Sustain Door of Door County, Wisconsin, is part of the international movement of The Natural Step.
The Natural Step is a non-profit, research, education and advisory organization that uses a science-based framework to help organizations, schools, businesses, individuals and communities move toward sustainability.
The members of Sustain Door come from a variety of backgrounds but what we all have in common is an understanding of the sustainability principles described in the book, "The Natural Step for Communities: How Cities and Towns Can Change to Sustainable Practices" by Sarah James and Torbjorn Lahti (among many other resources).

Briefly, the world is facing two dangerous trends: diminishing resources and a burgeoning human population. These two trends cannot fail but lead to a disaster of planetary proportions. When, is debatable, but that it will come if we do not change these trends, is not debatable.

The Natural Step identifies four conditions necessary for a sustainable society.
 

The Natural Step System Conditions

 

In the sustainable society,

  1. nature is not subject to increasing concentrations of substances extracted from the earth's crust,
  2. nature is not subject to increasing concentrations of substances produced by society,
  3. nature is not subject to increasing degradation by physical means, and
  4. human needs are met efficiently and equitably.
These system conditions lead to four fundamental objectives which could guide all plans and activities of any business, community, school, or nation that hopes to continue for generations to come.
 
The Natural Step Objectives
 
1. Eliminate the contribution to fossil fuel dependence and to wasteful use of metals and minerals taken from the earth.

2. Eliminate dependence upon persistent chemicals and unnecessary use of synthetic substances.

3. Curtail encroachment upon nature by physical means.

4. Meet human needs fairly, justly, efficiently and universally.

If all four of these points are given even weight, the outcome will be beneficial to the organization and to the planet as well. Then we will be able to bequeath to our descendants a world of beauty and abundance. Using these guiding principles has already lead to brilliant new ideas which have already thousands of new businesses while healing longstanding problems in communities around the world.  We are sure you will want to hear about these positive examples!   More details?

We are looking for ways to apply these concepts to situations here in Door County. Sustain Door is non-partisan and unaffiliated. Please join us to find ways to put The Natural Step into action here in Door County. Call 743-3337 for more information. Or email us at: sustaindoor@gmail.com

For ongoing comments visit our blog: http://sustaindoor.blogspot.com/