Feb 24 2008 - 14:00
Feb 24 2008 - 15:00
Etc/GMT-6
Is
sustainability this year's buzzword or a realistic approach to our
future? You be the judge at a panel discussion sponsored by the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association on February 24. At the Blair Public Library, you will be challenged by the opinions shared and debated by:
- Jon Johnson - Executive Director of Applied Sustainability Center, University of Arkansas
- H. Collins Haynes - CEO, Haynes Limited, local architecture and land development firm
- Kim Smith - Chair of Biologal Science, University of Arkansas; board member Ozark Natural Science Center
- Dan Coody - Mayor, City of Fayetteville
FNHA Sustainability Panel: Click to enlarge
The public is welcome and the event is free. Refreshments will be served after the meeting.
Comments
Good start
I attended the panel discussion.
The panelists answered most of the questions well, but I still felt like there was something missing. Much of the conversation was abstract, and that can make sustainability seem a bit nebulous.
I feel like this discussions should focus more on what a specific aspect of sustainable society might be like. Discussions should speculate on the roles of various stakeholders and systems in our transition.
One of the panelists commented that even though we know what we have to do within the next 50-80 years, we do not know what things will look like in 20 years in order for our efforts to be successful. That kind of sucks. I think if our discussions could be more focused, we could start to get a better vision for the near-future.
Keep the dialogue going
The panel discussion on February 24 was, in general, good because it brought to light some of the important issues at hand regarding sustainability. For about an hour, the moderator asked the panelists questions relating to what sustainability means, how to build sustainability in the Northwest Arkansas area, and which forms that we as a community need to adopt in order to realize change. The panel focused on two of the primary forms of sustainability that are commonly recognized: conservation of the environment and natural systems, and business models for increasing economic efficiency, largely through streamlining energy consumption. Although concepts of social sustainability were alluded to, such as increasing the strength of the local community and making Fayetteville more pedestrian friendly, there was little said that directly discussed the broader elements involved in how to fully construct a more sustainable community.
The discussion itself, although of ample time, was still not long enough to provide an in depth look at many issues, and the large crowd (which I applause) is not conducive for group discussion. The purpose of a panel, however, is not a group discussion. It is a forum where the experts are able to impart aspects of their knowledge in a context that all parties involved can share. My only criticism was that I feel that there was little tangible knowledge imparted. There was not enough information on skills, methods, or research that can be performed, practiced, or pursued. Instead, the discussion remained more in the intangible realm of what we believe we need to change. The problems were clearly recognized, but, as a former professor of mine once stated, we need to know how to operationalize the project. What's the problem, what needs to be done, and then how do we do it? How we do it was the main part that was notably lacking from the discussion. Although the operation of change is the hardest thing to discuss, it is also the most important because only through action can we manifest change. Building through education was mentioned as a keystone in realizing change. Of course I agree with that. Sustaining education of the planet and all its systems is the path to building lasting communities. Who wouldn't agree with that?
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