Sustainable Development

What is Sustainable Development?

Sustainable Development means taking what we need to live without affecting the later generation

Real world examples:

• Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain  has implemented a policy of mixed land use and high density development along its major transport routes. An upgraded public transport system allows more residents to live there, while remaining green belts still provide habitat for wildlife and recreational areas for people
• In America, Interface Inc., a major carpet tile producer has greatly improved its ecological footprint. By using recycled and more environmentally friendly products, and more efficient manufacturing processes, they have reduced their energy and water consumption. The levels of waste have been reduced.
• In Kalundborg, Denmark, Eco-industrial parks are placed together to co-operatively manage the use of resources and environmental impacts caused by their operations. By sharing resources they improve efficiency and create less waste. The waste created by a power station in the park is used to make cement by another firm. Other businesses use heat generated by the power plant and cement factory for some of their processes.

Other examples:

• Renew the waste from the factories
• Walk or ride a bike in short distance
• Recycle materials(plastic, paper...)
• Turn off the lights when not using
• Use solar power
• Plant more trees

Migration / Immigration Narrative

         Sitting on the chair with hand holding the pen and eyes glued to the geography textbook. I tried to come up with something to write. But i didn't know when all of my thoughts were drifted back to the past. 30 years ago, when my aunt was only fifteen years old, she migrated to The United States with her relatives. My grandmother thought life would be easier for my aunt if she moved there. During that time, Vietnam was really poor, lives were very different from now. One of the push factors was environmental factor. She lacked many things, her family couldn't afford to feed her. Another reason was because The United States has a good economy. She might get a better job there. That was the pull factor which brought her to that large and rich country. Thereafter, she became an immigrant in The United States. She said that America was a crowded area. Many people from all over the world  immigrated there as refugees. That was why it became a country with diversity, from humans, culture to religion.

          Migration to America gave her a better life. She was given opportunities to become a citizen and got a nice job. But there was also a negative effect. Two years ago, she was working in a bank. Now, she lost her job, because America was in the economy crisis, and it was difficult to get a job again. Although she got used to the environment, the people and the climate in The United States, but she still missed her family, who she left behind. How ever, she said that it made her to be a more independent person. She told me that she loved where she's living, and she could have opportunities in America that couldn't have in Vietnam.