On sustainable development

… Sober and unbiased analysis of the current ecological situation shows that the western civilization was developing mainly on the way of purely consumption vector of life and this finally led to destruction and degradation of nature. So Mr. O. Odoevsky was right saying that the western rationalism opened the gates of truth for us, but itself it did not manage to enter the gates.

The world community realized this and it led to framing of the concept of sustainable development, oriented on satisfaction of human needs, ensuring preservation of environment suitable for the future generations. Without conducting a detailed analysis of the essence of this concept, it is necessary to note its shortcoming from theoretical point of view. More over, as well, in the practical sphere it also seems to be a new Utopia and illusion. The above-said is proved by implementation of the concept in the richest country of the world — the USA, which concentrates up to 40% of the world's scientific potential and is having a considerable resource base. With the existing figure of growth of population in this country of 1% per annum the following picture is observed. Currently the population of the USA is 260,000,000 people, by the year 2030 it is expected to reach the figure of 350,000,000 citizens and 440,000,000 people in 2050. In the nearest future with the existing level of life the growth of population itself would turn to zero the 10% of natural resources being saved now. In order to maintain the current level of industrial pressure on environment consumption of resources in the nearest future shall be cut by half. I wonder whether this scenario is realistic?

At the same time, raising a problem in this way requires alternative proposals. One thing is clear, starting from philosophy of the New age and from the moment the natural science was framed, the scientific cognition was aimed at search of the most profitable variants of satisfaction of human needs, disregarding the laws of nature.

Such tendency of scientific development still exists. In particular the research conducted in the sphere of genetic engineering in essence ignores the laws of conservation of life, which were framed in the process of long-term biological evolution. So the potential threats, which might emerge in this case can be more horrible than the invention of atomic weapons, because the consequences of it cannot be predicted. In addition, in current conditions a man, as a biological species is subjected to radical transformation of its consti­tution. From the one hand, drastic changes of the environment are already affecting its genetic features — it leads to increase of genetic load of human population and finally, to biological degradation of humankind. Therefore it is understandable why mean and brute passions prevail, aggressiveness is growing, spiritual values are neglected, etc. From the other hand, creation of modern computed technological systems shall affect the formation of the future man.

Besides, now the man is acting as powerful factor of natural selection, defining the nature of biological evolution in general. Both factors equally change conformities to natural laws of evolution process and it is not always in the direction which is favorable for humankind.

Naturally, it is impossible to ignore the indisputable achievements of development of science and technology, defining omnipotence of the human's intellect, which resulted in creation of the most advanced technologies of the refined human's culture, sharp increase of the life-span and many other things. At the same time today it is becoming evident that economic development entirely oriented on growth of the Gross Domestic Product is the achievement of the past.

From the ecological point of view, social progress, defined by purely quantitative figures of growth of the Gross Domestic Product, proved its inefficiency, resulted in degrading of biosphere. As an alternative to such approach the world community suggested the so-called index of human deve­lopment. Average life-span, level of education and Gross Domestic Product are acting as its criteria. Therefore in the context of ideas of sustainable development it is important to develop educational and technological programs, the system of prohibitions on the nature of negative human's activity, measures to preserve health of people. If realized, such programs are enabling to minimize the industrial pressure on environment. The same time, development of such programs shall be based on the knowledge of the laws of biosphere. First of all, it is necessary to observe certain conditions: renewable resources shall be replenished; pollution shall not exceed its current level; it is necessary to adopt measures to reduce the rates of utilization of nonrenewable resources; it is necessary to minimize wastes due to introduction of the new techno­logies. These provisions shall form the basis for drafting of legislative acts in the sphere of environmental protection.

Solution of these tasks is closely connected with the question; whether a man a biological species can survive on the planet or there is an alternative to create technogenic civilization?

(Rachel L Carson, «The Sea Around Us»)

Дата добавления: 2015-10-02