Lesson 3 Explore 1

Explore 1
What is it that we are trying to sustain?

Globe

Reflect on what impact the use of bottled water had on sustaining your quality of life. Sustainability is the ability to maintain current and future resources. It is also about being able to maintain ways of life and quality of life. There are diverse perspectives on what resources, what ways of life, and how sustainability will be achieved. Multinational corporations may perceive sustainability as economic and resource directed. Countries may see sustainability as essential to the economic and political survival of the country. Citizens may see sustainability as a guarantee of keeping this planet viable for future generations.

What are all three stakeholders trying to sustain?

multinational: a business that expands to become a corporation that conducts business in many countries

viable: a condition of being capable of growing or developing

stakeholder: an individual or group that is involved or affected

Research

This is a required activity for Explore 1 but is not graded.

To gather as many understandings about this question as possible, research what multinational corporations, countries, and citizens are working to sustain.

  • multinational corporations – Select two corporations of your choice and research their strategies for sustainability. Identify the common theme of these strategies. What are multinational corporations working to sustain?
  • countries – Research Canada and one other country of your choice. Find out what the governments of these countries promote as plans for sustainability. Identify the common theme of these strategies. What are countries working to sustain?
  • citizens – Research two individuals (for example, Naomi Klein or David Suzuki) of your choice. These individuals may be of diverse perspectives on sustainability. Find out what they are promoting as strategies for sustainability. Identify the common theme of these strategies. What are citizens working to sustain?