Sustainability, This is What Happened.

This is what happened.
Since the beginning, I must say that the history was made by another struggle and innovation of sustainability. It was simple at the first, like "What we going to eat tonight?" or "I need a place to live" People built houses, farms and started live together, which formed a society. More people, more to feed. Then, more food, more sustainable living. Living with many people need just more than food. People made rules to sustain their society.  However, the story of the sustainability was not ended there. We created tools to make our lives easier, but eventually, easy to hunt, farm and have better life.

 There were plenty of whales long time ago. Not just there were many, people couldn't hunt them TOO much

I must admit, sometimes, people went crazy that they thought they need to kill other people. So? People went war all the time and we were good at that.
People picked up resources from the ground. Stones from quarry, timbers from forest, water from river. It wasn't too bad for awhile since there weren't that many people. Not to mention it, everyone was not equal for a long time. After inventions and innovation, people started to know how to use more complicated resources than ever before. They found out how to use coal and oil to run machines that they could make products they need. They started to make way more then they needed because apparently, mass production was cheaper. As they were more educated, people realized that everyone is equal regardless of social class. Now, everyone should have equal access. Unfortunately, it was only for their own people, so some of them went to colonize other people. With colonies, new ideas and advanced technologies, the Western world was able keep their sustainability on social, political and economic (except, environment) until the end of World War II.

The unsustainable environment started to cause huge problem. London suffered from Great Smog in 1952, let the Brits to sense something went seriously wrong. But who cares? War is over, let's start to build our society from the destruction of war.

London, 1952. Colonial power wasn't the only lost at the 50's. Healthy environment.

It's been centuries since the human dominated the Earth. With oil and machines, the speed of our dominant got faster. But every story has a twist. This epic story of "Sustaining" civilization just started to facing it's own twist. A group of people realize one small fact. Based one the experiences of using oil, once it is used, it never turn back to oil. It was gone. The question was "Do oil last forever?" Nobody knows. None of us went down to calculate that. It's scary. We never had experience of running out of our primary resources. We stopped using timber or coal as primary resources before they completely ran out. People had no idea how to deal with that. And still no idea. 

Peak oil might be the "Holy shit" moment for many.

Soon, more and more concerns and problems were coming from every direction. Social injustice issues, human rights, pollution, economic gap, climate changes, civil war in less developed nations, population boom more and more. 

Now, people are realizing about the importance of the "Sustainability" once again. We were just too lazy to think about that. At the beginning, if people did not care about "Sustainable place to live", they would not build the house. It is us to think about how to make "Sustainable planet to live" Sustainability is not just a new idea or something we never thought before. People thought in the past and they did it. Don't we claim that we have better technologies than ever before? Didn't we learn more than the generations in the past? Can't we see what were the problems in the past and how to solve the matters? Isn't our economy (compare to long time ago in general) stronger than before, in'nit?

Well, then let's do it.

Learning sustainability for international students

With Rob and Hilary, we suggested the learning the sustainability as freshman students of the University of Oregon. The issues of the sustainability are very important for our community. And we are well aware of that. Then how can we make the new students, whom most are new to this place?
When I first time came to Eugene, I didn't know much about how Eugene community was care about the sustainability. It took quiet long time to figure them out. This is just only myself. When I was involved International Students Orientation, a similar program freshman seminar for the incoming international students, I noticed that many students were not aware of the sustainability issues at the university. Just like the freshman seminar, the international student orientation is another great opportunity to let the students to know about the sustainability.

Just like differences among languages, sustainability level is different from each other. But they are all same meanings.

International students are from around the world. In their own countries, wherever they are from, the level of awareness of sustainability is different. Because of different culture, social and economical levels, many countries adopted the sustainability policies in their ways. Therefore, some might already well informed about the sustainability, but some are not. What we could do is that making session during the international student orientation about the university's sustainability. They are also part of this community, it makes them should also know about the sustainability as well. 

This is a great way to make people to know about the sustainability in personal level. In the future, they can also know about the importance of the sustainability. As a result, when the international students go back to their home, they could also spread out the importance of the sustainability, which they learn from this community.

Question - How to Define the Greenwashing?

