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About Sustainable Maidstone

Sustainable development is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (Brundtland, 1987).

We have a duty to our children and grandchildren to ensure that we do not rob the planet of its resources nor to pollute it for them. We have a duty to leave it in the best shape possible. Respect for future generations lies at the heart of sustainability and it is this that we owe to our children - "we have not inherited the earth from our parents, we are borrowing it from our children".

We all need to reduce our ecological and carbon foot prints. If everyone in the world live like us, we would need 3.1 planets to support us.

Sustainable Maidstone is a not-for-profit organisation set up to move Maidstone towards becoming a sustainable town, reducing its enviromental footprint, improving communities and helping people to connect with their surroundings. Climate change is at the top of the national and international agenda, and 'Peak Oil' will soon become more wildly known, Maidstone needs to reduce its impact on the environment, strengthen its community, localise its economy and prepare for the effects of both climate change and peak oil. Making this transition to sustainability will achieve these goals. The Transition Town movement and other sustaibility groups are beginning to change the way communities think, feel and act. Although climate change needs a global solution, it also needs local ones and how can we convince others to change without taking a lead and showing how it can be done? Remember "Think global, act local", and if you can't act local, act ethically - remember that we are part of a global community and we must act in a way that benefits everyone.

Al Gore recently said that climate change is the moral and spiritual challenge of our generation. His book and film are essential reading / viewing, and are both available at Maidstone Library.

One of the key routes to sustainability is through localising the economy. A local economy is not only strong, but it reduces transportation, provides jobs and helps people to relate to their surrounding area and community. By shopping at locally owned shops that supply locally produced goods, money stays in and flows around the town. When goods are purchased from chain stores, money leaves the town reducing local wealth.

Sustainable Maidstone will generate, promote and sometimes run projects that help move towards sustainability. Projects include:

• Promotion and development of farmers markets
• Promotion of locally owned and run shops, local trade and local businesses
• Promoting a low-carbon town
• Running a local reward card scheme.
• Produce a newsletter and directory of local businesses
• Promotion of credit unions
• Promoting an ethical way of life, e.g. Fairtrade
• Promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency
• Waste minimization through reduce / reuse / recycling
• Encourage use of less carbon intensive transport
• Supporting local people through building strong communities
• Sustainability indicators

Please consider joining us in this new, exciting and essential mission.

The Sustainable Maidstone constitution is avaiable here.