Human-Ecological Resilience, Consilience, and Consciousness

ROGER HALLAM - THE TIME IS NOW

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 22:11:00 +0000

Climate change: a cry from the future | FT

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 11:28:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:03:00 +0000

Vector-Borne Diseases:

Understanding the Environmental, Human Health, and Ecological Connections

Sustainability Resources at the National Academies of Science

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:36:00 +0000

Sustainability Resources at the National Academies of Science

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:32:00 +0000

Sustainability Resources at the National Academies

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:16:00 +0000

Encyclopedia of Earth- Millenium Ecosystem Assessment on Biodiversity

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:50:00 +0000

http://www.eoearth.org/article/Millennium_Ecosystem_Assessment_on_Biodiversity

Encyclopedia of Earth
Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Earth, an electronic reference about the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society. The Encyclopedia is a free, expert-reviewed collection of articles written by scholars, professionals, educators, and experts who collaborate and review each other's work. The articles are written in non-technical language and are useful to students, educators, scholars, professionals, as well as to the general public.

Fungal Diseases - An Emerging Challenge to Human, Animal and Plant Health

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:09:00 +0000

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13147

Fungal Diseases: An Emerging Challenge To Human, Animal, and Plant Health - Workshop Summary
Fungal diseases have contributed to death and disability in humans, triggered global wildlife extinctions and population declines, devastated agricultural crops, and altered forest ecosystem dynamics. Despite the extensive influence of fungi on health and economic well-being, the threats posed by emerging fungal pathogens to life on Earth are often underappreciated and poorly understood. On December 14 and 15, 2010, the IOM's Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop to explore the scientific and policy dimensions associated with the causes and consequences of emerging fungal diseases

2011 Ecumenical Lenten Carbon Fast

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:45:00 +0000

2011 Ecumenical Lenten Carbon Fast

"As we write this invitation, the World Meteorological Organization along with NOAA and NASA all have data showing 2010 tied with 2005 for being the hottest year on record . We also read that in December 2010, Arctic sea-ice cover was the lowest on record. Just as humanity now recognizes climate change as a predominant scientific, economic and political issue, we also realize it is a profound moral issue. Life on earth as we know it is mortal – it is susceptible to change, hurt and, yes, death."

The Tangled Bank | The New York Academy of Sciences

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:28:00 +0000

Link to a New York Academy of Sciences podcast discussion with the author, Carl Zimmer of his highly reviewed book, The Tangled Bank | The New York Academy of Sciences.

Bob Kates’ Reader in Sustainability Science and Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:35:00 +0000

Kates, Robert W., ed. 2010. Bob Kates’ Reader in Sustainability Science and Technology. CID Working Paper No. 213. Center for International Development, Harvard University. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, December 2010.

Harvard Prof. William Clark writes, " The Reader is several things. First, Bob offers an intellectual structure for the field of sustainability science, including the basic science of human-environment systems, the challenges of sustainable development that motivate that science, and the applications to specific problems that show its utility. This is not the only structure possible, but it is a deep and powerful one that many of us who “test piloted” the Reader have found to be enormously useful in ordering our own thinking. Second, Kates has populated his map of sustainability science with a carefully selected set of individual readings, most published during the last decade but also including some of the classics that constitute the foundations of the field. Finally, he has provided invaluable context and connections through his narrative introductions to his structuring of the field and his commentaries on the individual papers he has selected. The result is an original creation of great value and wisdom from which all interested in the field of sustainability science will benefit for years to come."

