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Measuring
wellbeing
What
matters most in your life? Your health, family, money,
lifestyle or the environment? The things you value will
influence your actions. A society's values change over
time, often triggered by the actions of individuals
or small groups. This section shows how Australian public
attitudes to the natural and urban environment have
changed. Together with growing community involvement
and government initiatives, the stage is set for a transition
to a sustainable future.
For
too long we have measured the country's wellbeing by
its economic growth, which is just a measure of money
exchanged. There are other measures that should be added,
which recognise the value of our environmental and social
wellbeing.
Since
World War II the health of the nation has been measured
by GDP. It is simply a measure of how much money has
changed hands and makes no distinction between whether
those financial transactions have had a negative or
positive effect. While ever we focus on just dollars,
we only get part of the picture. In many cases we actually
get the wrong picture.
Transition to a sustainable future - showing the
way
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'Work,
consume, be silent, die' a grim warning on a suit
worn and designed by mime artist Benny Zable at
many protests. Environmental protesters shaped much
of our current awareness in Australia. Over the
years they have set the stage for the sustainability
movement.
Photo by Powerhouse Museum (Sue
Stafford) |
Society’s attitudes can, and do, change. In 1914 it was the height of fashion to wear animal furs and bird feathers. From 1880 onwards, protesters urged consumer boycotts and lobbied governments to ban the use of Australian furs and feathers. Their activities resulted in legislation that now protects our wildlife. Mark Foy’s 1914 catalogue, Powerhouse Museum library.
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