Open access
SUSTAINABILITY AS A MOST NEEDED CULTURE: EXAMPLES FROM INDIAN OCEAN COUNTRIES
Amzad HOSSAIN1, Abul AZAD2, Dora MARINOVA3
Towards a Sustainability Culture
Publication language: English
Journal article
Transformations No. 3-4 (98-99) 2018, Publication date: 8 December 2018
Keywords: culture, sustainability culture, sustainability, consumerism, tourism
Abstract Culture is what identifies and intrinsically regulates individuals and communities across the globe and in a particular country. Traditional cultures inherently encourage a sustainable way of living; however they have been influenced by modern-day values which induce irresponsible use of natural resources and social capital. Alien cultures under the banner of modernity and progress have injuriously affected the security and sustainability of the invaded lands. Corruption in Bangladesh, tourism in Thailand and consumerism in Australia are examples of this. The traditional cultural purity of country is becoming increasingly more difficult to maintain and negotiate within the impacts of other influences. The overall goal and realisation as to what are the important sustainability values within society are becoming blurred. The paper argues for the need of a unifying sustainability culture for the Indian Ocean region in order to replenish the degrading state of environmental and social sustainability. Core-shared values of the traditional (indigenous) cultures of the region can be the mobilizing basis for the new sustainability culture. The integration of the common sustainability values, such as naturalism, modesty, respectfulness and responsibility into mainstream education can build people’s spirituality to inspire them to live in a way that is sustainable, secure and also benign to the natural environment and other people. This new sustainability culture will not tolerate harmful behaviours and will encourage practices that keep the Indian Ocean nations self-reliant, secured and sustainable.
Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute; guest teacher at the Institute of Biological Science, Rajshahi University, Bangladesh
E-mail: A.Hossain@curtin.edu.a
Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute
Deputy Director of the Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute