Contemporary Society and Sustainability - Coursework Example

Contemporary Society and Sustainability The modern society has realized the depletion of natural resources through unplanned consumption, and this has led to the need for conservation. This conservation touches on all aspects of living on the planet, including financial protection and humanitarian preservation. Exploration around the world and beyond it has also opened up the thinking and reasoning of people, enlightening them on matters the development and what to do for a better future. In regards to this, mankind has made moves towards a sustainable economy, society and environment (Barnett, 1995). To achieve economic sustainability, people have made various steps. One of them is innovation and technological development. There has been a lot of activity in the technological world in a bid to create new ways of doing things. An example is the extensive evolution of the modern computers. These are machines that can function at very high processing speeds to process data and give accurate information at very high efficiency. These computers are an essential element in the economic sector in that they help make work easier, meaning that it is completed faster than it could take when using a slower version. This technological advancement also assists in the doing and analyzing of research, such that financial analysis on countries and projects can be done. The results of using modern computers are the attaining of quick and efficient information that is necessary for economic growth and development. They also reduce the amount of labor required in projects since they do most of the simulations and processing, saving the money that would have been used to pay workers. The modern computers also have portable partners in the name of smartphones. These highly developed mobile phones contain processing units just like computers. With the one can do many activities from one point, including controlling their business and getting the latest economic news and trends. This kind of information is important in the development of a sustainable economy. Through them, people can research on the best methods that they can apply towards strengthening their financial status without threatening that of others. Another essential element that favors economic sustainability is the enhancement of the Internet connections across the world. These connections reduce the amount of effort required to communicate with people across continents and overseas. Efficient communication means that even cash transactions can take place abroad without requiring the traveling of any of the involved parties. With this kind of communication, people can share their ideas on economic developments. Countries and companies can also make international contracts, enhancing their business and increasing their profitability. The kind of trade promoted by the internet connections has brought incredible growth in the economic sector of many countries and will continue to do so as long as international communication is possible (Borghessi, 2008). Financial sustainability has also been favored by agricultural research and development. A lot of resources have been channeled towards agricultural research. Crops that mature to their harvesting stage in less than half of their natural time have been developed. These crops ensure that agricultural trade is on throughout the year, and products that rely on them as raw materials no longer depend on seasons. Modified foods have also been grown through genetic mutation. These foods have added nutrients s per the requirements of people and can also increase very fast. Moreover, research has been done on animals and their reproductive and productive cycles. They produce more meat and milk through development of enhancers, ensuring that these two commodities never lack in the market. With a supply that can sustain the rising demand for them, the economy thrives well. Other agricultural developments favoring economic growth include production of powdered milk and canned foods. These modern techniques help in the preservation of food. It can last for years and still be good for human consumption, unlike in the past where a lot of food was wasted due to its becoming stale. This preservation of food saves money that would have been used to buy the same. In arid areas, especially in the developing countries, the need for food security is of primary concern. A lot of money is spent towards feeding people in famine-stricken areas whereas the agriculturally productive areas in the same country have surplus supplies of food. With proper food preservation policies and techniques, the surplus food can be distributed to these dry areas. The arid lands can also be reclaimed through irrigation and planting of trees. As such, money channeled towards feeding the people can be used for other economically viable projects (Colantonio, 2011). Economic sustainability is achievable through the use of renewable energy resources. The contemporary society is making moves towards reduced dependence on oil and gas, which are some of the primary sources of fuel in the whole world. These sources of fuel are expensive to tap, process and distribute, and require a lot of time and money before the final product can be achieved. A lot of efforts is therefore being made towards tapping renewable energy resources such as the solar and wind energy. Tapping these two natural resources is easy and requires very light and easy to develop devices, such as solar panels and windmills. The renewable resources are cheap, and there is no threat of ever depleting them. With the use of these kinds of energy, there will be reduced cost of fuel. Many homes and companies already use solar power for heating and lighting. Moreover, other countries are developing vast solar power stations to supply power to heavy machinery industries and reduce the consumption of oil and petroleum. With the reduced use of fossil fuels, the amount of money spent on them can be directed to other development projects favoring economic growth. The modern society also thrives to improve the social aspect of life. This aspect involves looking at