SUSTAINING HUMANITY 2.

By The Wilderness Society 2

By Royce Bair 1
By Royce Bair r By The Wilderness Society 2

By Johann Dro 3

BY DICK WATKINS 4
 CONTENTS
Page
I. Abstract 3

II. Foreword 3

III. Sustaining Humanity: Facts to Remember and Actions to Take 6

A. Human Physical Welfare 8
1.0 Food 8
2.0 Water 9
3.0 Shelter 10
4.0 Energy 11
5.0 Climate Change and Pollution 14
6.0 Population 17
7.0 Income and Poverty 18
8.0 Health and Longevity 18
9.0 Economy 19
10.0 Ecosystems and Sustainable Development 20
11.0 Security 22
12.0 Catastrophic Failure 22
B. Human Contentment 23
1.0 Spirituality and Moral Compass 23
2.0 Social Connectedness 24
C. Human Freedom 24
1.0 Education 24
2.0 Freedom 25

IV. System Complexity and Intervention for Sustained Human

Well-Being 26
1.0 System Complexity 27
2.0 System Intervention 34
3.0 Sojourners Are We 38

V. References/Attributions 40

VI. Biographical Sketch 46

2
 I. ABSTRACT
After studying the elements that contribute to humanitys joy and despair,
and the complex interactions among these elements, it is clear that if we
want to ensure a continuing legacy for humanity, we need to take immediate
steps to live within the bounds of the Earth system. We all need to
participate in a paradigm shift of human values from consumption and
individualism to sustainability, human and community well-being, and time
affluence by initiating system interventions, governance changes, and
targeted assistance to developing countries,

II. FOREWORD
Two years ago I was searching for a new project that could be for the
common good that would use my skill-set and my interests. After a friend
questioned the concepts of climate change I started reading about it
including the work of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC). I was fascinated by the experimental data the scientists had
collected, and started to save some of the key plots that convinced me that
climate change resulting from human activity was real and significant. From
the data and the resultant models, there would be dire consequences to
humanity and all other life forms on this planet if we didnt respond to the
conclusions and abate the human causes of climate change and global
warming.

With that beginning I read a few books and visited a lot of websites.
Energy Victory by Dr. Robert Zubrin had an impact on me because of the
vast and varied amount of information on the technical and political aspects
of energy. At first his idea of using flex-fuel vehicles that would be powered
by gasoline/ethanol/methanol mixtures seemed appealing until I realized we
would be trading fuel for food with corn ethanol production. Thats when the
first glimmer of the sunrise revealed that things are more complex than they
might first appear.

Common Wealth by renowned economist, Dr. Jeffery Sachs, broadened my

understanding of Earth and its complexity. The data that were included gave
credence to his perspective and recommendations. Then reading Plan B
3.0 (2008) and more recently Plan B 4.0 (2009), http://www.earth-
policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4book.pdf, by Dr. Lester Brown,
famed environmentalist, convinced me that the complexities and
interrelationship of the parameters of our planet need the involvement of all
of us for the survival of humanity and the planets other life forms.

The work reported on in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005)

http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/index.aspx is recommended for
more in-depth reading as are all the books mentioned above. Other books
recommended include the following: The Bridge at the Edge of the World,
by Dr. James Gustave Speth (2008), Limits to Growth by Dr. Donella
3
Meadows et al. (2004), Earth: The Sequel by Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn
(2008), Great Transition: The Promise and Lure of the Times Ahead, by Dr.
Paul Raskin et al., Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman (2008),
The Black Swan by Nissim Nicholas Taleb (2007), and Agenda for a New
Economy, by Dr. David Korten, (2009).

I also read about social entrepreneurs supported by Bill Draytons Ashoka

and in Mohammed Yunus book entitled Creating a World Without Poverty,
All of this forced me to think more broadly about the human condition and
what humanity calls our home. That caused me to reflect on what my
responsibility is for our Earth, and what leads to human well-being.

In June 2010, I added two more books to my list: Sustainable World

Sourcebook http://www.swcoalition.org/Sustainable_World_SourceBook.pdf
and Eaarth. Quoting the former books publisher, This SourceBook is
designed to inspire YOU to gain an essential understanding of the
challenges facing humanity, and to make the connection between your daily
life choices and your impact on the world. It has a large reference base of
organizations and websites for deeper exploration.

Eaarth, by Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org, says that we already are

living on a new planet that requires us to live differently now to survive. He
concludes that we need to change our systems to distributive ones in place
of centralized ones. He focuses on distributive systems for food and energy
to adjust to our new eaarth. So food and energy would be produced and
consumed more locally. To compensate for the conversion to more local
systems he shows how the Internet and cell phones are used to improve
communications at all levels.

The product of the above reading and reflecting is a distillation and outline of
some important facts about our planet, and the actions we residents must
take whether it is by ourselves, within our immediate family, the local level,
provincial level, nation-state or across the planet. A consensus must be
reached on appropriate plans, and actions to take, or our species will
experience escalating calamity. Pollution will cause irreversible loss to our
planets ecosystem. This report is not original research and the facts are
from general reading, many with references for more in-depth study. The
facts always should be questioned because facts are not always truth. It is
written through the lens of my worldview so a critical eye should be part of
the readers perspective. This manuscript is meant for general audiences
that want to learn, question and reflect on humanitys status. It is my hope
that informed and motivated people when reflecting on the big picture will
take action to sustain humanity.

My worldview may be instructive to the reader so as to know my biases prior

to reading this monograph. I believe that God has created the cosmos and
cares about it, and that we have been given the responsibility to nurture this
planet and all living things on it while in residence. Also, I believe that our
species with its consciousness has physical, mental and spiritual
components that need to be interwoven in our individual and community
lives. The air and water are not owned by any entity, but are to be shared
4
among all inhabitants. Individual, community, national and global
governance are necessary to provide fairness, justice, and rights for all
human beings. Personal and community responsibility combined with a
market economy have proven beneficial for human well-being for a few
billion people over the last two centuries. However, modification of this
governance and new system interventions are important to consider since
forty percent of the 6.8 billion people on our planet are living in poverty on
less than $2/day/capita. Also, I wonder what human well-being will be like
for descendants twenty generations from now, and what will our contribution
be? This is a living document that will be revised, as there becomes more
clarity.

5
 III. SUSTAINING HUMANITY: FACTS TO REMEMBER
AND ACTIONS TO TAKE
The goal of this section is to give the reader an overview of the elements or
attributes that contribute to human well-being, some positive and others
negative, and actions that should be taken to enhance the common good
and provide life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for humanity. There
are sixteen elements or attributes that are included. More comprehensive
information is available in references that are listed for each element.
Additional attributes or parameters may need to be added to be all-inclusive
In referencing philosopher Sir Anthony Kenny, Dr. John Stutz proposed that
human well-being or the quality of life could be classified into three broad
categories: {A.} Welfare (physical health), {B.} Contentment (satisfaction with
life) and {C.} Freedom. 1 This manuscript uses these three sub-categories.

Section III focuses on the individual elements as silos, (i.e., assumes

elements are independent of each other as shown in Diagram [1] below), but
also covers some of their interdependence for clarity. Dr. Medard Gabel 2
has a short video entitled Big Picture, Small World on his website,
http://www.bigpicturesmallworld.com/movies/introB.html, that gives a lucid
introduction to many of the attributes that are discussed below.

Another classification of the elements that contribute to human well-being is

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. 3 Starting at the base of Maslows pyramid
of human needs, the five need levels are listed in ascending order with
each level of the pyramid containing some of the sixteen elements utilized
for characterizing human well-being in this paper.
- Physiological [Food, Water]
- Safety [Shelter, Health, Income & Poverty, Population, Economy,
Energy, Security, Climate Change, Ecosystems, Catastrophic Failure]
- Social [Social Connectedness]
- Esteem [Education, Freedom]
- Self-Actualization and Transcendence [Spirituality & Moral Compass]
This provides an alternative way to organize the elements or attributes that
contribute to sustained human well-being.

Section IV will demonstrate the interdependency of the elements of Section

III and show the best ways to intervene in the Earth system to sustain
humanity.

6
Diagram [1]: Sixteen Elements that Need Addressing to Sustain Humanity

<< A. Human Physical Welfare >>

Food Water Shelter Energy Climate Popula-

Change tion

<< A. Human Physical Welfare >>

Income Health Econo- Eco- Security Cata-

and my systems strophic
Poverty Failure

<< B. Human Contentment >> << C. Human Freedom >>

Spiritu-
ality and Social Educa- Freedom
Moral Connect-
tion
edness
Compass

7
 A. HUMAN PHYSICAL WELFARE

1.0 FOOD

1.1 FACTS
1) Humanity needs carbohydrates, protein and fats in our diet to be healthy.
Carbohydrates are grown on agricultural lands that produce grains, fruits and
vegetables. Proteins are obtained from animals (e.g., cattle, poultry, eggs,
milk, and fish) and soybeans. Fats in our diet are from animals and nuts.
2) Food sourcing is a complex issue because of conflict with other human
needs including: {a} other land uses, (e.g., urbanization and crop-based
transportation fuels); {b} water availability; {c} climate change;
{d} biodiversity (e.g., over-fishing of oceans for specific fish); and
{e} population growth. (Humankind needs land to live on as well as food to
eat, which results in a positive feedback mechanism {self-reinforcing or
accelerating}, which requires even more land).
3) Food productivity has increased many-fold due to technological
advancements including {a} high yielding seeds, {b} fertilizers, {c} pesticides,
{d} irrigation, {e} no-till planting, {f} fish farming, and {g} feed-lot
nourishment of animals.
4) With earlier maturing seeds double-cropping has been accomplished in
China (winter wheat and corn), India (wheat and rice) and US (winter wheat
and soybeans). 1
5) About 900 million people are hungry in 2007, which is a 50 million
increase over 2006 resulting from increased food prices. 1 Ninety percent of
the hungry live in developing countries.
6) Food consumption is too high for about one billion people in the
developed countries.
7) Cattle consume 7 kilograms of grain per kilogram of weight gain, which is
very food and energy inefficient. (Note: Actually 13 kilograms of grain
consumption are required per kilogram of edible meat since almost half of
the weight gain is skeletal and fat.) Hogs eat 3 kilograms of grain per
kilogram of weight gain, poultry 2 kilograms/kilogram of weight gain and
herbivorous, farmed fish < 2 kilograms/kilogram of weight gain. Herbivorous
fish include catfish, tilapia and carp. 2
8) The true cost of meat does not include the environmental costs (e.g.,
fresh water for the grain growth and industrial processing waste of the feed
grains and livestock that are not priced into the product). 3
9) There are more than 400 ocean dead zones worldwide that kill fish
because of oxygen-depletion caused by fertilizer run-off from the planets
farmland. This marine ecosystem stressor is comparable to over-fishing of
the oceans. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone caused by the Mississippi River
covers an area the size of New Jersey. 4
10) One third of the global population doesnt get enough iodine in their diet,
which lowers their mental IQ. This is particularly a problem for births where
the mother is iodine deficient. Iodized salt is an inexpensive micronutrient
that will benefit developing countries. 5
11) Food industrialization in the USA has lead to inexpensive foods (e.g.,
government subsidies and invisible costs) that are unhealthy for the
consumer. Corn products such as high fructose corn syrup are used in many
8
of the processed foods that we eat from supermarkets and fast food
restaurants. Obesity and Type II diabetes are a direct result of eating too
much of these foods. 6

1.2 ACTIONS
1) Halve, between 1990 and 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from
hunger {United Nations Millennium Development Goal MDG}. 7
2) To improve health and to conserve worldwide food supply Americans
should move down the food chain, as people in developing countries start
moving up the food chain. Meats such as fish and poultry provide a more
healthy diet than red meat like beef. Many in developed countries should
reduce their daily caloric intake.
3) Vegetarians and vegans are at the bottom of the food chain, and lower the
average human food footprint on the planet. Consider being a vegetarian or
vegan.
4) Protect the biodiversity of our planet by closely monitoring both ocean and
land based species.
5) Food security must be a priority for the US and all world governments
because of our overpopulated, climate-changing and water-scarce world. 8
It will become clear that many of these human requirements to be discussed
will cause or contain positive feedback loops or will self-reinforce the
parameter, and make the circumstances even worse or better depending on
the parameter. {Note: In systems analysis a positive feedback loop amplifies
the effect of the element. A negative feedback or self-correcting loop would
dissipate the effect of the parameter.}

2.0 WATER

2.1 FACTS 1 , 2
1) The oceans contain 97.25% of the planets water. The remaining water is
fresh water that is stored in {a} Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, sea ice
and glaciers (2.05%), {b} groundwater aquifers (0.68%) and {c} surface water
(lakes, rivers and soil moisture) and the atmosphere contain the remaining
(.02%).
2) Seventy percent of all human water use is for agriculture, 20% is for
industrial use and 10% for residential use.
3) Sustainable, safe drinking water is not available for 1.1 billion people.
4) Fresh water is a $400 billion per annum global industry; third largest
behind electricity and oil. 3
5) The worldwide privatization of fresh water is happening quickly. 3
4) Lakes are disappearing because of water needs for agriculture (e.g., Lake
Chad in Central Africa and the Aral Sea in Central Asia 4 ).
5) Rivers in Asia (from west to east including the Indus, Ganges, Mekong,
Yangtze and Yellow 5 ) are likely to become seasonal because of the
disappearance of the Himalayan and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau glaciers over the
next fifty years. (Look at the glaciers and rivers on Google Earth.)
6) Ground water aquifers are being mined (i.e., water withdrawn faster than
being replenished) all over the planet. China and India are among the
countries of increasing water stress. (They are listed because they account

9
for 37% of the Earths population.) Drilling for water becomes more and
more costly.
7) Forty percent of the arable land in Asia is already utilizing irrigation. 6
8) Competition for surface water and groundwater aquifers are both intra-
national and international, which leads to conflict due to water scarcity. It
will only get worse as population grows. In the USA the Chattahoochee
River, with headwaters in northern Georgia, has caused water-sourcing
problems for growing populations in Georgia, Alabama and Florida, as well
as the Apalachicola River estuary in Florida, a source of seafood. Similarly,
the Southwestern US, which has had dramatic population increases, will
have increasing water scarcity issues. The Colorado River is the source,
which gets most of its water from melting winter snows in the Rocky
Mountains. 7 The Nile River in Africa is an example of international conflict
over water among the countries of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.
9) Desalination of ocean water is not a large-scale economic option except in
an energy-rich region near the coast like the Arab Middle East.
10) Water scarcity leads to food scarcity and conflict. (This is one example
of the interdependency of various elements or parameters of our planet.)

