Assume that you are an elected official and a decision-maker in your local community. You are responsible for allocating funding among several groups requesting funds from one particular account that contains $10 million
The groups requesting this money are a local food bank that feeds homeless people, the local parks department that wishes to create a greenbelt along a river that runs through downtown, a conservation group that wishes to restore a section of the river, an elementary school that wishes to start installing computers in some of its classrooms, a low-cost health clinic that provides family planning information, and the local public works department wishing to establish a "tool library" for home mechanics.
How will you allocate this $10 million, and in what way will your allocation plan help us to bring about a sustainability revolution?
What will be an ideal response
Answers will be variable, but a good overall response would be one that divides the pool of money amongst all of the requesting entities. Each one can be tied to a long-term benefit for building a sustainable society. For example:
Food bank—reducing poverty helps us have a healthier community and lower crime rates.
Parks/greenbelt—allows opportunities for the community to learn about nature, experience it, and want to protect it.
Conservation group—the healthy river ecosystem helps to deliver clean water and also afford opportunities for recreation, such as fishing, to families and community members.
Education—having an educated and informed populace is beneficial to the environment.
Family planning—valuable to the process of education about planning for children and understanding the population issue.
Tool library—people can check-out power tools and garden and lawn equipment so they do not have to purchase it, and can reduce consumption of products.
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