Towards Sustainable Living
Prof. S.Sathish 1 and Mr. Ravi Gangadharaiah Nayaka2,
B.M.S College, Dept of Architecture, Bangalore 560019.
The study is aimed at knowing the limits of growth. This limit to growth will enable us to plan the future with the possibilities of sustainability. Thereby utilizing the resources to its optimum for the whole population to make earth as home. Towards sustainable living should give directions to design Just cities/ settlements of future.
In a hypothetical view sustainable habitat living might be defined as.
Sustainable habitat
A sustainable habitat is an ecosystem that produces food and shelter for people and other organisms, without resource depletion and in such a way that no external waste is produced. Thus the habitat can continue into future time without external infusions of resource. Such a sustainable habitat may evolve naturally or be produced under the influence of man (such as a restored biosphere).
A sustainable habitat that is created and designed by human intelligence will mimic nature, if it is to be successful. Everything within it is connected to a complex array of organisms, physical resources and functions. Organisms from many different biomes can be brought together to fulfill various ecological niches.
Often the term refers to sustainable human habitats, which typically involve some form of green building or environmental planning.
In creating the sustainable habitat, environmental scientists, designers, engineers and architects must consider no element as a waste product to be disposed of somewhere off site, but as a nutrient stream for another process to feed off of. Researching ways to interconnect waste streams to production creates a more sustainable society by minimizing pollution.
People are encouraged by seed companies to grow their “more efficient” crops which represent a small genetic pool. Fewer farmers are now growing traditional varieties that have co-evolved to suit a particular locale. Biodiversity is a key element of a sustainable habitat.
1. Prof. S.Sathish , H.O.D, Dept of Architecture, B.M.S College, Bangalore.
Email. Sathish1953@gmail.com, sathishsrinivas@hotmail.com .
2.Mr. Ravi Gangadharaiah Nayaka, Visiting Faculty, Dept of Architecture, B.M.S College, Bangalore. Email. ravi.gangadhar@gmail.com . web: ekalavyamultiversity.blogspot.com
1. Population limits
a) The human population has limits in between 8-12 billion. Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834) nearly two centuries ago has predicted that the human population has mathematically permitted limit of 12 billion in a healthy environment. 3
b) According to the latest United Nations population estimates, world population reached the six billion mark on 12 October 1999, an historic milestone in the growth of world population. The marking of a world of six billion just at the dawn of the new millennium is a convergence of events that is attracting widespread global attention. The World at Six Billion was prepared in response to this attention. It provides in tabular and graphic form salient characteristics of past, current and future world population growth.
The twentieth century has witnessed extraordinary population growth. During this century, world population increased from 1.65 billion to 6 billion, and experienced both the highest rate of population growth (averaging 2.04 per cent per year) during the late 1960s, and the largest annual increment to world population (86 million persons each year) in the late 1980s. The world population growth rate has fallen from its peak of 2 per cent per year to around 1.3 per cent today. Nonetheless, world population will continue to increase substantially during the twenty-first century.
United Nations projections (medium fertility scenario) indicate that world population will nearly stabilize at just above 10 billion persons after 2200. However, the twenty-first century is expected to be one of comparatively slower population growth than the previous century, and be characterized by declining fertility and the ageing of populations.4
Billions
We need a Habitat designed Globe for 9 billion humans towards sustainable future. Twenty fifty year plans make a millennium plan. We are presently in the first of the twenty fifty year plan which has begun 2000- 2050A.D.
We need not have to board a space ship and go to space, indeed we are in space, and Mother Earth is our space ship. Presently she is traveling with the speed of 80,000 km/hr speed in her orbit around our Father Sun.
Earth is our school we citizens of mother earth are students of life. We all need have to live to learn so as we will learn to live. Live and let live. Grow out our personalities and help our fellow beings to grow out their humane personalities.
