envisioning a sustainable future

8/14/2019 Envisioning a sustainable future

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Envisioning a Sustainable FutureEnvisioning a Sustainable Future

MUC Researcher Seminar, March 2007.

Researching and developing in knowledge basedsociety.


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OutlineOutline

1. Issues of the Current World1. Issues of the Current World

2. Principles for Sustainability2. Principles for Sustainability

3.3. Building a Sustainable FutureBuilding a Sustainable Future

Recommended ReadingRecommended Reading

Picture source: http://thesustainablefuture.blogspot.com


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Collapse of PastCollapse of Past

CivilizationsCivilizations Climate changeClimate change

DeforestationDeforestation

Habitat destructionHabitat destruction Soil problemsSoil problems

Water management problemsWater management problems

Over-hunting, over-fishingOver-hunting, over-fishing Environmental degradation due toEnvironmental degradation due to

mismanagement of natural resources.mismanagement of natural resources.


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Issues of the Modern World

Mass extinction

Energy shortage

Build up of toxic chemicals, pollution

More potent destructive technologies

Alienation and social breakdown

Global climate change

the risk of a global rather than a localcollapse.


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The Root Causes

Overpopulation

Overconsumption

Resources depletion Wastes and pollution

Degenerative pattern

Our money-drivingeconomy


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Principles for Sustainability

"Nature does nothing uselessly. If oneway be better than another, that you

may be sure is Nature's way."Aristotle


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Principles forSustainability

Ethics: Care for the Earth Care for people Share resources and surplus

Reduce consumption

Principles: Maintaining regenerative cycling pattern

Letting nature do the work Encouraging diversity and integrity Using appropriate technologies


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Four dimensions of sustainability:

(1) Social sustainability Peace and Equity

(2) Ecological sustainability Conservation

(3) Economic sustainability Appropriate development

(4) Political sustainability Democracy

In a sustainable society, people: care for each other and value social justice and peace.

protect natural systems and use resources wisely.

value appropriate development and satisfyinglivelihood for all.

make decisions through fair and democratic means.
http://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.earthrights.net/earthpeople.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.earthrights.net/congo/&h=287&w=280&sz=17&tbnid=-NjOJi0pOrMJ:&tbnh=110&tbnw=107&hl=de&start=19&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsustainable%2Bfuture%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dde%26lr%3Dhttp://images.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.earthrights.net/earthpeople.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.earthrights.net/congo/&h=287&w=280&sz=17&tbnid=-NjOJi0pOrMJ:&tbnh=110&tbnw=107&hl=de&start=19&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsustainable%2Bfuture%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dde%26lr%3D


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Building a Sustainable Future

Picture source: www.360east.com


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Today's Economy vs. Tomorrow's Eco-Economy

Competitive, hierachy

Degenerative

Money-based, market forces

Favors maximum production

Carbon, fossil fuel basedenergy system

Pollutes the environment bytoxic chemicals

Unsustainable

Co-operative, network

Regenerative

Respects principles of ecology

Favors optimum production

Renewable energy, hydrogeneconomy

Refresh the environment

Sustainable


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Sustainable Agriculture

Optimize natural resource

management (biological pest

control, natural fertilizer...)

Protect the environment and

biodiversity (crop rotation,

diversification, agroforestry...)

Contribute to well-being of

local community

Picture source: /www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/agroforestry/louise/ntres694.


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Renewable, diverse and decentralized

energy system

Wind

power

Geothermal

Fuelcell

Hydropower

Bio-energy

Solarpower

HYDROGEN

ECONOMY


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Eco-design

Picture source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/221169_green22.html


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Permaculture Business

Permaculture business: works for permaculture principles works on quality not quantity aims to create wealth rather than just

money

Main ideas: Encourage indigenous, local, traditional,

natural and environmental friendly

products and services Co-operation rather than competition Ensuring wealth sharing


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Friendly, supportive community

Picture source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/221169_green22.html


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A world of joy, peace and love

Meaningfulliving

Close to nature Simply

Healthily

Care and Share

Picture source: www.consensus.net


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Recommended Reading

Alexander, Gary. 2006, eGaia, Growing a peaceful, sustainableEarth through Communications, Lighthouse Books.

Brown, Lester. 2001, Eco-Economy Building an Economy for theEarth, Earth Policy.

Capra, Fritjof. 2002, The Hidden Connections A Science forSustainable Living, Anchor Books.

Diamon, Jared. 2005, Collapse How Societies Choose to Fail orSucceed, Viking Publisher.

Lyle, John Tillman. 1994,Regenerative design for sustainabledevelopment, Wiley.

Seitz, John L. 1995, Global issues - an introduction, Blackwell.


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Thank you for your attention!

Picture source:Together, we build!

envisioning a sustainable future

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