Sustainable Development in Jamaica
Essay for Debate
Achieving sustainable development in Jamaica is unattainable given the present cultural norms of the country.
A recent study conducted by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) defines sustainable development as “a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are made consistent with the future as well as present needs of a nation.” Sustainable development requires a country to be able to grow economically while protecting the natural environment at the same time, so that a stable relationship exists between human activities and the natural world. Cultural norms can be identified as the as the behaviour patterns that are specific to a particular group of people. Within this essay I will discuss three factors that are present in the cultural norms of the country, which makes the achievement of sustainable development in Jamaica unattainable. Sustainable development in Jamaica is unattainable based on the continuous exploitation of our environmental resources, the rigorous impacts of globalization on the country’s economy and the poor social norms practiced by the citizens of the country. Firstly, the environmental resources of Jamaica are constantly being destroyed to facilitate the building of numerous structures, for example the tourist hotels along the island’s coastline. These buildings do not conform to the laws of nature because they call for the dumping of the ocean, deforestation and the improper use of land space which results in pollution. The dumping of the ocean results in the death of marine life through water pollution, deforestation promotes the destruction of the ozone layer through the removal of trees and the improper utilization of land space by the citizens which promotes land pollution and squatting in inappropriate areas. These acts against the laws of nature hinders the country
Achieving sustainable development in Jamaica is unattainable given the present cultural norms of the country.
A recent study conducted by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) defines sustainable development as “a process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development and institutional change are made consistent with the future as well as present needs of a nation.” Sustainable development requires a country to be able to grow economically while protecting the natural environment at the same time, so that a stable relationship exists between human activities and the natural world. Cultural norms can be identified as the as the behaviour patterns that are specific to a particular group of people. Within this essay I will discuss three factors that are present in the cultural norms of the country, which makes the achievement of sustainable development in Jamaica unattainable. Sustainable development in Jamaica is unattainable based on the continuous exploitation of our environmental resources, the rigorous impacts of globalization on the country’s economy and the poor social norms practiced by the citizens of the country. Firstly, the environmental resources of Jamaica are constantly being destroyed to facilitate the building of numerous structures, for example the tourist hotels along the island’s coastline. These buildings do not conform to the laws of nature because they call for the dumping of the ocean, deforestation and the improper use of land space which results in pollution. The dumping of the ocean results in the death of marine life through water pollution, deforestation promotes the destruction of the ozone layer through the removal of trees and the improper utilization of land space by the citizens which promotes land pollution and squatting in inappropriate areas. These acts against the laws of nature hinders the country