Development is act, process, or result of developing. Combined together it is an idea brought forward by World Commission on Environment and Development defined by them as a form of development or progress that meets needs of present without compromising ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We must also understand that we are stewards of natural environment and entire planet, and as such we are responsible for what ever happens to any of ecological systems.

Can sustainable development work? This question is more complex than it seems. A simple yes or no answer does not apply to this question due to all of factors involved, which must be considered and evaluated. On one hand you would have to say no. The reasons you would have to say no are, because of opposition you would receive from changing human habits, which have been set for thousands of years. Structure and cost to big businesses and trying to control other countries and governments and economical impacts such major changes could have on any societies economy. It would be impossible for United States to order or police all of other nations and possibly unethical to force them into our ideas and ways of life. This approach has brought United States into many wars. Wars negatively impact many ecological systems by either invading them or totally destroying them. War also destroys and uses vast amounts of natural resources. Yet United Nations, if given more power could possibly perform this task of policing and regulating without resulting in war if all of nations of world joined United Nations, but at what cost. In United States big business is able to influence our politicians. If big business felt this was economically unsound they could afford to spend billions of dollars to fight any legislation that would help this cause or tie up legislation, regulations or mandates in our court systems for years.

Then you have human nature, which resist change especially when it comes to giving up something that makes life easier or that is economical source of their survival. If people survive or derive their income or livelihoods from these natural sources it will be almost impossible to get them to change their habits of destruction to natural environment.

Then you have anti-environmental groups, which work hard to confuse issues or hide facts with extra facts or manipulate data with help of big business and skeptical scientist they hire. All of these factors and more would be reason to say that sustainable development would not work.

We live in a very hoity-toity county. Sure, it might look like just farm country. A lot of houses might seem a little worse for wear. But we are very picky about what plastic we recycle. We recycle only those numbered 1 and 2.

In case you did not know, your plastics are numbered. On bottom of most containers, there is a number, usually from 1 to 5. I suppose 1 is best, since anything with a number of 3 or more just is not high-class enough for us to recycle.

Sooner or later, it was bound to happen. My overactive curiosity got better of me and I emptied fridge to try to figure out this plastic numbering thing. What else does one do in middle of night when his newborn doesn't want to sleep?

My wife came down to kitchen. "What on earth are you doing?"

"Just snacking," I replied.

She scanned table, covered with yogurt, hand cream, cream cheese, plum sauce, juice, shampoo, and an empty ice cream bucket. "OK, I'm not actually eating any of these," I admitted. "I'm looking for numbers on bottom to see which of these containers is high-class enough for us to recycle."

"You are NOT recycling our brand new tub of margarine," my wife declared. "And that juice jug is supposed to last us a few more years."

"Of course," I said in my most believable comforting tone. "It's just a curiosity thing”.

"Oh, one of those," my wife sighed.

"You see, both yogurt and margarine containers are made of PP."

"PP?" my wife asked.