Albert Einstein's Wisdom Amoung Others

The E-dialogue for the International Centre for Sustainable Cities Dialogue Series about Sustainability Indicators on the RRU website (http://crcresearch.org/edialogues/eforum/index.php?sid=51e7a0fe1c495a271680b5e030a634a5) is very interesting. The fact that so many people come together and talk about these topics for the public to see is great! One lady by the name of Gwen Colman was talking about how the Maori people of New Zealand have the tradition of kopapa. She stated that they have historically had important connections to their environment incorporating the significance of knowing place, which I think is very similar to the values and traditions of the North American First Nations.

I also liked the comment from Linda Harvey who stated that there is a significant connection between the health of the community and how the municipal governments determine the planning and infrastructure of a city. These infrastructure, she states, are greatly responsible for the increase emissions from transportation and subsequently the high rates of health effects such as, asthma and obesity.

It was brought up in the dialogue that an important indicator is the use of an Ecological Footprint. I have talked alot about footprints in my 4 1/2 years of schooling. It has always been a favourite topic for my teachers to talk about. But I do think it brings up a good point in the fact that it puts a value on how many resources a person is using and what impact on the planet they are creating for themselves and their surrounding community.

Finally to end my post, I like the quote Ann Dale posted from Albert Einstein in reference to sustainability community development measurements:

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."

- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

And I just have to add in this second quote because sometimes it is so true!

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

(http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~robins/quotes.html)