As we know, the greenwashing is another trend for today's business plan. Many companies trying to associate to "Green" or "Sustainability", just write down on their products or making advertisements. Some may not as bad as others. Although their business or industry is not related to sustainability or green, because of CEO's interest, acknowledging their social responsibility or whatever the good reasons, they trying to make some contribution to the Green/Sustainability movement. HOME, a film I mentioned before, it was also financially supported by PPR, French holding company. (PPR is a luxury brand holding company for some of most famous brands such as Gucci and YSL) PPR's business not involved with the environmental issue, but as part of their public relation they supported the production of film.

 Gucci+Green

On the other hand, some companies and products doing greenwashing in order to cover up their harming environment. When British Petroleum, BP tried to clean up(or cover up) the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, they simply poured millions of dollars for public relation. They even made new slogan - Beyond Petroleum. Hope they are not trying to reach nuclear power plant.

If you have money for PR for your sake, spend them to clean up...

Also, when we go shopping, we always see some products have "Green" Sticker. Let's think clear about this - Are they really?

Some industries and companies, they just naturally not related to environmental issue. But that does not mean they should stay away from the issue. As they are part of the community, living on this planet, they should also involved in environment awareness. What they need is that they should not try to cover them up as green company. Also, as consumer, we should give them some credits, which make more people to aware the environmental issues. On the other hand, we should critical on the companies such as BP strategic PR greenwashing for their mess.

University of Oregon and Sustainability

http://www.dailyemerald.com/news/new-rating-system-gauges-campus-sustainability-1.2038101

 University of Oregon was given a silver designation only behind Oregon State and Portland State. What a good news. Top 3 universities are from State of Oregon, making this place as one of the most sustainable place and young people are more aware of the sustainability issues than other places.
While Oregon Football team went to Arizona for the National Champion, I heard a surprising news from some of my friends who went down. At the stadium and surrounding area, they just could not find recycle bins. People just throw everything into one, giant trash bin. I feel bitter that they were just too lazy to put couple of more bins for recycle
According to the newspaper, some people were disappointed that we did not get the first place. Of course, the University of Oregon is no doubt one of the leading universities for the sustainability issue. Then, what we should do in order to be the first next time?

   Football is not the only one we trying to be the national champion. Go Ducks.

University of Oregon is one of the first college to initiated the sustainability activities in campus. We need more than just the title of the "First one". we need "sustainable creativity" For example, the university could develop more classes that related to the sustainability. Sustainability in Business, economics, sociology, political sciences and other departments could consider of making classes that students can learn more about the sustainability with their majors. Sustainability is not just only limited to environment issues and it is important to many other areas.

I put some ideas with the departments or majors could offer classes with sustainability issues withing their subjects.

Department and Major/Class	Class name	About the class	Class goal
Political Science	Sustainability and politics	Leaning about the sustainability issues within the politics and policies with sustainability	How to make sustainability policies and know the importance of political sustainability
Business (Including, finance, management, sport business)	Sustainability and Business, Sustainable business plan, Sustainability for Sport business	Relationship between sustainability and Business.  Including marketing, management and financial sustainability	Leaning about the sustainability in the business major and how to make sustainability plan/decision
Economics	Economics with Sustainability, Sustainable economic growth	How economics will impact on the sustainability. Future economic concern/benefits of sustainability	Financial, economical sustainability Relationship between economics and sustainability
Architecture (Including product design)	Sustainable buildings, Sustainable architecture plan, sustainable product design	Importance of making sustainable/green buildings and product design	With the class, architecture department could be the leading architecture department for making sustainable architects
Education	Sustainability education	Leaning about the importance of sustainability education	Make plan, idea of how to teach the sustainability
International Studies	Sustainable international relationship, International sustainability issues	International communication of sustainability, issues of sustainability in globe	Learn about the sustainability as an international level such as international business, climate changes and other areas
Environmental Studies & Environment Science	Sustainability of environment, sustainable environment	Sustainability with the environment issues, what are the impact of sustainability activities to the environment	Learn about the importance and critical points of the sustainability issues to the environment
African/Asian/European/Latin American Studies	Sustainability in   African/Asian/European/Latin American	African/Asian/European/Latin American doing with sustainability, what can we learn from them and what they need to do in the future	Studying about the sustainability in   African/Asian/European/Latin American Know more about how they adopted the idea of sustainability to their own words
History	History of Sustainability/Sustainability issues	sustainability and sustainability issues in the past	Learn about the sustainability and sustainability in the past What were the sustainability concerns and how they began and how they solved

I'm sure, some of them are already in their agenda. However, since we are considered as leading college for the sustainability, then the university should offer more classes that related to the sustainability with different subjects, making the University of Oregon as center of leaning sustainability issues in different subjects and perspectives.

