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10 Sustainability
10.5.2 Quality of Life
Social sustainability must take into consideration some relevant factors that could
possibly fall under the economic and environmental sustainability outlook. By doing
this, the community ensures that basic needs are met while fostering a good quality
of life for all members at the individual, group, and community level. It is important
to understand that the term “quality of life” englobes a multi-attribute value concept,
meaning that it has many layers of how it can truly be portrayed. For example, in
terms of employment, it could question the number of people with jobs, the level
of unemployment, whether there are equal opportunities in an area, if there are
more of fewer well-paying jobs, or whether there are real opportunities for education
and training. If the government makes education a priority and there are more jobs
available, one can clearly see the correlation. Also, if there are better paid jobs, are
people more optimistic about the housing situation? Are they going to obtain a good
health service in the area? The basic principle is to question everything associated
with employment to obtain the pros and the cons of a specific situation.
One must truly understand the concept of “sustainability” to achieve balance
among the economic, environmental, and social parts of a community as they
are portrayed as a whole. In other words, the economy exists because there are
humans who interact among each other and who are willing to exchange money
for knowledge of the services or goods, thus these humans create a society where
music, art, religion, the environment, friends, and family. At the same time, society
is created within an environment because humans, according to Maslow, have basic
needs that must be fulfilled, which come from the environment humans depend on
(Maslow 2013). Moreover, social sustainability exposes how positive management
can be arranged to ensure that the economy, the society, and the environment are all
working alongside each other to preserve a good quality of life. Therefore, it is an
issue that involves all communities regardless of their size.
What are the major challenges experienced in addressing social sustainability? Can a socialism paradigm help in enhancing social sustainability? Why
or why not?
10.5.3 Spirituality
When sustainability is discussed, spirituality must also be taken into consideration.
This field, called spiritual ecology , is a response to the present ecological crisis
worldwide (Gardner 2002). It is a mixture of ecology, environmentalism, sustainability, and the conscious awareness of the sacred within nature and creation. It
does not involve a particular religion per se, but usually involves individuals who are
10 Sustainability
10.5.2 Quality of Life
Social sustainability must take into consideration some relevant factors that could
possibly fall under the economic and environmental sustainability outlook. By doing
this, the community ensures that basic needs are met while fostering a good quality
of life for all members at the individual, group, and community level. It is important
to understand that the term “quality of life” englobes a multi-attribute value concept,
meaning that it has many layers of how it can truly be portrayed. For example, in
terms of employment, it could question the number of people with jobs, the level
of unemployment, whether there are equal opportunities in an area, if there are
more of fewer well-paying jobs, or whether there are real opportunities for education
and training. If the government makes education a priority and there are more jobs
available, one can clearly see the correlation. Also, if there are better paid jobs, are
people more optimistic about the housing situation? Are they going to obtain a good
health service in the area? The basic principle is to question everything associated
with employment to obtain the pros and the cons of a specific situation.
One must truly understand the concept of “sustainability” to achieve balance
among the economic, environmental, and social parts of a community as they
are portrayed as a whole. In other words, the economy exists because there are
humans who interact among each other and who are willing to exchange money
for knowledge of the services or goods, thus these humans create a society where
music, art, religion, the environment, friends, and family. At the same time, society
is created within an environment because humans, according to Maslow, have basic
needs that must be fulfilled, which come from the environment humans depend on
(Maslow 2013). Moreover, social sustainability exposes how positive management
can be arranged to ensure that the economy, the society, and the environment are all
working alongside each other to preserve a good quality of life. Therefore, it is an
issue that involves all communities regardless of their size.
What are the major challenges experienced in addressing social sustainability? Can a socialism paradigm help in enhancing social sustainability? Why
or why not?
10.5.3 Spirituality
When sustainability is discussed, spirituality must also be taken into consideration.
This field, called spiritual ecology , is a response to the present ecological crisis
worldwide (Gardner 2002). It is a mixture of ecology, environmentalism, sustainability, and the conscious awareness of the sacred within nature and creation. It
does not involve a particular religion per se, but usually involves individuals who are