Link to: TED: Cradle To Cradle Design Journal  http://www.thailandfriends.com/index.php?op=modload&name=Journal&view=journal&juid=43336&jid=71567

I visited William McDonough website and found speech he gave to the US-China Center in China, "A New Design for Human Enterprise." This speech paralells his TED presentation.

Url: http://www.mcdonough.com/writings/new_design.htm#

I made a .pdf of his speech, pls see download link.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/574010/A-New-Design-Enterprise2.pdf

Selection from: A New Design for Human Enterprise

At the Hanford Nuclear Facility in Washington state, where they make the plutonium for our bombs and our missiles, a symposium of scientists has gathered to discuss how to mark the ground where we have stored our dangerous plutonium wastes in such a way that even an extraterrestrial visiting us five thousand years from now would not dare to dig them up, and would be properly warned of the danger. The question was, what is the sign that will be universally understood to represent the gravest of danger. Some of the elders of the native tribe of this place, the Yakima, were at the same conference center for another meeting. They were talking with the scientists between meetings and heard what they were there to do. They laughed and said, "you don't really need to worry about this. We'll be here. We'll tell the extraterrestrials where it is." The Yakima were not leaving. What would it mean for all of us to imagine that our cultures will still be here five thousand years from now? What would it mean for us to imagine that all of our acts should be seen in that context? This suggests what it will mean to be native to this place.

The first Hannover Principle says: Insist on the rights of humanity and nature to coexist in a healthy, supportive, diverse and sustainable condition. Notice we used the word "insist", which clearly doesn't mean please hope that someone else will do if for you.

Moving on from the 2nd thru the last principle, we see a framework for intelligent design coming into focus:

2. Recognize interdependence. The elements of human design interact with and depend upon the natural world, with broad and diverse implications at every scale. Expand design considerations to recognize even distant effects.

3. Respect relationships between spirit and matter. Consider all aspects of human settlement including community, dwelling, industry and trade in terms of existing and evolving connections between spiritual and material consciousness.

4. Accept responsibility for the consequences of design decisions upon human well-being, the viability of natural systems and their right to coexist.

5. Create safe objects of long-term value. Do not burden future generations with requirements for maintenance or vigilant administration of potential danger due to the careless creation of products, processes or standards.

6. Eliminate the concept of waste. Evaluate and optimize the full life-cycle of products and processes, to approach the state of natural systems, in which there is no waste.

7. Rely on natural energy flows. Human designs should, like the living world, derive their creative forces from perpetual solar income. Incorporate this energy efficiently and safely for responsible use.

8. Understand the limitations of design. No human creation lasts forever and design does not solve all problems. Those who create and plan should practice humility in the face of nature. Treat nature as a model and mentor, not as an inconvenience to be evaded or controlled.

9. Seek constant improvement by the sharing of knowledge. Encourage direct and open communication between colleagues, patrons, manufacturers and users to link long-term sustainable considerations with ethical responsibility, and re-establish the integral relationship between natural processes and human activity.

A little grist for mill, na

LIstening to native elders talk of native prophecy is comforting as they are so ok with things just being and taking their course. Although I do like to feel proactive in improving what I can in my life and whatever I can be a part of.

Quote:

"From the perspective of someone concerned about social fairness, environmental health and economic viability, this appears to be the fundamental design assignment of the first industrial revolution, and it is in full swing around the world. Where it is not engaged, it is coming. The only design principle that seems to be at work is, "if brute force isn't working, you're not using enough of it!"

Jerry, I'd say someone, somewhere has already solved about 90% of man made environmental problems.

Check out this youtube vid-City Of Dreams - Curitiba, Brazil

I'm concerned with Monsantos design to replace the gene pool with their own design. The arrogance of man in rabid form ! Now we have to worry thats what's left will be mutant.

Jerry, bio-diversity and seed banks are very important. On some crops genetic engineering might be OK, but there seems to be awful lot of it now days.

Almost 80% of corn is GMO I'm hearing and over 50 % of other crops some more some less are GMO and Monsanto is moving into garden vegetables and Franken Salmon have been approved for release in the wild. Monsanto OWNS the right to sell seed in the US and is moving to own the seed market. Franken Salmon have pig and human growth genes in them I have heard. Its estimated that Native salmon will be gone in 40 generations since the release of the man made mutants that are twice the size of native salmon. Monsanto wants to rewrite the genetic codes of the world !!