2.2 ACTIONS 1 , 2
1) Achieve safe drinking water across the planet. At least reduce by half the
proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by
2015 (MDG). {1.7 million die annually from diarrhea caused by water
contaminated with human feces.}
2) More crop per drop 8 . Obtain financial support for converting worldwide
irrigation farming to drip irrigation. Drip irrigation systems (DIS) can
increase the productivity of irrigated lands by saving significant amounts of
water or increasing productivity of arid lands. Major savings on agro-
chemicals quantities required per hectare (e.g., fertilizers and pesticides)
are realized as an additional benefit for drip irrigation. Cost effective
systems will vary from developed countries to developing countries. The
true cost of water, like other natural resources, should be part of the
calculation of the payback time for the drip irrigation investment. 9 , 1 0 , 1 1 , 1 2
3) World-wide governance of fresh water should be considered. Sign the
petition to add Article 31 to the United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights that was ratified by the UN General Assembly on
12/10/1948. 1 3 , 1 4
4) Increase virtual water through increased international trade of food to
mitigate water-forced food scarcity. 1 5
5) Mine the frozen water from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets
before they melt or slide into the ocean. (Tongue-in-cheek)

3.0 SHELTER
3.1 FACTS 1 , 2 , 3
1) The world faces another looming challenge, the rise of an impoverished
urban underclass with about one billion people living in slums or squatter
communities around the world. An additional one billion rural residents in
developing countries live in unhealthy housing conditions.

10
2) With globalization there is a mass migration of people in developing
countries from rural to urban areas in hopes of finding jobs. Many older
urban areas are encircled by squatters settlements (e.g., Caracas,
Venezuela 52% of the population; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - 49%;
Karachi, Pakistan - 40%; and Mumbai, India 6 million people.) The housing
is often made of flimsy materials such as cardboard and sheet metal.
3) The squatter settlements have unhealthy living conditions including unsafe
water, lack of sanitation, poor food preparation/storage areas and no
garbage pick-up. The people live in crowded spaces, which lead to the rapid
spread of communicable diseases; and they have poor in-door air quality
(burning dung, wood and coal for cooking) that leads to respiratory diseases.
4) With the great rural to urban migration that is in process, it is estimated
that China will need to build 200 million housing units in urban areas over
the next couple of decades. For perspective that is twice the number of
existing housing units in the United States.
5) There is a clear relationship between poor housing and poor health.

3.2 ACTIONS 2 , 3
1) Financial assistance is needed to assist squatter communities to have
better shelter and infrastructure, which will improve housing as well as
health conditions. Freedom to develop creative housing solutions is an
important part of the puzzle.
2) Developing countries need to utilize sustainable urban development
methods to transition their populations from rural to urban living.

4.0 ENERGY

4.1FACTS 1 , 2
1) Fossil fuels have provided much of humanitys energy over the millennia.
2) In 2008 the US used 25% of the worlds energy, and had only 4% of the
worlds population.
3) The worlds energy consumption is as follows: {a} 40% for transportation,
{b} 40% for electric power generation, and {c} 20% for various residential
and industrial applications besides electricity. 3
4) The US reached peak oil production in 1971, at which time we imported
about 25% of our needs. In 2008 we imported almost 70% of our oil and
gasoline.
5) Since oil is a global commodity, oil consumption in the US is dependent
upon politically volatile areas (eg, Middle East and Venezuela).
6) The US uses much of its military spending to ensure that US/EU have oil
imports protected to meet our consumption needs.
7) Oil is priced in dollars, but it may be priced in Euros or an international
currency in the future.
8) Big Oil (publicly traded international companies) pumps 10% of the
todays global oil, and Big Sovereign State (including Saudi Arabia, Russia,
Iran, Mexico, Venezuela, etc.) pumps 90% of the oil. Big Sovereign State
is the root cause of high oil prices, and Big Oil is a beneficiary of the
global market economy.
9) Global peak oil will likely be reached at 95 M barrels/day by 2015-2020.
Peak oil may have already been reached at 87 M barrels/day.
11
10) Fifty percent of US electricity generation is from coal. Coal is the worst
of the fossil fuels for producing greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other
pollutants such as mercury.
11) Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) process for coal reacts
water {H 2 O} with coal to produce carbon dioxide {CO 2 } and hydrogen {H 2 }.
The H 2 is burned in a gas turbine to generate clean electricity and the exiting
flue gas, which is still at a high temperature, is used to produce steam for
more electricity generation. The CO 2 would have to be captured and
sequestered to prevent GHG emissions. 4 The carbon capture and
sequestration (CCS) process has been demonstrated only at the pilot plant
scale.
12) Buildings account for 39% of total U.S. energy consumption (more than
the transportation sector) and 71% of the electricity useage according to the
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). 5
13) China is bringing on coal-fired power plants at the rate of one per week,
and since 2006 has been the worlds largest emitter of CO 2 , contributing
about 20% per year.
14) Energy alternatives for global needs must be on a fast track with
developing countries like China and India needing large quantities as they
move from agrarian societies to industrialized nations.
15) Global social chaos and expanded wars are likely if we dont act quickly.
16) The world currently uses 13 terawatts (13 trillion watts of power;
energy/unit time), and it is predicted to double to 26 terawatts by 2050. That
is equivalent to the addition of one nuclear power plant per day until 2050.
We need an Energy Technology (ET) revolution, and the US should take the
lead. 6
17) World-wide investments in renewable energy increased from $92B in
2006 to $148B in 2007. ($98B for generation and $50B in development and
manufacturing scale-up) Europe is the leader in this investment. 7

4.2 ACTIONS
1) In light of the BP Oil Spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, drilling
for oil in deepwater environments around the US should be terminated. Any
new offshore drilling must be limited to shallow water, and the oil used as
feedstock for chemicals and plastics only, not for transportation or power
generation. Chemicals and plastics are high value-add products that use
only 10% of the oil currently consumed in the United States. Eventually
biomass can be used as a feedstock for these high value-add products as
fossil fuel products are depleted.
2) US Government mandates a phase-in of $0.50/gallon/year over ten years
to achieve $5.00/gallon additional taxes on gasoline (EU model). The
resultant revenue should be directed to public/private partnerships for
renewable energy sourcing, energy storage (needed for wind and solar
electricity generation) and electric-grid optimization (smart grid) as well as
mass transit to achieve US energy independence by 2025. Current US
Government tax is $.184/gallon. Reduce individual and corporate income
taxes at the same time.
3) Improve energy efficiency through green design of new buildings and
green retrofit of existing buildings. Mandate energy efficiency criteria for
future public-owned buildings {government and public school buildings at all
levels}.
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4) To improve the energy efficiency of liquid fuel use the US Government
should expand incentives to consumers to purchase hybrid vehicles. This is
important, but only a short-term, transitional solution.
5) Private transportation should become mainly plug-in hybrid electric
vehicles (PHEV) by 2020. The Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf PHEVs are
to be on the market in the USA in 2010. 8 {Focus on battery design and
manufacturing to achieve low cost, >60-mile range/charge batteries. This
alternative is valid only if increased electric power generation capacity can
be achieved through low CO 2 emissions technologies. 9 }
6) A fascinating alternative to PHEV is a battery-powered electric vehicle
(EV) that has a large plug-in charging system associated with a densely
populated area. This approach is being pursued by a Silicon Valley
company, Better Place, whose CEO is Shai Agassi. They are partnering with
Renault to provide the vehicles and electric power companies to supply the
energy. The first three locations are Israel (solar power), Denmark (wind
power), and California Bay Area (unknown power source). The batteries will
be Lithium ion batteries. 1 0
7) Utilize liquid natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) as an
alternative fuel for the trucking industry. Thirty percent of US highway fuel
consumption is from trucking. This is part of the T. Boone Pickens Plan. 1 1
CNG also could be used for buses, taxis, fleet vehicles, railroads and private
vehicles. 1 2 LNG could be used for urban buses. LNG is not a good option
for private vehicles because of their intermittent use, and the requirement to
keep the LNG storage tank at cryogenic temperatures. Natural gas is as
safe as gasoline or diesel fuels for transportation. 1 3 {For additional
information about natural gas safety see footnote included with reference 12}
Natural gas should be part of an interim solution for energy independence.
8) Railroads should be electrified and expanded especially for the
transporting of products. (This requires expansion of low CO 2 emissions
electricity generation capacity.)
9) Retrofit existing coal-fired power plants to utilize biomass as a
replacement for coal since biomass (i.e., trees, switch-grass, etc) has a net-
zero CO 2 footprint, and doesnt contain pollutants such as mercury and SOx.
10) New electricity generation capacity should be renewable sources such as
nuclear, wind, solar, enhanced geothermal, wave, biomass, etc. {Fifty
percent of current electricity generation in the US is from coal-fired power
plants.} The process of carbon collection and sequestration 1 4 (CCS) of the
CO 2 power plant emissions doesnt appear to be cost effective and
technically viable for the vast quantities of CO 2 underground storage
required for the worlds coal-fired power plants emissions. However, if
successful, it would serve as a good transition until renewable energy
sources can be brought on-stream to replace all the coal-fired power plants
by about 2050. Natural gas is an alternative for electricity generation, which
is less polluting (SOx, NOx and mercury) and creates less GHGs than coal
per kilowatt-hour generated.
11) Investigate algae as means of carbon capture of CO 2 as well as recycling
of the product as a feedstock for liquid bio-fuels. 1 5 Algae have been on
Earth for hundreds of millions of years, and the microscopic, single-cell
plants are the fastest growing form of life on the planet. They are the
Earths most efficient converters of CO 2 to oxygen and biomass using
photosynthesis.
13
12) Focus on the concept of negawatts, which means negative watts. That
is, all entities from home to corporate to government should try to improve
energy efficiency to minimize the necessity of large capital investments to
generate more megawatts of power.

5.0 CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION

5.1 FACTS
1) Carbon dioxide [CO 2 ] in the earths atmosphere is a green house gas
(GHG) that traps heat from the sun and has stabilized temperatures on the
planet over the last two billion years to support the evolution of life.
2) The anthropocene era, which started in the late 18 t h century with the
invention of the steam engine, is described as the period when humankind
started to first have an effect on the earths climate and ecosystems. The
surface temperature of the earth has been rising since that time.
3) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United
Nations released its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) in November 2007,
Valencia, Spain, which states the following. Warming of the climate system
is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global
average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice
and rising global average sea level. 1
4) Ice-core samples show that the CO 2 concentration is higher today than it
has been in the last 650,000 years. There are peaks and valleys in the
concentration of the GHGs (carbon dioxide [CO 2 ], methane [CH 4 ] and nitrous
oxide [N 2 O]) from these data over time, but all are highest now. 2
5) At any given time about 30% of the human-induced greenhouse effect can
be attributed to the non-CO 2 greenhouse gases, mainly methane and nitrous
oxide. 3 However, if you consider a 20-year period, methane is responsible
for about 75% as much of the global warming as carbon dioxide because it is
72 times more effective as a GHG over this short time period. For a 100-
year period it is about 21 times more effective as a GHG than CO 2 .
Methanes lifetime in the atmosphere is only about twelve years while carbon
dioxide has a lifetime of hundreds of years. 4 , 5 For example, if all sources
of methane were captured (human and non-human sources) within twelve
years all methane would disappear from the atmosphere because the CH 4
breaks down quickly to CO 2 and H 2 O in the presence of oxygen. However, if
all sources of CO 2 emissions were abated, it would take hundreds of years
for it to be dissipated.
6) In 2007 worldwide, human-caused CO 2 emissions are estimated to be
caused by the following sources: electricity-32%, deforestation-19%,
industry-22%, transportation-18%, and residential/commercial-9%. 6
7) Decreases in the Earths orbit around the sun has led to global warming in
the past and in turn evaporation of CO 2 from the ocean (analogous to a
reduction of CO 2 dissolved in a carbonated beverage as temperature
increases) that lead to further global surface temperature increases in a
positive or accelerating feedback loop. All the Earths ice melted about fifty
million years ago. At that time the Indian subcontinent plate moving north at
a rate of about 20 cm/year plowed up carbonate sediment from the ocean
floor, which released large quantities of CO 2 into the atmosphere, also
causing global warming. When the Indian subcontinent eventually slammed
14
into the Asian plate, it caused the buckling of the Asian crust and formation
of the Himalayan Mountains and the Tibetan Plateau. With diminished CO 2
emissions and an increase in the Earths orbit around the sun global cooling
was initiated. It took about fifteen million years before ice formed again on
Antarctica. 7
8) Today the anthropogenic forcing function (suns energy in watts/meter 2 )
for global warming is many times that of the orbit effect. Global dimming
(caused by atmospheric particulate and pollution) reduces the anthropogenic
forcing function in half (i.e., the global temperature rise is only 50% of that
calculated if there were not global dimming). 8
9) Thomas Friedman in a talk 9 about his recent book uses the analogy
between the Earths temperature change and that of the human body. For
example, a change in the body temperature from 98.6 o F to 100.6 o F (increase
of 2 o F above normal) a person doesnt feel very good, but it is not a big
problem. However, if their body temperature increased to 102.6 o F (increase
of 4 o F or 2 o C above normal) they would have to go to the hospital, and it
could be life-threatening. So it is also with the Earth.
10) Melting of polar ice is a positive feedback mechanism for accelerating
the temperature rise on earth because of ices excellent reflective
characteristics of the suns energy compared to that of the ocean. 1 0
11) Another positive feedback mechanism for global warming results from
deforestation, drought and fire in rain forests. Deforestation is one of the
major causes of CO 2 concentration increases in the atmosphere as shown
above. Combustion of the forest creates CO 2 and the elimination of the
trees removes a source of CO 2 sequestration, a double whammy.
12) A third positive feedback or self-reinforcing or accelerating mechanism
for global warming is the melting of the tundra, which releases methane
[CH 4 ], which is a much more powerful GHG than carbon dioxide as
mentioned above. The tundra contains organic material that has rotted, and
has been frozen for over several hundred thousand years. Once the tundra
starts to thaw, the methane evaporates, which increases the methane
concentration in the atmosphere. In turn that increases the surface
temperature of Earth, so more of the tundra melts and more of the GHG
evaporates. Its a vicious circle.
13) The ocean absorbs CO 2 from the atmosphere, but as it does, the ocean
becomes more acidic and eventually its carrying capacity is reduced because
the solubility of CO2 decreases as pH is lowered (more acidic). This is
another self-reinforcing or accelerating mechanism that can lead to global
warming.
14) Consequences of earth surface temperature rise will be vast including
the following: {a} more severe weather events; {b} expansion of arid land
(e.g., Sahel region of Africa); {c} melting of glaciers that will reduce global
fresh water availability (e.g., in India, Pakistan and China for crops and
human use when the Asian glaciers are gone); {d} ocean rise causing
displacement of humanity (e.g., Bangladesh); {e} spread of tropical diseases
further away from the equator (e.g., malaria); {f} extinction of plant and
animal species due to inability to adapt to climate change. We are seeing
this already in hurricanes, forest fires, droughts, floods and diseases in
trees.

