The Meaning of Social-Environmental Sustainability - Economics and Ecology: United for a Sustainable World - page 132

having goods produced for export are frequently seen as choosing produc-
tion venues for having the most lax environmental standards, in addition to
the widely acknowledged global search for the lowest wage rates. Thus, the
methods of production are likely to be under relatively harsh conditions,
both for workers and for the local as well as the global environment.
Another important environmental factor stems from how energy is used
when goods are mass produced, because they must be shipped worldwide to
distribution facilities, normally by ship, thereby polluting the oceans of the
world. Subsequent transportation from the distribution facilities via truck is
the norm. The model of the big-box store encourages the use of fossil fuel,
the automobile culture, and suburban sprawl. In the end, however, the con-
sumer, by definition, is responsible for his or her own home delivery from
the store. The company keeps the private benefits, or proceeds, and many of
the costs are “socialized” out to the environment, the workforce, local gov-
ernments, and the consumers. In summary, this is a classic example of exter-
nalities in the mode of Chapter 6, and it graphically displays the kinds of
distortions that can result.
Consideration of the community effects is equally enlightening. First,
anything that encourages the mass-consumption, auto-oriented culture is
alienating to individuals and families. It encourages them to ignore the con-
nection between their functions as producer and consumer, and the aware-
ness of who supports them materially and who they support economically.
They are encouraged merely to be price seekers who ignore quality and offer
no concern for the workers who either produced the goods or are employed
by the retail outlet.
In summary, joint consideration of such a proposal from the worldview of
the three pillars of sustainability casts a remarkably negative shadow over
such a proposal. Even the economic aspect, which can be termed its strength,
is seen to have serious drawbacks to big-box stores when the wage/price
implications are comprehensively considered. Finally, let us examine a dif-
ferent type of proposal, a community garden.
Establish a System of Community Gardens
Food purchased at Safeway is assumed by many in this culture to be cheaper
and more convenient than going through all the hassle of growing their own.
It is an enlightening exercise to use the triple bottom-line framework in ask-
ing the following question: What is the difference between what is going on
in the mind of someone who agrees with that, and someone who disagrees?
To approach this question, we consider a proposal to allow a community
garden on a piece of vacant land owned by the town or city in which you live.
Economically, the cost must be assessed in various ways. The direct dollar
flows are no doubt less than purchasing the same amount of food at the store,
but if the gardener is careful to keep track of time spent sowing, weeding,
watering, harvesting, and preparing the food for the table, the “cost” rises