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Guru Granth Sahib
Composition, Arrangement & Layout
ਜਪੁ | Jup
ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
Chhant (242-249)
Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
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Building A Better World (Book Summary)
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<blockquote data-quote="spnadmin" data-source="post: 127488" data-attributes="member: 35"><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong>FOUNDATION #3: ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY</strong></span></span></p><p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em><strong>A world committed to ecological sustainability would create a new vision of progress that recognizes that the future of humanity depends upon our ability to live in harmony and balance with our natural world.</strong></em></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>CHALLENGES</strong></span></span> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <img src="http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong> Overconsumption of Resources</strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <img src="http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong> Air Pollution & Climate Change</strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <img src="http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong> Ecosystem Destruction</strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <img src="http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong> Overpopulation</strong></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em><strong>Overconsumption of Resources</strong></em></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em><strong> </strong></em></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em><strong> </strong></em>Our demand for bigger, better, more convenient goods has taken its toll on our planet. David Korten, a former Harvard business professor and current president of the People Centered Development Forum, likens unrestrained economic growth to a cancer spreading across the planet. Like a cancer cell, our current system of economic growth leads to growth in overall size while quality-of-life often declines; progress moves forward regardless of the impacts upon our families, cultures, communities, and eco-systems. The insatiable jaws of development, for example, swiftly gobble up what remains of our open space. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> This growth ideology is penetrating into every corner of the globe. A 2000 report by the World Resources Institute found that increasing demands for natural resources are causing a rapid decline in many of the worldâs ecosystems. If this trend continues, they argue it will have severe implications for human development and the welfare of all species. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> The vast majority of the demand for natural resources comes from the rich industrialized nations of the world÷especially the United States. This is no surprise since the U.S. uses 120 pounds of natural resources per person per day and the average American consumes as much energy as:</span> </p><p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">2 Germans</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> 6 Mexicans</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> 12 Chinese</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> 29 Indians </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> 117 Bangladeshi</span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Since 1940, Americans alone have used up as large a share of the earthâs mineral resources as all previous humans put together. In fact, it would require three <em>additional</em> Earths to support the human race if all people on the planet lived the extremely wasteful lifestyles of North Americans. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> <strong><em>Air Pollution and Climate Change</em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong>Have you ever noticed a brown cloud hanging over big cities? Or inhaled the crisp, clean air when you camp in a remote wilderness area? Acid rain and air pollution, once problems only in Europe and parts of North America, are now becoming apparent in the Asia-Pacific region as well as parts of Latin America. Unfortunately, air pollution is more than just a smelly annoyance; it kills about 70,000 Americans each year (more people than die from breast and prostate cancers combined). And despite coordinated global action to try and limit air pollution, damage to the ozone layer continues faster than expected, with the next 10 years predicted to be the most vulnerable. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changeâs October 2000 report, human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases have substantially contributed to global warming. Again the U.S. is the biggest culprit÷emitting more than twice as much carbon dioxide (the primary global warming gas) per capita as the average rich industrialized nation (UK, Japan, Germany). Contributing to the problem, U.S. automobile fuel efficiency standards have not changed in 14 years (while the light truck standard (including SUVs) has stagnated for 19 years). Even as the oil and automobile industries are admitting that "precautionary action" is warranted to halt global warming, disputes between the U.S. and the European Union over carbon dioxide emissions led to the failure of November 2000 negotiations to curb global warming.