/> Sustainable Communities Online. 2011. Web. 15 October 2011.

< http://www.sustainable.org/about> INFED. 2011. YMCA George Williams College. Web. 15 October 2011. Coca-Cola. 2011. Web. 15 October 2011. Jenifer Horton, 2011. Science:How Stuff Works. How Sustainable Communities Work. Web. 19 October 2011. Toyota, 2011. Web. 19 October 2011.