Sustainable Communities Quotes

“The situation is caused by the legal structure which gives the community no control over who buys the house lots. One consequence is that there are many absentee landlords who often do not participate in community decision-making, thus creating an inability to move forward, particularly on issues for which the law requires unanimity. The legislation also fails to provide an adequate framework for the management of the common land.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages

“When we take a closer look at the real costs of urbanisation in the global economy, we can see how far this is from the truth. Precisely because there are so many people, a globalised economic model which can only feed, house and clothe a small minority has to be abandoned. ... The devastating consequences of urbanisation are not only environmental; they are also social. ... In providing alternatives to urbanisation and to a globalised economy, (the eco-village movement) presents models for living close to the land and in community with one another.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages

“All communities require sustainable ways to make a living. Economic sustainability involves: Small-scale business, crafts, and services that create maximum diversity of economic base and a rich ecology of financial, income and job opportunities. Possibilities include cottage industries, local services, education, printing and publishing, trading, small-scale manufacturing, consulting, shops and cooperatives.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages

“There is relatively little sharing of facilities, at least partly due to the dispersed nature of the settlement.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages

“In our opinion, the most important key to success of any community or eco-village is not the ‘green’ technologies adopted but the beliefs and values on which it is based, and the relationships which bind members and enable them to work together and resolve their differences.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages

“Creating an eco-village is defining a whole new culture. Getting a piece of land, getting a motivated group together, getting the vision down into a concrete design. Designing houses, an integrated energy system, food production system, storing of food, and an economic system is necessary. All areas of life have to be redefined. The biggest problem often is how to solve conflicts.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages

“Omitted by John Talbott, and only partially included by Hildur Jackson, is the social dimension of sustainability. This includes legal and financial structures, participative decision-making and conflict management processes, promotion of community cohesion and spirit, rules for joining and leaving, preventive and general health care, and education and outreach.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages

“Aspects of cultural sustainability include performing and creative arts, job diversity, physical recreation, personal growth and skill development, rituals and celebrations, social diversity and cultural events, and access to communication technologies.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages

“The fourth of John Talbott’s criteria is the need for cultural sustainability: Satisfying our need as human beings to be creative and expressive; to learn, grow, teach and be; to have a diverse, interesting, stimulating and exciting social environment and range of experiences available.”
― Christine Connelly, Sustainable Communities: Lessons from Aspiring Eco-Villages