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www.whistleritsournature.ca Whistler is in the process of adopting The Natural Step framework for a sustainable society, the goal of which is to ensure the long-term viability of the resort by having zero net impact on the surrounding environment.

www.whistleritsournature.ca

Whistler is in the process of adopting The Natural Step framework for a sustainable society, the goal of which is to ensure the long-term viability of the resort by having zero net impact on the surrounding environment. Of course it’s substantially more involved than that, and needs to touch on almost every aspect of our lives to be successful – supply, demand, consumption and waste.

Launched as Whistler; It’s Our Nature, the core of this initiative is the recognition that people come here for the experience first and the amenities second. Keeping that mountain experience real is a challenge when you consider all the pressures we put on the environment. Trails get wider every year. Wildlife retreats a little further as humans encroach. Developments gobble up the valley bottom and the flanks of our local mountains.

While we can’t stop using the valley, we can make sure that the rate at which we impact on our local environment is sustainable. Since nature does have the ability to replenish itself over time, the trick is to make sure you don’t use more than it can replace.

There are four system conditions within the larger Natural Step framework that every credible scientist in the world would agree with, and which we also have to agree with if we want the sustainability initiative to be successful.

What are the four basic system conditions?

"In a sustainable society, nature is not subject to systematically increasing 1) concentrations of substances extracted from the earth’s crust; 2) concentrations of substances produced by society; 3) degradation by physical means." The fourth condition is that human needs are met world-wide.

This is the abridged version of our sustainability initiative, and only a small part of the whole story. For a more complete version, plus ideas how you can be a part of this initiative, visit the official Whistler; It’s Our Nature Web site.

www.globalideasbank.org

Sustainability is one of the most important concepts in the world today. Governments know what it is and what it means, and many have pledged to become more sustainable in the future. It’s been looked at and adopted by scientists, economists, industry and by individuals around the globe.

If Whistler can become a sustainable community it stands to reason that other communities can follow our model to become sustainable themselves.

It’s a grass roots movement, set in motion by a Swedish oncologist who decided that the environmental debate was spending too much time arguing the small points to have any impact – he compared the debate to the chatter of monkeys arguing over the leaves of the tree while the trunk died beneath them.

From this one idea sprang a movement that now has bases in more than a dozen countries, including Japan, the U.K., Canada and the U.S.

It’s not the only good idea out there that can improve the world, our communities, and our lives.

The Global Ideas Bank is a forum where people can post their own "socially innovative, non-technological ideas and projects." Every year the organization hands out 1,000 UK pounds sterling for the best ideas or projects submitted.

The organization also recently published a book of the best social inventions called The World’s Greatest Ideas. (You can pick it up at the New Society Web site at

www.newsociety.com )

Here are some of the best ideas, which were posted in the April 2002 Utne Reader.

Become a Corporate Jester: The people at the top are used to never being questioned, and generally getting their own way. Seven years ago British Airways appointed a corporate jester to "take the piss" out of the top execs, bringing them back down to earth using humour.

Take a Sabbatical: Take off for a year or two in the middle of your career to travel, write, paint, play, or raise your children. It gives you time off to figure out what’s really important to you, and to decide whether you really want, or need, to continue down your current career path.

Lend $80,000 to Every Citizen at Age 21: The government should give an $80,000 loan to everyone to buy a home, start a business, go to school, whatever. While some people would take the money and run, most would use it for good. By the time they die the money would be paid back with interest with a modest 2 per cent wealth tax.

Teach Babies Sign Language: Research has shown that babies can learn sign language earlier than they can talk, and by the time they are ready to speak they have higher I.Q.s.

There are literally thousands of good ideas on this site, many of which you can apply to your own life.

www.abundantearth.com

Dolphins, globe and earthy fonts aside, this site is a catalogue of environmentally friendly products for your home, from water purifiers to bedding. While IKEA has adopted the Natural Step, there are a lot of environmentally friendly products they don’t carry.