global sustainability final

other things to look at

• writings from the second half of the semester

• ngo thing

• book review

• reread notes

what is top-down development? and how does it view development?

• big programs, loans, large scale things (mega projects)

• view that economic growth = development

• have to consider who truly benefits?

• example: Race to Save the Planet (“In the Name of Progress”), building the power plants in Singrali India for hydroelectric power that was supposed to benefit the people living there but ended up forcing them out with no work

what is bottom-up development? and how does it view development?

• small, local, using appropriate technology

• often more sustainable

• example: Race to Save the Planet film, Brazil rubber tappers who created a sustainable method and integrated it into their community

• example: education for girls and women (Women Make Change) women’s education in Ghana video on youtube

• example: Muhammad Yunus microcredits, sustainability = a positive change for the bottom 50%, did the opposite of what any top-down approach would

top-down vs bottom-up development

top-down tends to be more large scale projects, while bottom-up is at the local level

• they have very different results depending on who you are & where you live

• most likely any area will have a combination of the 2

What is development? What is the best / are the best strategies for it? What are the costs and benefits? give examples.

• i think the best strategies are anything bottom-up (see examples in bottom-up development card)

definition of development

depends on which approach you take

• top-down → economic growth is development

• bottom-up → a positive change for the bottom 50% is development

Negative costs to development examples

• “This Changes Everything” film → sacrifice zones in Greece, Montana, Alberta, India

• Oil on Water novel

• Can pull in from “We benefit from their poverty” writing

  • “We are in an unequal, unbalanced, could extend to say unjust society”

categories of solutions

NGOs, Food & Agriculture, Population, Renewables, UN SDGs

What is an NGO and why are they relevant?

An NGO is an organization whose members are individuals not states. They are often able to have more of an impact than government-related actors because they are less limited

partnerships and transnational networks

WWF example from NGO presentation

definition of NGO

a Non-Governmental Organization

• one whose members are individuals not states

definition of sustainability

meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations ability to do so

something that can be sustained over a long time

definition of sustainable development

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations ability to do so

overall themes from 10 myths about food and agriculture

• you can’t separate food & ag from the system, the democracy

• sustainable / regenerative agriculture

• definitely pull in from critical book reivew

examples of food and agriculture solutions

• “Kiss the Ground” film - regenerative agriculture (soil health, CO2 sequestration, “what are we eating and where is that food coming from?”

• Agroecology vs. regenerative ag

  • regenerative is different because it is SCALEABLE - things that can be done on 500 acres can be done on 50 acres

• Diversity of crops, rotation of grazing animals

Why population issues happen and methods to solve it

• high fertility rates are caused by poor treatment of women, lack of proper health care for children

• solution: girls education and women’s empowerment

• I = P * A * T

broad list of solutions

• renewables: solar, wind, geothermal

• girls education & womens empowerment

• NGOs

renewables as solutions

solar

• solar powered camel to deliver medicine

• solar is very scaleable

• cost per kwH is cheaper than oil and gas now

wind

geothermal

using technology in a positive way for sustainability moves it to the denominator in the IPAT equation

I = (P * A) / T

NGOs as solutions

Paul Hawkin youtube video

transnational advocacy networks - TANs

NGOs working together → “Blessed Unrest”

• increasing in power & influence

  • b/c NGOs are highly motivated and have the ability to take different approaches

UN SDG #17

United Nations Sustainability Goal #17 is “Partnerships for the Goals”

• centered around collaboration, international investments & support, bringing in businesses & corporations, NGOs

• if we can coordinate better, maybe we can get better results