Plan B 4.0 Chapter 10/Earth Charter

Plan B: Chapter 10

"The choice is ours - yours and mine. We can stay with business as usual and preside over an economy that continues to destroy its natural support systems until it destroys itself, or we can adopt Plan B and be the generation that changes direction, moving the world onto a path of sustained progress. The choice will be made by our generation, but it will affect life on earth for all generations to come." (Brown, page 268)

This quote, which closes Chapter 10 along with the entire book, is powerful and extremely daunting. Lester Brown lays down an ultimatum for his readers. The ultimatum is that we either change our methods of destruction to provide the generations to come with a better future, or we continue our methods with the necessary and inevitable consequences. I believe this is a very interesting and impactful way in which to conclude his book. He had spent the entire book outlining all of the ways in which the earth is deteriorating. He had outlined all of the ways in which we aid the process of deterioration, but how we can combat that process and be effective citizens of this planet. 

Earth Charter

1. Respect and Care for the Community of Life

"Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable, and peaceful."

Whenever I hear the word "sustainable," I think of Colloquium as a whole. It is imperative that we create a society where these attributes are at the foundation. If we build a society with this framework, what grows upon it will be plentiful and successful. 

2. Ecological Integrity

"Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired."

Once again, this statement makes me think of Colloquium as a whole and the mission statement of FGCU. Colloquium is teaching an entire university ecological sustainability on a wide scale. With knowledge, comes power. The more we learn about how we can help our environment and the effects of what will happen if we done the more we will grow in a positive direction. 

3. Social and Economic Justice

"Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities."

Plan B outlined effectively that all people should be equal and maintain the same ways of living and be granted the same basic needs. If all people, regardless of gender, race, class, etc., are held to the same standard, without discrimination, the world will be a more inhabitable place. 

4. Democracy, Non-Violence, and Peace

"Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life."

Plan B and the Colloquium course are integrating education and life long knowledge, values, and skills for sustainability in the future. If we can figure out ways to live sustainability, we will have to work less in order to keep it at a working level.