Task Five

1. How is sustainability defined in the text?
2. What are the main characteristics or tendencies of Capitalism
3. Define a 'crisis of Capitalism'. Offer an example.
4. What solutions have been offered to the sustainability question? Are these successful or realistic? - If not why are they flawed?
5. Is the concept of sustainability compatible with Capitalism?

Sustainability is described as the response to environmental crisis, such as climate change, natural resource depletion, species extinction as an ideology is defined as a communal concept, however, in practice, it is down to technology and the individual to engage in a sustainable lifestyle, which in turn isolates those who cannot afford this way of life.

The most common definition, referred to in the text is from the Brundtland Commission, ‘sustainable development is the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’

Capitalism is a system that has to expand and constantly find new products to commodify to avoid stagnation. It is not a straight forward system, it is a diverse web that continuously grows and traps things, sometimes causing a crisis.

A crisis of capitalism may appear after material and financial expression and it seems the capitalisation has reached its limit, but with reinvention and a constant push for new ideas and technologies, it can push past these limitations, ‘deferring the apocalypse for yet another day’.

A physical solution to sustainability is bio-diesel which is a clean alternative to normal diesel; the bio fuel is designed to run in normal diesel engines. The diesel is made up from vegetable and animal fats, this is regarded as sustainable as it reuses animal and vegetable residue. The main source is from corn plants, which have a short life cycle so the bio-diesel is also considered as renewable, compared to the current sources of fuel which are non-renewable. The emissions from bio-diesel are also much lower than normal diesel, making it clean and less damaging to the environment. Currently it is quite expensive due to the limited production and the shipping involved, however, it is predicted the price will decrease over time.

BIOX Corporation is the largest advocate of bio-diesel, and it may seem that they represent ecological integrity and economic prosperity it comes with a sacrifice, which is social equality. A BIOX plant was constructed in the North End of Hamilton (Ontario), the site was cheap, but it was the community’s only bit of ‘green space’, and was built opposite a residential area. After the plant had been built, the conditions of living for residents in the surrounding area became unpleasant as the constant tremors resulted in structural damage to the houses. It was also highly dangerous, as there were highly flammable chemicals in storage just a hundred feet from housing.

Currently, capitalism and sustainability are not compatible, and this is how the term ‘greenwashing’ came about, as companies such as McDonalds, an icon of capitalism, claim to be ‘sustainable’ and ‘eco-friendly’, but in reality they have no green credentials whatsoever, but by trying to tap into the market it brings about ‘appeal’ over other fast-food chains. McDonalds changed their brand identity from red and yellow to green and yellow in an attempt to show they had gone green, so far, the colour change is the only green thing about them. For a green planet, capitalism must be overthrown.