how people live in terms of facilities available to them. It also entails how people live with each other, and how they relate to them in all aspects of life. One of the developments that favor social sustainability is the promoting of equality in terms of race and gender. The inequality that was a characteristic of the human population until the recent past was just a case of mentality and the need for superiority. The introduction of literacy and education has opened up the reasoning of people. Most of the world’s population now knows that there is no difference between the abilities of people in relation to their skin color or gender. This kind of understanding has enabled people to mingle. The modern day permits inter-racial marriages and promotes interactions between people from different races. There are also laws against the few people that still stick to the traditional discrimination attitudes. Governments have introduced policies that allow a balance between male and female political positions. This introduction has seen an increase in the number of women vying for political posts, with some even winning in presidential elections. The need to understand that people are equals is a key to social development and sustainability. The modern society needs to work as a team characterized by mutualism and the understanding of each individual’s importance. The acceptance of gender equality in developing countries has highly favored the girl-child, who was previously discriminated against. Traditionally, girls were never educated by their parents and were married off at a very young age for the sake of getting a good bride-price. However, the modern society has seen girls go to school in Africa, and activists come up to protect them against any unfair treatment. Some even turn out to be brighter than their male counterparts, although the competition is not the primary reason for their school. With both genders literate and educated, development can easily be achieved. Racial discrimination was a key hindrance to social interactions. The modern educated society shuns it in a bid to foster development and reduce the amount of social hatred that existed, in particular between the formerly enslaved African Americans and the White Americans. The two races work together, and there are efforts to eradicate all single-race schools and social amenities in most continents so as to treat people as equals. Another step towards social sustainability is the improved health and medical research. The research that is carried out in the field of medicine aims at solving the many medical mysteries that are popping up each and every day. Such research is geared towards the elimination of pandemics like malaria and cholera, and to counter viruses that have the potential of wiping out the human race, such as Ebola and the HIV. A lot of research is also taking place towards treatment of cancer. Many cures have been developed in these areas of research, although not all have been successful. However, through this research, scientists can come up with ways through which people can avoid getting infected or affected by these diseases. The researchers also provide information on how one can live while maintaining their infection in a dormant state. As such, the social impact of medical research is great and supports social development and sustainability. A lot of technology and innovation has also been integrated into medicine. The techniques developed include the use of laser surgery equipment, pacemakers, dialysis equipment and modern stem cell development. The stem cell technology can be used to regenerate teeth and bones in case they are severely damaged. Laser surgery is utilized in the closed operation and correction of eye defects. It is a requirement because there is no need of cutting one’s eye open. The eye is a delicate organ, and any wrong physical moves on it would damage it. The light used naturally goes through the various layers of the eye without harming them, and surgeons guide it through the operation of the affected part. Modern medical developments have a direct impact on the social aspect of the communities and the population, in general. This aspect can be seen in the development of surrogacy. Barren couples can get children by having someone else carry the pregnancy for them until the child is born. This medical advancement ensures that the social aspect of families is sustained despite the child-bearing difficulties that may exist. The development of test-tube babies is another sector that directly impacts on the population. More families can get their children directly from medical laboratories. This issue has had a lot of debate in the recent past on religious grounds, but is a field that can ensure social sustainability through the development of members of a generation. It also maintains the regular family characteristic of children. To add to these developments, sperm banks have been developed. Women can get children by liaising with a donor or the bank itself. To add to the medical events and their impact on society, the advent and improvement of plastic surgery has helped correct many deformities. People with damaged body parts or markings can have them corrected. Some of these challenges are career-threatening and were previously permanent and irreversible. An example is a model who gets her face burnt. She can alter these markings through simple plastic surgery and get back to promoting her modeling career, which would have previously been difficult. The development of communication systems is also a promoter of social sustainability. These communication systems include high-speed internet and emailing services, the development of video calls and advanced mobile phone developments. These communication systems enable the society to stay in touch. It is easy to make friends and grow networks through constant communication. The modern society has depicted this through the creation and development of social sites, such as the popular Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. Through these social networks, the modern world has been reduced to a virtual village. One can have friends from all over the