Mental Sustainability

Is it just me or does it seem that the focus is on behavior and how we have to live our lives and not on how we can sustain our lives. So much of what is deemed `sustainable`is merely an environmental change or a new method of designing a building and not on our mental health and stress level. Personally I believe that the two go hand in hand. As our jobs demand more and more of our time, our stress level increases, our mental sustainability decreases, and our pollution increases. This past weekend the BSc Environmental Science class took a much needed break, to go and appreciate all the beauty that Mt Baker has to offer. This time releived much stress and allowed a homeostasis to exist again in the classroom.

The balance has been restored between our personal life and our school life. Without breaks such as these the long hours at school lead to long hours in the car, and lead to much more unsustainable lifestyles.

Urbanization of Communities

Today more than ever people are growing up in an environment surrounded by concrete, and their days are regulated by artificial light. Is it merely coincidental that the green spaces are diminishing and that we are dealing with world wide environmental issues. I have friends that are afraid to sleep overnight in the woods. Is this a result of the urban lifestyle? I tend to think that people are afraid of the unknown, and as more and more people grow up away from nature they become afraid of it. This may be the core issue in getting people to take action against climate change. The apathy that is instilled in individuals that never see a forest sheerly by their upbringing.

Its very strange for me as I have always been in the forest camping, hiking and playing. But then again I'm also very passionate about the environment.

A Sustainable Superbowl?

Tonight is Superbowl Sunday. The single most watched event on television. North Americans tune-in in droves, having huge parties and barbeque's to watch the game or the commercials with their friends. While I'm tuning in from the comfort of my room I wonder, is this North American tradition sustainable? Are the viewers using environmentally conscious foods and beverages. What about how they got to their friends house, did they car pool or was it a single occupancy vehicle? And how does this compare with other holidays and to the average evening?

All are interesting to consider when watching this awesome game. All I have to say is 100 yard play.