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> <strong><em>Ecosystem Destruction</em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong>According to the World Resources Institute, we have cut or otherwise destroyed nearly 80% of the worldâs ancient forests. The result is increased global warming, species extinction, and loss of potential medicines. Although rainforests only cover about 2% of the earthâs surface, they contain approximately 50% of all life forms. Development drives an average of 137 species to extinction each day; thatâs 50,000 each year.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> Pollution and overfishing threaten the health of our oceans and their myriad species of life. Despite numerous prohibitions on dumping toxic waste in the ocean, both the U.K. and France continue to unload reprocessed nuclear waste into the sea. The U.S. Justice Department also found a fleet wide conspiracy within Royal Caribbean cruise lines to save millions of dollars in disposal fees by covering up the dumping of oily waste into the ocean off of Puerto Rico. Overexploitation of marine fisheries and declining stocks of commercial fish species has created widespread alarm around the world. Globally, more than 60% of marine fisheries are over exploited. The quest for hefty profits rather than sustainable fishing has created a shortage that now threatens the entire industry and may lead to rampant species extinction.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> <strong><em>Overpopulation </em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong>In October of 1999, the world's population surpassed 6 billion people, doubling in size since 1960. In 2000, the human population grew by over 212,000 people per day. We might like to think that overpopulation is India and Africaâs problem, not ours, but when population strains lead to deforestation, global warming, war, malnutrition, starvation and epidemics the problem becomes a global one.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> Overpopulation is a complex issue with a multitude of causes. The majority of women in the developing world want to control their fertility but currently donât have access to birth control options. Amazingly, in 1998, the U.S. Congress cancelled all funding to the United Nations Population Fund, the primary international family planning resource. Poverty, limited educational and occupational opportunities for women, and the lack of social safety nets further exacerbate this problem. As the developing world increasingly adopts a consumer lifestyle, the potential for ecological damage multiplies.</span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>GOALS</strong></span></span> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong> <img src="http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Cleaner Energy Sources</strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <img src="http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong> Minimal Waste</strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <img src="http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong> Sustainable Population Growth</strong></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> </p></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em><strong>Cleaner Energy Sources</strong></em></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em><strong> </strong></em></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><em><strong> </strong></em>One of the most important changes we as a society can make is shifting from fossil fuels to our most powerful and abundant natural resources: sun, wind, and hydrogen. We already have environmentally sound, energy-efficient technologies to harness these renewable energy sources ö we just need to use them. In 1997, the United Nations sponsored a global climate conference in Kyoto, Japan emphasizing the seriousness of global warming. The meetings produced a commitment from 159 countries to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions by 2012 (the US was not among them). As a consequence, the demand for non-polluting energy sources is increasing worldwide, and the costs of utilizing these technologies is steadily declining.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> The results are that a number of countries are accepting the challenge of moving to a cleaner energy economy. Global production of wind energy doubled from 1995-1998 (led by Germany), and sales of photovoltaic solar cells grew an average of 16% per year from 1990-1998. Iceland has launched pioneering efforts to harness geothermal and hydropower to produce hydrogen for use in cars and boats. Here in the US, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) uses sales mandates to stimulate technological innovation in the automobile industry for cleaner vehicles. By 2003, 4% of car and truck sales by the big six automakers must emit <em>zero</em> pollutants, another 6% must have extremely low emissions (for example, hybrid electric cars). Other states have followed Californiaâs lead and now the CARB standards at least partly cover 30% of the U.S. market. Also to Californiaâs credit, in the Spring of 1999, Santa Monica, CA, became the first major city to meet its municipal energy needs entirely with green energy (geothermal).