Sustainable Community and Neighbourhood

Sustainable Community

What is the sustainable community? According to the Institute for Sustainable Comunities, the term of "sustainable community" can be define as: 

"A sustainable community is one that is economically, environmentally, and socially healthy and resilient. It meets challenges through integrated solutions rather than through fragmented approaches that meet one of those goals at the expense of the others. And it takes a long-term perspective—one that's focused on both the present and future, well beyond the next budget or election cycle."

As a result, a sustainable community manages its human, natural, and financial resources to meet current needs while ensuring that adequate resources are equitably available for future generations. It seeks:

• A better quality of life for the whole community without compromising the well being of other communities.
• Healthy ecosystems.
• Effective governance supported by meaningful and broad-based citizen participation.
• Economic security.

Sustainable community can be equated to a "perfect society" where it can solve any problems that may happen if they follow the rule of this sustainable community. to create such a sustainable community is theoretically easy where we can suggest anything but good policies related to the sustainable issues. however, when it comes to the implementation, little are known about the success of this theory. 

The Government of the United Kingdom defines a sustainable community in its 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan: "Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all."

Existing patterns of urban and suburban development seriously impair our quality of life. The symptoms are: more congestion and air pollution resulting from our increased dependence on automobiles, the loss of precious open space, the need for costly improvements to roads and public services, the inequitable distribution of economic resources, and the loss of a sense of community. By drawing upon the best from the past and the present we can first, infill existing communities, and second, plan new communities that will more successfully serve the needs of those who live and work within them. 

In the context of Malaysia, I may found it is difficult to implement this policies at the moment. Malaysian, unlike any othe developing contries, still unaware about the importance of being sustainability in many aspects of life. They (including  me) may think that protect the environment and recycling is the sustainability, without knowing that is just the surface or the skin of the sustainable. For the sustainable community issue, as we live in multicultural environment, it is not an easy task to implement such an idea. It make takes along time for us to fully adapt the sustainable way in our community. 

It can be concluded that community development is an important aspect in the development of a country. Reflection on the future stability of the country has actually discovery through the current realities of the communities in our country. In order to meet the housing needs of an increasingly demand with the increasing number of the population, especially in urban and suburban areas , the multi-storey housing development is seen as the best solution. But negligence in fulfilling the quantity , the quality is sometimes at stake . Quality impairments including housing element will have implications for the development of the community in the area. Recommendations for improving sustainable community development in general and specifically in the area of community development planning studies that apply directly to each residential development in particular areas of high density housing to ensure the well being of the family unit and the community secure and protected for the survival of the community.

“We cannot hope to create a sustainable culture with any but sustainable souls.”

=)

Universal Design

What is Universal Design?

Universal Design involves designing products and spaces so that they can be used by the widest range of people possible. Universal Design evolved from Accessible Design, a design process that addresses the needs of people with disabilities. Universal Design goes further by recognizing that there is a wide spectrum of human abilities. Everyone, even the most able-bodied person, passes through childhood, periods of temporary illness, injury and old age. By designing for this human diversity, we can create things that will be easier for all people to use.

Who Does Universal Design Benefit?

Everyone. Universal Design takes into account the full range of human diversity, including physical, perceptual and cognitive abilities, as well as different body sizes and shapes. By designing for this diversity, we can create things that are more functional and more user-friendly for everyone. For instance, curb cuts at sidewalks were initially designed for people who use wheelchairs, but they are now also used by pedestrians with strollers or rolling luggage. Curb cuts have added functionality to sidewalks that we can all benefit from.

What can be Universally Designed?

Everything.

1. Universal Design can apply to anything that can be designed, including products like door handles, kitchen utensils and smartphones. To learn more about Universally Designed products, take a look at our product reviews.
2. Universal Design can be applied to architecture and the built environment, including public and commercial buildings, as well as residential buildings and family homes. Universal Design can also help older adults concerned with Aging in Place by designing products and spaces that are safer and easier for them to use. 
3. Universal Design can also be applied to the community at large through urban planning and public transportation.

What can be learned for Malaysia? 

In Malaysia perspective, the term of universal design still seems like the 'alien word" as many of us (including myself) would thought that the UD is only for the disable people. Many building, even in the much lauded "Intelligent Garden City" - Putrajaya still lack of these elements. Maybe the designers of that time never thought that no disable people would come to Putrajaya and design it just for the young, energetic and healthy people (for example)? 

in many city in Malaysia also, the application of universal design in the public building is relatively low. in the hypermarket for example, the walkway for the people with the wheelchair is unfriendly and has cause many complaints because of the design are very poor. Even the law is already been enforced, but the implementation from the architect (the designer) and the contractor (builder) is very far away from reaching the standard. however, as the people become more educated, the level of awareness has  increase in the few years ago.

An Example of application of universal design in public building in Putrajaya

Let us hope that the universal deign will become one of the compulsory in the process of Planning Permission (Kebenaran Merancang) in the future. there are no other way that we can "force" the designer or the builder to apply the design into their building as they may seen it as unprofitable yet may worsen their overall masterpiece and state-of-the-art building design. 

"we live in the same world with the others, yet we must respect the other as Allah created the world for us to know each other" 

=)

p/s : all the pictures used in this entry are taken from Google. while the footnote wisdom intelligent creative yet so "memerah otak" quote is mine. thanks. :3

Creative City : Malaysia Context

Introduction

According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Creative Economy Report 2008, “cultural industries” are regarded as industries that “combine the creation, production and commercialisation of contents which are intangible and cultural in nature. These contents are typically protected by copyright and they can take the form of goods or services”. An important aspect of cultural industries, according to Unesco, is that they are “central in promoting and maintaining cultural diversity and in ensuring democratic access to culture”. 

