[bochen787]

What makes for a truly sustainable society, civilization or nation?

Why is it that every Empire that ever went up will eventually come down?
Is the U.S. Going to be the first exception to the rule??

Why makes for sustainable companies, communities, relationships, lifestyles, resolutions, interests, hobbies?


Why is it that some things are sustained for so long yet others fall and fail so quickly?

Is there a key to sustainability in general, important tenets and principles to be followed?

I'd really like to know because I want to make a post that is sustainable and will always be talked about. So the question is, is talking about sustainability sustainable?

[Wildwell]

'The using of products of nature in a way that will not permanently destroy them for future use. Sustainable resources allow for the resources to regenerate before being used again.'

'The yield of a natural resource that can be produced continually from generation to generation, without depleting the resource.'

'The Worldwatch Institute defines "sustainable" as "meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." For example, wood harvested from a "sustainable forest" means that the wood is derived from a forest managed in a manner so that the trees harvested will be replaced at a rate that matches the rate of removal. In this regard, the forest will continue producing wood for successive generations.'

Taken to an extreme, nothing is truly sustainable, eventually the sun will expire and engulf the planet but the theory of sustainability is about controlling consumption to maintain living standards for future generations. Obvious examples of unsustainable practices are:

- Polluting the environment beyond which it can cope. A certain amount of pollution IS sustainable; the eco system can cope with it.
- Over fishing, over farming or drawing down fresh water resources
- Excess use of finite resources, so the infrastructure you build around it can only survive a short period. EG Oil based infrastructure. Economists argue that 'the maket will provide substitutes', but this is really an article of faith in some cases.

No political regime or empire ever survives that long, that said it can go on for 100s or 1000s of years. It depends on the circumstances that affect it.

[Schweinshaxe]

Keyword: Darwinism.

(Social) Darwinism is sustainable.

[bochen787]

Fine Jaws. You are right.

But in the mean time, any predictions when this* post will peak??

[jaws]

Nothing is sustainable. Some day this planet will be just a scorched ball of rock, then the sun will die, then the galaxy will die, then the universe will die.

There is only one way to escape this fate: adaptation.

[Battle_Scarred_Galactico]

Empires of old were far more sustainable than us. Their farm labour was based on muscle power and when they did collapse the environment wasn't totally ruined, so as others could start again.

Sustainablility is not using your resouces at such a rate that they can't replenish (they have to be renewable). It's not that difficult a concept.

[bobcousins]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bochen787', 'W')hat makes for a truly sustainable society, civilization or nation?