</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> <strong><em>Efficient Resource Use</em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong>If we are to live in balance with our surrounding environment we must learn from the principles of nature. The concept of "waste", for example, does not exist in the forest. A fallen tree becomes a home for animals and insects, and helps to fertilize the soil for surrounding plant life. We must also learn to "close the loop" and use resources wisely. In order to combat pollution, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, the U.K. and other countries are adopting Green taxes ö they lower income taxes and tax energy use, thereby encouraging energy efficiency and investments in wind and solar power. Many activists, consumers, and governments around the world are also holding industry to a higher standard of resource efficiency. In essence, they are holding the corporation responsible for the waste it creates <em>before</em> it gets to the consumer. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> Encouraging examples of this kind of "reuse ethic" are happening all over the world. For instance the European Union has drafted legislation that states by the year 2005 European car producers must take back all cars they make free of charge by their producers, and must re-use or recycle 80% of the vehicle. Itâs also interesting to note that the worldâs largest producer of commercial floor coverings (Interface, Inc.) is on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable businesses. They have implemented the principle of producer responsibility by using fewer materials, creating 100% recyclable carpets, and implementing customer leases that make Interface responsible for reclaiming the floor covering. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> Creating an economy where goods are produced, used, and remade into new products in the most environmentally responsible manner is a challenge that must involve all sectors of our society--businesses, all levels of government, and citizens from around the world. Making people pay for throwing away garbage would serve as an incentive to reuse and recycle. Governments must stop subsidizing environmentally destructive industries such as logging and oil with corporate tax breaks. Finally, switching from a pesticide and fertilizer based agricultural system to sustainable, organic farming will maintain soil integrity and preserve our health. </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> Fortunately, some people are already stepping up to the challenge. Twenty-six communities in New Zealand are pioneering a national Zero Waste pilot program to significantly reduce the amount of materials headed for the landfill. Canberra, Australia and Toronto have even aimed to eliminate waste completely by 2010. In 2000, Iceland PLC, a 760-store UK supermarket chain, announced they were moving their own-label frozen vegetables to 100% organic.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> <strong><em>Sustainable Population Growth</em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><strong><em> </em></strong>The annual world population increase hit its peak in 1989 with 87 million people. Since then, many industrialized countries have stabilized their populations while developing countries still struggle with massive population growth. Wealthier nations must provide developing nations with the resources they need to curb their population explosion. These efforts need to be focused on improving the status of women, increasing access to family planning services and bringing economic opportunity to poverty stricken agricultural areas.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> There have already been some amazing successes around the globe. Bangladesh, the most densely populated country in the world, has actually decreased its annual population growth from approximately 6.4 to 3.4 children per woman. The majority of this decline is attributed to the regular use of contraceptives by 45% of Bangladeshis in 1996, an increase from less than 8% in 1975.</span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>Resources:</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"><em>State of the World 2001</em> by Lester Brown et al. W.W. Norton & Company. 2001. </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> This award-winning book provides in-depth but readable analysis of the greatest challenges rapid globalization brings to our world. Details global problems and presents potential solutions. Produced by the Worldwatch Institute.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> <em>Beyond Beef : The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture</em> by Jeremy Rifkin. Plume. 1993.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> Rifkin offers a comprehensive historical analysis of cattleâs role in our culture and the environmental impacts of a beef-based diet.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> <em>Natural Capitalism: creating the next industrial revolution.</em> by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and R. Hunter Lovins. Back Bay Books, 2000.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> Paul Hawken strikes an unusual middle ground between capitalism and environmentalism. He uses a number of modern day examples to illustrate what he sees as a trend towards more eco-friendly, better technologies coming in the near future along with more practical, sustainably run businesses.