Themester Events: Scott Russell Sanders and Gandhian Food Democracy

On November 16th, Scott Russell Sanders spoke on the making the switch from the culture of consumption to the culture of conservation.

While his talk covered compelling topics, I recognized that his talking points are the same ones made in any overview of sustainability - which provides a great foundation for beginners. In the Western World we consume too much. Our footprints are outrageous. We eat ourselves to death while others starve. But rather than discuss what it means to live in a culture of conservation, how this can be attained, etc, he instructed us to read his book. Not cool.

Despite my disappointment, it is important to highlight the tweaks he made in the typical sustainability argument. He indicated that rather than using the terms climate change and global warming, we should refer to the phenomenon as climate disruption. This provides a more accurate and compelling description of what a change in global temperature means for the world's inhabitants. This allows the layperson to connect events such as prolonged drought with climate changes on a more intuitive level.

He also weaved, what some might call, words of wisdom into the presentation that I found to be valuable and upon which I'll reflect when analyzing the role I play within the sustainable movement at different periods of my life. His perspective on the individual contradicts Friedman's position that only big solutions count. Sanders believes that it is through the individual behavior that movements grow, but not in a way that we should be overwhelmed by the responsibility. He stated "The task is not to save the world. The task is to understand the situation, consult your own values, and to act accordingly." While that might not be easy, it's a principle I hope to live by.

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I would like to note that I attended the Gandhian Food Democracy lecture, but it was nothing to write home about. 

The man.

She discussed Gandhi's philosophy on development and democracy and local ownership. Gandhi was strongly outspoken regarding the relationship between freedom and ownership of one's means of survival.  -Well, she didn't really discuss. She read from her working paper the whole time. So while that background was interesting to hear, I could have read about it from the comfort of my own home. Then she provided some pictures of Indian co-housing/co-ops that she visited in her travels. 

In addition to my disappointment in her reading the presentation rather than engaging, it was disappointing that she also provided little in the way of solutions - or, at least, no solutions that could be applied to America's food model or the food models of other developing nations. Frameworks were promised on the lecture description. But no frameworks were given that day. This seems to be a continuing theme with many sustainability experts. They are still in the frame on mind that they are educating others about the problem, but haven't realized that those they've educated are ready to be equipped on the next level. Perhaps there's a reason for this that I have yet to put my finger on. Maybe these problems are too isolated and vary in their solutions on a case by case basis (though I doubt this to be true, as I've met people who have answers within their sustainability discipline and the Roseland book does a fantastic job in providing tools to use in urban planning). Or maybe these simply aren't the people to talk to about how to address these issues. Either way, I've been ready for a while to learn these problems from the solutions side and will be eager to greet them upon their arrival.