Much has happened since the middle of May when Post #144 was published: I have a new website, www.socialsustainabilityproject.comand have published a new book that I presented to you earlier. Since then. new material has come forward relating to social sustainability. On an Internet search for the connection between social sustainability and Japan, I was led to a link in Germany:
Assessing Social Sustainability, The Social Dimension of Sustainability in a Socio-Economic Scenario, Presented at the 7th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics“ in
Sousse (Tunisia), 6-9 March 2002, (PDF)
In this paper Drs. Ines Omann and Joachim H. Spangenberg (Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Germany, http://www.seri.de ) struggle with, in their words, “In social science, so far no consensus has emerged on what are the adequate criteria for social sustainability.” Their paper was published in 2002. It was not until 2007 that in an “Ah-ha!” moment I became aware of the universal and timeless values of social sustainability, quality of life, growth and equality that are the fundamental criteria of social sustainability, which Omann and Spangenberg were seeking.
What this tells us is that social sustainability was then and still is a remote and largely unknown topic in any venue, whether academia or policy development. It also tells us that social researchers as Omann and Spangenberg are truly prepared to engage and encompass these fundamental values of social sustainability in their work. This truly cheers me on! I had despaired that there were no others who appreciated the concepts of social sustainability as I had, or anyone who had sought to apply them to the larger scope of communities and national societies. ~/~
Now, returning to our discussion of the Intention of a Democratic society, we have pretty much covered the major elements. If you have been discerning and taking note of the place of “intention” in the progression from Vision, Intention, Philosophy, Mission and Goals, you have already realized that we have not grasped Vision with both hands to wring out the vision for a democratic society. Fundamentally, our work has already been completed. The VISION for a democratic society has been accurately described in the United States Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness;….” That is the vision that can only be fulfilled by individuals and whole societies when they have achieved the right of self-determination in all ways that do not disregard the similar rights of others. And this can only be achieved partially in a democratic society, and more fully in a socially sustainable democratic society.
Now, we are ready to write an intention for all democratic societies that choose to fully explore the innate potential that every free citizen brings with them into life.
Assessing Social Sustainability, The Social Dimension of Sustainability in a Socio-Economic Scenario, Presented at the 7th Biennial Conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics“ in
Sousse (Tunisia), 6-9 March 2002, (PDF)
In this paper Drs. Ines Omann and Joachim H. Spangenberg (Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Germany, http://www.seri.de ) struggle with, in their words, “In social science, so far no consensus has emerged on what are the adequate criteria for social sustainability.” Their paper was published in 2002. It was not until 2007 that in an “Ah-ha!” moment I became aware of the universal and timeless values of social sustainability, quality of life, growth and equality that are the fundamental criteria of social sustainability, which Omann and Spangenberg were seeking.
What this tells us is that social sustainability was then and still is a remote and largely unknown topic in any venue, whether academia or policy development. It also tells us that social researchers as Omann and Spangenberg are truly prepared to engage and encompass these fundamental values of social sustainability in their work. This truly cheers me on! I had despaired that there were no others who appreciated the concepts of social sustainability as I had, or anyone who had sought to apply them to the larger scope of communities and national societies. ~/~
Now, returning to our discussion of the Intention of a Democratic society, we have pretty much covered the major elements. If you have been discerning and taking note of the place of “intention” in the progression from Vision, Intention, Philosophy, Mission and Goals, you have already realized that we have not grasped Vision with both hands to wring out the vision for a democratic society. Fundamentally, our work has already been completed. The VISION for a democratic society has been accurately described in the United States Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness;….” That is the vision that can only be fulfilled by individuals and whole societies when they have achieved the right of self-determination in all ways that do not disregard the similar rights of others. And this can only be achieved partially in a democratic society, and more fully in a socially sustainable democratic society.
Now, we are ready to write an intention for all democratic societies that choose to fully explore the innate potential that every free citizen brings with them into life.