15
5.2 ACTIONS
1) Reduce GHG emissions from humankind activity so as to stabilize CO 2
concentration in the atmosphere at ~350ppm. {See http://www.350.org/}
Priorities on resources for technological development and implementation,
and cooperation among nation-states will be required. We must transition to
renewable energy sources that do not generate GHGs and conserve energy
through sustainable design solutions and mass transit. The US as the only
superpower and the second largest emitter of GHG gases into the
atmosphere, should take the lead in this endeavor.
2) Developed countries assist developing countries in implementation.
3) Stop deforestation and plant trees. {Tropical deforestation is the 2 n d
largest cause of global warming after burning fossil fuels.}
4) As a short-term buffer on global warming a focus on capturing the
methane emissions from coal mines, oil and gas drilling leaks, and landfills
would significantly improve our long-term chances of reducing global
warming. That is because methane is 72 times more effective as a GHG
than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, and it takes a lot less capital and
time to implement the capture of methane than to replace coal-fired power
plants with solar or wind farms. 1 1 This is a short-term solution while we
transition from producing electricity from fossil fuels to renewable sources.
The authors suggest forming a Global Methane Fund that would be funded by
governments and foundations to raise $100-200 million, which could leverage
$10 billion for these methane projects. It is estimated that we could
eliminate the equivalent of half of the U.S. power industries emissions. 1 2
5) Establish a carbon cap-and-trade system in a worldwide market economy
overseen by the United Nations. In cooperation government entities would
mandate the maximum emissions allowable [cap] by year, and free-market
entities would develop appropriate technologies to meet the caps, or would
buy credits [trade] from other business entities that have reduced emissions
below mandated requirements or pay the government for not meeting the
mandated levels. In a market economy the best, proven emissions
technologies become a source of income for those business entities with the
know-how.) The cap-and-trade system initiated in the EU in 2005 has not
been successful at reducing GHGs because the credits were free to the
largest polluters (grandfather clause: you are not penalized for being a large
polluter in the past). Also, it did not cover the smaller entities that contribute
about 50% to the EU emissions. The carbon credits must be auctioned off to
the highest bidder. In 2006 California passed a law for a cap and trade
process that mandates a 25% reduction in GHGs from 2006 levels by 2020.
This law also applies to electricity purchased by California entities from
other Western states.
6) In my opinion a preferred alternative to 5) above, is to initiate Peter
Barnes idea 1 3 of a carbon cap-and-dividend system which would include
the true cost of the products we consume. This idea is based on the
principle that the citizenry owns the atmosphere and that if an entity or
household wants to add carbon to the atmosphere it has to pay to do it.
Those with a small carbon footprint would receive a monthly dividend, while
those with a large carbon footprint would make a carbon emissions payment
into a trust fund (run by government or a nonprofit entity) that would
redistribute the dividends to individuals. The sky trust would auction off
the carbon emission permits annually, and there would be fewer each year
16
(reducing GHGs). The cost to the carbon emitters and their customers would
go up, but the dividend benefit would also increase. Therefore, electricity,
natural gas and gasoline prices would increase, but end-users would get
increased dividends to compensate for the price increases. Through market
forces customers would also be encouraged to reduce their carbon footprint
so as to increase their individual dividend. Democratic processes of the
United States could mandate this option, and then eventually try to get it
applied worldwide. Dr. George Lakoff describes the concept of everyone
owning the air as a cognitive policy. 1 4 Giving a tax rebate instead of a
dividend, may have the same economic impact, but the idea of everyone
owning the air is a change in our mindset. Could this change in mindset
apply also to who owns the water? Privatization is becoming the norm for
water.

6.0 POPULATION

6.1 FACTS 1
1) The worlds population in January 2010 is estimated to be 6.8 billion
people. In the years between 1999 and 2010 the world population grew by
800 million people, which is equivalent to adding the people from 2.5 United
States or one Europe to the planet. Over the last hundred years the world
population has increased by about five billion people.
2) Chindia (China + India) contains 37% of the worlds population, Asia 60%
and the fifteen largest countries 65%.
3) Since the publication of Dr. Paul Ehrlichs Population Bomb forty years
ago, the world population has increased by three billion people. That is
equivalent to population growth from the dawn of humankind to 1960. His
prediction of mass famine in the 1970s and 1980s caused by overpopulation
did not occur because of the green revolution attributable to tremendous
agricultural improvements. The agricultural improvements resulted from
high-yield seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation; the later three are
under stress now or will be in the near future, as discussed earlier.
4) Both total fertility rate (TFR) and population growth rate increase with
increases in the under-five mortality rate (data from 150 countries) as
shown in scatter plots. 2 Although counterintuitive, high child mortality rate
leads to overpopulation of an area or country because the total fertility rate
increases at a higher rate than the under-five mortality rate. Deteriorating
economic conditions result because of people getting a smaller piece of the
acreage pie. Sub-Saharan Africa has this problem with TFR of greater than
five.
5) Although controversial in a few countries, family planning policies, such
as providing contraception and womens health services, empower families to
lower the fertility rate. 2 This has been accomplished in much of Asia and
North Africa.
6) Much of the developed world and China have a TFR less than two, or
below replacement rate.

17
6.2 ACTIONS
1) Increase financial support for family planning services in developing
regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. The UN Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) set by the United Nations cannot be achieved unless family planning
services are made readily available in the poorest countries. 3
2) Provide funds to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goal of
reducing by two thirds (2/3) the mortality rate among children under the age
of five by 2015. 4 Achieving this goal should lead to stabilizing the world
population which results from the opposite effect of the information
presented above in Section 6.1 4). In other words, reducing child mortality
rate leads to reduced population growth and population stabilization.

7.0 INCOME AND POVERTY

7.1 FACTS
1) The World Bank has estimated that 1.4 billion people lived in extreme
poverty in 2005 (living on less than $1.25/day/person) compared to 1.9
billion people in 1981. In 2005 a total of 2.6 billion people lived on less than
$2/day/person. 1 Therefore, in 2005 forty percent of the worlds population
lived in poverty.
2) Poverty has many self-reinforcing (accelerating) or positive feedback
mechanisms. It is referred to as the poverty trap or the perfect storm. A
set of small nationsmostly in sub-Saharan Africahave remained
desperately poor while middle-income nations have become wealthier in
terms of GDP per capita. 2 The features of the poverty trap include {a} high
birth rate, {b} high child mortality rate, {c} water scarcity, {d} nonproductive
land, {e} disease, {f} depletion of fish and {g} environmental degradation.
These factors prevent economic development for those in extreme poverty,
and the gap between the rich and poor grows larger. Hopelessness, violence
and conflict result. 2 The Darfur region of western Sudan is a prime
example.

7.2 ACTIONS
1) Reduce by half the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by
2015. 3 (MDG)
2) Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including
women and young people by 2015. 3 (MDG)
3) Provide the seed money to regions such as sub-Saharan Africa to boost
agricultural production like the green revolution of India as a start for
expanding economic development and self-sufficiency.

8.0 HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

8.1 FACTS
1) The average life expectancy in the wealthiest countries is 79 years, while
that in Africa is only 45 years. 1 Africa is burdened disproportionately with
infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

18
2) Although counterintuitive, high child mortality rates lead to high population
growth rates because of high fertility rates. High birthrates result because
parents want to be sure they have at least one offspring to take care of them
when they are old. There is no government safety net for older people in the
developing countries such as Social Security and Medicare as there is in
developed countries. 2
3) Due to the vast interconnectivity of humanity the probability of a new
pandemic such as avian flu (H5N1 virus) is very likely.
4) Tobacco products kill 6 million people per year, most in developing
countries where governance is lacking for increased tobacco taxes, limits on
advertising, and smoke-free public places. The public cost is enormous for
the medical treatment and shortened life-span. Sixty percent of the male
population in China smoke cigarettes which is about 350 million men. India
and Indonesia are second and third respectively, in the number of citizens
that smoke. Only about 20% of United States citizens use tobacco products. 3

8.2 ACTIONS
1) MDGs to be achieved by 2015: {a} reduce by two-thirds the mortality rate
for children under five, {b} reduce by three-fourths the maternal mortality
ratio, {c} provide universal access to reproductive health, {d} halt and begin
to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and malaria. 4
2) Distribute insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent mosquitoes from biting
children thus preventing malaria.
3) Eradicate polio. The World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary
International, Turner UN Foundation, Gates Foundation and UNICEF are
working cooperatively to eliminate the wild poliovirus from the planet.
4) Public health entities must be financially supported to address new
viruses that could jump from other species to humans, and then mutate so as
to be contagious among humans. The 1918-19 Spanish influenza pandemic
would spread much faster today than it did ninety years ago when it killed
over 50 million of the worlds population. WHO is very concerned about a
pandemic resulting from the H1N1 virus (swine influenza). So far in 2010
this hasnt happened, while many have been vaccinated against the virus.

9.0 ECONOMY
9.1 FACTS AND OPINIONS
1) The capitalist economic system has provided a vastly improved quality of
life for the middle class over the last two centuries in developed countries
including the US, Canada, EU and Japan.
2) With globalization the middle class of populous countries of the
developing world including China, India, Russia and Brazil desire the same
consumption of goods and services that the middle class has enjoyed in the
capitalist, developed world. 1
3) A global recession in 2008-2010, has postponed temporarily the increased
consumption desires of the developing world. However, with anticipated
economic growth in the future for the middle classes of China and India, it
would require an eight-fold increase of the current consumption rate of the
Earths resources to reach parity with the US middle class.
19
4) Global resources are finite. See Section 10.0 below.
5) In 2003-08 the free-market world economy without significant governance
demonstrated that greed and high leveraging of debt instruments led to
losses and panic in the financial markets. Actions taken by governments to
stabilize the world economy included providing large loans to corporate
entities and shared private/government ownership of some corporate entities
that had taken on too much risk. These global governance actions may have
been necessary, but were they fair and just?
6) Phantom wealth has been created on Wall Street instead of real wealth
on Main Street according to Dr. David Korten. Phantom wealth is money
created by banks and other financial services entities that gamble on the
market by creating new financial instruments that increase leverage, but do
not add any intrinsic value (i.e., no tangible asset, but just create money).
Two by-products of these actions have been the Tech bubble of 2000 and the
housing bubble and financial crisis of 2008. 2

9.2 ACTIONS
1) More US and global economic governance must be implemented in the
capitalist economic system. Transparency of corporate entities and their
financial instruments should be part of this enhanced governance for the
common good.
2) Drastic economic system changes such as public benefit corporations that
would restrain greed and promote Main Street economies and community
well-being should be seriously evaluated by policymakers. 3
3) Consider a twelve-point action plan for a New Economy outlined by Dr.
Korten. 4 Six of the actions are listed here: [i] refocus from generating
phantom wealth to real wealth; [ii] recover Wall Street unearned profits and
assess fees to make gambling unprofitable; [iii] implement full-cost market
pricing by including costs such as (a) contamination of air, land and water;
(b) depletion of resources; and (c) eliminating corporate welfare programs
{two-thirds of U.S. Corporations paid no U.S. income taxes between 1998-
2005}; [iv] implement policy changes that create a strong bias toward human-
scale businesses owned by local stakeholders; [v] facilitate and fund
stakeholder buyouts to democratize ownership; and [vi] revise intellectual
property rules to facilitate the sharing of information and technology.

10.0 ECOSYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

10.1 FACTS
1) A sustainable society is defined as meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. 1
2) Economic growth became the indispensable ideology of governments in
the 20 t h Century. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was paramount,
and capitalism won the competition against socialism and communism. 2
3) The planets natural capital (natural resources) is being depleted by
humanity at an unsustainable rate. 3

20
4) The planets natural resources are finite. Economic costs are calculated
on the basis of human value-add, and do not include the natural resource
cost, so the true costs are not considered in pricing. 4
5) Albert Einstein said, The most powerful force in the universe is compound
interest or compound growth rate, which is exponential. It may be the
enemy of humanity on our finite planet.
6) The current economic model of continuous growth will not work in the
future. A free-market economy is efficient at producing high value-add
goods at minimum cost, but at the expense of a widening gap between the
rich and the poor. Increasing consumption of goods and services by the
wealthy when a finite resource exists, will lead to hostility and chaos on the
earth. (Forty percent of the worlds population lives in poverty.)
7) Dr. Herman Dalys three laws for material and energy sustainability
require economies to meet the following criteria: {a} rates of use of
renewable resources do not exceed the rates of regeneration, {b} rates of
use of nonrenewable resources do not exceed the rates at which sustainable
renewable substitutes are developed and {c} rates of pollution emissions do
not exceed the assimilative capacity of the environment. 5
8) In 2000 two percent of the worlds population owned 50% of the worlds
household assets. The poorest fifty percent of the worlds population owned
just one percent of the global household assets. This inequity is not
acceptable.
9) Capitalism has many variations across the planet. Unless its free-market
aspect that is dominant is restrained it will guarantee the destruction of the
majority of the planets diversity, quite probably including us. 6
10) Adam Smiths economic model, which states that self-interested
individual actions lead to positive outcomes, has worked over the last few
centuries. However, another important human characteristic is that people
are motivated not only by self-interest, but also by the desire to participate in
a larger community. 7
11) Deforestation has many consequences that negatively impact the
environment including {a} extinction of species, {b} rainfall redistribution and
{c} loss of carbon sequestration and resultant global warming.
12) An excellent, animated representation of this topic is entitled The Story
of Stuff by Annie Leonard. http://www.storyofstuff.com/.

