Let’s talk about “sustainable development” – Like what is it?

Several thousand years ago two cavemen were discussing ‘sustainable development’ which is making sure that each generation only uses the natural resources they are consuming at such a rate that future generations will be left with that resource.

It turned into such a great discussion it had to go to the tribal council. There, at the tribal council meeting, being unable to solve the issue it went to the United Nations where a Commission on Sustainable Development was formed.

Some on the commission felt they had to limit the numbers of animals they killed for food, clothing and shelter to insure future generations had meat to eat and hides to wear. While others believed the greatest natural resource was fire because it provided heat for warming and cooking as well as for shaping and sharpening sticks for hunting.

After weeks of discussion no one could agree on what must be saved for future generations, however, they did agree if they didn’t kill enough animals for food, clothing and shelter; and they didn’t use fire for heat and cooking many thousands would die. So how were they going to handle this issue? They decided they couldn’t mandate the issue because they would be responsible for the deaths of those who died. This was a quandary indeed.

They all agreed that every year the glaciers seemed to be melting back farther and farther. That the age of ice was ending and that days were warming. It was so noticeable many tribesmen had made comment about the event. Then it struck them, they would say the use of fire was causing global warming and melting the glaciers. That would incite some folks to give up using fire without the UN mandating it and fire would be preserved for future generations.

Several thousand deaths later a man noticed that when certain rocks struck each other a spark was emitted. At first he gave it no thought but one day while out hunting he hurled a rock from his sling at a small animal. He missed and hit another rock. He didn’t get his meal but he did start a fire that burned for days. He had discovered flint.

When he went to the tribal council with his discovery, flint was added to the natural resources list to be saved for future generations so they had a portable means of starting a fire rather than having to carry hot coals from place to place.

Even though the use of fire was less than before the Commission’s statement about global warming, the glaciers continued to shrink and life moved on. There were huge piles of flint every where you looked but the glaciers shrank, the mastodon and saber toothed tiger vanished, people died, new people were born and then someone invented the match and yet the glaciers continued to shrink.

Early man knew that fire was one of the most important allies he had. Learning to harness that energy and putting it to beneficial use had changed man’s existence forever. Fire left to its own path is extremely destructive; however, technology has made fire a tool of unfathomable value. So what is important to pass on to our future generations: A couple of flint stones or the technology we use to harness the energy produced by fire?

When you survey the planet you must ask yourself serious questions about what you want to pass on to future generations. It is technology that makes “sustainable development”, not resources. Oil was nothing until technology made it a source of energy. Flint was important until technology produced the match. So should we really change our lives by giving up something that makes life better so we can save it for a generation that may not want it or need it? Technology will always prevail, it always has.

It is my belief, humans have not and will not destroy this planet. Surely when you see the power of nature you understand we are just a bothersome parasite not to be taken seriously.
© Bill Wink April 2007

READ: Definition of Sustainable Development