the natural advantage of nations

yesterday i finished reading this clarifying book.

i must say it started very exciting but finished rather heavy; perhaps, more than as a must-read book, i'll define it as a must-be-on-the-shelf book.

some remarcable pages:

[48]
"Summary of emerging principles to guide activities into the 21st century:

• respect for life and intrinsic right of all species to exist now and in the future.
• first do no harm.
• waste no want not.
• efficient use of energy and resources.
• we reap what we sow (we are responsible)
• learn from nature: design for sustainability.
• clean up after yourself.
• achieve radical resource productivity - beyond factor 10.
• develop close loop and zero waste systems.
• ensure non-toxic products and production.
• economy based on renewable resources.
• protect and enhance a rich biodiversity.
• reduce major risks."

[193]
"Allars characterist of effective voluntary agreements:

confining-structuring-checking."

it shows very interesting indicators and best cases of governance (sorry, i couldnt find a link in the web)

[278]
"old style development is characterized by language such as:
balance-limited impact-competition-acceptable levels of-meeting all statutory requirements-consultation-experts-planning-no major effects-you cant have development without-financial benefit-im only the-its not my responisibility-in the ideal world, but-...

sustainability is characterized by language such as:
net benefit-change-ongoing management-efficiency-inclusive-innovation-design-best practice-long term-participation-engagement-altruism-repair-enhance-sense of place-sacred-economic performance-externalities-broad based benefit-partnership-network-..."

[310]
"design principles for Goa 2100 :

A Dynamic Fractal Morphology:

• Cellular structure: nuclei, cores, spines and skins
• Hierarchical networks adapting to topography
• Optimal densities, settlement structure and heights enabling security
• Contiguous and hyperlinked with interpenetration of living nets
• Dynamic consolidation and nucleation around fractal boundaries and surfaces.

Three Goals:

1. Well-being of all people, communities and ecosystems (Sufficiency and Equity),
2. using a minimal throughput of matter-energy-information (Efficiency),
3. with least impact on nature, society and future generations (Sustainability)

Seven Organizing Principles:

1. Satisfying the basic human needs of all people and providing them an equal opportunity to realize their humanpotential.
2. Material needs should be met materially and nonmaterial needs non-materially.
3. Renewable resources should not be used faster thantheir regeneration rates.
4. Non-renewable resources should not be used fasterthan their substitution rates by renewable resources
5. Pollution and waste should not be produced faster than the rate of absorption, recycling or transformation
6. The Precautionary principle should be applied where the ‘response’ time is potentially less than the ‘respite’time
   
7. ‘Free-energy’ and resources should be available to enable redundancy, resilience and reproduction

Five Strategies for Land-use Management:

1. Enable a long-term ecological transition from forest >> cropland >> city >> forest
2. Design the landscape first; situate the city in the interstitial niches
3. Land-use transition ‘rules’ governed by the demandfor ecosystem services, resource potential, natural ecological succession and contiguity
4. Identify static and dynamic elements in the city,design the former, and provide a dynamic vocabulary forthe latter to co-evolve with the landscape
5. Devolve governance and taxation to the lowest viable level

Six Tactics to manage physical stocks and flows:

1. Use less with Factor 4 technologies for supply and social limits of sufficiency and equity on demand
2. Grow your own, tapping harvestable yields as autonomously as possible
3. Build two-way networks for security; every consumer is also a producer
4. Store a lot because renewable resource yields are often diurnal and seasonal
5. Transport less and over shorter distances using least life-cycle cost technologies
6. E-change using intelligent wireless networks to enable real-time trade and delivery of goods

[449]
"the ISIS method:
Indicators-Systems-Innovation-Strategy,

in conjunction with the compass of sustainability (see pic above) and the Pyramid planning framework."

IR and IU have a copy at their desk.