Waiheke Island Class Discussion – January 4

 C
lass in Waihekee Island was very interesting in that everyone got to discuss individual projects provided by Dr. Fred.  My article, “Beacon’s Neighborhood Sustainability Framework”, was very suited for my interest as my goal upon completion of this class is to utilize learned tools to transform the Stop Six Community of Fort Worth into a more sustainable community.  This articles is one of that I really appreciate in that it addresses what I know to be real issues in making at-risk neighborhoods sustainable.  It acknowledge many factors that are often overlooked, (what I call the Ivory Tower approach), when presenting solutions for a sustainable neighborhood.  Some of those factors that I deem to be real and very important are:

1.        Day to day survival is more important than sustainability.  This goes back to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.   If someone is worrying about getting money to  buy food from month to month, they are not apt to worry about saving the earth, environment, or any of those “green” initiatives.

2.       And by the way; “What exactly is sustainability”.  At-risk communities must first be educated about sustainability and in a manner that one can quickly ascertain, “what’s in it for me”.

3.       What exactly is sustainable about being able to walk to the corner store to buy a gallon of milk, but having to pay 4 times what that milk cost adequate shopping existing within my community?  Or, why do I have to drive to the store just to by a gallon of milk.  The infrastructure does not currently exist to embrace sustainability.

In addition to educating the community about sustainable initiatives, individual charged with helping to make those changes must be educated about how the neighborhood works.  A better understanding must exist about at-risk neighborhoods, the culture, and the obstacles to becoming sustainable.