Permanence

The current word in environmental discourse is sustainability.  My concern about this word is what is sustainable?  Who can measure it?  How do we predict that a process is sustainable?  Our track record at predicting the future is dismal.  I far prefer the word permanent.  Permanence is retrospective as opposed to futuristic.  We know the phrase "hind sight is 20/20 vision", so lets decide to make best use of it.  In so doing we explore ways of living that have persisted for centuries and mine them for ways of living today that by benefit of hindsight will allow us to live for many more centuries.  I say this in light of increasing amounts of data that suggest that global destruction and catastrophe is well within our reach.