QUOTES
If
we think systematically, we will stop asking, "How much is nature worth?" We will
know that we are a piece of nature ourselves.
Today,
we measure Gross National Product as a measurement of growth, which is a very
primitive measure of the flows needed to meet human needs. The GNP means that
if we have a certain population to support, and we succeed in supporting it by
doubling the needed input in our process, the GNP doubles, and we measure that
as a success — whereas anybody can understand that the economy is less efficient
if it takes more resources to meet the same needs. Still, that is how we measure
economic success. We really need to find a new economic system in which we measure
instead how efficient the economy is in meeting human needs with as few resources
as possible. This is what "economy" means...
What
the earth needs most is a variety of useful models—model homes, buildings, companies,
communities, and countries, all demonstrating how to make the transition from
linear to cyclical processes. Positive examples are an extremely powerful force
for change, and it takes only a small proportion of a population—perhaps as little
as 15%—to stimulate dramatic improvements. With the right leadership, Berlin Walls
can fall, and bleached paper products can be replaced by less harmful alternatives.
"Business
is the economic engine of our Western culture, and if it could be transformed
to truly serve nature as well as ourselves, it could become essential to our rescue."
"Fairness
is an efficiency parameter if we look at the whole global civilization. It is
not an efficient way of meeting human needs if one billion people starve while
another billion have excess. It would be more efficient to distribute resources
so that at least vital needs were met everywhere. Otherwise, for example, if kids
are starving somewhere, dad goes out to slash and burn the rain forest to feed
them -- and so would I if my kids were dying. And this kind of destruction is
everyone's problem, because we live in the same ecosphere."