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> <em>Vital Signs 2000: The Environmental Trends That Are Shaping Our Future.</em> by Lester Brown, Michael Renner, and Brian Halweil. NY: W.W. Norton & Co., 1999.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> This yearly book from the World Watch Institute provides global statistics on a wide range of issue categories to keep you completely up-to-date on the state of the worldâs most pressing problems. It is considered one of the most well-respected and insightful publications of its kind.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> <em>Consumerâs Guide to Effective Environmental ChoicesI </em>by Michael Brower & The Union of Concerned Scientists. Three Rivers Press, 1999.</span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"><span style="font-size: 10px"> Brower has produced one of the few books that separates the wheat of environmental actions from the chaff with well-researched evidence to back him up. He focuses the reader on a handful the most effective actions you can take to really make a difference for our global ecological crisis.</span></span> </p> <p style="margin-left: 20px"></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="spnadmin, post: 127488, member: 35"] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=5][B]FOUNDATION #3: ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY[/B][/SIZE][/FONT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [FONT=Arial][I][B]A world committed to ecological sustainability would create a new vision of progress that recognizes that the future of humanity depends upon our ability to live in harmony and balance with our natural world.[/B][/I][/FONT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=4][B]CHALLENGES[/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][/FONT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [IMG]http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif[/IMG][FONT=Arial][B] Overconsumption of Resources[/B][/FONT] [IMG]http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif[/IMG][FONT=Arial][B] Air Pollution & Climate Change[/B][/FONT] [IMG]http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif[/IMG][FONT=Arial][B] Ecosystem Destruction[/B][/FONT] [IMG]http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif[/IMG][FONT=Arial][B] Overpopulation[/B][/FONT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [FONT=Arial][I][B]Overconsumption of Resources [/B][/I]Our demand for bigger, better, more convenient goods has taken its toll on our planet. David Korten, a former Harvard business professor and current president of the People Centered Development Forum, likens unrestrained economic growth to a cancer spreading across the planet. Like a cancer cell, our current system of economic growth leads to growth in overall size while quality-of-life often declines; progress moves forward regardless of the impacts upon our families, cultures, communities, and eco-systems. The insatiable jaws of development, for example, swiftly gobble up what remains of our open space. This growth ideology is penetrating into every corner of the globe. A 2000 report by the World Resources Institute found that increasing demands for natural resources are causing a rapid decline in many of the worldâs ecosystems. If this trend continues, they argue it will have severe implications for human development and the welfare of all species. The vast majority of the demand for natural resources comes from the rich industrialized nations of the world÷especially the United States. This is no surprise since the U.S. uses 120 pounds of natural resources per person per day and the average American consumes as much energy as:[/FONT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [FONT=Arial]2 Germans 6 Mexicans 12 Chinese 29 Indians 117 Bangladeshi[/FONT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [FONT=Arial]Since 1940, Americans alone have used up as large a share of the earthâs mineral resources as all previous humans put together. In fact, it would require three [I]additional[/I] Earths to support the human race if all people on the planet lived the extremely wasteful lifestyles of North Americans. [B][I]Air Pollution and Climate Change [/I][/B]Have you ever noticed a brown cloud hanging over big cities? Or inhaled the crisp, clean air when you camp in a remote wilderness area? Acid rain and air pollution, once problems only in Europe and parts of North America, are now becoming apparent in the Asia-Pacific region as well as parts of Latin America. Unfortunately, air pollution is more than just a smelly annoyance; it kills about 70,000 Americans each year (more people than die from breast and prostate cancers combined). And despite coordinated global action to try and limit air pollution, damage to the ozone layer continues faster than expected, with the next 10 years predicted to be the most vulnerable. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changeâs October 2000 report, human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases have substantially contributed to global warming. Again the U.S. is the biggest culprit÷emitting more than twice as much carbon dioxide (the primary global warming gas) per capita as the average rich industrialized nation (UK, Japan, Germany). Contributing to the problem, U.S. automobile fuel efficiency standards have not changed in 14 years (while the light truck standard (including SUVs) has stagnated for 19 years). Even as the oil and automobile industries are admitting that "precautionary action" is warranted to halt global warming, disputes between the U.S. and the European Union over carbon dioxide emissions led to the failure of November 2000 negotiations to curb global warming. [B][I]Ecosystem Destruction [/I][/B]According to the World Resources Institute, we have cut or otherwise destroyed nearly 80% of the worldâs ancient forests. The result is increased global warming, species extinction, and loss of potential medicines. Although rainforests only cover about 2% of the earthâs surface, they contain approximately 50% of all life forms. Development drives an average of 137 species to extinction each day; thatâs 50,000 each year. Pollution and overfishing threaten the health of our oceans and their myriad species of life. Despite numerous prohibitions on dumping toxic waste in the ocean, both the U.K. and France continue to unload reprocessed nuclear waste into the sea. The U.S. Justice Department also found a fleet wide conspiracy within Royal Caribbean cruise lines to save millions of dollars in disposal fees by covering up the dumping of oily waste into the ocean off of Puerto Rico. Overexploitation of marine fisheries and declining stocks of commercial fish species has created widespread alarm around the world. Globally, more than 60% of marine fisheries are over exploited. The quest for hefty profits rather than sustainable fishing has created a shortage that now threatens the entire industry and may lead to rampant species extinction. [B][I]Overpopulation [/I][/B]In October of 1999, the world's population surpassed 6 billion people, doubling in size since 1960. In 2000, the human population grew by over 212,000 people per day. We might like to think that overpopulation is India and Africaâs problem, not ours, but when population strains lead to deforestation, global warming, war, malnutrition, starvation and epidemics the problem becomes a global one. Overpopulation is a complex issue with a multitude of causes. The majority of women in the developing world want to control their fertility but currently donât have access to birth control options. Amazingly, in 1998, the U.S. Congress cancelled all funding to the United Nations Population Fund, the primary international family planning resource. Poverty, limited educational and occupational opportunities for women, and the lack of social safety nets further exacerbate this problem. As the developing world increasingly adopts a consumer lifestyle, the potential for ecological damage multiplies.[/FONT] [/INDENT] [FONT=Arial][SIZE=4][B]GOALS[/B][/SIZE][/FONT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [INDENT] [FONT=Arial][B] [IMG]http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif[/IMG] Cleaner Energy Sources[/B][/FONT] [IMG]http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif[/IMG][FONT=Arial][B] Minimal Waste[/B][/FONT] [IMG]http://www.betterworldhandbook.com/bullet.gif[/IMG][FONT=Arial][B] Sustainable Population Growth[/B][/FONT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [/INDENT] [FONT=Arial][I][B]Cleaner Energy Sources [/B][/I]One of the most important changes we as a society can make is shifting from fossil fuels to our most powerful and abundant natural resources: sun, wind, and hydrogen. We already have environmentally sound, energy-efficient technologies to harness these renewable energy sources ö we just need to use them. In 1997, the United Nations sponsored a global climate conference in Kyoto, Japan emphasizing the seriousness of global warming. The meetings produced a commitment from 159 countries to significantly reduce greenhouse emissions by 2012 (the US was not among them). As a consequence, the demand for non-polluting energy sources is increasing worldwide, and the costs of utilizing these technologies is steadily declining. The results are that a number of countries are accepting the challenge of moving to a cleaner energy economy. Global production of wind energy doubled from 1995-1998 (led by Germany), and sales of photovoltaic solar cells grew an average of 16% per year from 1990-1998. Iceland has launched pioneering efforts to harness geothermal and hydropower to produce hydrogen for use in cars and boats. Here in the US, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) uses sales mandates to stimulate technological innovation in the automobile industry for cleaner vehicles. By 2003, 4% of car and truck sales by the big six automakers must emit [I]zero[/I] pollutants, another 6% must have extremely low emissions (for example, hybrid electric cars). Other states have followed Californiaâs lead and now the CARB standards at least partly cover 30% of the U.S. market. Also to Californiaâs credit, in the Spring of 1999, Santa Monica, CA, became the first major city to meet its municipal energy needs entirely with green energy (geothermal). [B][I]Efficient Resource Use [/I][/B]If we are to live in balance with our surrounding environment we must learn from the principles of nature. The concept of "waste", for example, does not exist in the forest. A fallen tree becomes a home for animals and insects, and helps to fertilize the soil for surrounding plant life. We must also learn to "close the loop" and use resources wisely. In order to combat pollution, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, the U.K. and other countries are adopting Green taxes ö they lower income taxes and tax energy use, thereby encouraging energy efficiency and investments in wind and solar power. Many activists, consumers, and governments around the world are also holding industry to a higher standard of resource efficiency. In essence, they are holding the corporation responsible for the waste it creates [I]before[/I] it gets to the consumer. Encouraging examples of this kind of "reuse ethic" are happening all over the world. For instance the European Union has drafted legislation that states by the year 2005 European car producers must take back all cars they make free of charge by their producers, and must re-use or recycle 80% of the vehicle. Itâs also interesting to note that the worldâs largest producer of commercial floor coverings (Interface, Inc.) is on the cutting edge of environmentally sustainable businesses. They have implemented the principle of producer responsibility by using fewer materials, creating 100% recyclable carpets, and implementing customer leases that make Interface responsible for reclaiming the floor covering. Creating an economy where goods are produced, used, and remade into new products in the most environmentally responsible manner is a challenge that must involve all sectors of our society--businesses, all levels of government, and citizens from around the world. Making people pay for throwing away garbage would serve as an incentive to reuse and recycle. Governments must stop subsidizing environmentally destructive industries such as logging and oil with corporate tax breaks. Finally, switching from a pesticide and fertilizer based agricultural system to sustainable, organic farming will maintain soil integrity and preserve our health. Fortunately, some people are already stepping up to the challenge. Twenty-six communities in New Zealand are pioneering a national Zero Waste pilot program to significantly reduce the amount of materials headed for the landfill. Canberra, Australia and Toronto have even aimed to eliminate waste completely by 2010. In 2000, Iceland PLC, a 760-store UK supermarket chain, announced they were moving their own-label frozen vegetables to 100% organic. [B][I]Sustainable Population Growth [/I][/B]The annual world population increase hit its peak in 1989 with 87 million people. Since then, many industrialized countries have stabilized their populations while developing countries still struggle with massive population growth. Wealthier nations must provide developing nations with the resources they need to curb their population explosion. These efforts need to be focused on improving the status of women, increasing access to family planning services and bringing economic opportunity to poverty stricken agricultural areas. There have already been some amazing successes around the globe. Bangladesh, the most densely populated country in the world, has actually decreased its annual population growth from approximately 6.4 to 3.4 children per woman. The majority of this decline is attributed to the regular use of contraceptives by 45% of Bangladeshis in 1996, an increase from less than 8% in 1975. [/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=4][B]Resources:[/B][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial][/FONT][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][I]State of the World 2001[/I] by Lester Brown et al. W.W. Norton & Company. 2001. This award-winning book provides in-depth but readable analysis of the greatest challenges rapid globalization brings to our world. Details global problems and presents potential solutions. Produced by the Worldwatch Institute. [I]Beyond Beef : The Rise and Fall of the Cattle Culture[/I] by Jeremy Rifkin. Plume. 1993. Rifkin offers a comprehensive historical analysis of cattleâs role in our culture and the environmental impacts of a beef-based diet. [I]Natural Capitalism: creating the next industrial revolution.[/I] by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and R. Hunter Lovins. Back Bay Books, 2000. Paul Hawken strikes an unusual middle ground between capitalism and environmentalism. He uses a number of modern day examples to illustrate what he sees as a trend towards more eco-friendly, better technologies coming in the near future along with more practical, sustainably run businesses. [I]Vital Signs 2000: The Environmental Trends That Are Shaping Our Future.[/I] by Lester Brown, Michael Renner, and Brian Halweil. NY: W.W. Norton & Co., 1999. This yearly book from the World Watch Institute provides global statistics on a wide range of issue categories to keep you completely up-to-date on the state of the worldâs most pressing problems. It is considered one of the most well-respected and insightful publications of its kind. [I]Consumerâs Guide to Effective Environmental ChoicesI [/I]by Michael Brower & The Union of Concerned Scientists. Three Rivers Press, 1999. Brower has produced one of the few books that separates the wheat of environmental actions from the chaff with well-researched evidence to back him up. He focuses the reader on a handful the most effective actions you can take to really make a difference for our global ecological crisis.[/SIZE][/FONT] [/INDENT] [/QUOTE]
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