Incentives to use MORE finite natural resources
"When the pipeline from Mundaring Weir was opened (1903), a garden competition was inaugurated (1904) as an incentive for residents to use more
water. The Palms, tended by Tom Cunningham, won the competition for section A (for gardens that employed a gardener)."
from The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens, page 461.
The Palms was a residence in Kalgoorlie owned by Sidney Hocking the part owner of the local newspaper, The Kalgoorlie Miner, which no doubt promoted
the competition.
Imagine the outcry in this day if a similar competition were conducted by a public utility and promoted by the media to use more of a finite natural
resource.
It is happening, seemingly with no concern. In Perth for a number of years the power authority, Western Power, aided by the promotion of a variety of
media outlets have been encouraging the display of bigger and more wasteful Christmas light displays. Prizes, either cash or free power supply have
been the incentive to use even more power.
A further irony is that following Christmas there has been a Western Power campaign to encourage people to save power. And furthermore, we are being
told that the authority is stretched to cope with the power demands of the city.
Really, until such time as our power source comes from renewable resources is there any sense in promoting the wasteful consumption of any finite
supply?
no
Your logic is sound, but what is logical and what works in society are two different things. To be fully sustainable alot of thinsg would have to
change in this world, but this will only happen in 2 ways
1- It cost ppl to much to be unsustainable
2- It starts to effect health and other aspects of ppls lives in anegative way.
But this is the whole problem with environmental issues, ppl see the logic behind them, but won't follow through with them.
No iam not a hippy ( I drive bug not a Kombi) but work in the sustainable development industry
Is restoring an old car considered recycling? 
is anything to do with the way we all live actually considered really sustainable...?
Yes.
Plant a lemon tree and use it as a urinal...