Gifts of Gravity and Light


Book Description







Designing Regenerative Cultures


Book Description

This is a ‘Whole Earth Catalog’ for the 21st century: an impressive and wide-ranging analysis of what’s wrong with our societies, organizations, ideologies, worldviews and cultures – and how to put them right. The book covers the finance system, agriculture, design, ecology, economy, sustainability, organizations and society at large.




Regenerative Ecosystems in the Anthropocene


Book Description

The book offers a transdisciplinary eco-systemic framework for analysis of ecosystems. It uses eight dimensions (economic-social-political-environmen-tal) and 40 factors to diagnose degenerating ecosystems and to synthesize regenerative ecosystems amid growing uncertainty, and inequality in the Anthropocene. Chapter 1 broadly defines the `all interacting evolving systems science' (AIESS) approach in terms of its eco-systemic and transdisciplinary action research methodology. Chapter 2 provides a detailed explanation of the AIESS approach through the four concepts of interconnectedness, interdependence, interactions, and intent to diagnose degeneration and synthesize regenerative systems. Part 1 of the book discusses the issues and approaches to Regenerativeness. Part 2, 3, 4, and 5 illustrate cases of regenerative systems in different ecosystems viz. natural, rural-indigenous, urban, and industrial ecosystems. Not only the researchers and scholarsin systems science, systems dynamics, systems design, and sustainable transition strategies but also the policy makers, corporate leaders, and development experts will greatly benefit from this book. 1. Presents a ground breaking explanation of the science of change in the Anthropocene and in epochs prior to it through its all interacting evolving systems science framework. 2. Provides a unique transdisciplinary eco-systemic framework as a methodology to diagnose the complex degenerating ecosystems and to synthesize regenerative ecosystems in different geographies of the world. 3. Through various cases from different ecosystems viz., natural ecosystems, rural-indigenous ecosystems, urban ecosystems, and industrial ecosystems, the book presents the challenges as well as the steps and processes to synthesize regenerative ecosystems.




Aquaponics Food Production Systems


Book Description

This open access book, written by world experts in aquaponics and related technologies, provides the authoritative and comprehensive overview of the key aquaculture and hydroponic and other integrated systems, socio-economic and environmental aspects. Aquaponic systems, which combine aquaculture and vegetable food production offer alternative technology solutions for a world that is increasingly under stress through population growth, urbanisation, water shortages, land and soil degradation, environmental pollution, world hunger and climate change.




Design, Ecology, Politics


Book Description

Design, Ecology, Politics links social and ecological theory to design theory and practice, critiquing the ways in which the design industry perpetuates unsustainable development. Boehnert argues that when design does engage with issues of sustainability, this engagement remains shallow, due to the narrow basis of analysis in design education and theory. The situation is made more severe by design cultures which claim to be apolitical. Where design education fails to recognise the historical roots of unsustainable practice, it reproduces old errors. New ecologically informed design methods and tools hold promise only when incorporated into a larger project of political change. Design, Ecology, Politics describes how ecological literacy challenges many central assumptions in design theory and practice. By bringing design, ecology and socio-political theory together, Boehnert describes how power is constructed, reproduced and obfuscated by design in ways which often cause environmental harms. She uses case studies to illustrate how communication design functions to either conceal or reveal the ecological and social impacts of current modes of production. The transformative potential of design is dependent on deep-reaching analysis of the problems design attempts to address. Ecologically literate and critically engaged design is a practice primed to facilitate the creation of viable, sustainable and just futures. With this approach, designers can make sustainability not only possible, but attractive.




