Read the text- Balser, E (2008) 'Capital Accumulation, Sustainability & Hamilton Ontario'. We have copies in the CTS office, 115, and also in the Vis Comm studio.
Write a 500 word critical summary of the text which explicitly adresses the following questions
1. How is sustainability defined in the text?
Sustainability is defined as a response the current environmental crisis. The idea of sustainability is to maintain our current resources without harming the environment, such as the overuse of tree cutting and atmosphere pollution. Development which meets the needs of the present, without compromising the future.
2. What are the main characteristics or tendencies of Capitalism
Capitalism as a structure has a few significant characteristics, such as the constant search for new things to commodify and constant expansion for the sake of profit. Capitalism thrives in creating then subsuming the other.
3. Define a 'crisis of Capitalism'. Offer an example.
A 'crisis of capitalism' is the occurance of a production halt. It is a result of over production and consumption to the point where there's nothing else to resource for profit. Therefore new methods are conceived in order to pass as a 'new solution' for sustainability. For example, in Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth' there's a strong campaign for the realisation of consuming the Earths natural resources and global warming, yet the key solution for it all is the purchasing of electronic cars and new (expensive) Bio Fuels. 'Spend money to save the world' in a sense.
4. What solutions have been offered to the sustainability question? Are these successful or realistic? - If not why are they flawed?
In the text, four solutions are put across for businesses to become sustainable. The first regards the reduction of waste from more efficient resourcing and the second states a need to use environmentally friendly, non toxic, materials and methods of production. The third suggests a restructure of typical business models, focusing on providing a service rather than a product to sell. The fourth is the reinvestment into human and natural capital, sustaining primary ecosystems.
In theory, these solutions would solve much of an impending resource crisis. However the restructure in capitalist business dynamics would require an expensive and arduous overhaul. It's also apparent that the production of the new technologies (to aid sustainability) are infact harmful to the environment themselves.
5. Is the concept of sustainability compatible with Capitalism?
The concept of sustainability and capitalism working alongside one another is far fetched. Currently, being 'green' is a capitalist marketing ploy to gain profit from resource crisis. Consumers buy into the technologies offered as a solution to dwindling energy resources. The global network of businesses, processes of transport and production of technology are, in themselves, detrimental to the environment, yet this effect is also what's earning businesses money. Capitalism is trying to market sustainability first, 'save the world' last.
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