Sustainability -- a long word for a complex subject. What does it mean? Webster's New World College Dictionary defines sustainable as "designating, of, or characterized by a practice that sustains a given condition, as economic growth or a human population, without destroying or depleting natural resources, polluting the environment, etc."

Some people can be a bit hypocritical in their fervor over "going green" -- they talk about its importance, perhaps even serve on sustainability task forces at work or in their community, yet they still use paper or plastic at the grocery store. I can be as hypocritical as the next guy -- while I use cloth bags, recycle religiously (to the extent possible in Fairbanks) and berate my family for leaving the lights on in an empty room, I drive a gas-powered SUV.

I don't have all the answers. But I do believe it's important to ask the questions.

-- Kim Davis, Managing Editor