Ancient Futures
M. Y.
ESCI-199 Introduction to Sustainable Development
22nd, May, 2012
Topic: Reflection Paper on Ancient Futures: Learning From Ladakh We hear a lot being said about development in our daily lives and we are all a part of it. Whether or not we are aware of how or to what extent we contribute to or affect development is another question, but we all add to it in one way or another. According to Helena Norberg-Hodge, development is a process of planned changes that are supposed to improve people’s way of living. However, in Ladakh and even worldwide, development has compromised the local economy and also caused people to become less self- reliant. When we think of how modern-day development is classified for a people or a country, it is measured by western standards which brings to mind words like fast, efficient, industrial, money and of course, technology. The story of Ladakh is very interesting and it shows how development and the changes it brings can alter an entire way of life in a short space of time. It also reveals how development cannot only be looked at in economic terms. All development is not bad or negative, but I agree that development must be adopted in a sustainable manner. People assume that development means that life should be easier, they should not have to work so hard doing things like manual labor, and that they should have access to all the amenities that modern technology brings. All this might sound great to a person who would prefer not to be out on a farm planting food and tending to livestock, but we need to take into consideration the cost of development. When I say cost, I do not mean only in monetary terms. After Ladkhis were exposed to the western way of life, they started to question their own way of living their everyday life and became attracted to what
they thought a western style of living had to offer. The Ladakhis lived their lives for centuries without using
ESCI-199 Introduction to Sustainable Development
22nd, May, 2012
Topic: Reflection Paper on Ancient Futures: Learning From Ladakh We hear a lot being said about development in our daily lives and we are all a part of it. Whether or not we are aware of how or to what extent we contribute to or affect development is another question, but we all add to it in one way or another. According to Helena Norberg-Hodge, development is a process of planned changes that are supposed to improve people’s way of living. However, in Ladakh and even worldwide, development has compromised the local economy and also caused people to become less self- reliant. When we think of how modern-day development is classified for a people or a country, it is measured by western standards which brings to mind words like fast, efficient, industrial, money and of course, technology. The story of Ladakh is very interesting and it shows how development and the changes it brings can alter an entire way of life in a short space of time. It also reveals how development cannot only be looked at in economic terms. All development is not bad or negative, but I agree that development must be adopted in a sustainable manner. People assume that development means that life should be easier, they should not have to work so hard doing things like manual labor, and that they should have access to all the amenities that modern technology brings. All this might sound great to a person who would prefer not to be out on a farm planting food and tending to livestock, but we need to take into consideration the cost of development. When I say cost, I do not mean only in monetary terms. After Ladkhis were exposed to the western way of life, they started to question their own way of living their everyday life and became attracted to what
they thought a western style of living had to offer. The Ladakhis lived their lives for centuries without using