Another idea could be increasing campus activities with sustainability issues. Such as sustainability fairs or seminars can be organized, so the community could learn more about how we are making progress on the sustainability issues. This is not just making presentations of students' works, but we could also show the products, plans and ideas for the future that help us to live in more sustainable ways. We are the one of the very first one who started caring the sustainability at the college level. Then, let's keep doing something for the sustainability.

We just started to write the history. We should finish the book in our way.

Demilitarized Zone in Korea - Making Sustainable Place for Environment

Making Demilitarized Zone in Korea sustainable. No, I am not talking about how to sustain military around the place. Since the end of Korean War in 1953, the DMZ has been dividing South and North Korea. Although it is Demilitarized Zone, the area of DMZ is one of the most militarized zone in the world. With many restricted rules and military bases, the area of DMZ and surrounded places became very difficult to live for civilians. In DMZ, which is 155milies long, there are only a few places for human activities, mostly small military post and Panmunjeom, a meeting point for South and North Korean military officers.

Location of DMZ, the red line. Another few miles from the DMZ is also restricted area.

For more than a half century, the DMZ became the symbol of divided Korea. However, being the restricted area for people turned this place as one of the most nature reserved area in the world. As South Korea more industrialized and developed, many places in Korea have been developed or polluted. The DMZ area was only left behind due to the heavy restrictions. 

Seoul, home of more than 10Million, rapidly expanded last 30 years.

Recently, DMZ became a destination for the environmentalists, geologists and many researchers for endangered plants and animals. Some of species they found in DMZ were known as extincted in South Korea long time ago. More than 100 species were reported to live in DMZ area. Founding endangered species were not the only result. Geologists found out that the DMZ area was one of the least polluted area in nation. Scientists and researchers are looking more species will be found since the area they surveyed was only small part of DMZ. 

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/east/08/22/korea.bio.dmz/

Red-crowned Crane, an extremely rare specie, founded in DMZ.

The question of the sustainability of DMZ is directly involved with the environmental issue and the unification of two Korea. In the future, if both South and North Korea unified, what will happened to the DMZ, one of the most reserved area in the world? 

In my opinion, once the two Korea unified, the DMZ should declared as peace park. Today, the DMZ symbolize two meanings. One, the tragic history of Korea and the other one is well reserved nature. Sustaining the environment in the DMZ is not too difficult. If the unification of Korea occurs, all we have to do is change the restriction for military purpose to environmental purpose. This 155milies long reserved area will be remembered as memory of divided nation and also the home of endangered species in Korea.

Even before the unification, both South and North Korea could agree to minimize any military activities, clean up the mine fields, so the area could be more safe for the animals and plants. Some mines are over 50 years old, too old to active. So, we could just leave them there. Wait. Do we even remember where we put them?

 In DMZ, everything is more than 50 years old. All we have to do is declare DMZ as environmental protected area.

In 2005, Ted Turner, founder of CNN suggested making DMZ as UN protected World Heritage Site for reserved environment and the related tragic history. 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-11-18-turnerdmz_x.htm

South Korea has been made economic progress since the end of the War. As a result, there are not many reserved nature areas left. Maybe turning this 155miles long area to the largest environment protected area could be the one way to start up saving nature in Korea.

