Written by Justin Barras    4 Minute Read       

Reducing our levels of consumption will not be a sacrifice but a bonus if we simply redefine the meaning of the word ‘success.’ – David Wann

  Sustainability is this radical idea of changing the way that we live, in a way that allows us to continue to use and benefit from items, yet allowing the planet to run, undisrupted, simultaneously. It’s seeking out new solutions and being innovative with those solutions to take them to the next level. With sustainability, addressing every sector of our life is key, innovation and adjustments need to be made, and ideas need to be listened to. Sustainability is the idea of allowing humanity to have a future.

 I personally have come to learn some very interesting things about sustainability such as the fact that Vancouver, Canada was listed as being ranked among the topmost sustainable cities at number 3. Factors such as being run on 90% renewable energy and having a vast array of green spaces in the city contribute to this ranking. When buildings are in design in the Vancouver area numerous new thoughts go into the surrounding the topic of sustainability such as natural ventilation, and urban greenspaces. Vancouver has numerous regulations as well, that make it difficult to pollute the area, such as strict water regulation, and motorboat regulations.

It has also been very cool to have an epistolary exchange with sustainability–as I’ve noticed from looking at the writings that my topic of sustainability feels that what we really need is to listen and be creative with how we go about our lives. We need to take in the diversity of the people and listen to every one of them. Each demographic has something unique to bring, and I believe that us discriminating and ignoring many races in the past has contributed to a lot of our problems—and to how we get solutions. When we listen to everyone, we get more perspective—the more perspective the more problems that can be seen and addressed—the more we can save our society.

  It’s like how the introductory quote says, how if we can reduce the items we need it’s really a bonus, and that we’ll see the greatest bonus of that if we all can take part in this solution. If we all step a bit further and switch to reusable, sustainable items, the ripple effect occurs—a so very beneficial ripple effect.

 For, by joining this movement, I believe you will come to also realize that every further action you take does lead to the benficiality of the movement. If we dig into more solutions—and utilize them we can change things so greatly—with such strong force. Sustainability includes innovations—innovations which are characterized by their boldness—their difference. Yet not only innovations characterize the idea of sustainable–humans do as well. Our actions could include anything from plogging, (picking up litter while jogging)—to restoring a habitat for a degrading salmon population. What I feel needs to be realized is that sustainability is this idea that engulf so many more things. Environmentalism or fair trade—sustainability is sustaining a planet that protects every aspect of us. However, while that may seem selfish, the way for us to achieve this—to thrive and survive in the future, is to also save everything else on the planet. Every specie contains its uniqueness—contributes to the diversity and the way we go about living. I find sustainability, a really true sustainability includes these things: The preservation of our ecosystems, the preservation of human connections, the path we choose to our future, and how creative society will get—because creativity has always harbored our greatest solutions.

You can contact me through my email barrajus000@bellinghamschools.org or my website here

5/21/21