Human Values Compatible with Sustainable Development - Coursework Example

Human Values Compatible with Sustainable Development Name Institution Introduction Values held by people become very crucial factors in making the decision of whether they endorse a proper and sustainable development. Particularly, value orientations get to change in the spending of time. This is well outlined by an article on the human values and how they can be used to develop the world. In the journal article Human values compatible with sustainable development, Novacek, argues that technology in the recent years has changed the lives of human beings. This, he argues has especially affected the industrial age in which it has brought a better and a higher quality side of life that is reflected in improved and better quality of infrastructure, improved communication, health and education, longer life expectancy and improved diet and direct and quick access to major points. However, the author gives a note that with the all-round benefits that it carries, all things have a negative side of it and technology is no exceptional. Industrial age has gained with it some problems and this has caused a major hitch in the lives of people. Even with the benefits that it has brought it has been difficult to prevent people from premature deaths due to hunger and some unpredictable diseases. This, he argues can be attributed at some point to the damage on the environment that is caused by human beings in the quest of development. The industrial age is causing some problems like different animal and plant species disappear irretrievably with time. Human activities are being viewed as the root cause of the problems and especially the growing human population in the world (Novacek, 2013). Article synopsis In the article the main aim presented by the author is the confirmation that growth of human population in the world is not only a cause of alarm to the environment but also to the ecosystem. Another major aim for this article is to portray the easy cohabitation between the human and the nature. These global problems are on the focus in the human community and have been subjected to great and intensive research that was conducted since the 1970s. Some of the Reports according to the article, include a report to the Club of Rome, and other reports oriented globally made between the year 1970s and early 1980s were used to demonstrate that the increasing growth in population of human beings and especially consumption of the species found within the restricted areas of the Earth ecosystem could not be sustained in a long period of time. The more the people indulge in the activities that endanger the ecosystem, the more the species of both the animals and the plants become endangered. According to different reports, human beings should be considerate in consumption within the restricted areas of the ecosystem (Baker, 2006). Themes portrayed in the article by the author Humans and other living Beings This is the major theme in this article is proper cohabitation between the human beings and other living organisms as well as the nature. Human beings and other living things in the universe have to live in harmony according to the article in reference to the theme. In addition, the author points out that there are values that different people hold that are the most crucial factor in making the decisions on whether or not to endorse a sustainable development. Also, at the same time some other issues need to be focused like value orientations that are likely to get changed over long periods of time. There was a long term International research that was conducted by a researcher known as Ronald Inglehart during the second half of the 20th century. Another major theme portrayed clearly in the article is protection of the environment. From the article, a report by the UN World Commission on Environment and Development, the definition of sustainable development is crucial in the making of decisions of how to protect the ecosystem and prevent its degradation. Therefore the commission came up with the following definition and that was adopted since then. It is the development which is able to meet the basic and secondary needs of the present life without affecting or compromising future generation’s ability to meet their needs in any way. Shift from Material to Post-Material Values Another theme that the author describes is the principles that were developed by the commission outline the main principles that underpin a sustainable development as being; respect and diligent care for the different communities that have life and the desired improvement in the quality of life for the human being. In addition to this, conservation of the ecosystem, Earth‘s vitality and also its diversity is crucial as well as the art of trying to keep within the planet Earth’s carrying capacity and not exceeding it for better lives in the world (Ayres & Weaver, 1998). A change in the personal attitudes and the practices that the human beings get involved in is also very necessary in improvement of lives and the cohesion of human beings and the nature. In addition, the enfranchisement of different communities in the world, where care for their own surroundings and environments is concerned. Also, another important aspect is the establishment of a framework that is national that is involved in integrating development and also the conservation of the establishment of a worldwide alliance that can promote sustainability of the development that is targeted (Taylor, 2012). However the most crucial of all things the author notes, is the precautionary principle that is contained and was defined to the letter in Principle 15 that was made in the Rio Declaration. “Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environment