10.2 ACTIONS
1) The diagram on the title page shows that there must be balance and
equality among the three overlapping ellipses of [a] economics, [b] environ-
ment, and [c] social to achieve a sustainable society wedge. That is the
key to sustainability. Dr. Gus Speth says that we have not recognized the
signs of the conflict between economics, the environment and human well-
being that include being, not having; giving, not getting; needs, not wants;
better, not richer; community, not individual; other, not self; connected, not
separate; ecology, not economy; part of nature, not apart from nature;
dependent, not transcendent; tomorrow, not today. 8 We should change our
mindsets.
2) Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015: {a} Integrate the
principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs; {b}
reverse loss of ecosystems such as forests; and {c} reduce biodiversity loss
rate.
21
3) With finite resources a system intervention will be necessary for
sustainable economic development. This will be discussed in more detail
below.
4) Increase penetration of bus rapid transit (BRT) into more cities. 9 It
utilizes expedited bus lanes and loading systems that are much cheaper than
underground metro systems. Cities already using BRT includes Quito,
Bogot, Jakarta, Beijing and Mexico City.
5) Improve sanitation by using dry composting toilets, especially where water
is scarce.

11.0 SECURITY

11.1 FACTS
1) World military expenditures are estimated to have been $1.46 trillion in
2008 (current dollars), which is 2.5% of the world gross product (WGP). The
US with $607 billion in military expenditures represents about 40% of the
total, and the top 15 countries {including China = $85B, France = $66B, UK =
$65B, Russia = $59B} represents about 80% of the total. 1
2) Food, water, shelter, health, education, energy and environmental security
are very important for the common good of humanity. The costs of these
forms of security are small ($187 - $225 Billion/year) compared to that of the
military expenditures (~$1.46Trillion/year). 2 , 3

11.2 ACTIONS
1) Lobby our governments for a new tax structure that increases the use
taxes on unsustainable activities like the use of gasoline for transportation,
but lowers income taxes. Germany has done this by lowering income taxes,
which encourages work, and increasing energy taxes, which discourages
energy consumption and the resulting pollution.
2) Divert 15% of the worlds military budget to the long-term security of our
planet. Humanitys food, water, shelter, health, education, energy and
environmental security are an excellent way to have cooperation among
nation-states and reduce the need for military security.

12.0 CATASTROPHIC FAILURE

12.1 FACTS
1) Nuclear proliferation is a serious risk for humankind. Rogue nation-states
or terrorist organizations that acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
could affect the striving for peace and world interdependency. The Nuclear
Non-proliferation Treaty was established in 1970 and has been signed by
187 nations. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established
to verify through inspections that all nations are in compliance with the
Treaty. 1 Biological weapons are another concern.
2) War and genocide become greater risks as the world population grows.
3) Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are inherent in the life of our planet.

22
The most recent example is the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti in
January 2010 that killed an estimated 200 thousand people, and left millions
homeless.
4) An asteroid collision with Earth could cause catastrophic damage or
extinction of all life forms on the planet, depending upon its mass. Earth is
protected by Jupiter, which has many times higher gravitational pull than
does Earth, so asteroids or comets are much more likely to hit Jupiter.

12.2 ACTIONS
1) The United Nations needs to be strengthened to provide diplomatic
leadership and military assistance to prevent war, genocide or other
catastrophic failures on the planet.
2) Continue to reduce nuclear weapons stockpiles on Earth.
3) Improve the predictability of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions through
increased knowledge of the geological sciences.
4) Developed countries should partner to provide technology to intercept an
asteroid or comet and change its trajectory, if a collision with Earth is
eminent.

B. HUMAN CONTENTMENT

1.0 SPIRITUALITY AND MORAL COMPASS

1.1 FACTS
1) About 85% of the world population has a religious belief. Only 2.5% of
the world population consider themselves atheists, while about 12% consider
themselves nonreligious, who are mainly agnostics. 1 Nonreligious people
are those who derive their worldview and value system primarily from secular
and cultural systems rather than traditional religious systems. 2 China and
the former Soviet Union contain a majority of the nonreligious. Communism
would be one example of a nonreligious, cultural system.
2) Spirituality addresses humanity's ultimate nature and purpose, not only
as material biological organisms, but as beings with a unique relationship to
that which is perceived to be beyond both time and the material world. 3
3) A moral compass is what humanity calls its value system to differentiate
right from wrong, fair from unfair and just from unjust.
4) The Golden Rule, do unto others, as you would have them do unto you
or love your neighbor as yourself, is an expression of a moral value that is
understood by 90+% of humanity. However, the understanding doesnt make
it a reality.

1.2 ACTIONS
1) Encourage cooperation among religious communities for the common
good.
2) Promote a healthy approach to giving. This has been demonstrated
vividly following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in January 2010.
3) A new consciousness is needed to make human welfare a reality for all
of humanity. 4

23
2.0 SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS
2.1 FACTS AND IDEAS
1) When the people of a nation-state achieve basic economic needs, their
well-being is more dependent on issues such as social connectedness and
life purpose and meaning. 1
2) Multiple approaches have been used to characterize human well-being
that is more inclusive than an economic parameter such as Gross World
Product (GWP) or GDP. Data show that life satisfaction (or other similar
indices) for developed countries (e.g., USA, UK and Japan) dont increase as
the GDP of the country increases. 2 However, in poorer, developing
countries there is a direct correlation of increasing human well-being with
increasing GDP.
3) Dr. Paul Raskin envisions a Great Transition where a new set of values
ascends: {a} human solidarity, {b} quality of life, and {3} respect for nature.
In this vision, solidarity is the foundation for a more egalitarian social
contract, poverty eradication and democratic political engagement at all
levels. Human fulfillment in all its dimensions is the measure of human well-
being displacing consumerism and the false metric of GDP. An ecological
sensibility that understands humanity as part of a wider community of life
which is the basis for true sustainability. 3 . 4
4) Our culture has a mentality of winning and control as evidenced by our
sports and hierarchical structures.

2.2 ACTIONS
1) Intergovernmental organizations, transnational corporations and civil
society act in concert with non-governmental organizations, spiritual
communities and other citizen groups to establish policies to encourage
human connectedness and meaning in the lives of their citizens and
employees. 4 , 5
2) It is critical that there is wide public awareness of the need for a paradigm
shift that will propagate values that will enhance the sustainability of the
Earth system for future generations. 5 The EU has started down this path.
3) Continue to expand the use of the Internet and smart phones for social
connectedness as we attempt to increase the distributive nature of our
systems (alternative to centralized systems) so humans can feel connected
locally as well as globally. 6 Many tools are already in use such as e-mail,
inexpensively created websites, blogs, forums and social networks such as
MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

C. HUMAN FREEDOM

1.0 EDUCATION

1.1 FACTS
1) Illiteracy is high in developing countries. The World Bank will provide
financial assistance to any country that has a plan for universal primary
education.

24
2) Professor Amartya Sen, Nobel Prize Economist, believes that illiteracy
and innumeracy are in themselves forms of physical insecurity - which
results in inequality between men and women, lack of rights and poor
understanding of health issues such as the spread of HIV/AIDS. These
result in more deaths and greater hardship than international terrorism. 1
3) From a scatter plot of about 150 countries it can be seen that the higher
the percentage of girls in secondary education, the lower the total fertility
rate (TFR). 2

1.2 ACTIONS
1) Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by 2015: {a} ensure that all
girls and boys complete a full course in primary education, {b} promote
gender equality in education and empower women.
2) Adult literacy training should be promoted.

2.0 FREEDOM

2.1 FACTS
1) Human beings have the right to live their lives and raise their children in
dignity, free from hunger and from the fear of violence, oppression, or
injustice. Democratic and participatory governance based on the will of the
people best assures these rights. 1
2) Liberty improves human well-being.
3) Accountability is a corollary to freedom of choice.

2.2 ACTIONS
1) Provide opportunities for all humanity to have freedom of choice without
using war as a tool to achieve it.

25
 IV. SYSTEM COMPLEXITY AND INTERVENTION
FOR SUSTAINED HUMAN WELL-BEING
Section IV utilizes the concepts of systems analysis to paint a broad-brush
description of human well-being (HWB) based on the contributions of the
sixteen elements described in Section III. This section also estimates the
effect of intervening in the existing system and creating new models for
organized human activity. The goal is to achieve sustained human well-
being.

The pioneering work in the analysis of systems was done by Dr. Jay W.
Forrester 1 at MIT and was called systems dynamics. Dr. Donella Meadows
et al. published Limits to Growth in 1972 utilizing systems modeling
techniques developed by Dr. Forrester to make predictions about the Earths
sustainability. Their forecasts from the computer simulations were
controversial. Some believe that modeling of economic and social systems
is not feasible because of their complexity. The books 30-year update 2 ,
reinforces their original conclusions on limits to growth, in which they
predict the global limits will be realized by about 2012 in what they call
growth overshoot and subsequent decline in societal welfare unless
sustainability actions are taken. (Overshoot means to go too far, to go
beyond limits accidentally without intention. 3 ) Economic examples of
overshoot and subsequent decline in human welfare in recent years include
the tech bubble of March 2000 and the 2008 housing and credit disaster.
Greed has been a major contributor.

The book includes their methodology and background for ways to quantify
indicators of human well-being and ecological footprint. They use different
scenarios for their model (named World3) to simulate human welfare in the
21 s t century. With technology improvements (e.g., pollution abatement,
improved resource utilization and improved land yield) they show that the
global improvements delay overshoot and collapse of human well-being until
later in the 21 s t century, but dont prevent it. For these scenarios a food
crisis is usually the reason for collapse. Markets (e.g., oil and fisheries) is
another factor that contributes to overshoot and collapse of human well-
being. Scenarios that limit growth (e.g., population or per capita industrial
output) are also shown to be unsustainable. However, combining the
technology and social system mandates 4 does yield a sustainable high
human well-being for the average person. Increasing per capita consumption
for this later scenario could lead to collapse. Delaying action could be
critical. Simulations using World3 and three of the independent variables
(nonrenewable resources, technology development delay, policy year) can be
done at http://live.simgua.com/World, which was developed by the Club of
Rome. It is a good exercise for more insight into the global effects of
complacency. (World3 assumes no war, no conflict, no corruption, no
mistakes, and no black swans.)

The New Economics Foundation 5 (NEF), a think tank in London, has created
a measurement of life satisfaction of humans, that is a combination of factors
like those described in Section III above. Their indicator is called Happy
26
Planet Index 6 (HPI), and is an indication of the ecological efficiency with
which human well-being is delivered in countries around the world. (i.e.,
happy life years per unit of environmental impact). In simplified form it is
described by the following equation:

Happy Life Years

HPI = ---------------------------,
Ecological Footprint

where Happy Life Years = Life Expectancy X Life Satisfaction. Life

Satisfaction is based on a World Gallup Poll and World Values Survey that
both asked the following question: All things considered, how satisfied are
you with your life as a whole these days? Ecological Footprint is in global
hectares of usable land (1 hectare ~ 2.5 acres), and is based on results
listed in the biennial World Wildlife Funds Living Planet Report 2008. 7
Costa Rica is calculated to have the highest HPI among 143 countries that
were assessed based on data from 2005-2008. However, even Costa Rica
had an ecological footprint that exceeded the one-planet living requirement
of 2.1 hectares/capita at 2.3 hectares/capita. The global ecological footprint
is estimated to be 1.3 planet Earths for 2005. 8 The work of NEF, WWF, and
Global Footprint Network 8 clearly show the difficulty of sustaining human
well-being with a business as usual strategy based on economic growth
(GDP/GWP).

Beware! A black swan is a term defined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his

book The Black Swan 9 to describe a rare, unexpected occurrence that
produces a very large consequence on a system or activity. The black swan
occurrence may completely negate the art of forecasting and predicting.
Black swans are prone to intervene in social and economic systems and
provide an unexpected benefit or disaster. Two examples of beneficial black
swans that were not predicted include the laser and the Internet. They both
have had dramatic effects on our economic and social systems, and were
achieved by tinkering, not planning for technical break-throughs. A
negative black swan example was the terrorist attack on the World Trade
Center and the Pentagon on 9/11/2001. Should we have anticipated 9/11
and ensured that all commercial airlines had locked, bulletproof cockpit
doors by 9/10/2001? After black swans occur there is a human retrospective
distortion that claims that they were predictable. Keep this in mind as you
read the following about qualitative assessing the key elements to sustain
human well-being.

1.0 SYSTEM COMPLEXITY

1.1 DESCRIPTION
1) The purpose of this section is to provide a conceptual description to
characterize the complexities of using a systems approach to assess the
best ways to achieve human well-being (HWB). It is hoped that system
analysis experts with hard data on the algorithms for these elements and

27
their complex interactions will take the challenge to continue to advance our
understanding through their mathematical modeling of the system.
2) The sixteen elements described in Section III above have a direct affect
on human well-being. Unknown elements that effect HWB, termed black
swans, 1 may be even more important to the future understanding of this
complex system.
3) This global system is full of both positive (self-reinforcing) and negative
(self-correcting) feedback loops as have been discussed in Section III.
4) Complicating factors for system assessment include {a} thresholds
(sudden displacement of the dependent variable for a small change in one of
the independent variables; also referred to as a nonlinear response or
exponential change) and {b} time delays (long time constants of the system
that makes it difficult to determine cause and effect in a complex system). 2
5) Food, water and health should be a right for all humans, but with a finite
planet, there can be scarcity because of many different reasons that have
been discussed previously. For sustained, human well-being (HWB) trade-
offs and the discovery of synergies among these different elements are
required.

