Task 5

Portfolio Task 5- Sustainability & Capitalism

Read the text- Balser, E (2008) 'Capital Accumulation, Sustainability & Hamilton Ontario'. We have copies in the CTS office, 115.


Write a 500 word critical summary of the text which explicitly adresses the following questions

1. How is sustainability defined in the text?
2. What are the main characteristics or tendencies of Capitalism
3. Define a 'crisis of Capitalism'. Offer an example.
4. What solutions have been offered to the sustainability question? Are these successful or realistic? - If not why are they flawed?
5. Is the concept of sustainability compatible with Capitalism?

Sustainability, described by Donella Meadows is 'Often defined as inter and intra generational equity in the social, environmental, economic, moral and political spheres of society' The text defines sustainability as ideological. 'Sustainability is a communal concept', it needs everyone to buy into it and to be thinking about it. Although in the text is also says that the responsibilty is often being left to the individual and technology. 'The attempt to engage in sustainable lifestyles and make environmentally conscious decisions has largely fallen to the individual and through technology' Capitalism interferes with attaining sustainability, the thirst for money and profit within a market. It is constantly looking for new things to commodify. 'Capitalism is constantly expanding' causing crisis. Capitalist views run along side sustainabilty potentially harming communities. An example of this is the BIOX plant being built on a poor communities green space in the North End of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Hamilton has one of the highest incidents of low income per household. 'The environment crisis is no different, it exists at a threshold in which constant new technologies, policies or ideas push it past these limitations, and deferring the apocalypse for yet another day'. A new market has been create to capitalize on, the green market is just another market. Capitalism therefore thrives from making a profit from this. The reason the plant was set up in Hamilton was because it was a cheap place to be and the community themselves were too poor to reject the idea. It was built on the only green space there but the tremors from the plant damaged peoples home. There were violations of residents health and safety regulations due to sulphuric acid and flammable chemicals. These were not the only problems, there was constant noise, light and air pollution. These problems were not thought to be a sacrifice therefore the whole point in the plant being sustainable contradicts itself and becomes capitalist 'Instead of ending this cycle, it has only perpetuated it'.

The idea of using bio- diesel as a sustainability solution is because it is a 'alternative 'clean' fuel that is becoming an increasing popular alternative to regular diesel fuel and because the use of recycling helps to reduce waste production.' It is the conversion of animal and vegetable fat into usable fuel. This idea started off a small business is now a very large business which becomes capitalist itself. 'What began as a small time, agricultural project, which hoped to maximize the efficiency of agricultural practices, has become a huge environmental business'

For bio diesel to be effective it has to be used by a lot of people therefore more plants had to be built. Evidently, it turns out the largest producers of bio diesel is in the North End Hamilton, BIOX. 'While the BIOX plant represents the ecological integrity and economical prosperity that is deemed so important for sustainability, it is certainly at the sacrifice of social equality'

Capitalism is now introduced again, so it seems it is a never ending cycle therefore the concept of sustainability is not compatible with capitalism. 'The situation in the North End is not, and never was, the intention of promoting sustainable practices and technologies. Rather, it became a tangential and necessary victim to ensure that bio-diesel production was efficient and the product was affordable.