Greetings!
QUESTION
Can you find a summary of U.S. environmental problems along with their
causes and possible solutions?
ANSWER
Environmental problems transcend national boundaries [1]. U.S.
environmental problems are problems for the entire planet -- the
"global village."
I have found an excellent summary in a series of papers written by
Willard Fey and Ann Lam of the Ecocosm Dynamics Institute in Atlanta,
Georgia [1 to 5]. These papers (in abbreviated form) are posted in
their home page, www.ecocosmdynamics.org. If you go to the catalog,
the full length papers can be ordered. They are not expensive, and
they are fascinating to read -- a fresh and sensible approach to the
environmental crisis ahead of us.
The root cause of all environmental problems is excessive consumption,
fueled by population growth and increasingly extravagant lifestyles
[2, 3].
The proposed solution method entails a transition from the current,
unsustainable consumption patterns to new, sustainable consumption
patterns [4]. Since the rainbow in many cultures is a symbol of hope,
they call it "Operation Rainbow Bridge" [5].
Although "Operation Rainbow Bridge" is not yet a fully defined
"solution", the basic elements can be anticipated: consume less, live
in peace, share with others, pay less attention to luxuries and more
to the inner journey, embrace a simpler lifestyle ... It will be a
painful but indispensable transition.
BASIC SOURCES
[1] "What is the Ecocosm?" by Willard Fey and Ann Lam, 1999.
http://www.ecocosmdynamics.org/index.htm
[2] "Our Crisis Hypothesis" by Willard Fey and Ann Lam, 1999.
http://www.ecocosmdynamics.org/index.htm
[3] "The Ecocosm Paradox" by Willard Fey and Ann Lam, 1999.
http://www.ecocosmdynamics.org/index.htm
[4] "A Solution Method" by Willard Fey and Ann Lam, 1999.
http://www.ecocosmdynamics.org/index.htm
[5] "Operation Rainbow Bridge", by Willard Fey and Ann Lam, 2001.
http://www.ecocosmdynamics.org/ED/bridge.asp
SOME ADDITIONAL SOURCES
The following are recommended for further study of environmental
problems:
1. AA 1000 Global Standard for Business Social Responsibility --
http://www.accountability.org.uk/
2. Biodiversity 911: Saving Life on Earth --
http://www.biodiversity911.org/
3. Center for Best Practices on Environment, Emergency Management, and
Terrorism -- http://www.nga.org/
4. Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN)
-- http://www.ciesin.org
5. Coalition of Environmentally Responsible Economies (CERES) --
http://www.ceres.org
6. Columbia Earth Institute -- http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/
7. Dancing Toward the Future --
http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC32/TOC32.htm
8. Directory of System Dynamics Links --
http://www.uni-klu.ac.at/~gossimit/links/bookmksd.htm
9. Earth Summit for Sustainable Development - Johannesburg, 2002 --
http://www.josummit.com/
10. Ecology Directory of Directories --
http://pbil.univ-lyon1.fr/Ecology/Ecology-WWW.html
11. Global Change Master Directory - NASA --
http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/
12. Integrated Global System Model --
http://web.mit.edu/globalchange/www/if.html
13. International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) --
http://www.iisd.ca
14. Living Systems and Feedback Loops --
http://cgee.hamline.edu/see/questions/dp_balance/dp_bal_feedback.htm
15. Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network --
http://www.lternet.edu/
16. Trend Data on 500 World Development Indicators - Columbia
University -- http://www.columbia.edu/acis/eds/dset_guides/time-series.html
17. Virtual Library of Biodiversity, Ecology, and the Environment --
http://conbio.rice.edu/vl/
18. World Biodiversity Database (WBD) --
http://www.eti.uva.nl/Database/WBD.html
19. World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) --
http://www.wbcsd.ch/
20. World Resources Institute (WRI) - Data on Global Environment
Trends -- http://www.wri.org
SEARCH STRATEGY
Select a sample of sources from my own environmental management
directory (currently includes 1478 websites).
RESEARCH SUMMARY
After many years researching "green" issues, the "ecocosm dynamics"
work is the best I have seen. It recognizes the complexity and global
dimension of the problem. It requires changes that will be
controversial and politically incorrect, so peoples and nations will
have to engage in civilized dialogue. It fosters the full development
of the human person by insisting on moderation and
psychological/spiritual integration. I believe they are on the right
track, and sincerely hope that they can continue their research
program, and bring it to fruition.
Let me know if you have any questions, or need further clarification.
Best regards,
pelican-ga |
