In the living physical world as it is, part of being sovereign is to live sustain-ably.

"Sustainable living refers to an individual or society's lifestyle that can be sustained with limited exhaustion of natural resources. Its adherents most often hold true sustainability as a goal or guide, and make lifestyle tradeoffs, such as transport, housing, energy, and diet that favor sustainability. Most often these tradeoffs involve making more environmentally-friendly lifestyle choices. Lester R. Brown concisely summarizes the situation as "sustaining progress depends on shifting from a fossil fuel-based, automobile-centered, economy to a renewable energy-based, diversified transport, reuse/recycle economy".[1]"

This section deals with living in a sustain-able manner. Meaning local options for food, currency, water, shelter, and community laws to regulate society.

ACTIVITIES ARE SUSTAINABLE WHEN THEY:

1 - use naturally renewable resources in continuous cycles.
2 - use continuously reliable sources of energy.
3 - approach life with the finest qualities of being human (i.e. creativity, communication, coordination, appreciation, and spiritual and intellectual development.)

ACTIVITIES ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE WHEN THEY:

1 - require continual inputs of non-renewable resources.
2 - use renewable resources faster than their rate of renewal.
3 - cause cumulative degradation of the environment.
4 - require resources in quantities that could never be available for people everywhere.
5 - lead to the extinction of other life forms. Brief explanations of these eight points follow.

SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES

1) Use naturally renewable resources in continuous cycles. Pictures from space show our blue and green planet as a small sphere orbiting with its moon in a vast emptiness. A closer look reveals that the layer of materials actually of use to living things is only a very thin film over the planet's surface. Within this limited stock of materials, any substances needed regularly must over time, be used again and again. The cycles which bring the needed materials back for reuse must either occur naturally, like the cycles of water and carbon, or they must be maintained through mindful recycling programs.

2) Use continuously reliable sources of energy.

We are consuming supplies of coal and oil at a far greater rate than they are created. The dangers of releasing all the carbon in these resources aside, their massive use cannot be our custom if civilization is to be a permanent presence on Earth. The same is true of nuclear energy. The enormous cost and danger could perhaps be overcome, but the raw fuel is, in the end, also limited in supply. This leaves heat from the Earth's core, tides, the sun (nuclear fusion at a safe distance) and the wind and water which the sun sets in motion. These power sources are abundant, and can be harnessed practically anywhere. With the exception of the problems associated with large dams, these renewable sources of energy have little or no negative environmental impacts.

3) Approach life with the finest qualities of being human

Once we have secured the food and shelter necessary for healthy life, worlds of opportunity open up for personal growth and satisfaction. The three "L's:" Learning, Love and Laughter, as well as art, music, dance, sport, communication, service, and appreciation of the universe within and around our selves, can all make life worthwhile.
They can provide pleasure, purpose and meaning to our lives without harming the Earth.

NON-SUSTAINABLE ACTIVITIES :

4) Require continual inputs of non-renewable resources. Non-renewable resources are resources available only in limited quantity. Metals, coal and oil are notable examples. They can be very useful, even essential, for building a sustainable society, but if our way of life always requires that more and more of these materials be extracted, we will eventually run out.

5) Use renewable resources faster than their rate of renewal.

Renewable resources are resources which grow and increase through natural processes. Some examples are forests, fish stocks, ground water and soil fertility. As long as the rate at which they are used is not greater than the rate at which they grow or accumulate, the situation can remain viable. When the rate of use exceeds the rate of renewal, the stock will become depleted and problems will follow
.

6) Cause cumulative degradation of the environment.

Certain amounts of pollution are cleansed by natural processes. When we create waste which nature cannot handle, or which cannot be absorbed as fast as we create it, pollution builds up, causing problems which become more and more serious as the activity continues. Some pollutants can create serious hazards even when thoroughly diluted. Small amounts of toxic materials, after being absorbed by tiny organisms, can accumulate in the flesh of the creatures that eat them. If these creatures are then food for larger ones, the accumulated toxins are concentrated even further. Through this biological accumulation, some poisons, although thinly dispersed, can be found in dangerous concentrations -- for example, in the fish people eat from polluted water.

7) Require resources in quantities that could never be available for people everywhere.

The cooperation needed to build a sustainable world order will not come about as long as some groups of people take unfair advantage of others. Inequity often leads to social strife and armed conflict. Furthermore, the people at the bottom of the pyramid of exploitation are often forced into day to day survival. The degradation of their territories not only makes life worse for them, it undermines the global systems which provide for those at the top of the pyramid as well as for those below.

8) Lead to the extinction of other species.

The web of life is intricate and mutually supporting. However, it is weakened with each life form lost. If we maintain patterns of development which regularly destroy or significantly diminish the presence of other forms of life, we progressively undermine our own existence as a part of the global ecosystem. With the loss of species we also lose genetic possibilities for fighting disease, in people and in food crops, as well as potential new sources of food. In addition to the dangers and loss to people, one can also argue that other living things have their own right to exist.