Dear Editor, It is unnatural and a dangerous thing, for a person to never stop growing. So why do we insist on never ending economic growth?

It’s time we have a serious think about the health of all four pillars of our society – Economy, Environment, Community and Culture. 

Ask how we keep these four pillars of equal value so that our house (held up by these) holds firm in the toughest times.

I heard a paradigm shifting Sydney University lecture on the concept of ZERO economic growth. In simple form, the idea of developing to the point that we have what we need (based on solid guidelines, not wishlists), and then steadfastly maintain, but not expand. 

This reduces the strain on, and brings stability to all four pillars of society.

Every time I go to Raro I feel sad at the never-ending changes observed just on the drive home. Ron Syme lamented negative changes in a book written way back in the 1950s/60s. What on earth would he think now?

Have you ever measured the distances one has to go in Raro between places with public access to the coast? 

It was the cultural norm to ensure everyone could access the all-important Lagoon. Why is this bit of culture now ignored?

That’s just one blow to culture, alongside the full on beating being dealt to the environment. 

Te Ipukarea Society has summarised these via a reply online Cook Islands News.

May I suggest that Pa Enua set guidelines now, whilst they still have something worth preserving, e.g. the number of visitors they can honestly handle, waste management requirements that ensure waste brought in goes out again, strict guidelines adhered to for septic systems anywhere near water, coast, caves, wetlands and underground flow.

May I also suggest that tourism not expand numbers, but rather find ways to keep more of the present income in the Cook Islands. 

I’m guessing that millions per year is sent overseas by foreign workers. Local workers would spend that money at home. 

I wonder if businesses have tourists paying into overseas accounts so that some tax on tourist dollars is lost to the Cook Islands?

Parents, community, schools – ensure children learn life skills and a work ethic so that they’re employable. I hear too often employers saying locals take off early on a Friday, party then don’t turn up to work Monday. This should never be acceptable. Bring back the real Cook Islands culture of children from a young age participating in feeding animals, gardening, housework etc, working hard for the benefit of all. 

Think regenerative and resilient.

June Hosking