The population growth is increasing the demand and hence putting pressure on Natural
Resources to cater to the needs of various requirements of the population in their day-today life. The Natural Resources are converted into an effective product/service through
an appropriate Technology. Excess waste is generated in the process due to ineffective technologies and/or poor Management of technology implemented. An effective utilization of Natural Resources to useful product/service thus requires appropriate Technology, effective Management, and low Waste emissions. An integrated and controlled approach in the Technology, Management, and Waste emissions (TMW) increases the efficiency of Natural Resource conversion.6
“Everywhere on Earth, at this moment, in the new spiritual atmosphere created by the idea of evolution, there float, in a state of extreme mutual sensitivity, love of God and faith in a new world: the two essential components of the ultra human. These two components are everywhere in the air…sooner or later there will be a chain reaction.”
- Pierre Teilhard deChardin
Land, Resources and Present scenario in India.
Arable land
In geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to plough) is an agricultural term, meaning land that can be used for growing crops.
Of the earth's 148,000,000 km² (57 million square miles) of land, approximately 31,000,000 km² (12 million square miles) are arable; however, arable land is currently being lost at the rate of over 100,000 km² (38,610 square miles) per year.10
India. Land area: 1,147,949 sq mi (2,973,190 sq km); total area: 1,269,346 sq mi (3,287,590 sq km) of which 54% is arable.
We need have to preserve the arable land and increase it to the 1.5 times the present area, which will serve the 1.5 times the present population which would be our limit. So as we tend towards sustainability.
India accounts for 1/6th world population. The present poverty scenario in India
The All India Poverty line for rural areas is Rs. 327.68 per capita per month at 1999-2000 prices.
Urban Poverty line – Rs. 454.11 per capita per month at 1999-2000 prices.
State Specific rural poverty lines (for major States):
-
Kerala : Rs. 374.79 (Max.)
Himachal Pradesh : Rs. 367.45
Assam : Rs. 365.43
Uttar Pradesh : Rs. 336.88
Tamil Nadu : Rs. 307.64
Andhra Pradesh : Rs. 262.94 (Min.)
Proportion of Rural Poor (%)
State/UT’s 1993-94 1999-2000
Bihar 58.21 44.30
Orissa 49.72 48.01
Assam/NE States 45.01 40.04
U. P. 42.28 31.22
West Bengal 40.80 31.85
M. P. 40.64 37.06
Maharashtra 37.93 23.72
Tamil Nadu 32.48 20.55
Karnataka 29.88 17.38
Rajasthan 29.46 13.74
Haryana 28.02 8.27
Kerala 25.75 9.38
Gujarat 22.18 13.17
Andhra Pradesh 15.92 11.02
Punjab 11.95 6.35
All States/UTs 37.27 27.09 7
7. Ministry of rural development, Government of India, 2005 report.
3. Present scenario
Poverty Ratio for rural areas reduced from 37.27% in 1993-94 to 27.09% in 1999- 2000.
Absolute number of poor in rural areas decreased from 244 million in 1993-94 to 193.2 million in 1999-2000.
Though in percentage terms the poverty ratio in rural areas reduced by 10.18 points, the absolute number of poor in rural areas is still large.
Source: Planning commission.
The housing shortage is estimated at 14.9 million dwelling units and every year 1 million is added to this number.
