Lasting Sustainable Development in Rural Areas

 "Then I say the earth belongs to each . . . generation during its course, fully and in its own right, no generation can contract debts greater than may be paid during the course of its own existence."
Thomas Jefferson, September 6, 1789.

Other Definitions

"Sustainable development is a strategy by which communities seek economic development approaches that also benefit the local environment and quality of life. It has become an important guide to many communities that have discovered that traditional approaches to planning and development are creating, rather than solving, societal and environmental problems. Where traditional approaches can lead to congestion, sprawl, pollution and resource overconsumption, sustainable development offers real, lasting solutions that will strengthen our future. 

Sustainable development provides a framework under which communities can use resources efficiently, create efficient infrastructures, protect and enhance quality of life, and create new businesses to strengthen their economies. It can help us create healthy communities that can sustain our generation, as well as those that follow ours." (Smart communities network)

The objective of the ES 499 class is to carefully listen to the stakeholders of Burns, Oregon to see the difficulties, successes, and opportunities people face in the area.
Paiute tribeBird feastival BurnsBurns city
Paiute Tribe                           Bird feastival                                                            Burns city
p
Information was gathered from Following areas:
Activities and Recreation , pCommunity , pEconomics , pEducation , pElder Population , pHealth Care , pTradition and Culture

pNatural Resources , pPolice Safety and Security , pTribal Relations , pYouth


pic36pic35pic38
Beverly Beers – Tribal Education Specialists          Troy Greg Superintendent of Eastern Oregon Youth Correctional Facility  Twyla Teeman Tribal Health Care Specialist

n
n
n

pic38pic86pic64
Dave Speten, Jay Lipe, and Jason Kesling          Connie Brumback  Executive Director of Harney Hounty Chamber of Commerce                 Prof. Kurt Peters
(Tribal Fisheries and Wildlife Specialists)
n

It was a rare opportunity to learn everything about the community. As was the objective of the class, we heard from stake holdersfrom various walks of life; superintendent of school, sheriff, doctors, business planners, and people in the media business and youth. We toured the town and visited places of interest like the museum and wild bird santuary. We had the unique opportunity to know the extend of collaboration and day to day relationship between the Paiute tribe and city of Burns.





 

   We learned about different problems they face as a rural community, their aspirations, dreams and vision for the future. As we listened, successes, problems and opportunities began to emerge in each area. The public policies affecting the ranchers, timber industries, school, health care and environmental conservation and even their way of life were very illuminating. The effort they put in to make their community sustainable is remarkable. The city is pursuing all avenues possible to attract new business, to conserve the environment and to bring back lost natural resources. Where ever there is need, the Paiute tribe and the city of Burns have high level of collaboration as evidenced in health care delivery and law enforcement. Children are cherished in the community. Paiute Tribe has had successes economically in starting up the casino, adding more land and in its effort to bring back the salmon. The social support in the whole community is helping them to face some of the depressing problems like unemployment and youth out- migration.

After visiting Burns and learning about their educational, economical and social conditions, I selected health care as special topic of interest. In the modern world, the determinants of one’s health are not only detected by the environment but also by the social and economic conditions. Does Burns have a social environment that predisposes to good health? I began to analyze the socioeconomic situations and its relationship to health as predicted by experiments.

Web links
Sustainability principle
Web resources related to rural development
Rural and small town program
National rural development partnership
Rural economic development
President's site
Environmental site
Burns
hines
Harney County
Social determinants of Health


References (not links)
The Local Public Health Workforce in Rural Communities.   By: Hajat, Anjum; Stewart, Karen; Hayes, Kathy L.. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, Nov/Dec2003, Vol. 9 Issue 6, p481, 8p;

Local Health Districts and the Public Health Workforce: A Case Study of Wyoming and Idaho.   By: Richardson, Mary; Casey, Susan; Rosenblatt, Roger A..

 Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, Jan2001, Vol. 7 Issue 1, p37, 12p;

 Improvements in the Performance of Local Public Health Agencies.   By: Rohrer, James E.; Loh, Shu Ching. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, Nov99, Vol. 5 Issue 6, p55, 7p;

The Edge of America: Struggling for Health and Justice.   By: Lafronza, Vincent; Ingoglia, Julie Nelson. Journal of Public Health Management & Practice, Mar/Apr2005, Vol. 11 Issue 2, p178-179, 2p;