Implementing Sustainable Development
Everybody should know by now about the meaning of sustainability as it directly affects our life and the future generations. It’s our responsibility to secure a balance, so that economic growth, environmental concerns and humankind’s well-being are safeguarded. Our planet Earth in spite of its immense resources has already reached its limits. We should not compromise the survival of future generations by ignoring the basic principles that govern the universe and it’s there where sustainability acquires meaning. The natural resources which are available now, will soon come to an end, and it is becoming increasingly critical for the population of the earth to survive. Solar renewable energy, wind power plants, and hydropower are the most effective renewable energy resources that offer green energy and can contribute to creating an environment that is healthy and friendly to humans.
Our small planet is at risk and sending continuous warnings of its clinical condition that is critical and dangerous. Global warming, climate change, air pollution, environmental pollution, wildfires, iceberg melting, sea level rise, deforestation etc. are serious issues that we have to face and resolve. “The sustainability revolution will, hopefully, be the third major social and economic turning point in human history, following the Neolithic Revolution – moving from hunter-gathering to farming – and the Industrial Revolution.” - King Charles What is most important in resolving such issues is our mentality and responsibility. We cannot exclude ourselves from the healing process that is needed and have to think we are part of the problem and have a collective responsibility toward our fellow man and our vital environment. Economic growth and development shouldn’t happen by means of vital environmental violations and disrespectful practices towards our planet. Our well-being and health are more important than economic indexes and development.
In regard to modern technology and today's efforts to minimize the use of fossil fuels by replacing them with environmentaly friendly resources, humankind is facing new challenges and impasses. Let's take the example referring to the introduction of electric cars whose batteries are produced by the use of rare earth elements which contain complex components like nickel, lithium, graphite and cobalt. All these materials are very difficult to find and mine from the earth. When the goal is to reduce the levels of pollution in the air, water and soil this goal cannot be achieved if the processes to extract such materials are causing increased pollution to the environment in order to separate these materials from the soil. Τhe result is a complete fiasco. Sustainable development is a must and the way to achieve it should correspond to human principles and values and not jeopardize the prosperity of future generations and the planet. The same is true with the use of wind turbines at a time when a lot of cities around the world are planning to build a large number of them at the city limits or at the mountains surrounding the cities. Some of disadvantages of wind turbines are that cause low-level noise affecting people's health headaches etc., are harmful to wildlife causing thousands of deaths to birds, are aesthetically displeasing etc. So, renewable energy sources should be implemented with care and caution. “Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet.” - Carl Sagan.
Science and modern technology are tools which can contribute to improving human life conditions and creating more environment - friendly products, technological and industrial equipment. Unfortunately, we experience every day that humans behave as if this planet is their property and thereby ignore the fact that this planet is God’s Creation and a gift to us which includes the meaning of a good and dignified administration and respect towards people and all goods and assets. As long as the leading nations of this world act independently, and not in unison with them in terms of resolving the increasingly challenging issues of the world; there is no hope for improvement with lasting effects. The world community should be in the position to tackle any challenge with success and offer a hope that we can guarantee a secure future for the generations to come. The huge gap between the rich and the poor should no longer be so threatening for those in need who cannot survive and live a decent life in a world that is dramatically changing through the amazing effects of the application of modern technology. “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States
Our world needs indeed an ethical and moral philosophy that links to the religious values that have nourished the people throughout history and have been able to advocate and establish profound values like brotherhood, solidarity, peace and cooperation. This is the quintessence that can unite the world despite our religious, cultural and social differences. The world or world village is a unified body, and if one small part of the body is hurt and feels ache, the holy body aches and feels unconfortable. This might show together we can face all challenges and create a world community where everybody feels connected, accepted and above all welcome to participate as a member of the same big family in which we are all included despite all our differences.