8. Source: Planning commission.
| TOTAL NO. OF VILLAGES BY STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES | ||||
| State Code | Name of States/Union Territories | Number of Villages in 1991* | Number of Villages in 2001 Census# | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 01 | JAMMU & KASHMIR | 6,705 |
| 6,652 |
| 02 | HIMACHAL PRADESH | 19,388 |
| 19,831 |
| 03 | PUNJAB | 12,795 |
| 12,729 |
| 04 | CHANDIGARH | 25 |
| 24 |
| 05 | UTTARANCHAL | 16,623 |
| 16,805 |
| 06 | HARYANA | 6,988 |
| 6,955 |
| 07 | DELHI | 209 |
| 165 |
| 08 | RAJASTHAN | 39,810 |
| 41,353 |
| 09 | UTTAR PRADESH | 107,327 |
| 107,440 |
| 10 | BIHAR | 45,077 |
| 45,113 |
| 11 | SIKKIM | 453 |
| 452 |
| 12 | ARUNACHAL PRADESH | 3,649 |
| 4,065 |
| 13 | NAGALAND | 1,225 |
| 1,315 |
| 14 | MANIPUR | 2,212 |
| 2,391 |
| 15 | MIZORAM | 785 |
| 817 |
| 16 | TRIPURA | 856 |
| 870 |
| 17 | MEGHALAYA | 5,629 |
| 6,023 |
| 18 | ASSAM | 25,590 |
| 26,247 |
| 19 | WEST BENGAL | 40,889 |
| 40,783 |
| 20 | JHARKHAND | 32,620 |
| 32,615 |
| 21 | ORISSA | 51,057 |
| 51,352 |
| 22 | CHHATISGARH | 20,378 |
| 20,308 |
| 23 | MADHYA PRADESH | 55,842 |
| 55,392 |
| 24 | GUJARAT | 18,509 |
| 18,544 |
| 25 | DAMAN & DIU | 24 |
| 23 |
| 26 | DADRA & NAGAR HAVELI | 71 |
| 70 |
| 27 | MAHARASHTRA | 43,025 |
| 43,722 |
| 28 | ANDHRA PRADESH | 28,000 |
| 28,123 |
| 29 | KARNATAKA | 29,193 |
| 29,483 |
| 30 | GOA | 369 |
| 359 |
| 31 | LAKSHADWEEP | 23 |
| 24 |
| 32 | KERALA | 1,384 |
| 1,364 |
| 33 | TAMIL NADU | 16,780 |
| 16,317 |
| 34 | PONDICHERRY | 264 |
| 92 |
| 35 | ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS | 547 |
| 547 |
|
| INDIA | 634,321 |
| 638,365 |
| Note: |
|
|
|
|
| * | Number of villages in both 1991 & 2001 Censuses include uninhabited villages | |||
| # | The number of villages indicated for each state/union territory for 2001 is provisional | |||
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9
9. Office of the Registrar General, India
Created on 14th February 2002
4. Support from United Nations.
The United Nations Housing Rights Programme (UNHRP) was launched in April 2002, as a joint initiative by UN-HABITAT and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The substantive focus of the programme is grounded in the Habitat Agenda which states that "Within the overall context of an enabling approach, Governments should take appropriate action in order to promote, protect and ensure the full and progressive realization of the right to adequate housing" (paragraph 61). The development objective of the UNHRP is to assist States and other stakeholders with the implementation of their commitments in the Habitat Agenda to ensure the full and progressive realization of the right to adequate housing as provided for in international instruments.
"We [the Heads of State or Government] reaffirm our commitment to the full and progressive realization of the right to adequate housing, as provided for in international instruments." Istanbul Declaration (paragraph 8) and the Habitat Agenda (paragraph 39)*.
*A. Adequate shelter for all
39. We reaffirm our commitment to the full and progressive realization of the right to adequate housing, as provided for in international instruments. In this context, we recognize an obligation by Governments to enable people to obtain shelter and to protect and improve dwellings and neighbourhoods. We commit ourselves to the goal of improving living and working conditions on an equitable and sustainable basis, so that everyone will have adequate shelter that is healthy, safe, secure, accessible and affordable and that includes basic services, facilities and amenities, and will enjoy freedom from discrimination in housing and legal security of tenure. We shall implement and promote this objective in a manner fully consistent with human rights standards.
Financing for development
23. We reaffirm the Monterrey Consensus and recognize that mobilizing financial resources for development and the effective use of those resources in developing countries and countries with economies in transition are central to a global partnership for development in support of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals. In this regard:
a) We are encouraged by recent commitments to substantial increases in official development assistance, and the OECD estimate that ODA to all developing countries will now increase by around US$50 billion a year by 2010, while recognizing that a substantial increase in such assistance is required to achieve the internationally agreed goals, including, the Millennium Development Goals within their respective timeframes.
b) We welcome the increased resources that will become available as a result of the establishment of timetables by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of GNP for ODA by 2015 and to reach at least 0.5 per cent of GNP for ODA by 2010, as well as pursuant to the Brussels Programme of Action for the LDCs to reach 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent to Least Developed Countries by no later than 2010, and urge those developed countries that have not yet done so to make concrete efforts in this regard in accordance with their commitments.
