by Rima Mulla, Communications Associate, Second Nature
In tandem with the dedication of its Shi Center for Sustainability earlier this month, Furman University hosted a panel discussion entitled “Greening Our World: Sustainable Colleges, Corporations, and Communities.” It was moderated by New York Times environmental reporter Andrew Revkin and, in addition to former New Jersey Governor and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, featured four Second Nature board members:
George Bandy, Jr., Vice President for Sustainability Strategy and Diversity at InterfaceFLOR
David Hales, President of the College of the Atlantic
Nilda Mesa, Assistant Vice President for Environmental Stewardship at Columbia University
David Shi, President of Furman University
The absorbing discussion kicks off with Revkin asking each panelist to definesustainability. Here are some excerpts from their answers:
“It’s 21st century common sense. It’s the 21st century version of not eating your seed crop.” –David Hales
“As a business, Interface has decided to take the approach that it’s no longer okay for us to privatize the wealth and socialize the risk.” –George Bandy
“To be able to provide for the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.” –Nilda Mesa (paraphrasing the Brundtland Commission‘s definition)
“It’s how to live today to ensure tomorrow. Paraphrasing the Native American saying, we don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors – we borrow it from our children.” –Christine Todd Whiteman
“Sustainability is a value that should penetrate virtually all of our endeavors […] It’s the pursuit of happiness… but in ways that think about the future’s opportunity for happiness, rather than just our own.” –David Shi
Watch the entire panel here.