Essay on Sustainability The Green Imperative' is an exceptionally good book written by Victor Papanek, who was a prominent designer

as well as an author of our time. The basis of the book is related to ecology and ethics as applied to design and architecture. The introduction of sustainability takes place thereafter. The word `sustainability' means that is not the same as environmentalism or about saving the world. But, instead to make each one of us realize that we are a part of the world and that certain actions we make can cause harm to our planet. Therefore, he agrees that we as a community should try to support life on earth, making it a better place to live in. Creating newer resources and inventions could cause less harm to our planet later on. With references to Papanek's book `The Green Imperative' I am to give examples of existing designs that is more sustainable for the well being of our environment. There are a lot of major changes to our natural environment. Today we are now faced with many different types of unnatural disasters. Furthermore, these disasters are likely to increase in number as well as the scale of such disasters. These weather changes are due to an increase in global warming. Global warming is: '... scientifically referred to as climate change... due to natural processes and cycles... and is the result of human activity.' Greenhouse gases cause global warming. However pollution from the earth's atmosphere also plays a significant role. Fossil fuel extractions have got connections with changes in the climate. We humans will remain a target of these climate changes, as we are held responsible for our actions towards the environment. Examples are: cutting down trees for phosphates, natural sources from the ground and intensive farming by use of harmful chemicals (used on croplands and fertilizers, use of such chemicals that damages the soil). On the other hand, oil spills have ill-treated the oceans; wildlife and nature are at risk while sky pollution such as transport pollution, toxic wastes, dangerous gases and litters are equally daily causes of pollution.

The other cause of pollution is from industries. This was first established during the industrial revolution 200 years ago and is still around today. Coal or oil power plants, chemical, metal and fabric and other industries were put to the use to develop a new economy to generate more products and to lure more customers to buy. Industrial pollution is commonly used in our products we use, in our food or in the air we breathe, but there is little indication of such chemicals in our environment. However, people should still be concerned about what they use and be given more information on the products they buy and whether those products are safe enough to be exposed to the atmosphere. Research still needs to be done on many different types of hazardous chemicals and to see in the long-term if they do cause harm to humans. The Christian Aid Organization of reporting on the recent tragic weather conditions has issued global reports. It was revealed that noticeable evidence of climate change towards the new century was visible: In 1998 there was a serious drought in Sudan. The following year a cyclone hit India, the state of Orissa resulting in 10,000 people dead or missing. Crops and homes had also been destroyed. At the beginning of 2000 there were the immense floods in Mozambique. Many critics claim that the rich, developed countries are the ones to blame and are the ones consuming most of our essential resources. However, this cannot be calculated, as the population is constantly expanding, and it is problematical to say who the ones are causing these problems. The only answer is all humans are causing these problems without even realizing it!

These problems clearly reveal that there is a `lack of consideration of environmental issues'. If there is no consideration of these issues, then how will people be encouraged to make potential changes to our world? With useful sources of information with figures, we can find ways, which could encourage people to avoid doing certain things and to suggest other options that are more suitable, energy efficient and more sustainable. These effective sources of evidence can hopefully persuade people to consume less and make more use of recyclable material. To teach basic knowledge about the world, we need to as a community tackle ways to make our planet safer, to help reducing pollution and excessive use of certain resources that will eventually run out. These crucial changes will affect many careers, consumers, and companies including designers and architects. As Papanek has mentioned: `.. changes... brought about... so major and so threatening it is imperative that designers and architects play their part in helping to find solutions.' Papanek's book clearly outlines sustainability and how he strongly feels that architects and designers are the ones who could influence people for them to make changes and to create better living through designing a more sustainable world. To provide customers with the information they need to choose more sustainable solutions to their needs: It may be helpful if customers could make a decision between`what and whether to buy' and `sharing not buying' by this it could cut down on waste and to`offer some practical alternatives to`... buying of appliances, tools, gadgets and goods.' He further adds seriously that if it is not the case to be taken into consideration by the humanity then: `... we must learn to preserve and conserve Earth's resources' by... our habits... patterns of consumption, manufacture and recycling, as `we may have no future.' Ecologically, Papanek is implying that we need to refer more closely to the 3 R's, which stand for reduce, reuse and recycle. All of these which can make all the difference to our environment. These three R's have always been used to help motivate us people to recycle more and to reprocess. Although there are still many people who think that it is all a hassle or they feel that there is no need for converting old material for reuse. Some people rely too much on landfills and that the rubbish should be sent to the landfills, but is resulting in even more on amounts of everlasting rubbish that will take longer to be eradicated. Recently being abroad in Pakistan, it is a developing country where many people use recyclable materials in a very economical way and reuse assorted materials, mostly for survival. Exceptional examples of recycling and reusing are car tyres, these have many uses, to make sandals as they are hardwearing and long-lasting, used for swings in parks in children's play area, they also use scraps of tyres to repair bicycles or use on ornaments, bins, etc. Another example is old newspapers are used to wrap objects, or to wrap food in, for example nuts, crisps, chips. They also do not waste a lot of water!! Over there sanitation is not well advanced, so they have water tanks that recycle water every morning and night so they have limited amount of water supply at certain times of the day. It shows that life is harder in poorer countries, yet they still manage to use recyclable materials that will endure their life for longer use. The main problems with products are: `... too many different versions of the same item available' It shows that many industries think mechanically and waste resources of materials for the product, packaging and more packaging for the goods to be exported all of which can be difficult to replace. These are known as non-renewable resources. It is why there is a high demand for these resources, the sooner they act to do something it, or it can be too late. It is highly unnecessary to make numerous types of one same product, such as a stereo, when you can easily buy a stereo that has all the buttons or functions you

need. It shows less awareness to our limited resources we use heavily today like coal, oil, metal, fossil fuels and natural gasses all which were created millions of years under seabed and ground between layers of rocks and earth to form. Instead, people should use sources of energy that will last forever; these sources are called renewable resources. These sources are more environmentally friendly, that can cut down greenhouse gas pollution, acid rain and improves our air quality. With this it could help replace the earth's damages into a cleaner environment, having sustainable sources of energy, for instance solar cookers, solar powered cars and solar powered heating in homes. Furthermore, it can reduce bills making it more energy efficient. ` It is very easy to throw away things we no longer need but there are alternatives. If we reduce, reuse and recycle more of our domestic waste, we save energy, create less pollution and help to preserve stocks of non-renewable raw materials.' The latest new technologies of the Dyson vacuum cleaners have produced new products to clean flooring with greater suction control, with filters, a trigger bin, is lightweight and easy to use. Nevertheless, it is being made out of colourful plastics that can be damaging to our environment, as colourful plastics are difficult to recycle. But, in the long term it will be useful for many years to come. A Woodstove Ecofan is useful to give heat, which increases the stove's efficiency without wasting energy or use electricity. It also gives cooler air for hotter days by simply the hotter the stove gets, the faster the fan twirls to give cooler air, vice versa. Or the latest twist bulb can save people up to 75% of power costs. These bulbs produce soft light and can be used around the house and will last for up to 5 years. From focusing on many different aspects of pollution and the materials we utilize we must think of ways to change our future to `contribute towards a sustainable future for the environment'. First of all, we would need to focus on the link between life and the environment. From here we could try to predict the imminent future through science, to discover if there is other possible new technology that could give newer powered energies. Industries could instead use recyclable materials for their products, which could then encourage more people to try their products. It could also be cheaper for both industries to produce and for consumer to purchase. With this anticipation it could hopefully cut down pollution, and where industries would make products that will last for longer use available for all.