1.2 TANGLED WEB

1) Improved models need to be created to attempt a better understanding of
our Earth system and its impact on goals such as human well-being. 3 As
was stated previously, the best comprehensive model to-date is described in
Limits to Growth and named World3. 4 This is important literature to read,
but be cautious because it is only a model.
2) The purpose of the work in this section is to estimate which elements may
make the larger contributions to sustained human well-being so as to have a
framework for decision making. Without having actual algorithms that
describe the changes in human well-being over large ranges attributable to
the sixteen elements, we can only make very rough estimates of the element
effects. In Figure [1] below it can be seen clearly that the sixteen elements
are not independent, but interdependent elements. That is, these elements
not only directly affect human well-being as was described in Section III, but
also affect other elements, which in turn affect human well-being (HWB).
The lines joining the interdependent elements are designated with equal
width lines since the magnitude of most of the interaction effects shown in
Figure [1] are not known. It is clear that this is a very complex system,
which could be described as a tangled web.
3) From an assessment of the tangled web in Figure [1], it is proposed that
the contribution to human well-being of each of the interdependent elements
is a quasi-summation of the factors listed below [where j represents each of
the sixteen elements]:
{I} Does the element have a positive or negative effect on HWB? + or [See
Table [1] below];
{II} Is the element mandatory to sustain human life? Yes or No.
[Represented by Column Aj in Table [1]]; and
{III} What is the mathematical dependency of HWB on the element? Is it
linear or nonlinear? If nonlinear, does it have an exponential growth effect
on HWB or an exponential decay effect on HWB? Figures [2A] and [2B]
illustrate six general alternative effects in which three plots have a positive
28
(+) sign as shown in Figure [2A] and three have a negative (-) sign as shown
in Figure [2B]. Also, see the equations that describe the plots in Figures
[2A] and [2B] above the plots. 5 Column Bj in Table [1] represents this
effect for each of the sixteen elements. For example, food is needed to
sustain life, but when there is enough food available for everyone, foods
importance to HWB diminishes (positive exponential decay plot that
asymptotically approaches K 0 at large values of Element j ). If population
grows annually by a constant percentage, it leads to exponential increases in
the number of people. The global population grew from 1.6 billion people in
1900 to six billion people in 2000 (exponential growth). Using the rule of 72
and a population growth rate of only 1% per year, the global population
would be projected to be 12 billion people in 2072. The global carrying
capacity of our planet would be far exceeded, so other elements will
constrain the growth of the population such as food, water, war, etc. The
population exponential growth effect would cause a negative exponential
growth on HWB. All negative exponential growth elements are critical to
control to sustain humanity. Therefore, it is important to know the
mathematical dependency of HWB on each element; and
{IV} Elements that have a direct effect on another interdependent
element that in-turn affect HWB also are important. Column Cj in
Table [1] shows an estimate of this effect. (Count the total number of arrows
leaving an element (whether black or magenta) in Figure [1] to estimate the
relative magnitude of the interdependent element effect); and
{V} Elements that have self-sustaining or accelerating feedback loops
with other interdependent elements also are important. They are magenta
color in Figure [1] and Column Dj of Table [1], which estimate this effect.
(Count the sets of parallel arrows joining two elements in Figure [1].)
The interdependent elements that affect each other create self-sustaining, or
accelerating feedback loops. Examples shown in Figure [1] include
energyclimate change; ecosystemsclimate change; foodenergy;
income/povertypopulation; healthpopulation;
educationpopulation; and education income/poverty;. Thats what
makes these elements so important to human sustainability.
4) It is interesting to note in Figure [1] that Security is directly affected by
eleven other elements (arrows pointing to the element), more than any other
element. Remembering on page 5 that in Maslows hierarchy of needs, the
Safety (i.e., Security) category had the most elements listed that contributed
to human well-being. This suggests consistency within the system proposed
in this paper.

Note: Go to page 33 to continue the text.

29
 FOOD SECURITY
ECO- 4/1 1/- SHELTER
SYSTEMS 2/-
2/1

CATA- WATER
STROPHIC 6/-
FAILURE
6/-

ECONOMY
4/-

CLIMATE
CHANGE
9/2

ENERGY
6/2

INCOME/
POVERTY
8/2
HEALTH
1/1

SPIRIT- EDUCA-
UALITY/ TION
MORALITY
5/2
10/-
POP- FREEDOM
SOCIAL
ULATION CONNECT-
3/-
4/3 EDNESS
5/-

Figure [1]: Tangled Web of Interdependent Elements that Affect Human Well-Being
(Number of Direct Effects on Other Elements/Self-Reinforcing Feedback Loops)

30
 Equations to Describe the Curves Below:
Positive Linear: HWBj = A0 + B0 (Elementj)
Exponential Growth: HWBj = E0 e r (Elementj), where r > 0
Positive Exponential Decay: HWBj = K0 {1 (1 L0/K0) e n (Elementj)},
where n > 0 and 0 < L0 < K0

HWBj + Exponential Growth

Positive Exponential Decay

K0 --------------------------------------

Positive Linear

L0

A0
Elementj
E0
+

Figure 2A: Human Well-Being (HWB): Three Alternative Element Effects

31
 Equations to Describe the Curves Below:
Negative Linear: HWBj = C0 D0 (Elementj)
Negative Exponential Growth: HWBj = F0 (F0 G0) e s (Elementj) ,
where s > 0 and F0 > G0
Exponential Decay: HWBj = J0 + (H0 J0) e m (Elementj),
where m > 0 and H0 > J0

HWBj +
G0

C0 Negative Exponential Growth

H0

Negative Linear

Jo ---------------------------------------------------
Exponential Decay

Elementj
+
Figure 2B: Human Well-Being (HWB): Three Other Alternative Element Effects

32
 Table [1]: Effect of Interdependent Elements on Human Well-Being (HWB)

Aj
Effect of Increase in Required
Element Magnitude to Sustain
j Element on HWB Human Life
(Positive/Negative) (Yes/No)
1 F oo d + Y
2 Wat er + Y
3 Shelter + N
4 Energy + N
5 C limat e Ch an ge - N
6 Po pu lat ion - N
7 I n c o me ( - Po ve r t y) + N
8 H e a lt h an d L on ge vi t y + Y
9 Economy + N
1 0 E c o s ys t e m s / S u s t a i n . + N
11 Security + N
12 Catastrophic Failure - N
1 3 S p i r itu a l it y/ M o r a l it y + N
14 Social Connectedness + N
1 5 E d uca t ion + N
16 Freedom + N
Tota l -->
A ve r age - - >
** Bas ed on references in Sections III and IV & Figs 2A & 2B above.
Bj**
Element Effect
on HWB:
1) Linear,+/-
2) Exp Decay +/-
3 ) E x p G r o wt h + / -
+Exponential Decay
+Exponential Decay
+Exponential Decay
+Estimate Linear
-Exponential Growth
-Exponential Growth
+Exponential Decay
+Exponential Decay
+Exponential Decay
+ E s t i m a t e E x p G r o wt h
+ E s t i m a t e E x p G r o wt h
-Estimate E x p G r o wt h
+ E s t i m a t e E x p G r o wt h
+Estimate Linear
+Estimate Linear
+Estimate Linear
Cj Dj
Self-Sustaining
No. of Elements or Accelerating
Directly Affected Feedback
by this Element Loops
(See Figure [1]) (See Figure [1])
4 1
6 0
2 0
6 2
9 2
4 3
8 2
1 1
4 0
2 1
1 0
6 0
10 0
5 0
5 2
3 0
76 16
5 1

5) One may ask, why are {a} food, {b} water and {c} health the only elements
listed in Table [1] as required in sustaining life (column Aj)? In my opinion
those are the basics that the human species would have to have to survive,
albeit not very well.
6) After thoroughly studying the information compiled in Table [1], one
cannot reach any definite conclusion about the ranking of the priorities for
achieving human well-being (HWB). From examining these elements in
Table [1] that appear important in multiple columns (highlighted in bold),
others with high priority besides {a} food, {b} water and {c} health probably
include {d} energy, {e} climate change, {f} population, {g} income/poverty,
and {g} spirituality and moral compass. All except the last one are in the
category of physical welfare. 6 Spirituality and moral compass is in the
broad category of human contentment. 6 Although this attempt for clarity
on human well-being is less than satisfying, it does give major hints for
human focus.
7) One may ask, why is spirituality and moral compass included in this list
since it would be considered a soft or difficult HWB need to quantify? One
explanation is that moral compass plays an important role since humanity
gives a portion of what it has of physical welfare to those that dont have it.
33
For example, in January 2010 much has been donated (food, water, health,
shelter, $, etc) to the people of Haiti from all over the planet following their
devastating earthquake. REMs Everybody Hurts was selected as a song
an English star-studded group recorded and is selling to raise funds for Haiti.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPZzWYkdS6Y&feature=PlayList&p=CDCC
2B3C52A955BA&index=10 (REM of Athens, GA, sang Everybody Hurts in a
fundraiser for Africa in London, 2005, and waved the copyright for this
recording for Haiti.) With a similar purpose Quincy Jones, Lionel Ritchie and
a group of American singers recorded the song, We Are the World 25 for
Haiti, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI which was used twenty-
five years ago to raise funds for hunger on the African continent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2W4-0qUdHY
8) Another question is, why arent freedom and social connectedness on the
list of high priority elements for HWB? One of the assumptions is that all the
interaction arrows in Figure [1] are the same width, which means that they
are all assumed to have equivalent ef fects. However, because these
elements are soft contributors (i.e., difficult to quantify) to HWB, it is
beyond our assessment capabilities in this tangled web.
9) One takeaway from this may be the importance of spirituality and moral
compass. Since 85% of the world population is religious there should be
tremendous human and monetary resources available when mobilized to
solve many of the problems described in Section III. It is important to find a
goal upon which all religious faiths can agree. Dont underestimate the
moral compass of those described as agnostics and atheists either, who give
to others individually or through secular organizations. With freedom the
human species connects and cares for its members.
10) Funding for many of these projects could come from diverting a mere
15% of the $1.46 trillion spent by governments on the military annually as
described under the Security element in Section III. Militaries need partial
transformation into humanitarian mission teams.
11) With the worldwide monetary crisis and recession still upon us in 2010 it
will be difficult to convince developed nations to use resources to improve
worldwide human well-being since so much is needed to deal with
maintaining HWB in developed countries. One only need see the lack of
time-line commitments for greenhouse gas [GHG] emission reductions by the
participating countries at the UN-sponsored climate change meeting [COPS
15] in Copenhagen in December 2009 to realize this. However, without a big
effort in multiple areas, eventually there will be a tipping point causing
worldwide chaos whether it is a result of climate change, food or water
scarcity, population growth or a black swan.

2.0 SYSTEM INTERVENTION

2.1 SYSTEM LEVERAGING HIERARCHY

Dr. Donella Meadows (deceased) developed a 12-point-hierarchy for
intervening or leveraging a system. 1 , 2 The leveraging factors along with
examples of appropriate actions for HWB are listed in descending order of
impact.
1) Power to transcend paradigms (Ideas are needed to transition our Earth
system from a paradigm focused on consumption and economic development
34
to a paradigm based on sustainability and human values such as community
and time affluence.);
2) Know the paradigm of the system. (Sustainable Earth and humanity);
3) System goals (Sustainable human well-being);
4) Self-organization (Power to add, delete, change system structure or
change anything lower on this hierarchic list - will be discussed below.);
5) Rules of the system (create incentives {carbon cap-and-dividend},
punishments {carbon tax} and constraints {stabilize world population};
6) Transparency of information flows. (e.g., quarterly audit of status of polio
eradication and actions planned; EIA and IEA are two reliable, nonpartisan
sources of reliable information for energy production, applications and
costs);
7) Positive feedback (self-reinforcing or accelerating) mechanisms (e.g.,
melting sea ice increases ocean heat absorption due to reduced reflectivity
of the ocean water compared to ice {albedo effect}, which leads to increasing
temperature and more ice melting and in turn more heat absorption and
higher temperatures. That self-reinforcing mechanism can lead to a runaway
system with accelerating temperature rise and eventually chaos.);
8) Negative feedback (self-regulating) mechanism (e.g., power of big
business calls for power of big government; economic globalization requires
global governance);
9) Time constants of the system (e.g., as the under 5-year-old mortality rate
declines, total fertility rate drops, but at least twenty years or more later);
10) Material stocks and flows (Many cities have traffic congestion and high
pollution in urban areas. The cost and timeliness of constructing
underground subways is prohibitive. Bus rapid transit (BRT) utilizes
expedited bus lanes and loading systems that are much cheaper and reduce
congestion in urban areas as well as reducing CO 2 emissions.);
11) Size of buffers (To maintain biodiversity more than a few of an
endangered species needs to be protected to insure sustainability of the
species.);
12) Numbers or parameter details (Usually 95% of effort goes in this area,
but it is at the bottom of the list. For example, the financial budget of a
nonprofit entity is fixed based upon its income from donations. If it wants to
expand its programs, it either needs to reduce operating expenses or
increase contributions. It is difficult to increase projects or donations while
maintaining or cutting headcount. However, if a contributor to the nonprofit
can be encouraged to donate more because of a special project (s)he may
have a particular interest, it leverages an element further up the hierarchy
list. For example, a win-win results when an increasing percentage of girls
participate in secondary education since with education the total fertility rate
goes down and the poverty rate is also reduced. This leads to a higher
percentage of girls going to secondary school and a positive feedback
mechanism for education, population stabilization and reduced poverty.)

