Sustainable living: let’s start in Tiny Township
By Kate Harries WaterWatch
On Friday Dr. Michael Powell of the Elmvale Foundation spoke to the Simcoe County Corporate Services committtee about how a depleted planet will not be able to support the expanding human population for much longer. He called on councillors to have the vision to start building a sustainable community here in Tiny Township, a community that takes no garbage in and sends no garbage out, a community without landfill or incineration that produces as much bio-energy as it can.”It’s like the biosphere without the glass,” he said, and all must be part of it – from the local business that will change the throwaway nature of their products and services to the politicians who devises new infrastructure to support the vision.
Powell did not read from a prepared text, but he gave councillors the outline posted below. “I should point out that this is a long way from being a detailed proposal,” he sad, “this is a concept model.”
Sustainable Living: Concept to Reality:
A Community Based Model for Tiny Township, Simcoe County
There is a plethora of information related to “sustainable living” with links to NGO, government and private sectors. These initiatives focus on a wide variety of efforts to promote sustainable practices either locally, nationally or by outreach to a variety of beneficiaries. What is missing for the most part is a model community that “lives” within the paradigm of sustainability and which can act as an example to all Canadian communities. The Elmvale Foundation proposes to establish just such a “working” community where not only sustainable technology, but also sustainable community interaction between Native and non-native cultures can work towards a common goal – with lessons for/from each.
The Elmvale Foundation believes that Tiny Township in the County of Simcoe, ON provides a perfect venue to establish a sustainable community model that could be replicated throughout Canada and the World. It is understood that even though the model will be established within a given political boundary, surrounding communities that impact on water, air and soil connected to the model will be incorporated with time.
Any sustainable model must take into consideration the individual requirements of all the stakeholders so that there is parity among/between all those responsible for its success. It goes without saying that environment, economics, and culture provide the underpinnings of any such model, which must include consideration of the following:
• How the local culture and community will grow and flourish
• How the economic returns are consistent with local mores
• How human impact can be minimized on natural systems
• How humans can give back some of what the world has provided
Following these guidelines leads to thinking about the systems that are responsible for all human well-being and rather than setting humans apart from the natural world it provides an opportunity for them to become part of the solution. This paradigm poses challenges that can only be overcome once a commitment to inspired thinking accepts the role of the individual in natural systems – a change towards sustainable living.
The Elmvale Foundation envisages its role as a catalyst to effect change through cooperation from a wide spectrum of stakeholders within the community and partners from outside; solutions are typically only found where challenges present themselves and must be mutually beneficial to all who participate. As with the mandate of the Foundation, education and dissemination of knowledge will be at the crux of the model.
As with all organizations touting “sustainability”, the proposed model will include the most current/green emerging technologies and will pull together “thinkers” from around the globe. At the centre of the solution will be a community that operates much like a biosphere, but without a glass housing: minimal “waste” leaves, renewable energy supplies as much as possible the needs of the community, and all natural systems are protected (air, water & soil). Interdisciplinary research and teaching will form the basis for all that transpires.
Infrastructure will include agricultural land for raising biofuels, zero waste processing facility, environmental research station, one room country school, and Native interpretive centre; all buildings will be low impact and designed to meld into the natural surroundings
The Elmvale Foundation would strive to establish links between stakeholders and partners, which will include:
• Surrounding Native communities
• Local residents (within the confines of a selected political boundary)
• Government at all levels
• Local businesses
• Businesses from outside the community who will provide goods & services
• Academics, NGO’s, foundations and organizations from around the globe.
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