What is Sustainable Gang?

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As the year 2023 draws to a close, marking approximately eight months since the inception of Sustainable Gangs.
I wish to express my intention to craft an article that serves as a representation of our organization—a testament to what defines Sustainable Gang.
This endeavor serves as a means to organize and present my thoughts effectively.

What is Sustainable Gang?

Sustainable Gang, established in May 2023, is a community dedicated to engaging in sustainable practices.
We firmly believe that adopting sustainability is not only responsible but also inherently stylish.
Our primary focus is on initiating sustainable actions, with litter picking serving as the foundational step that anyone can effortlessly undertake.

The concept originated from the belief that there is a certain coolness in picking up litter while strolling with friends in your favorite attire.
This principle inspired the formation of our group.

Background

Why sustainable?

As a young individual, I've observed a growing trend in modern society toward a mindset of "as long as it's good enough for me."
There seems to be a prevailing notion that pursuing personal happiness and financial success, even at the expense of others, is acceptable.
I believe there's a significant emphasis on the end goal (winning) rather than the means to achieve it (how to live).

For me, sustainability means progressing without causing harm or sacrifice.
While it may be challenging to gain something without giving up something else, I advocate for striving to minimize those losses.
The endeavor to make everyone happy is more challenging than focusing solely on personal happiness.
Sustainable choices may involve costs in terms of money, time, and effort.
Nevertheless, I find it cool that individuals can make these choices and act sustainably.

The formation of our gang stems from a desire to cultivate a community where like-minded individuals, who share this cool and forward-thinking perspective, can come together.

Why a gang?

The choice to name our group a "gang" stems from our firm belief in the freedom to pursue our own preferences.
The term "sustainable" might evoke notions of being 'serious' or 'virtuous.'
While sustainability aligns with goodness, I am convinced that it goes beyond that – it embodies a sense of 'coolness,' as previously mentioned.
Consequently, our objective is to foster a community that deviates from being "a solemn and dignified volunteer organization" to embodying the spirit of "a group of individuals who passionately engage in what they perceive as both sustainable and cool, even if it involves challenges and messiness."

Although our actions naturally refrain from any offensive behavior, we embraced the term 'gang' to convey our commitment to pursuing sustainable initiatives with a certain degree of 'vigor.'

Objectives.

There are currently two main objectives of Sustainable Gangs.

(1) Spreading the idea that 'sustainable = cool'

Having read the text thus far, we may acknowledge and embrace the notion that sustainability carries a cool factor.
However, I recognize that the prevailing sentiment among many is that sustainability is commendable but not necessarily aesthetically cool.

For a significant portion of the youth, the appeal of 'cool' and 'stylish' often outweighs considerations of 'good' and 'bad'.
In essence, if sustainability can transition from being seen as merely 'good' to genuinely 'cool,' societal perspectives will undergo a transformative shift.
To achieve this, our approach involves integrating sustainability seamlessly with personal style.
Rather than donning utilitarian attire like numbers and army gloves for rubbish collection, we opt for fashionable clothes, undertaking the act of litter picking in a stylish manner.

In the realm of 'looking good and doing good,' we see no adversaries.
We refer to this concept as 'sus' for sustainable.
This era is characterized by being SUS (Sustainable) rather than THUG (The Hate U Give).
Through our activities, we aspire to broaden the community of individuals who can confidently affirm, "Undoubtedly, being sustainable is inherently cool."

(2) Creating a place for someone else

While the term 'sustainable' may often conjure thoughts of environmental issues, our primary focus is on sustainability for people.
We recognize that the routine back-and-forth between home, school, and work can make it seem like our immediate surroundings comprise our entire society.

Our aspiration for this gang is to serve as an alternative community or a Third Place for individuals.
It could be as simple as someone thinking, "I may not be enthusiastic about picking up rubbish, but I'll go to meet people."
We envision this community as a space where individuals can forge new connections, build friendships, and engage in social interactions.
Moreover, we see it as a haven where those with challenging pasts can reintegrate into society.

If we can establish this gang as a place where people can come together, make friends, and socialize, we believe we can proudly declare that this gang embodies true sustainability—a sustainable gang in every sense.

Past and future activities

In the initial six months following our formation in May, Sustainable Gang actively conducted weekly City Clean initiatives in Osaka. Over this period, our dedicated efforts led to the collection of over 50 rubbish bags (45 litres) and a cumulative total of 50 hours of activity.

Presently, our operational base has transitioned to Okinawa, where we have committed to conducting beach and city cleans 2-4 times a week for the next six months until the end of May. In Okinawa, our objective is to achieve a collective tally of 150 bags of rubbish and 150 hours of activity.
While these are just numerical goals, we emphasize their importance as a means to sustain our ongoing activities.

Looking ahead, we plan to collaborate with local cafés and other cleanup organizations, organizing events that contribute to community engagement in Okinawa.
In June, we are slated to move our operations to Tokyo, marking the commencement of our activities in earnest. Stay tuned for more updates on our endeavors!

Thank you

Our foremost priority at the moment is to proceed with patience.
Success for our gang is not measured in fame or wealth but in how sustainable of our existence.
The ultimate goal is for the Sustainable Gang to endure indefinitely as a community of individuals who embrace and support its ideals.

Whether it takes three, five, or even ten years for the gang to fully blossom, or if it never reaches the pinnacle of visibility, our primary objective is to grow the community of individuals who recognize the coolness of sustainability and are grateful to have encountered the Sustainable Gang.
We remain committed to maintaining a sass-facing attitude, steering clear of immediate profit-centric motives.
The gang we aim to be is a warm place for individuals, a source of pride for its members.

We are, and will continue to be, the Sustainable Gang.