Transforming problem neighbourhoods into vibrant communities: the role of housing in creating safer cities and communities. Housing policy and land management are increasingly seen as important instruments for improving living conditions in slums and making cities safer and more livable. How can an integrated housing policy reduce crime and violence in cities?
Reconstruction and peace building after conflicts: support from local governments. Local governments in post-conflict areas face many challenges in securing the safe and just return of refugees to their home towns. To what extent can partner local governments abroad help address these challenges?
The restitution of land, houses and properties to returning refugees: a tool for reconstruction. The restitution of housing, land and property to returning refugees and displaced persons is increasingly seen as an important condition for sustainable security in post-conflict situations. Applying the Pinheiro Principles lets us identify the challenges and solutions in rebuilding a society.10
Local governments play a vital part in making cities safe and stable places to live. But solving the complex causes underlying urban problems requires commitment, knowledge and action, especially at local level.
The new vision of reality requires us to review our origins, the nature of evolution and the basic cause behind the need of healing for the individual, society and the global civilization. We have to reevaluate ourselves and our mode of development as the prime cause of the problems we are facing.
"Ultimately, this Earth can be saved from mankind only if people are prepared to live with nature, rather than upon nature. We have been taught that this world, and all plants and creatures thereon, were created for man's use: that he was given dominion over all other forms of life and that he must go forth and multiply. It is now clear that if he follows that belief his extinction is inevitable. Therefore, his whole relationship with Earth, with nature, must change rapidly. But relationships between individuals or between man and his environment are intellectual and of the spirit, rather than of material gain or loss."
- Sir Mark Oliphant (Father of Australian Science) - personal communication to Dr Michael Ellis.
10. United Nations Habitat issues.
5. Conclusion:
POPULATION GROWTH
Until the Middle Ages, human populations were held in check by diseases, famines and wars, and thus grew very slowly.
It took all of human history to reach 1 billion.
150 years to reach 3 billion
12 years to go from 3 to 6 billion
Human population tripled during the twentieth century.
FUTURE OF HUMAN POPULATIONS
Most demographers believe the world population will stabilize sometime during the next century.
Projections of maximum population size:
Low 8 billion.
Medium 9.3 billion.
High 13 billion.
Anticipate other’s Needs
We might have a greater understanding of the needs of our loved ones, and this could make us much more cooperative and willing to help them out today. Although it is impossible to truly know what other people need, because of the closeness we share with those around us it may be easier to do things for them without being asked. Maybe this would be a good opportunity for us to learn to anticipate what another person wants without being asked. There might be something in their voice, for example, that signals that kind and sympathetic words are needed, or perhaps we notice that something as simple as helping with an everyday task might be useful.
Compassion toward others comes from being able to see what we can do to alleviate their suffering. When we are able to accommodate other’s needs, it is usually because we make the effort to be consciously aware of what is most important to them, even if they don’t overtly tell us. As we allow ourselves to become more attuned to others, our ability to identify with and sense their struggles grows, causing us to be more empathetic and considerate of their thoughts and wants.
Sustainable living might be defined as a lifestyle that could, hypothetically, be sustained without exhausting any natural resources. The term can be applied to individuals or societies. Its adherents most often hold true sustainability as a goal or guide, and make lifestyle tradeoffs favoring sustainability.
Local governments play a vital part in making cities safe and stable places to live. But solving the complex causes underlying urban problems requires commitment, knowledge and action, especially at local level.
The New Paradigm Integrating Spirituality and Science.
Einstein, 50 years ago, said "if humanity is to survive, there has to be a substantially new manner of thinking. He also said "A human being is part of the whole that we call the universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences in himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separate from the rest a kind of optical illusion of his consciousness. This illusion is a prison for us restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for only the few people nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living beings and all of nature.
One Last Demographic Effect of Population Growth is Population Equals Regulation.
45. Source: Population Reference Bureau; and United Nations, World Population Projections to 2100 (1998).
6. Introduction from the abstract A MODEL FOR EFFICIENT RESOURCE UTILIZATION:
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION B.V. Babu and V. Ramakrishna
Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani. 333031
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