The Brundland Commission in ‘Our Common Future’ defines
sustainable development as ‘Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs’.
Principle 1 of the Rio Declaration states that: ‘human beings are at the centre
of concerns of sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy
and productive life in harmony with nature’.
Over the
last thirty years,
Sustainable development has three objectives: economic
development; social equity, and environmental conservation. Economic development
refers to the well being of the people and eradication of poverty. Social
equity includes: access to basic needs such as health, education; human
security and rights; gender equity; and distribution of benefits and access to
resources across the society. Environmental conservation concerns with
conservation of natural resources and minimizing impacts on physical and
biological resources.
Operationalizing sustainable development is a challenge, as it
requires balancing the economic, social and environmental objectives. Achieving
sustainable development requires a far reaching policy and institutional
reforms and involvement of all section of the society representing government,
business and civil society.
COMPREHENSION
1. Decide if these statements are true or false; then,
justify your answer.
a.
Truer Falser
………………………………………………...…………………………………
b.
There are no problems in
Truer Falser
………………………………………………...…………………………………
c.
Sustainable
development has two objectives: economic development and social equity.
Truer Falser
………………………………………………...…………………………………
2. Answer the following questions briefly, in your own
words as far as possible.
a. What does Principle 1 of
the Rio Declaration state?
………………………………………………...…………………………………
b. What are some of the pressing
constraints on development in
………………………………………………...…………………………………
c. What does economic
development refer to?
………………………………………………...…………………………………
d. What does social equity
include?
………………………………………………...…………………………………
e. What is environmental
conservation concerned with?
………………………………………………...…………………………………
3. Circle a, b, or
c, in each statement below. Only one choice is correct.
3. 1.
Life expectancy means…
a) All the things that
happen during the life of a living thing.
b) Way of living or a
particular part of someone's life.
c) The length of time that a living thing,
especially a human being, is likely to live.
3. 2.
HIV is...
a) abbreviation
for house in multiple occupation: a house shared by several people, especially
those receiving money from the government because they have little or no
income.
b) Abbreviation for human
immunodeficiency virus: the virus that causes AIDS (= a serious disease that
destroys the body's ability to fight infection).
c) A health maintenance organization: a group
that provides health care to people who pay to join it.
4. Tick the most appropriate
explanation of the word written in bold letters.
a)
Over
the last thirty years, Asia and the Pacific
region has witnessed remarkable progress
in certain areas of development... ( paragraph 2, Line 1)
r Arguable.
r Honest, sincere and
telling the truth, even when this might be awkward or make other people
uncomfortable.
r
Unusual or special and therefore surprising and worth
mentioning; noticeable.
b) On the other hand there are many pressing constraints
on development... ( paragraph 2, Line 4)
r Opinions and viewpoints.
r Ideas
or imaginary situations.
r Obstacles and difficulties.
5.
What does the underlined word in the text refer to?
a. They (Paragraph 1) : …………………….……….…………