Ed Cotten - Psychology +Journalism+Art+Sociology+(Sustainability)

During his presentation "Strategy planning for Advertising", he made a clear message of the importance of the strategy. One of his points, I was focusing on the ability of thinking ahead. Of course, it is a difficult task, especially making not a prediction, but correct prediction. Thinking of the future and making a plan for it, we can include some sustainability matters. For example, how can the company or organization be sustainable in the future? Netflix, internet based movie rental company had plan that making the company's service going to be based on internet. On the other hand, Blockbuster, another movie rental company was still based on the DVD store rental. As a result? Netflix has 10million subscribers today, but Blockbuster has been bankrupted.
This is not just only case of big companies collapsing due to the no plan for the future. Today's world is changing a lot faster than ever before. Because of the speed of the changes, it is very difficult to predict the future. However, because of same reason, the future plan is more needed than before.
Seeking sustainability is could be the beginning point of the making plan for the future.

Sustainability in Football(Soccer)

Football(Soccer) is no doubt the greatest sport in the world. From Diego Maradona to Leonel Messi, Pele to Ronaldo, people worshiped the footballers. However, is the greatest sport in the world sustainable? Today, there are several critical issues around the football. On the other hand, great contributions were made from football to the sustainability.

African Football Problem
One of the major concern of the football comes from less developed countries, especially from Africa or South America. As many footballers from those countries made successful careers on abroad, children are inspired by them. However, what they were inspired were money and fame. Today, thousands of children rather play football then go to school. As a result, great many children are left behind on education.

 

They may become a great footballer, but education is still needed

Education is not the only concern of these children are focusing on football. Another issue is coming from the humanity question. Around age of 16, if they were "lucky" they maybe able to go to Europe, where their dream can be true. However, this is very similar to human trafficking. They were signed(or sold) to the European football teams as "young prospector"

A good news came out  three years ago, FIFA, the international governing body of the football and major European football clubs agreed not to sign players who are under 16 from Africa. This is not the move to make them suffer in Africa. This is move to make them stay at home, having education and prepare them to be greater football players. 

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/football-chiefs-to-tackle-hidden-trade-in-africas-children-860504.html

Supporting the sustainability of Children around the World - F.C Barcelona 

The top European football clubs are one of the richest groups in the world. They make millions of Euros by contracting sponsors. However, F.C Barcelona from Spain made an unique example. instead of putting logos of their major sponsor on their uniform, they put UNICEF, United Nations -International Children Emergency Fund- logo. Moreover, they made contribution to the UNICEF. This is a great example of the top European club is supporting the sustainability of the children around the world.

Total Failure of Sustainability - Serie A, Italian league

 At this moment, English Premier League could be considered the top league in the world. It has the biggest budget and attention around the world. It was Serie A, Italian league a decade ago. Today, the Seire A is suffering from the failure of sustainability itself. What happened? Although there were other issues such as clubs' performances, what the cause of declining of the Italian league was unsustainable of the clubs. Top clubs such as A.C Milan, Internazionale, A.S Roma or Juventus were busy with signing players with ridiculous amount of money instead of investing for future. When match fixing scandal hit the Italian league in 2006, They just could not handle their money and different environment of matches and incomes. As a result, many Italian football clubs are still suffering. 

What can be done? The major problem of the clubs in Italy is connected to the budget that they just can not handle. Since they experienced mishandling money, many clubs are now focusing on youth team program. It is a slow progress, but it gives bright future with sustainability of the clubs. As many young footballers started to play in the their clubs, they are most like to stay with the teams for a long time. As a result, they can be the symbol of the team and more fans will pay attention to them. 

English Premier League - Looks Good, Unless...

 Last decade was the greatest days for the English Premier League(EPL). Billions of Pounds were poured into the EPL as the rules for owning clubs were less strict than other countries. Since Chelsea F.C was purchased by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, billionaires from around the world paid attention to buy EPL clubs. Last year, John Henry, the owner of Boston Red Sox bought the EPL's Liverpool F.C. As a result, EPL is now the richest football league in the World.

 

Liverpool's motto "You'll Never Walk Alone" True, with the Red Sox.

However, if we change the point of view on EPL, it is not pretty anymore. when the clubs were priced as billions of Pounds and spending another millions of Pounds for managing club, they are playing football on the top of huge dept. Last year, two major EPL teams' debts were over 700 Million Pounds. How can we say EPL is financially sustainable when there are more than billions of debts to cover? Besides, this is exactly same ten years ago in Italy.