2.2 OTHER FACTS AND IDEAS

1) Humanity operates on a three-legged-stool system where the legs are
represented by the following three types of entities:
{a} for-profit corporations, {b} governments and inter-government
organizations and {c} non-government organizations and the citizenry.
35
2) For-profit businesses look short-term for maximizing profit for
shareholders and long-term for survival. They reinvent themselves and
synthesize efficient processes to obtain these goals. Many corporations
worldwide have been very successful with this objective.
3) Governments provide human services, security, stability and research,
development and planning to the citizenry with a goal of long-term survival.
The revenue for providing these services comes from taxation of the
citizenry.
4) Inter-government organizations provide a forum for resolving differences
among nation-states as well as provide services for member countries.
Member governments and NGOs fund the organizations. They also plan for
long-term survival. The most prominent inter-government entity is the United
Nations. It is a global association of governments facilitating cooperation in
international law, security, economic development, and social equity. Other
examples include the European Union and African Union.
5) Non-government organizations, citizenry-based groups, including non-
profit organizations (e.g., charities, churches, mosques, temples and
foundations) obtain their revenue from gifts and investments. They utilize
these assets to further their mission statements for the common good.
Some have narrow objectives while others have very general areas of
contribution. Some are think tanks whose deliverables are knowledge and
judgment to guide policies for governments, et al. They also plan for long-
term survival.
6) Returning to the system-leveraging concept described above, self-
organization is one of the high priority leveraging tools. New systems such
as social entrepreneurship and social businesses are just such leveraging
tools that can help in the long-term survival of humanity and our planet. They
can be thought of as additional legs or structural reinforcement for the
existing legs on the planets stool for improved human well-being.
7) Social entrepreneurs develop a concept such as the micro-credit idea of
Professor Mohammed Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with
Grameen Bank in 2006. Thirty years ago he started with the idea of loaning
small amounts of money to poor women in Bangladesh for the purchase of
supplies (e.g., cloth) that they converted into a finished product (e.g.,
clothing). Upon selling their finished product they would repay the loan and
have a profit leftover for their family. They repeated the cycle over and over
again to improve their familys financial condition. The Grameen bank was
the result. This model has been applied successfully all over the developing
world. A US-based non-profit, Kiva, combines the micro-credit idea with the
Internet. (http://www.kiva.org) It has facilitated over $100 million in loans.
8) Ashoka, citizen sector organization, founded by Mr. Bill Drayton, has
funded over two thousand social entrepreneur fellows in over 60 countries
since 1981. 3 One or more citizens caring and organizing to provide a
service or spark a change are the active ingredients of a social
entrepreneur. As he articulates, the most important concept is everyone a
changemakeraka citizenrole. 4 Through Ashokas organization they
have developed a worldwide network of expertise to utilize this knowledge
base to apply these successful social models all over the world. Ashokas
success rate is outstanding. They provide funds to changemakers that have
a lasting impact across the globe. For example, five years after start-up
launch 90% of Ashoka Fellows have seen independent institutions replicate
36
their innovation and over fifty percent have already changed national
policy. 4 , 5 This structural reinforcement for the Earths stool needs additional
funding to stabilize the planet. Foundations with the same focus include the
Skoll Foundation 6 and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. 7
9) Social entrepreneurship has been recognized by many private foundations
as an important way to utilize their funds to improve the lives of humans in
an efficient business manner.
10) Dr. Yunus has also initiated what he calls a social business, which has
clear objectives and operates as a corporation with the purpose to serve
humanity for the common good, not profit-maximizing. The shareholders or
investors {a} establish a clear social mission statement, {b} provide funding
for start-up and {c} may participate in the day-to-day operation of the
business. As the business carries out its objectives it provides income for
local workers and products and services that humanity needs. The positive
cash flow resulting from subtracting expenses from revenues goes back into
growing the business and gradually repaying the investment contributed by
shareholders. There may be a small dividend of several percent per year,
also provided to the shareholder. Social business processes are just at the
development stage, and it will take creativity and diligence to establish the
optimum process. The Danon-Grameen Bank joint venture is a good
example of how this can be done. It produces Danon yogurt (formulated to
meet local customer tastes) in small manufacturing plants throughout
Bangladesh using locally produced milk and distributes through local village
sales personnel. Its employees are local residents and the product meets
the protein needs of the local population. 8
11) Similar to the social business idea discussed above is a corporation that
is designed to seamlessly integrate both social and financial purpose as
described by Dr. Allen White. 9 It is a new multi-stakeholder initiative in
which social purpose moves from the periphery to the core of the business.
Stakeholders include shareholders, employees, unions, suppliers, customers,
government, communities and future generations. This is a holistic approach
that corporations may transition to in the future.
12) Dr. David Korten has suggested a similar idea to Professor Yunus and
Dr. White. His idea is to charter a public-benefit corporation, which serves
a well-defined public purpose under strict rules of public accountability. It
can be chartered as either a for-profit or not-for-profit entity. The for-profit
entity would have to balance public and private interests. This would replace
todays private-benefit corporation. 1 0
13) The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility filed 391 proxy
resolutions on issues such as global warming, political contributions, sexual
discrimination, labor standards, and executive pay in 2009. The centers
real goal is not to win proxy votes, but to develop a dialogue with top
corporate executives. 1 1
14) Soft tools for system intervention include {a} visioning, {b} networking,
{c} truth telling, {d} learning and {e} loving. 1 2
15) An alternative concept for systems is the use of distributive systems
instead of centralized systems. This idea comes from people like Wendell
Berry, famed Kentucky author, who has been a longtime advocate for local
food systems and economies. 1 3 Ian Bowles in a New York Times Op-Ed
piece 1 4 and Bill McKibben in his book, Eaarth, 1 5 apply the distributive
systems concept to electricity generation due to the high cost of high voltage
37
power transmission infrastructure. Every region has its best source of
renewable energy sources based on the locale. For example, Southwest US
solar power; Northwest US hydro power; Midwest US land-based wind
power; Northeast US off-shore wind power; Southeast US biomass
power. This concept can be applied across the planet.

2.3 ACTIONS
1) Provide leadership from the local level to globally to make a paradigm
shift in human values from consumption and individualism to sustainability,
community and time affluence.
2) Provide private and public funding for structural reinforcement of
humanitys stool to implement system intervention methods.
3) Change system goals from items like increased consumption and GDP
growth to concepts like social connectedness, poverty eradication and good
health.
4) Become a social entrepreneur or donate through organizations like
Ashoka or Kiva. This is a self-organizing system intervention.
5) Utilize the concept of social business or public-benefit corporations, and
invest in one or establish one. These new types of corporations could have
the largest long-term impact on our operating systems, and the future of
humanity because of their {a} goal setting based on real human need and
{b} implementation based on profit-maximizing business processes. This is a
win-win situation, where there is a positive feedback mechanism
intervening in the system for self-sustaining an entity as well as goal setting
and self-organization features that are high on the system intervention
priority list for human well-being. These organizations would be more likely
to be established and succeed initially on the local or regional level. This is
consistent with the fact that most new jobs in the US are created by small
businesses.
6) With a flat world (globalization and increasing worldwide middle-class)
and an altruistic paradigm shift incorporating the concept of having just
enough consumption; and using some of the new organizational structures
suggested above, humanity may have just enough time to prevent collapse,
and achieve an acceptable sustainable quality of life in the broadest sense.
7) Incorporate new rules in the system to reward desired behavior by citizens
and entities. (e.g., carbon cap-and-dividend, carbon tax, solar energy tax
credits and population stabilization.)
8) Information transparency (accurate and timely) makes all people
accountable and the world flat (i.e., level playing field).

3.0 SOJOURNERS ARE WE

The Big Bang theory estimates that the universe was created about 13.7
billion years ago. Earth is about 4.5 billion years old, while life originated on
Earth about 4 billion years ago and homo sapiens appeared about 130,000
years ago. 1 With this timeline in mind, each of us is a temporary resident of
Earth or a sojourner. During our time here we are to use our individual and
collective bodies, minds and spirits to create a sustainable legacy that will
encourage reciprocity and interdependency within our species and between
humanity and an enduring planet. What actions do we take to provide this
38
for our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren? I suggest the
following:
1) Educate ourselves about the finiteness of our planet, and be introspective
in making decisions about the most important actions we can take, and then
do them.
2) Consider taking a leadership role in affecting a paradigm shift in human
values from consuming to sustaining.
3) Think about how to share, reduce, reuse and recycle, and take action.
4) Form citizen groups to discuss alternative actions for our local areas, and
then go do them {e.g., the author participated in a citizen group, Lighten Up,
Frankfort, part of FrankfortCAN, http://www.frankfortclimateaction.net/, using
the website h t t p: / / w w w .e mp ower men ti ns t i tu te . net/lcd/lcd_files /LCDcalcNet.htm l to
calculate our household carbon footprint, and the book Low Carbon Diet 2
to help reduce our footprint. The EPA website 3 also has a household
emissions calculator.}
5) Engage governments and politicians! They must get it, if we are to
succeed.
6) Be in discussion groups with other religious faiths and cultures to seek
common ground to work on human well-being together.
7) Support the UN and NGOs in their human well-being programs.
8) Become a social entrepreneur or financially support them.
9) Enforce the global citizenship of for-profit businesses, and invest in social
businesses or public-benefit corporations.
10) Personally implement the following five ways for improved human well-
being: [a] connect to other people social relationships are critical, [b] be
active - exercise, [c] take notice be curious and live in the present moment,
[d] keep learning try something new, and [e] give volunteer or help
someone. All of these are achievable with minimal use of planetary
4
resources .

39
 V. REFERENCES/ATTRIBUTIONS

COVER
1 . A t tr ib u tio n to R o yce B air , J anu ar y 2 1 , 201 0 , Th is f ile is lic ense d un der th e C r e a ti ve
Co mmons , Attr ibu tio n-No nco mmerc ia l- Sh are Alik e . W ebs ite : Th e S t ock So lu t io n or
h t t p : / /w w w .ts s p h o to .co m / i n d e x .ph p
2 . A t tr ib u tio n b y T he W il der nes s S oc ie t y , Au gus t 2 2 , 20 08 , C r ea t iv e C om mons
3 . Attr ib u tio n for d i agr am: Au th or - J oha nn Dr o (Use r:No jh an) ; Tr ans la tor : Use r
Pro _bu g_ca tc her ; D a te - Mar c h 9 , 200 6 / Tra ns l a ted J a nua r y 21 2 007 ;
Sus tainab le _de velopmen t.s vg ; T h is file is lic ense d un der the C r e a ti v e C o mm ons
A t t r ibu t io n-S h are A like 2 .0 F r ance licens e .
4 . Th is work is lice nsed und er the C rea tive Co mmons Attr ibu tio n-No nco mmerc ia l 3 .0
Un por ted Licens e , 201 0 . Fo r deta i ls go to th e fo llowing w ebs ite :
www .cr ea tivec ommons .or g /lic enses /b y-nc /3 .0 /us

III. SUSTAINING HUMANITY: FACTS TO REMEMBER AND ACTIONS TO

TAKE
1 . Dr . J ohn Stu tz , The R ole o f We ll- Be ing in a Grea t T rans ition, Te llus Ins titu te , 2006 ,
h t t p : / /w w w .g t in i t ia t i ve .o r g /d oc ume n ts / /PD FFIN AL S /1 0We l l Be ing . pdf ( view ed 11 /2 /20 08)
2 . D r . Me da r d Ga be l , B ig P ic t ure / S ma ll W or ld ,
h ttp ://www .b ig pic turesma llw orld .co m /ind e x.sh tml
3 . h t tp : / /e n. w iki ped ia .o r g /w iki / Mas low s_ h ie r arc h y _o f_ nee ds ( view ed Dec ember 23 , 20 09)

A. HUMAN PHYSICAL WELFARE

1.0 Food
1 . U ni t ed N a t io ns F oo d Sec ur i t y C o n fer ence , R om e, J u ne 3 - 5 , 20 08 ,
h ttp ://www .fa o .or g/foodc lima te /h lc- home /en / ( v iew ed 8 /1 0 /20 08)
2 . Les ter R . B r ow n , Pl an B 3.0 , p . 183 - 18 9 , W .W . N or to n & C o , N Y , 20 08 ,
h t t p : / /w w w .e ar th- po lic y . or g / Books / P B3 /C o n te n ts .h tm
3 . J e f fr e y D . Sac hs , C o mm on W e al t h , C h ap t er 6 , p . 15 0-1 51 , Pen qu in Press , N Y , 20 08
4 . R obe r t D iaz e t.al. Stu d y Shows Co n tinu e d Spr e ad o f De ad Zo nes , Scie nce , 8 / 15 /0 8
h ttp ://www .sc ienc eda ily.co m/re leas es /20 08 /0 8 /08 081 41 543 25 .h tm ( viewed 8 /29 /2 008 )
5 . N ic h ol as D . Kr is to f , R ais in g th e W or ld s I Q , D ec e mb er 4 , 2 008 ,
h t t p : / /w w w .n y t i mes .com / 20 08 /1 2 /0 4 /op in io n /0 4k r is to f .h tm l
6 . Foo d, Inc . f i l m di r ec t ed by Robert Ke nner, 2 0 0 9 , i n te r vi e w o n P B S ,
h ttp ://www .p bs .or g /now /sh ows /52 3 /i nde x.h tm l ( view ed 3 /5 /2 010)
7 . U ni ted Na tio ns M i lle nn iu m Deve lo pm en t G oa ls (MDG s)
( http://www.un.or g/millenniumgoals /pover ty.shtml ( viewe d 1 /9 /2010 )
8 . Les ter R. Brow n , Plan B 3.0 , p .190 , W .W . Nor ton & Co , N Y, 2 008

2.0 Water
1. J e ffrey D . Sachs , Common Wealth, Ch apter 5, p.115ff, Penqu in Pr ess , N Y, 2008
2 . L e s t e r R . B r o w n , Pl a n B 3 .0 , C h a p te r 4 , p . 6 8 f f a n d C h a p te r 9 , p . 1 7 9 f f , W .W . N o r to n &
C o , N Y , 2 00 8 , h ttp ://www .e ar th- po l ic y.or g /Bo oks /PB3 /Co n ten ts .htm
3 . FLOW ( F or L o ve of W a t er ) , http://www.flowthefil m.co m/a bou twa ter ( viewed 11 /2 /2008 )
F i lm di r ec te d b y Ire na S a l ina , a va i lab le on D VD in D ec e mb er 200 8
4 . F r e d P e a r c e , W h e n t h e R i ver s R u n D r y , p.70ff, p. 201ff, Beacon Press , Bos ton, 2006
5 . I b i d . p .2 7 f f , p .1 0 8 f f, 2 0 0 6
6 . C l im a te C h ang e , W a t er a nd Fo od Sec ur it y , F ebr uary 2 008 ,
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/m e e t i n g /0 1 3 /a i 7 8 3 e .p d f ( vi ew e d 8 /1 0/ 2 008 )
7 . J osep h Ve tte r , Dry T i mes , Re ade rs Diges t, Ma y 2 008
8. Op. c i t, Fred Pe arce, p.299f, 2006
9 . h t tp : / /e n. w iki ped ia .o r g /w iki /D r i p_ ir r ig a ti on ( v i ew ed 8 / 3 /20 08)
1 0 .h ttp ://www .u nep .or.jp /ie tc /p ublic a tions /tech pub lica tio ns /tech pub -8e /drip .asp
( v iew ed 8 /3 / 200 8)

40
1 1) Sa ndr a Pos tel , Gr owi ng More Fo od wi th Less Water , Sci enti fic Amer ica n , Feb2001,
Volume284, Issue 2, p46-51
1 2) D Molde n , C de Fra i tu re Wo rld Wa ter Su pp ly an d De ma nd , 2 000 ,
h t t p : / /w w w .i w m i .c g i a r .o r g ( viewed 8 /3 /2 008)
1 3 ) Pe t i ti o n t o A d d Art i c l e 3 1 t o U N H u m a n R i g h ts , http ://artic le31.org/
(s ig ned 11 /2 /200 8)
1 4) U N U n ive r s a l D ec la r a t ion o f H u ma n R i gh ts , h t tp : / /w w w .u n .org / O ver v iew/ r ig h ts . h tm l
( view ed 1 1/2 /200 8)
15. Op. c i t, Fred Pe arce, p.306