Prof. R.W. Kates - Independent Scholar, Trenton, ME

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:22:00 +0000

Robert W. Kates (born Jan 31, 1929) is an American geographer and independent scholar in Trenton, Maine, and University Professor (Emeritus) at Brown University. His personal, reflective website chronicles his lengthy, productive academic career working on integrative issues of human-ecological interdependence and resilience, an overview of which is contained in Kates, Robert W. “Queries on the Human Use of the Earth.” Annual Review of Energy and Environment, 2001. 26:1-26. He notes "[T]he central question of my scientific work has been: what is and ought to be the human use of the earth? It has been pursued collectively, with mentor, colleagues, students, and friends, As with most grand queries, ours is studied not grandly but in reduced ways, as a set of more specific research questions related to hazards, environment, hunger, and sustainable development. Regarding hazard, I tried to understand why people persist in occupying areas subject to natural and technological hazards and how adaptation made this possible. An extended stay in Africa to research both environment and development led to new queries. Why does the Malthusian dilemma persist with concerns evolving from food sufficiency for the population to resource scarcity to the basic life-support systems and the chemical cycles of the biosphere? How has humankind transformed the earth, indeed can life be sustained? Why does hunger persist amid a world of plenty, and what can be done to end it? Can there be a transition to sustainability that over the next two generations would meet human needs and reduce hunger and poverty while maintaining the essential life support systems of the planet? All these themes and the research methods used to pursue them come together in an emerging sustainability science."

Community and Regional Resilience Institute (US)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:13:00 +0000

The Community and Regional Resilience Institute (CARRI) believes that resilient communities are the foundation of a strong and resilient nation. Community resilience encompasses an entire community (physical infrastructure, economic and social capital, natural environment, and systems/essential services) and its ability to resist and/or rapidly recover from extreme events. Over the last three years, CARRI has worked to understand how these aspects of resilience combine and interact to effect the reslience of communities. By combining the results from a cadre of distinguished researchers and insights from communities, CARRI has brought to life a uniqe viewpoint on what it means to be a resilient community. Collectively, these participants have articulated four critical needs to improve community resilience.

An understanding of community resilience has now advanced to a place where a national conversation is imperative. In 2010 CARRI convened a distinct group of representatives (academia, private sector, faith-based, non-governmental, and all levels of government) to embark on the Community Resilience System Initiative (CRSI), a comprehensive undertaking to articulate the common understanding of community resilience and ultimately build a national System aimed at helping communities. CARRI strives to be the catalyst of a practical community resilience system that will contribute to a national culture of resilience by working with stakeholders to create the structure, processes, and tools to encourage, support, and reward community resilience. CARRI is organized into five divisions (as depicted above) and is available to assist communities, leaders and policy makers at all levels.

The Pimm Group - A Future for Species Preservation and Conservation

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:53:00 +0000

A Future for Species Preservation and Conservation -http://thepimmgroup.org/

The Pimm Group is led by Dr. Stuart Pimm, Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University. His students and others have contributed since 2003 to this website, including dozens of blog posts on topics related to biodiversity, conservation, ornithology, economics, GIS science, natural disaster impacts and much more.

"We have a moral responsibility to protect the world’s ‘special places’–those richest in biodiversity and most threatened by human advances." – Dr. Stuart Pimm

Nic Marks: The Happy Planet Index on TED

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:40:00 +0000

Nic Marks: The Happy Planet Index - Statistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation's success by its productivity -- instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people. He introduces the Happy Planet Index, which tracks national well-being against resource use (because a happy life doesn't have to cost the earth). Which countries rank highest in the HPI? You might be surprised.

PROBLEMA - the Film

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:10:00 +0000

PROBLEMA - Who are we in the 21st Century?

A cinematic interpretation of the world's largest round table gathering, PROBLEMA is a visually imaginative, thought-provoking invitation to a world of global dilemmas. Spanning seventeen questions confronting who we are and where we're going, the film follows the insights, perceptions, reflections and views of over 100 people from more than 50 nations sat together in one circle.

A not-for-profit production, PROBLEMA is freely available to watch and to download via this website. If you'd like to support the film, we encourage you to host a screening, to sign our guestbook or to consider making a micro-donation to help further its human connection.