This twofold nature – combining the cultural and the economic – gives cultural industries a distinctive profile. And Malaysia, of all countries, surely has deep resources when it comes to developing such cultural industries. As a country with a diverse in cultural thanks to the multicultural population, Malaysia should take this opportunity to enhance the existing creative industries which are comprise many aspect especially in the filming, theater, painting (including the wall painting and mural), traditional handicraft, and many others element including the booming multimedia art which include cartoon and gaming industries. 

What Malaysia can learn?

When we talking about creative industries, dont limit our mind with only art, music, performing and so on. in the context of globalization of our creative industries, one must know what are the potential of our unique cultural that can be exploited and become another multi-billionaire industries. for example, the batik industry which is famous back then in the Eastern Region of Peninsula Malaysia since the batik or sarong is the traditional costume of the Malay community, especially the fishermen community in Terengganu and Kelantan. This batik, ie very unique in design as it utilize the natural motive in its pattern, such as flower, forest plants and also the animals such as bird peacock. (based on my observation on my mom's collection of kain batik). 

Example of Kain Batik

No other people except the batik expert can design such a smooth yet beautiful batik which has become a major economic sources for the people in Terengganu back then. However, because of lack support (maybe?) from the government, then the current situation is now worsen like Malay proverb says "hidup segan, mati tak mahu". Nowadays, the batik has become another tourism commodity / attraction where tourist from all over the world come to Malaysia particularly Terengganu just to watch how the batik is made (mencanting batik) and that's all! They just come, watch and buy it. It is unfortunate to see one of our creative industry sources has become like that.

Kin Batik is being made in traditional way

Apart from being wear by the government servant in the Thursday every week (during Pak Lah administration), I dont see people would like to wear the batik anymore like the old days. it is very different in Indonesia, where the Batik is like their national treasure even though they lose the Batik copyright to Malaysia a few years ago. Well that's a different story, but the important part is the people awareness about their culture and their very own unnique product, on how they exploit it to become a national identity. Well, for me, that is what we call of the SUSTAINABILITY. you have your very own resources or products then you would do anthirng within your own power on how to  make it sustain for a long period of time.  

World leaders in Baju Batik. =)

As the conclusion, when we talking about the creative industries in Malaysia, the elements and resources are there, but the main "machiney" to move them up to a whole new level is very weak. Not only because of the goverment which has tried very hard before to improve our creative industry, but also because of US, the Malaysian who are still blur about the importance of these elements and resources to be protected in the context of creative city. 

"people will notice your creativity when they learn something that you are creating from nothing"

=)

p/s : all the pictures used in this entry are taken from Google. while the footnote wisdom intelligent creative yet so "memerah otak" quote is mine. thanks. :3

Sustainable Production & Consumption

Background

Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is about "the use of services and related products, which respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources and toxic materials as well as the emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of the service or product so as not to jeopardize the needs of further generations" (Oslo symposium, 1994).

The concept of sustainable consumption and production is recognized in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation adopted in 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). It was acknowledged that sustainable consumption and production forms one of the three overarching objectives of, and essential requirements for, sustainable development, together with poverty eradication and the management of natural resources in order to foster economic and social development. It was recognized that fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume are indispensable for achieving global sustainable development. 

It called for all countries to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, with the developed countries taking the lead and with all countries benefiting from the process, taking into account the Rio principles, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities as set out in Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. It also called for governments, relevant international organizations, the private sector and all major groups to play an active role in changing unsustainable consumption and production patterns.

The progress . . . .

In my opinion, to achieve such a 'sustainable' production and consumption MAY be difficult because of certain things. some of them are the lack of support from the developed countries such as United States and some European countries. Well, let's think about it. These nations is fueled by the capitalism doctrine where "the profit is their qiblat while the money is their God". ( i create the quote by myself ^_^). I don't think any of the country would be seriously involved and supported the initiatives to promote the sustainable production and consumption. The US for example, is the huge consumers of EVERYTHING in the world as many of its 330 million population is in the middle and high income level which in turn make desire for everything including foods, clothes, cars, houses and other consumer product skyrocketed.

Have money and your tummy is happy

By this reason alone, it will not be supported by the US government, same case with the Kyoto Protocol which US declined to sign the agreement to reduce the CO2 production just to save their semiconductor industry for the sake of economic benefits. the same things happened with the food production, where the US is the large consumer of wheat, tomatoes, chicken and meats which may practice unsustainable ways of producing those foods for their citizen needs. 

What about the others?

In the end, the poor just get poorer and the richer just get richer. Many developing countries especially live in the African continent tries harder just to make enough food for their people. the situation worsen with the climate change, as the soil is not enough fertilized to grow any crops such as corn and wheat. Many of them also live in poor. which according to UN they earn less that USD 1 per day. many children there die at the young age because of lack of nutrition due to not enough food. while in the western country, they keep consuming everything in the world just as God Himself create this world only for them to consume. at the end of the day, when everything is about to turn around (economic depression, inflation, natural disaster) only then they will know who create them.

"Allah create the world diversely so that we can get to know each other and sharing the resources together"

=)