3.0 Shelter
1 . V al er ie J . Br own , G i ve Me Sh el t er , Env i ro nme n tal He alth Pers pec tives , Vo l. 111 , F eb ,
2 003 , h ttp ://www .e hpo nlin e .or g /members /20 03 /1 11- 2 /foc us .h tml ( v iew ed 8 /4 / 200 8)
2 . Me ena Men on , Sq ua tte rs are the lar ges t b uild ers o f hous in g in th e wor ld , Jun e , 20 03 ,
w w w . in foc ha nge in d ia .o r g ( viewed 8 /4 /2 008)
3 . J agm oha n , C iti es a nd C li ma te , Th e S t ates ma n, A ug us t 3 , 2 008 ;
h ttp ://www .th es ta tes ma n .ne t/page .arc view .p hp?c lid= 3&id=2 433 84 &usrsess=1 ( viewed
8 /4 /20 08)

4.0 Energy
1 . Ene r g y I n f or m a ti on A dm in is tr a t io n E IA O f fic ia l E ner g y S t a t is tic s fr om the U . S .
G o ver nme nt, h ttp ://w ww .e ia .doe .g o v/ ( viewe d Ju ly 200 8)
2 . In tern a tio na l Ener gy Ag enc y En erg y Pub l ica tions ,
h ttp ://www .iea .org /Te xtb ase /p ub lica tio ns /free _new _Desc .as p? PUBS_ ID=1 199 ( vi ewed
Ju ly 2 008 )
3 . R obe r t Zu br in , En er g y Vic tor y , p . 198 , Pr ome theus Bo oks, Amh ers t, N Y, 2 007
4 . I bi d . p . 20 1
5 . An drew B ur r , In an A nt ic ip a te d D eb u t , F u tur e o f LE E D A r r i v es o n 20 09 P l a t for m ,
J u ne 4 , 200 8 , h ttp ://www .us gbc .o rg /News /U SG BC In Th eN ew s D e ta i ls .asp x ? ID = 3 720
( v iew ed 8 /3 1 /20 08)
6 . Tho mas L . Fr ied man , Ta lk ab ou t his la test b ook a t En erg iz ing KY Co nfere nce ,
9 / 18 /2 008 , L ou is vi l le , K Y , H o t , Fl a t a nd C r owd ed , Far r ar , S t r aus, G ir o u x , N ew Y or k , N Y ,
2 008
7 .h ttp ://www .u nep .org/Doc umen ts .Mu ltilingu al/D e fau lt.Pr in t.as p?Doc umen tID=5 38 &Ar ticle
ID=5 849 &l=e n ( viewed 8 /11 /2008 )
8 . h t tp : / /gre en .a u tob lo g .c o m/201 0 /01 / 01 / ten - p lug- in - c a r s - w er e- im pa t ie n tl y- w a i t ing - for- in-
2 010 /
9 . D r . D an ie l Yer gi n , T es ti mo n y b e for e U S S e na te C om m i t tee on E n erg y , 9 /1 2 /20 08 ,
Ca mbr id ge En erg y Rese arch , Bos to n , MA
1 0 . W ir ed E d i tor , C hr i s A nd er s on in t er v iew s Sh ai Ag ass i , C E O , B e t te r P lace , D ec 9 ,
2 008 , h t tp :/ / w w w .b e t te r p lac e .c om / pr es s - r oo m / v ide os - d e ta il /w ir ed - ed i tor - i n-c h ie f - c hr is -
a nde rson- in ter views-sh ai-ag assi/
1 1 . P ic k ens Pl an to Sto p A mer ica s Ad dic t io n to F or e ig n O il , h ttp://www .p icke nsp lan .co m
( mu l tiple view in gs)
1 2 . W h y N a t ur a l G as I s T he I mme di a te So lut i on To G as o l ine ,
h ttp ://www .ku tvgre ener living .co m/ar tic les /article /ar tic le_ id /41 /Wh y-N a tura l- Gas -Is -Th e-
I m me di a te-S o lu t io n- To - Gas ol in e ( v iew ed 10 / 25 /2 008 )
1 3 . Emer ge nc y Respo nse to N atur a l Gas Ve hic les , 200 2 , { Foo tno te : Na tur al gas is
c o mp osed o f abo u t 90- 95 % m e tha ne a nd is f l a mma bl e o nl y in t he 5 - 15 % c o mp osi t io n
r ang e i n a ir , a nd i ts ig ni t io n te mp era t ure is m uc h h i ghe r t ha n gaso l ine . N a tu r a l gas als o
d isp erses q uick l y fr om a tank leak beca use it is less de nse th an a ir , un lik e g aso line , an d
th ere fore is less lik ely to ig nite a nd ca use a fire than gasoline. CNG is s tor ed in
sp ecially des ig ned , hig h-pr essure c ylind ers, a nd h as th e od ora n t, merca p tan , add ed to
t h e na t ur a l g as for s af e t y . The o dor c an be de tec t ed a t 0 .3 % l e ve l fo r na t ur a l g as i n a ir ,
w h ich is s ix t e en t im es b el ow the low er e xp los io n l i mi t ( L EL) f or n a tur al gas c o mb ust io n .
LN G is s t ore d a t h ig her p r es s u r es t h an C N G , b u t do es no t c on ta in a n od ora n t. }
h ttp ://74 .12 5 .45 .104 /se arch ?q=cac he :iuWS4J 6d2CcJ:www .sce ne o fthe accid en t.o rg /erg /N a t
ural%2520Gas%2520Vehic les.pd f+c n g + f la m ma b i l i t y+e x p l o s i o n + c r a s h &h l= e n &c t= c lnk &c d =
1 0 &g l= us ( v iew ed 1 0/ 2 6 /20 08)

41
1 4 . Car bon Ca p tur e an d Stora ge,
h ttp ://en .w ik ipe dia .or g/w iki/C arb on _cap ture _a nd_s tora ge ( viewed 9 /28 /2 008 )
1 5 . Fr ed Kru pp a nd Mir ia m H or n , Ea r t h : T he S e que l ; Th e R ac e t o R e in v en t E n erg y a nd
Stop Global Warming, p.101ff, 2008; This bo ok is an excellent s ource of info rmation
a bou t the cu rren t are as o f focused de ve lo pmen t o n ren ewab le ene rg y so urces and w hat
ma y b e poss ib le fo r co al emiss ions c on tr ol. T he b ook g i ves goo d ar gu men ts for u tiliz ing
th e cap -and -trad e mech an ism for r educ in g GH Gs b y cr ea ting en tr epre neu r ca pitalis m .

5.0 Climate Change and Pollution

1 . U N I n ter g o ver nme nt a l Pa ne l on C l im a te C h ang e , AR4 , S um ma r y f or Po l ic y M ak er s ,
p .2-3 , N o ve mb er 20 07 , Va lenc ia, Spa i n,
http://www.ipcc .ch/pdf/ass essment- repor t/ar 4/s yr /ar4_s yr _spm.pdf ( viewed 8 /11 /2 008 )
2 . UN In terg o ver nme nta l Pa ne l on C l ima te Ch ang e , AR4 , C hap ter 6 , Palaeoc lima te ,
p . 444 , h ttp ://www .ipcc .ch /pd f/assess me n t-r epor t/ar4 /wg 1 /ar 4-wg 1-ch ap ter6 .pd f
( v iew ed 8 /1 1 /20 08)
3 . h ttp ://www .e pa .g ov/c lima techa nge /econo mics /mitiga tio n .h tml ( v iew ed 1 /8 / 201 0)
4 . R obe r t Wa ts on a nd Mo ham ed El- Ashr y, A F as t, Ch eap W a y to C oo l the Pl an e t, Wa l l
S t r e e t J ourn al , D ec e mb er 2 8 , 200 9
5 . Chapter 2. Ch ang es in Atmosp he ric C ons titu en ts a nd in Ra dia tive Forc in g , http://ipcc-
w g 1 .uca r .ed u /w g1 /R ep or t / AR 4W G 1_ Pr in t_C h 02 .p d f , T ab le 2 .14 , p . 212 ( v i ew e d 1 /3 0 /20 10)
6 . J e ffre y D . Sachs , Co mmon We alth , p .96 , Tab l e 4 .1 , Pe nq uin Press , N Y, 2 008
7 . D r . J ames H anse n , N A SA Godd ard Sp ace I ns t i tu t e , T a lk on c l im a te c h ang e ,
Vide o tap ed b y C- Span o n 6 /1 /2008 , C ar y Ha ll, Le xin g ton , MA, h ttp://www .c-
sp ana rch i ves .org /libra r y/inde x.ph p? ma in_ pa ge=p rod uc t_ vid eo_ in fo &pro ducts_ id= 280 97 0-
1 ( viewed 1 0 //24 /2008 )
8 . I b i d . ( vi e w e d 1 0 / 2 4 /2 0 0 8 )
9 . Tho mas L . Fr ied man , Ta lk ab ou t his la test b ook a t En erg iz ing KY Co nfere nce ,
9 / 18 /2 008 , L ou is vi l le , K Y , H o t , Fl a t a nd C r owd ed , Far r ar , S t r aus, G ir o u x , N ew Y or k , N Y ,
2 008
1 0 . L e s t e r R . Bro w n , P l a n B 3 . 0 , C h a p t er 3 , p . 6 6 f f , W .W . N o r t o n & C o , N Y , 2 0 0 8 ,
h t t p : / /w w w .e ar th- po lic y . or g / Books / P B3 /C o n te n ts .h tm
1 1 . Rob er t Wa ts on a nd Mo ham ed El- Ashr y, A F as t, Ch eap W a y to C oo l the Pl an e t, Wa l l
S t r e e t J ourn al , D ec e mb er 2 8 , 200 9
h ttp ://www .e pa .g o v/clima tec han ge /econ omics /d own loa ds /G M_ ES.pd f ( v i ew ed 1 / 30 /1 0)
1 2 . Op . C i t, W a ts on an d El- As hr y ( v iew ed 1 2 /28 / 200 9)
h ttp ://on line .ws j .co m /a rtic le /SB10 001 424 052 748 704 039 704 574 616 130 812 043 404 .h tml
1 3 . P e ter Ba r nes , C arb on C a pp ing , A C i tiz en s G ui de , 2 007 ,
h ttp ://www .ca pan dd ivid end .org /files /Ca rbo nCa pp ing _Citiz ensG uide .pd f
1 4 .Dr . Geor ge Lako ff, Ta lk ab out h is b ook The Po litica l Mind o n C-s pan , 20 08 , Austin ,
h t t p : / /w w w .c-
sp ana rch i ves .org /libra r y/inde x.ph p? ma in_ pa ge=p rod uc t_ vid eo_ in fo &pro ducts_ id= 280 47 5-
1

6.0 Population
1 . Wor ld Po pu la tion , W ik ipe dia, http://en.wikipedia.o rg /w iki/Wo rld_p opu la tio n ( viewe d
1 /11 /2 010 )
2 . J e f fr e y D . S ac hs , C om mon W e al t h , Th e D em ogra ph ic C ha ll en ge , p .15 7 f f , Pe nqu in
Press , N Y, 2 008
3 . Mar tha Ca mp be ll e t al., Re tu rn o f the Po pu la tion G row th Fac tor , Sc ie nc e , Vo l . 3 15 .
No . 5 818 , p p . 150 1 15 02 (1 6 March 2 007 ); a nd Les ter R . Brown , Plan B 3 .0 , Cha p ter
7 , p .1 3 6 f f , W .W . N o r to n & C o , N Y , 2 0 0 8 ,
h t t p : / /w w w .e ar th- po lic y . or g / Books / P B3 /C o n te n ts .h tm
4 . U N MDG s , http ://www.u ndp.org/mdg/bas ics .shtml ( vi ew e d 8 /7 /2 008 )

7.0 Poverty
1 . W orld Ba nk da ta on po ve r ty, Au gus t 2 6 , 2 008 ,
h ttp ://web .wo rldba nk .o rg /W BSITE/EXT ERNAL /N EW S/0 ,,c on te n tMDK:218 81 954~ pag ePK:6
4 257 043~ piPK:437 376~ the Site PK:4 607 ,00 .h tml ( viewe d 11 /26 /20 08)
2 . J e f fr e y D . Sac hs , C o mm on W e al t h , T he P o ores t Bil l io n an d the P o ver t y T r ap ,
p .30- 31 , Pe nqu in Pr ess , N Y, 200 8

42
3 . U N MDGs , http://www.u ndp.org /mdg/bas ics .shtml ( vi ew e d 8 /9 /2 008 )

8.0 Health and Longevity

1 . Ro lf Pe nda ll, Kathr yn A. F os ter and Marga ret C owe ll, R esilienc e a nd Re gio ns :
Bu ild ing Un ders tand in g o f the Me ta pho r, IURD Wo rking Pa pe r Ser ies (U niversity o f
Ca lifor nia , Berk ele y) ( 2 007 ) Pape r W P- 20 07 -12
2 . Les t er R . Br own , P la n B 3 . 0 , C h apter 6 , E arl y S i gns of D ec l in e , p . 1 06 , W .W .
N o r to n & C o , N Y , 2 0 0 8
3 . h ttp ://www .p bs .or g/n ewsho ur / , T V broa dcas t on 2 /4/2 010 , W orld Ca ncer Da y
4 . U N MDGs , http://www.u ndp.org /mdg/bas ics .shtml ( v i ew e d 8 /9/2 008 )

9.0 Economy
1 . Tho mas L . Fr ied man , Ta lk ab ou t his la test b ook a t En erg iz ing KY Co nfere nce ,
9 / 18 /2 008 , L ou is vi l le , K Y , H o t , Fl a t a nd C r owd ed , Far r ar , S t r aus, G ir o u x , N ew Y or k , N Y ,
2 008
2 . D a vi d C . K or t en , Ag end a for a N ew Econ om y , Ba r r et t - K oe hl er Pu bl ish er s , San
F ranc isco , C A, 20 09
3.Ibid., Korten, 2009
4 . I bi d . , K or t e n , p .1 22 ff , 2 009

