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| photo from billmckibben.com |
One example McKibben gives of a place that has achieved a high level of economic, social, and environmental sustainability is the Kerala State in southern India. Kerala's political and social traditions have in fact fostered a community that is responsible in terms of resource use and consumption while also creating an educated and democratic citizenry. Peaceful protest is not unusual throughout the region, and a strong Leftist foundation, even among the more conservative politicians, has resulted in high literacy rates (96%, an unheard of rate globally in a developing nation) and quality healthcare. This literacy, and general educational quality, has given citizens of Kerala an incredibly strong understanding of the world around them, with a better knowledge of world events than most Americans.
What is even more amazing about the Leftist spirit of the state is that it does not come with the authoritarian figures for which socialism and communism have become infamous. The government has transfered power multiple times from conservative politicians to the Communist Party and back. As someone who leans pretty far left myself (although I'm certainly not an out-and-out Communist), I found this incredibly intriguing and hopeful for the future of socialist thought around the world.
What is truly amazing about the health and educational quality of Kerala is that it came about without massive industrialization or trade with the West. Consequently, however, Kerala is still impoverished in terms of modern economic standards. Unemployment rates are high. Disposable cash is at a minimum, as is material wealth. You will not see a TV in every home. In fact, you won't see a bed for every resident. On the other hand though, Kerala has the ability to feed itself via local farming, it has a rich cultural tradition that is still enjoyed by all, and it has an incredibly small impact on the environment, unlike the consumerist economies of the developed world. This diminished impact on the environment stems from the lack of "convenience technology," which is over-utilized in the West, such as multiple cars per household and the unnecessarily large "McMansions" of Suburbia. Furthermore, the people of Kerala are intelligent, content, and not starving.
McKibben is making the point that the Western ideal stating of ever-constant capitalist economic development and continued consumption is not the only way to lead to a better human existence. Furthermore, and I agree, the exponential nature of consumption that developed nations seem to have embraced will lead to environment disaster, as it is likely that if all people on Earth lived as Americans do today, there would not be enough resources to go around and pollution levels would be astronomical.
Kerala is given as an example of a society in which the environment is respected, resources are saved and shared, and human dignity is placed at a higher level of importance than increased consumption and corporate expansion. That being said, I do not completely agree with what appears to be McKibben's all-out attack on Western consumerism. While I do feel that developed society consumes far too much, I do still believe that we can obtain an ecological balance with our surroundings without having to forgo enjoyable things like cable television and convertibles. But perhaps I'm just being defensive about the lifestyle have become accustomed to. We'll save the self-psychoanalysis for another post.
Absolutely, however, McKibben is not overestimating Kerala's power as an example of sustainable development in all realms of life. It is possible for human society to have relevant modern existences and live with, and not fight against, the environment around them.
Small steps brothers and sisters, small steps.
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