H. Thomas Johnson, Portland State University, USA; extract
from closing remarks to a conference 2nd November 2007:

“…..I find it troubling that this definition and virtually all
references to sustainability since the Brundtland Report make
no reference to LIFE. Instead of life, the subject under
discussion is the human economy. The key word in the
Brundtland definition is development – a word drawn from the
literature of neo-classical economics where it generally take to
be a synonym for growth – economic growth. …..

“… Perhaps some humility is in order, I believe that
sustainability will not emerge in human affairs until we begin to
conduct economic activity in harmony with the principles that
shape all living systems on earth. Then we will view a
business as a natural living system that thrives in a context of
cooperation, restraint, and quality, not in a context of
competition, growth and accumulation. That will be
sustainability…..

(thanks to Ray at Sustainability Matters for passing this along)