On Renewable Energy, Part 2
September 21, 2009
The skeptics among the audience will surely question my boundless enthusiasm for matters involving renewable energy and the capacity for humans to eclipse the cruel fate to which many would argue we've already assigned ourselves. Yet, am I truly guilty of optimism to the point of naivete?
Perhaps, but I would argue that those who disagree, those who wallow in pessimism and regressive attitudes, are simply uninformed. Unaware of the extent to which valuable processes are already in action, ignorant of the concerns that many share for our civilization and our ecology, unable to trade their small piece of the past for a huge piece of the future, and stubbornly unwilling to recognize the value of the efforts of others.
On Renewable Energy, Part 1
September 21, 2009
The concept of renewable energy has been floating around American society for several decades in earnest. However, thanks to recent personal discoveries made working in and around the field, I've become convinced that renewable energy sources will soon eclipse fossil fuels and extraction fuels.
Nuclear has many benefits and an ardent set of promoters and defenders. Still, in all of my objective research, I have yet to discover honest and satisfactory proposals for how we should deal with the numerous and significant threats posed by nuclear energy.
Be on the Lookout for Smart Ideas!
May 09, 2008
Ecology, equity and economy form the Triple Top Line upon which businesses should be designed and conducted.
Economy is one of the most important elements driving human social change. While economy may account for many of our achievements, irresponsible economic choices have resulted in devastating destruction. In the Triple Top Line approach, economy is equally weighted along with ecology and social equity.
Designing Sustainability
April 30, 2008
Failure is not an option. Environmental sustainability is built upon the core that humans must persist on planet Earth as long as possible. Every being exhales only to seek its next inhale. In this sense, sustainability is a design challenge for as we move forward as a species we must overcome, circumvent or skillfully yield to the obstacles inherent on a planet with finite resources and acute regulatory measures. Energy systems, food production and business models are paramount to environmental sustainability and presently in need of massive overhauls.
Moving Toward Sustainability
April 30, 2008
Put simply, sustainability is a measure of something’s capacity to exist continuously. Alternately, Environmental Sustainability is the principle that all life should flourish and allow the same or greater opportunities for success to future generations. Environmental sustainability involves the ongoing creation, maintenance and change of the accessible features of our operating systems such as economics, ecology, environment, social orders and technologies. These efforts must be predicated upon – and imbued with - the values of human intelligence, engineered adaptability and security of biodiversity and universal good. Indeed, environmental sustainability implies a global, holistic and moral imperative beyond the act of allowing habits, preferences, prejudices and social orders to continue indefinitely regardless of merit.
Religion & Science
April 28, 2008
Religion and science are two powerful forces influencing and creating modern culture. Like the agents of many complicated and interdependent relationships, religion and science assume different roles in different instances and work together in various and sometimes unpredictable ways. Religion and science are at once enemies, friends and strangers – and neither role entirely nullifies the validity of the others.
While religion and science can antagonize and attempt to undermine each other, it would be deceptive to label them as enemies exclusively. However, religion and science are clearly enemies in some matters. For instance, abortion, population control, genetic engineering and stem-cell research are issues which have proven endlessly controversial in recent years.
A Call to Arms
February 17, 2008
As students of the movement toward environmental sustainability, we are called to reflect upon the eloquent words of McDonough and Braungart who declare in their brilliant book, "Cradle to Cradle," that today is the day in which we must decide to create a positive legacy - and the failure to initiate reform immediately amounts to negligence.
In accord with the observations of trained cultural anthropologists, Wade Davis (Nature's Operating Instructions) describes the emphasis modern civilization has placed on individual autonomy above responsibility & accountability to the collective. While I value this development in human evolution, and welcome the opportunity to explore its purpose, I am acutely aware that it is time for our roles to change yet again.
In the Name of Love
February 14, 2008
As we stand on the precipice of a massive re-evaluation of society and collective means, all of our resources and habits are being called to scrutiny. As such, there is a great deal of conflicting opinions on what a sustainable world would look like - and what we'd "do" with our newfound sustainability.
David Orr asserts a deeply valid concern in Nature's Operating Instructions, "I don't trust a world designed for the convenience of corporations." He worries that the efforts toward renewables will be co-opted and used to merely enable our existing greed. While I wholly concur, I would also argue as humans we must ultimately embrace and celebrate our insatiable need to create and consume. However, we need to adapt and apply this unique endowment to the stewardship of the earth, using only renewable resources.