world, and interact with them as though they are in one place. Through communication systems, social news and developments can get to many people in a very short while. Some of the important news include those on the outbreak and spread of a disease, political instability in some regions, advertisements on good social amenities and their whereabouts and job advertisements too. The modern society has put a lot of effort in affordable and efficient communication, which is a primary tool for social sustainability (Hardisty, 2010). Environmental sustainability is also of primary concern to the modern society. The environment we live in has supported human life for millenniums, and its use has led to its depletion and degradation. This reduction creates the need to have a better environment and to save the one that currently exists so that future generations may find a better one, and probably improve on it even further. One of the biggest steps made by the modern society towards environmental sustainability is the protection and conservation of wildlife. Many wild animals are on the brink of extinction due to extreme poaching and human-wildlife conflicts. An example is the elephant, which is usually poached for its tusks. Many of these animals have been brutally killed and maimed for their economic benefits, depriving the environment of its beauty due to animals. The elephants have also been in a lot of conflict with people living near their habitat. This conlict is because they invade farms and destroy crops as they feed on them. The main reason this conflict is on the increase is the fact that the human population is growing exponentially. This growth creates the need to acquire more land for settling in and farming. The result of this need is the encroaching of game reserve and forest land, generate conflict between human beings and animals. In the end, a lot of fatalities and injuries result on both sides. To counter this effect, conservation experts have come up with ways of protecting animals through constant tracking and monitoring. Most of the endangered species are tagged, and their movement can be observed and monitored. Some have also been moved to guarded reserves where they can live naturally but under the protection of wildlife guards. Their habitats have also been fenced to curb encroachment. Another step towards environmental sustainability is the call for the reduction in greenhouse gasses, especially the carbon dioxide gas. These gasses are produced from the combustion of fossil fuels. They affect the environment by creating an atmospheric layer that traps the sun’s heat from being reflected back into space. The result of this is high temperatures in some parts of the world and glacial melts. The destruction of the polar icecaps leads to flooding of many regions that are near these masses of ice. The floods are dangerous and hazardous to both the human and the animal population. To avoid these effects on the environment, great strides have been made towards the reduction of greenhouse gasses. These steps involve introduction of clean energy that does not produce gasses as by-products. The clean energy being invested in is the solar and wind energy. Tapping these forms of energy will ensure that the environment is safe from addition of carbon dioxide. After that, steps to eliminate the already existing gasses will be necessary for reducing the damage they have on the environment (Ikerd, 2010). There has been a lot of effort towards developing means and ways of coping with soil erosion. This activity usually occurs on barren land and sloping pieces of land. This sector has incorporated technology in determining the levels of fertility of the soil and its ability to hold against effects of running water and wind. Advanced gabions have been constructed to hold the land that is usually carried away by running water. Moreover, the modern society is embarking on numerous tree-planting initiatives to reclaim barren land and conserve the soil nutrients for use by crops. In the modern world, there have been steps towards environmental sustainability that involve the elimination of non-biodegradable waste. This kind of waste includes plastic bottles and nylon papers. They are harmful to the environment in that they do not decompose into nutrients, but rather make the situation ugly through their littering. The elimination of these plastic wastes might take some time but currently, there are efforts to recycle them. Recycling those plastic materials means that they are no longer disposed of in dumpsites but are melted and made into other plastic items. They can be reused for their initial purpose or molded into something new (Thiele, 2013). Environmental sustainability also dwells in reclamation of former mines. Such areas are depleted of environmental beauty and need to be reclaimed. Others are hazardous to the human population because they are gaping holes in the earth. Reclaiming such mines involves filling them with soil and planting trees and other forms of vegetation in them. The overall sustainability of the economy, society and environment is essential in preparing a proper place for the development of future generations. They require a good base of development in order to survive. It is important to balance the social, economic and environmental sectors, and to treat them as depending on each other. This relationship is because the change of one leads to the change of another. Works cited Barnett, Vic. Agricultural Sustainability: Economic, Environmental, and Statistical Considerations. Chichester: Wiley, 1995 Borghesi, Simone, and Alessandro Vercelli. Global Sustainability: Social and Environmental Conditions. Basingstoke [England: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008 Colantonio, Andrea, and Timothy J. Dixon. Urban Regeneration & Social Sustainability Best Practice from European Cities. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Hardisty, Paul E. Environmental and Economic Sustainability. Boca Raton: CRC/Taylor & Francis, 2010. Ikerd, John E. The Essentials of Economic Sustainability. Sterling, Va.: Kumarian, 2012 Thiele, Leslie Paul. Sustainability. Cambridge: Polity, 2013. Read More