10.0 Ecosystems and Sustainable Development

1 . D e finition for Sus taina ble Soc ie ty: h t tp : / /e n .w ik ip ed ia . org /w ik i /Sus t ai nab i li t y
2 . J ames G us ta ve Sp e th , The B r idg e a t t h e Edge o f t he W or l d , p . 48 , Y a le U ni v ers i t y
P r ess ( 20 08 )
3 . Mi l le nn iu m Ecos yst e m As s es s m en t , 2 005 . Ec os ys te ms a nd H u ma n W e ll-b ei ng :
Synthes is Report, p. 1ff, World Res ourc es Ins titute, Was hington, DC.
h ttp ://www .millen niumass essment.or g /en /ind e x.asp x (O vera ll Syn thes is Rep or t; viewed
8 /19 /2 008
4 . C ar l McD a ni el , W is d om fo r a L i va bl e Pl an e t , C h ap te r 7 . L i v ing i n a f in i te w o r l d .
He rma n Daly an d Econ omics , Tr in ity Un ive rs i ty Press ( 200 5)
5 . D r . H er m an D al y , Ins t i tu t io ns for a S tea d y Sta te E c o nom y , S t e ad y S tate Eco no mics ,
Is lan d Press , Was hingto n , DC , 19 91
6 . J er e m y Gr an th am , Li v in g B e yo nd O ur Me ans : En t er in g the Age o f L im i ta ti ons , Le t te r s
to the In ves tment Committee XV, July, 2008, p.8-11,
7 . Gar y G ar dner and T ho mas Pru gh , 200 8 Sta te o f the W or ld : Inn o va tions fo r a
Sus tainab le Ec ono my, p .6 , h ttp ://www .wo rldw a tch .o rg/files /pd f/SOW 08_c hap ter_ 1 .pd f
(viewed 8/11/2008)
8 . Op . C i t . , S p eth , p . 2 36 , 2 008
9 . Op . C i t . , G ar dn er an d Prug h , p . 17 ( v iew e d 8 /1 1 /200 8)

11.0 Security
1 . Sa m Per l o- Fre ema n, C a t al in a P er do mo , E l is abe t h S k o ns an d P e t te r S t ale nhe i m ,
Mi l i ta r y Exp e n d i tu r e , C h a p t e r 5 , A r m a m e n t s , D is a r ma me n ts a n d I n ter n a t io n a l Sec u r it y ,
In forma tion fro m Stockh olm In tern a tiona l Peac e Rese arch Ins titu te ( SIPR I) Ye arb ook
2 009 ; h ttp ://www .s ipr i.or g ( viewed 8 /8 /2 008 for 20 08 Ye arb ook a nd view ed 12 /22 /2 009 fo r
2 009 Yearb ook)
2 . L e s ter R . B r o w n , Pl a n B 3 . 0 , C h a p te r 1 3 , p . 2 8 0 f f , W .W . N o r to n & C o , N Y ( 2 0 0 8 ) a n d
L es ter R . B r ow n , P la n B 4 .0 , u pd a ted es t im at e in T ab le 10- 2, p 26 3 , http ://www.earth -
p olic y.o rg /imag es /up lo ads /b ook_ files /p b4bo ok .pd f ( view ed 1 2 /22 /200 9)
3 . Dr . Me da rd Ga be l, Big Pic tureSmallWo rld, 2 007 , http ://www.earth -
in te llige nce .ne t/d ynamas ter /imag e_a rch i ve/or i gina l/6d9 39d 1c f5d f7 659 b ff60 91 999 9 f7b 22 .j
p g ( viewe d 8 /31 /2 008)

12.0 Catastrophic Failure

1 . N uclear No n-pr olifer ation Tr eaty, h t t p ://w w w .u n .or g /D e p ts /dd a /W MD / t r ea ty/
( v iew ed 9 /4 / 200 8)

43
B. HUMAN CONTENTMENT

1.0 Spirituality and Moral Compass

1 . Enc yc l op ed ia Br itan nic a an d Wor l d Chr is tian Enc yc lop ed ia , 20 01
2 . Ma jo r R e l ig ions o f t h e W or ld , http://www.adherents .com/Re ligions_By_Adherents .html
( v iew ed 8 /2 7 /20 08)
3 . S pir i t ual i t y, W ike pe di a , h t tp : // e n .w ik ip edi a .o r g /w ik i /Sp ir i tua l i t y ( v iew ed 8 /2 7 /20 08)
4. J ames Gus tave Sp eth, The Bridge at th e Edg e o f the W o r l d , C h a p te r 1 0 , p . 1 9 9 f f , Ya l e
U n i ve r s i t y P r ess ( 20 08 )

2.0 Social Connectedness

1 . Ed D iene r and Mar tin E.P. Se lig man , Be yond Mo ne y, T owa rd an Eco no m y o f We ll-
B e in g , http ://www .psych.uiuc .edu/~ediener /hottopic /1-31.pdf ( vi ew e d 8 /2 8/ 2 008 )
2 . J a m e s G u s ta ve Sp e th , T h e B r i d g e a t t h e Ed g e o f t h e W o r l d , C h a p t e r 6 , p .1 2 6 f f , Y a l e
U n i ve r s i t y P r ess ( 20 08 )
3 . Pa u l R as k in , h t t p : / /e n .w ik ip ed ia . org /w ik i /Pa ul _R as k in ( v i ew ed 9 / 5 /20 08)
4 . Pa u l R as k in e t al . , G r ea t Trans i t ion : The Pr om ise a nd L ur e of t h e T im es A h ead ,
T e llus Ins titu te , 20 02 , http://www.gtinitiati ve.or g /documents /Gr eat_Transitions .pdf
( v iew ed 9 /5 / 200 8)
5 . Dr . R obe rt Ka tes et a l , G rea t T rans ition Va lu es : Pres en t Attitu des , F u tur e Cha nges ,
2 006 , h t tp :/ / w w w .g t in it i a t i ve .o r g /d oc u men ts / P D F F IN ALS/ 9 Va lu es .p d f ( viewed 11 /4 /2008 )
6 . Ea ar th : M ak ing a Li f e o n a T ou gh P lan e t, H e nr y H o l t & C o . ( 2 010 )

C. HUMAN FREEDOM

1.0 Education
1 . Po l l y C ur t is , Gu ard ia n , Oc to ber 2 8 , 20 03 ,
h ttp ://www .g uar dian .co .uk /ed ucation /200 3 /oc t/2 8 /schoo ls .uk 3 ( view ed 8 /11 /2 008 )
2 . J e f fr e y D . Sac hs , C o mm on W e al t h , p . 18 7 , P en qu in Pr ess , N Y , 20 08

2.0 Freedom
1 . R obe r t K a t es , A n th on y L eis er owi tz , a nd T ho mas Pa r r is , Gr ea t Tra ns i t io n Va lues , p . 9 ,
T e llus Ins titu te , Bos ton , MA, 20 06 , h t tp : / /w w w .g t in i t ia ti v e .o r g ( v iew ed 1 1 /2 /2 008 )

IV. SYSTEM COMPLEXITY & INTERVENTION FOR SUSTAINED, HUMAN

WELL-BEING
1 . J a y W . F orr est er , http://en.w ik ipedia.org/wiki/J a y_W._Forres ter
2 . Don e lla Me adows , J org en Ra nde rs a nd Den n is Mea dows , Limits to Gr ow th , The 30 -
Y e ar U pd a te , C he ls ea Gree n Pub l ish ing C o. , W h i te R iv e r J unc t ion , V T ( 20 04 )
3 . I b i d . p .1 .
4 . I bi d . p .24 4
5 . h ttp ://www .n ewecon omics .or g/a bou t ( v i ew e d 1 /2 3 /20 10)
6. h ttp ://www .h appyp la ne tinde x.org / a nd h ttp://www .h app yplane tind e x.or g /pub lic -
d a ta /files /ha pp y- planet- in de x-2 -0.p d f ( J u l y 20 09) ( v iew e d 1 /2 3 /201 0)
7 . h ttp ://www .scr ib d .co m/d oc/80 408 85 /L iving -Pla ne t-Re por t- 2008 , pa ge 14; U SA an d U AE
h a ve th e la r ges t g lob al eco log ica l foo t pr in t o f > 9 g hec ta r es /c a pi t a ( vi ew e d 1 /3 1 /20 10) .
8 . The eco lo gic al f o o tpr in t m e th odo log y is e xp la in ed a t t he f ol low in g w ebs i te :
h ttp ://www .scr ib d .com/d oc /20 1568 32 /Eco lo gica l-F oo tp rin t- Atlas- 20 08- 1( vi ewe d1 /3 1 /20 10 )
9 .N assim N icho las Ta le b , The Black Swa n : T he Impac t o f th e H igh ly Impr oba ble ,
Ra ndo m Ho use , New York , 200 7

1.0 System Complexity

1 . N assim N icho las Ta le b , T he Black Swan , R an dom H ous e , New York , 2 007
2 . C hr is C. Park , Th e En viro nmen t: Pr inc ip les and Applic a tions , p . 82 , Ro u tled ge , 2 001
3 . Mi l le nn iu m Ecos yst e m As s es s m en t , 2 005 . Ec os ys te ms a nd H u ma n W e ll-b ei ng :
Syn thes is Re por t, Wo rld Reso urc es Ins titute , W ash ing ton , DC .

44
h ttp ://www .millen niumass essment.or g /en /ind e x.asp x (O vera ll Syn thes is Rep or t; viewed
8 /18 /2 008 )
4 . Op . c i t, Mea dows (2 004 )
5 . The eq ua tio ns in F ig ures [2A] a nd [2 B] co me fr om th e fo llowing book :
C laudia Neuhaus er , Calculus for Biology a nd Medicine, C hapter 8, p473ff, Pearson
Ed uca tion , Inc , U ppe r Sa dd le R i ve r, N ew Jers e y, 20 04
6 . Op . c i t, Stu tz ( 2006 )

2.0 System Intervention

1 . D one l la M ea dows , Tw e l ve L ev e r ag e P oin ts in S ys te ms ,
h ttp ://en .w ik ipe dia .or g/w iki/Twe l ve _le ver age_ po in ts , ( view ed 8 /14 /2 008 )
2 . D one l la M ea dows , P lac es t o I n t er ve ne in a S ys t em, W h ol e Ea r t h , W i n ter 1 99 7
3 . Ash ok a , h ttp ://www .as hoka .org/ ( view ed 8/8 /200 8)
4 . B il l D r ayt o n , E ver y o ne a C ha nge mak er , In no va t io ns , W i n ter 2 006 , pub l is he d b y M IT
Press , h ttp://www .as hok a .or g /files /In no va tions Book le tSma ll.pd f ( v iew ed 8 / 8 /20 08)
5 . L ea ding Soc ia l En tr epr eneu rs, Elec tio ns , 200 6-2 007 , Ash oka , Inn ova tors for the
Pu blic , 2 008 , ISBN-1 3: 9 78- 0-966 675 9-9- 3
6 . Sko ll F ou nda tio n Pr ogra m for Soc ia l En tre pre neurs , http://www.skollfoundation.or g/
7 . Schw ab F ou nda tio n for Social En tr epr eneu rsh ip ,
h t t p : / /w w w .s c hw ab fo un d .or g /s f / in de x .h t m (viewe d 10 /3 1 /20 08)
8 . Muh amm ad Yu nus, C r ea t ing a W o r l d W i t ho u t P o ve r t y : S oc i al B us i ness a nd th e Fut ur e
o f C ap i ta lism , P ub l ic A f f a irs , 2 00 8
9 . Allen Wh ite , C orpo ra tion 2020 , D esign ing for Soc ial Purp ose
h ttp ://www .co rpor a tion2 020 .org / (viewe d 8 /30 /200 8)
1 0 . D a v id K or t en , On l y O ne R eas on to Gra n t a C o r po r a te C har te r , E x pa nd ed ve r s i on o f
p r ese n ta t ion t o the Sum m i t on t he Fu tu r e o f t h e C or pora t io n , Fa neu i l H a ll , B os to n , M A ,
1 1 /13 /200 7, h ttp ://www .yes ma gaz ine .org /article .asp ? ID=2 171 ( view ed 9 / 6 /08 )
1 1 . In ter f ait h C en te r on C or p ora te R es po ns ib i li t y , h ttp ://www .iccr .o rg / ( viewed 1 /8 /2 010)
12. Donella Meadows et al, Limits to Gr owth, A 30- year update p.271ff, 2004
1 3 . W en de ll B er r y , Th e Ide a o f a Loca l Eco no m y , Ori on Ma gaz in e , W i n ter , 2 001 ,
h ttp ://www .o rionmagaz ine .org /in d e x.ph p /ar ticles /ar tic le /299 ( vi ew e d 6 /1 5 /10 )
1 4 . Ian Bow les , H ome - Grow n Pow er , N Y T i mes , M ar c h 7 , 20 09
1 5 . B i l l McK i b b e n , Ea a r th p .1 8 7 f f , He n r y H o l t & C o , N e w Y o r k ( 2 0 1 0 )

3.0 Sojourners Are We

1 . Life on Ear th , h t tp :/ / w w w .so ls t a t io n .c o m/l i f e /ea r - l i fe.h t m, ( viewe d 8 /6 /2008 )
2 . R obe r t G er s h on , L ow C ar bon D ie t , E mp ow er men t I ns t i tu t e , 2 006 ,
h t t p : / /w w w .e mp ower me n ti ns ti t u te.n e t /lc d /i nde x . h tm l ( view ed Au gus t, 2 009)
3 . H ouse hold Emiss ions C alc ula to r,
h ttp ://www .e pa .g o v/clima tec han ge /emiss ions /ind _ca lcula to r .h tml ( v i ew e d 1 /7/2 010 )
4 . Ake d J , M ar k s N , C o r do n C , an d Th om pso n S , Fi v e w a ys to w e l l- b ei ng : T he e v id ence
( 200 8) ; h ttp ://www .newec ono mics .or g /pr ojec ts /five-ways-w ell-b ein g

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 VI. Biographical Sketch
Richard B. Dick Watkins is a retired, development engineering manager
from Lexmark International having held similar positions with IBM and AKZO.
His career spanned research, development, and engineering in the synthetic
fiber and desktop printing industries. The latter included work on inkjet and
laser printers and typewriters. He participated in the commercialization of
many new products and has ten patents.

He authored a book entitled A Walk in Search of Meaning: Discovering

Gods Pathway through Nature in 2007, and participated in the Southern
Festival of Books, Nashville, TN, and the Kentucky Book Fair, Frankfort, KY,
in 2008. He has a keen interest in nature.

A native of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, Dick has a BS in Mechanical Engineering

from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, and a PhD in Chemical
Engineering with emphasis in Polymer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute, Troy, NY. He lives with his wife Nancy in Frankfort, KY, and they
have two grown daughters.

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