'problema' from Latin problema (genitive problematis) 'problem', 'puzzle', 'enigma', 'question proposed for solution', from Ancient Greek πρόβλημα (problema, 'obstacle'), from προβάλλω (proballo, 'to throw or lay something in front of someone', 'to put forward'), from prefix προ- (pro-, 'in front of') + βάλλω (ballo, 'to throw', 'to cast', 'to hurl').

Native Spirit Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:55:00 +0000

Native Spirit Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organisation, which promotes the knowledge and preservation of Indigenous Cultures and supports education in indigenous communities.

Native Spirit Foundation was founded and is directed by the Mapuche artist and filmmaker Freddy Treuquil. He is a longstanding and prominent member of the indigenous Mapuche community in Patagonia.

Native Spirit holds an annual Festival of Films, talks and performances celebrating indigenous culture, which takes place in London and Spain. During the year Native Spirit also organises events such as fundraisers, musical, art exhibition and film screenings, providing a platform to indigenous artists to showcase their work.

Native Spirit supports educational projects throughout Latin America, providing funding, technical and human resources for school in indigenous communities. We work within the concept of La Nueva Escuela (The New School), a proposal for autonomous education within indigenous communities based on an indigenous understanding of life

Global Threats to Human Water Security and River Biodiversity - Nature (2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 20:24:00 +0000

Global Threats to Human Water Security and River Biodiversity. Rivers maintain unique biotic resources and provide critical water supplies to people. The Earth's limited supplies of fresh water and irreplaceable biodiversity are vulnerable to human mismanagement of watersheds and waterways. Multiple environmental stressors, such as agricultural runoff, pollution and invasive species, threaten rivers that serve 80 percent of the world’s population. These same stressors endanger the biodiversity of 65 percent of the world’s river habitats putting thousands of aquatic wildlife species at risk. Efforts to abate fresh water degradation through highly engineered solutions are effective at reducing the impact of threats but at a cost that can be an economic burden and often out of reach for developing nations.

Bioquest

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:03:00 +0000

BioQUEST - Community Resources for Problem Solving in Biology actively supports undergraduate biology education through collaborative development of open curricula in which students pose problems, solve problems, and engage in peer review.

Survival International - Movement for Tribal Peoples

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:36:00 +0000

Survival International - The movement for tribal peoples. Survival is the only organization working for tribal peoples’ rights worldwide. We work with hundreds of tribal communities and organizations. We are funded almost entirely by concerned members of the public and some foundations. We will not take national government money, because governments are the main violators of tribal peoples’ rights, nor will we take money from companies which might be abusing tribal peoples.

Welcome to EarthDay 2011 - A Billion Acts of Green®

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:28:00 +0000

Earthday 2011 - For over 40 years, Earth Day—April 22—has inspired and mobilized individuals and organizations worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability.

The Global Action Research Center (Global ARC)

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:44:00 +0000

Global ARC

The Global ARC is led by a mix of educators, researchers, scientists, professionals and community organizers all of whom are dedicated to critical study, open dialog, social learning and shared problem solving through place-based approaches. We join forces with one another through partnerships and networking that foster globally-mindedness and equity in planning research, education and practice.

Vision
A world of healthy communities, watersheds and foodsheds where people work together successfully and life flourishes.

Mission
Enable bioregional self-reliance through collaborative partnerships, networking and the integration of urban and rural sustainability solutions.

Does this say it all??

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 14:07:00 +0000

Earthday

Coming Home - The Birth & Transformation of the Planetary Era - Sean M. Kelly

noreply@blogger.com (Gregory Hellyer) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 15:16:00 +0000

Coming Home - The Birth & Transformation of the Planetary Era
With the threat of global climate change, a looming mass extinction of species, and increasingly complex and volatile geopolitical relations, the entire Earth Community has entered a most critical phase of what the author describes as the “Planetary Era.” This era began some five hundred years ago with the conquest of the Americas and the Copernican revolution in cosmology, but it is just now becoming a defining feature of human consciousness on a global scale.