degradation.” (Rio Declaration) According to the Rio declaration, this is the most crucial thing as it covers all the aspects that a human being should consider. It warns of the threats of serious damage that may befall to people after the decision they make don’t coordinate with the global agreement. It also explains the importance of a full scientific certainty that the human beings should have. The declaration also gave a warning that the economy should not be used as an excuse to failure of environmental conservation (Pegler, 2011). Human Values Compatible with Sustainable Living In this theme, a Czech environmentalist known as Josef Vavroušek attempted to define a framework that forms key values which are typical to make up an industrial society. In addition, He assigned other equal alternative values where they should be compatible with a sustainable living on earth. Some other values include the development system from the cultures of Christianity and Judaism the Euro-American culture. In this case, they find crucial ethical importance of development in the Ten Commandments and the ancient world. However, in the modern times, new challenges are brought across and this is not very easy to differentiate between the good action which is acceptable and the actions that are not acceptable and neither are they good. A good example is experiments on humans, genetic engineering, lives in excessive wealth and polluting the environment (Sage Publications, 1995). Critique The article is well outlined but there are a few issues that have not been properly addressed. The article captures the important aspects of the great shift from the material to the post-material values. However, the author does not explain why it has to be with respect to a proper and sustainable lifestyle and growth of life. It properly addresses a proper co-existence however, the research revealed a great problem that had to be addressed if there was to be a sustainable development. The problem highlighted was: there exists a relationship that is between the post-materialistic attitudes and the economy power that is the level of GDP of a country (Johnson, 1999). All the major aims and themes are well portrayed by the author however; there is no an agreed upon definition but this was adopted by the article since it covered the major issues that are on focus. Different Czech and Slovak authors tried the definition and although they were not rejected, they were also not adopted by the commission (Barrow& Barrow, 2006). In further explanation of the theme the article outlines the sustainability that has a means of promoting unity and harmony among the nations, human beings and especially between nature and human beings. However, the main aim of this is to bring sustainable development and hence that must be achieved. The ability to live in harmony between the human beings and the nature and also bring development has to be cultivated from the bottom and this means human beings must be educated about it. This means a lot of care must be observed by people to improve the nature and also sustain development that is highly of essence (Scovazzi & Francioni, 2006). Conclusion In conclusion therefore, the author is able to display how people should live in harmony with the nature. He points out that the trial and error method used by the human beings is not the best since it makes the situation even more complicated. It leads to more complexity because human beings have the possibilities and the power of realizing things that affect the regions and the communities and not only the families. It is especially important because it is a global problem and it affects the whole world due to development of nations (Elliott, 2002). A proper example of this is given when development of industries across the world and the massive deforestation causes global warming which does not only affect one nation but the world in its entirety. Also, the relationship that is between the cause and the effects is not perfectly clear. This is because; some people argue that it is not the human activities that affect the climate which the people should be taught about it due to the importance of the issue (Harvard University, 1978). The article concludes that the world should invest in the environment and its sustenance and also reduce the activities which bring an environmental degradation. The world in unison is affected in the effects of irresponsible activities and hence massive education as well as sacrifice should be involved by all governments. Every individual in the planet should take it as a personal challenge to take care of the environment and only engage in the activities aimed at taking care of the environment. This should be done for the sake of future generations on planet earth (Novacek, 2013). References Ayres, R. U., & Weaver, P. M. (1998). Eco-restructuring: Implications for sustainable development. Tokyo: United Nations University Press. Baker, S. (2006). Sustainable development. London: Routledge. Barrow, C. J., & Barrow, C. J. (2006). Environmental management for sustainable development. London: Routledge. Elliott, J. A. (2002). An introduction to sustainable development. London: Routledge. Harvard University., Massachusetts Institute of Technology., John F. Kennedy School of Government., & Society for Social Studies of Science. (1978). Science, technology, & human values. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University, Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy. Johnson, N. (1999). Ecological stewardship: A common reference for ecosystem management. Kidlington: Elsevier Science. Novacek, P. (April 01, 2013). Human values compatible with sustainable development. 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