Enhancing Sustainability
by Unlocking the People’s Self-Help
DR. SANDRO CALVANI1
True and People-Centred Sustainable Development
Represents a Second Copernican Revolution
In a recent debate at the World Economic Forum, scholars who
were discussing sustainable development and the fight against
poverty challenged me; they asked me to find a comprehensive
and compact definition of the current global search for sustainable
development (SD) practices that could enhance people’s
happiness.
Surprised by the request, I was initially thrilled, but after a moment,
I was inspired to take a different path. Instead of trying to define
an abstract concept submitted by my colleagues, I decided to
describe a real-life human story of self-help as lived by a group
of Thai ethnic minorities.
These under-privileged people had managed to build sustainable
livelihoods from a starting-point of abysmal poverty, conflict and
desperation. I was thinking to the thirty years of economic and
social development that had occurred amongst the hill tribes of
Doi Tung, in the northernmost region of Thailand, between 1985
and 2015. I responded therefore to the challenge put to me by the
sustainable development experts that the overcoming of poverty
and the creation of a venture in true human development represents
a "Copernican revolution".
Since only a few of my readers may be astrologists, allow me
to explain and elaborate on my example of Doi Tung. Nicolaus
1
Senior advisor on strategic planning, Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal
Patronage, Bangkok Thailand. Dr. Calvani has taught policies of sustainable devel- opment and humanitarian affairs at the Master of Arts in International Relations,
Webster University, Bangkok; he has lived and worked for 25 years in 135 countries
as Head of UN missions. www.sandrocalvani.it www.maefahluang.org