Patrick, thanks for this post. I'd visited the Swedish TNS site, and had
brought the idea to my old agency, but didn't have the US site. I'll look
it over, but have already forwarded the address to my former boss who will,
I'm sure, be interested.
TNS is, I believe, the most well-thought-out attempt to both define and
implement some steps toward ecological sustainability anyone has come up
with yet.
Its big problem, though, is and always has and will be getting enough people
to sign on and (be able to) follow it. The "Four System Conditions" are
very tough to meet; few individuals -- let alone corporations, which move
much more slowly (and unwillingly) than individuals -- can lead lives which
meet those criteria.
TNS as yet seems to lack a way to get its concepts in front of those who
need it most (but, Steve being one of those <g> you may have done _some_
good).
[log in to unmask] - Tallahassee, FL
>Steve,
>
>The Natural Step (TNS) is a framework for achieving sustainability. It is
>an environmental organisation founded by the Swedish oncologist,
>Karl-Hendrick Robert in 1989. It operates in a number of countries
>including the US, and Australia, UK, Canada and NZ.. An examination of
>websites can you give you a broad understanding. In 1996 Robert, with Paul
>Hawken, created an international umbrella organisation.
>
>However suffice to say at this time that it is based upon four 'system
>conditions'. Below is an extract from one of the documents. It is a
>process being adopted by an increasing number of companies worldwide: Ikea,
>Homebase, Interface and Manningham City Council here in Australia. This
>latter is achieving ISO 14000 based upon the Natural Step. Also it is
>interesting to note that the University of Texas, Houston, has recently
>built a building using TNS as its framework for decision making.
>
>Some of the sites:
>>patrick
>What is the Natural Step?
>THE NATURAL STEP FRAMEWORK
>
snip
>
>
>
>THE FOUR SYSTEM CONDITIONS
>System Condition 1
>Substances extracted from the Earth's crust must not systematically
>increase in nature.
>This means that, in a sustainable society, fossil fuels, metals and other
>materials are not extracted at a faster pace than their slow redeposit into
>the Earth's crust or their absorption by nature.
>
>System Condition 2
>Substances produced by society must not systematically increase in nature.
>This means that, in a sustainable society,substances are not produced at a
>faster pace than they can be broken down and reintegrated by nature or
>redeposited into the Earth's crust.
>
>System Condition 3
>The physical basis for the productivity and the diversity of nature must
>not be systematically diminished.
>This means that, in a sustainable society, the productive surfaces of
>nature are not diminished in quality or quantity, and we must not harvest
>more from nature than can be recreated.
>
>System Condition 4
>We must be fair and efficient in meeting basic human needs.
>This means that, in a sustainable society, basic human needs must be met
>with the most resource-efficient methods possible, including a just
>resource distribution.
>CORE VALUES OF THE NATURAL STEP
>
snip
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