Can/could Sustainability be Individualized, be Made a Personal Commitment?…
Sustainability is a relatively new concept after years of irresponsible use of earth’s resources and a realization that the world is self destructing and heading to the abyss…
The term and concept is very current just like different fashions often get to be but unlike fashion trends and fads, I believe sustainability will endure for eons given the risks that irresponsible use of earth’s resources has bestowed the earth itself.
New terms that have followed the concept include re-use, re-cycle, dispose responsibly and other more complex ones such as green /renewable energy and green technology among others…
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The sustainability concept has been buttressed by other ideals and ideas including the ESG(Environmental, Social & Governance) a framework for companies to enable long term sustainability..
At a personal level, sustainability can be many things or ideas. Essen, , it is about using one’s resources responsibly and ethically.
It is about using one’s income for better health & socio-economic status of the person.
It is about buying healthy food, cooking healthy, eating healthy, buying only what is required and saving for investments…
Et al…
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More individually, it is also about serving only the meal one needs at home and in function to avoid wastage and build up of the methane gas in the atmosphere.
It is also about using water (&other natural resources) sparingly and carefully to avoid wastage and with a focus for saving the resources so that future generations can also get part of the share of the resources.
Yet living sustainably for an individual can be a tall order and really difficult. Especially, the community may judge such an individual as too strict or too cautious with life ‘yet, we live only once’.
For instance, imagine going to a wedding or other social and corporate events where food is free and in plenty then one serves frugally only what one will consume and finish without wastage.. And the amazement of people – – “kwani huyu jamaa ana tumbo ya mtoto” “anakula chakula kidogo kama dame,” etc…as ensuing comments and in whispers…
And then those who did not see you serve and find that you have emptied your plate will also wonder,
“kwani huyo jamaa hakulula jana usiku?” “kwani hakukula kwake /kwa nyumba? “kwani alikua na njaa gani huyu jamaa, hata hawezi achia pusi kidogo?” etc…
Often, the comments and judgements happen to be ill-informed …
And so the journey to an individual’s sustainable living moves and lives on… The odds despite.. …
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