My nearly 5 year old daughter came to me the other day with an empty plastic bottle. “Mum” – she said. “I’ve got a great idea. We should recycle this bottle as it is good for the environment. I think we should make something with it”. “What’s that?” – I replied. “A shotgun” – She answered. “We could fill it with sauce – that could be the blood. And the macadamia nuts could be the bombs that go boom”.
Ahhh not quite the standard answer I was expecting. The sentiment was there but execution slightly flawed (and I’m definitely having some words with my husband who insists that his computer games aren’t influencing her)
It made me think though about the definition of what it means by “being green”. To the average person out there does the word conjure up living off the land, wearing hemp clothing and dancing to the beat of a tribal drum? And when you mention the world sustainability does that further scare people?
I went to the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water website for some clarity. Their definition:
There is no simple definition of ‘sustainability’. It can be an idea, a property of living systems, a manufacturing method or a way of life. In fact, there may be as many definitions of sustainability as there are people trying to define it.
However, most definitions include:
- living within the limits of what the environment can provide
- understanding the many interconnections between economy, society and the environment
- the equal distribution of resources and opportunities.
Huh? That didn’t really clear things up. No wonder there is a new catchphrase of “Green Fatigue” doing the rounds in media.
What’s your definition of living sustainably?