Transnational Environmental Law in the Anthropocene


Book Description

Anthropocene is the proposed name for the new geological epoch in which humans have overwhelming impact on planetary processes. This edited volume invites reflection on the meaning and role of law in light of changing planetary realties. Taking the concept of the Anthropocene as a starting point, the contributions to this book address emerging legal issues from a transnational environmental law perspective. How law interacts with, and how law governs, global environmental problems is a challenge that legal scholars have approached with vigour over the last decade. More recently, the concept of the Anthropocene has become a topic that researchers have also begun to grapple with by engaging with disciplines beyond legal scholarship. One avenue of research that has emerged to address global environmental problems is transnational environmental law. Adopting ‘transnational law’ as a lens or framework through which to analyse environmental law takes a broader approach to the ways in which law may be assessed and deployed to meet planetary challenges. The chapters within this book provide a timely intervention into the theoretical and practical approaches of transnational environmental law in a time of significant uncertainty and environmental and human crises. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Transnational Legal Theory.




Handbook of the Anthropocene


Book Description

This Handbook is a collection of contributions of more than 300 researchers who have worked to grasp the Anthropocene, this new geological epoch characterised by a modification of the conditions of habitability of the Earth for all living things, in its biogeophysical and socio-political reality. These researchers also sought to define a historical and prospective anthropology that integrates social, economic, cultural and political issues as well as, of course, environmental ones. What are the anthropological changes needed to ensure that our human adventure will be able to continue in the Anthropocene? And what are the educational and political issues involved? Anthropocene is fast becoming a widely-used term, but thus far, there been no reference work explaining the thoughts of the greatest experts of the present day on this subject (at the intersection of biogeophysical and socio-political knowledge). A scientific and political concept (but which is also the conceptual vehicle for conveying the scientific community's sense of concern), this complex term is explained by international experts as they reflect on scientific arguments taking place in earth system science, the social sciences and the humanities. What these researchers from different disciplines have in common is a healthy concern for the future and how to prepare for it in the Anthropocene and also the identification of possible anthropological changes. This Handbook encourages readers to immerse themselves in reflections on the human adventure through descriptions of our differing heritages and the future that is in the process of being written.




Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development


Book Description

Landscape Architecture Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development Winner, 1994 MeritAward for Communications, American Society of LandscapeArchitects "Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development is nothing lessthan a user's manual for planet Earth that integrates theprinciples of ecological design with practical realities betterthan anything I've read. John Lyle has written the best book nowavailable on the theory and practice of sustainability . . .essential reading for natural resource professionals, architects,planners, educators, environmentalists, and the general public."--David W. Orr, Professor and Chair Environmental Studies Program,Oberlin College. "John Lyle has written a splendid book, Regenerative Design forSustainable Development. It is perfectly topical; it is committedto the unity of art and science, design and planning, man andnature. It is itself exemplary, and it is a repository of exemplaryadaptations. It has carried the environmental movement to a newthreshold of ecological planning and design. It should be widelyread and employed." --Ian L. McHarg, FASLA. "In these times of widespread urban stress and regional disruption,the cogent thoughts of John Tillman Lyle on sustainable cities areon target and highly constructive. They are must reading forplanning professionals and all concerned citizens." --John OrmsbeeSimonds, FASLA. "More designers need to broaden their horizons in the way John Lylehas put forth in this book. In general, there are far too few landplanners, landscape architects, or architects who have any workingprocedure that approximates what sustainable design entails. Thisbook provides important historical background and contemporaryexperience to help guide the way."--Pliny Fisk III, Center forMaximum Potential Building Systems. From the despoliation of our rivers and lakes by industrial runoffto the destruction of our atmosphere by sulphur emissions and CFCs,production cycles based on a one-way flow of materials and energyhave pushed us to the brink of environmental collapse. It is timefor a change, and in this groundbreaking book, John Tillman Lyleoffers us a blueprint for implementing that change. This book provides civil engineers, architects, land developmentplanners, and others with practical, realistic approaches toreversing this deadly course. Throughout, the emphasis is on provenregenerative practices for water use, land use, energy use, andbuilding design. Most importantly, it provides ways to reestablishconnections between people and nature, between art and science, andbetween technology and daily life.