Name: Joseph M. Ayag Jr.

GE5 (225)

Let’s Check

Activity 5. Now that you’ve understood Hickel’s concept of de-development. You

require to explain the following ideas of the essential knowledge part of this unit.

1. What is the primary objective or purpose of the Sustainable

Development Goals of the United Nations?
The primary purpose of the Sustainable Development Goals of the
United Nations is to conduct actions and projects that will have a limitless
effect of ending hunger, protect the world and assure the people’s security,
peace and prosperity.
2. What is the standardized unit that measures resource use and waste?
The standardized unit that measures resource use and waste is Global
Hectare (gha).
3. What is the standard response to eradicate poverty?
The standard response to eradicate poverty is to avoid and remove
overconsumption of resources. Also, instead of pushing poor countries to
catch up with rich countries, it is encouraged that the rich countries should be
the ones to catch down or de-develop.
4. What is the threshold of the Earth for adequately sustaining life?
1.9 hectares is the threshold of the Earth for being adequate in
sustaining life.
5. According to the majority of middle and high income countries, what
puts the planet and society at risk?
According to the majority of middle and high income countries,
overconsumption is the factor that puts our planet and society at risk.
6. How many hectares should each of us consume annually based on the
resources available on the planet?
Based on the natural resources available on the planet, the number of
hectares that everyone of us should consume annually is 1.8 global hectares
(gha).
7. In this article, what are the two items about the quality of life?
In this article, the two items that entail about the quality of life are life
expectancy and happiness.
8. What crisis on the planet would force us to slow down if we do not do so
voluntarily?
If we do not do so voluntarily, the crisis on the planet that would force
us to slow down in consuming the natural resources is the occurrence of
climate change.
9. According to Dr. Jason Hickel, what must be done instead of urging
developing countries to catch up with the rich ones?
As stated by Dr. Jason Hickel, growth is not an option anymore
because of the overconsumption that results into global warming and climate
change. Also, he said that instead of encouraging developing countries to
catch up with rich ones, the rich countries should be the ones that will catch
down or de-develop to reduce the consumption of the resources.
10. How would the different areas of the world react to the idea of de-
development?
As for my perspective, that idea would be insane especially for
countries that do not care for the depleting natural resources and for those
that always seek to drastically integrate and improve despite of already having
high-quality technological and industrialized resources. However, I also
believe that some areas would think that this idea is practical because not
only it benefits nature, it also gives more significance and happiness to
people.

Let’s Analyze

Activity 5

1. Why must we change our Paradigm of Growth and consumption to that

of de-development?
We must change our Paradigm of Growth and consumption to de-
development because this idea is not about surrendering or stopping
everything. Instead, it is about having a high level of understanding,
awareness and consciousness about the way we consume the natural
resources.

2. Why are the terms de-development, de-growth and zero seemingly

unacceptable to the common framework of human progress?
These terms seem to be unacceptable to the common framework of
human progress because I think that it is already built-in for human minds to
always seek for development and growth, without realizing that this desire or
habit is already causing the depletion of nature and its resources.

3. How has the notion of growth enframed us?

The notion of growth has enframed us in a way that we always think that
development and growth are just about producing and having several
materialistic resources. As a result, we often forget the things that matter
more such as living a sustainable and happy life in a healthy and clean
environment. Growth is good but we must not let it result into abuse and
greediness.
 4. How do we improve our lives and yet reduce our consumption?
We can enhance our lives and reduce consumption at the same time by
being smart and practical in stewarding the natural resources that we have in
the globe. By that, I mean that we must not only aim for growth but for a high-
quality of life development. In this way, we will achieve one time - long term
economic growth and reduce consumption at the same time.
5. What are the similarities and differences between Heidegger’s The
Question Concerning Technology and Hickey’s article?
Their similarities are their humanistic beliefs and visions that are
concerned with the disruptive existence of influential human structures such
as technology/economic policy. However, Heidegger is concerned with how
we are in contact with ourselves, with our being with the universe in which we
exist naturally. On the other hand, Hickey is more concerned with
sociopolitical issues, poverty and sustainability. Heidegger represents
technology as a life lesson when resolved while Hickey enhances in his article
the values of human living in the natural environment.

In A Nutshell

Activity 5
State your arguments or synthesis relevant to the topics presented.
1. De-development or reducing the use of resources for impoverished
country to catch up would be the right paradigm shift, especially
when it limits climate change. But, there might be no stopping or
shifting by rich countries since growth is always be the strategy for
economic rise.
2. De-development is not about stopping potential growth. Rather, it is about
achieving growth in a smarter and practical way. This can be achieved by
having one time-long term economic growth. Higher quality productions
are necessary to ensure a high quality of life development for all. In this
way, happiness and life expectancy are more accessible for countries.

Joseph M. Ayag Jr.