Proutist Economic Development Peoples Economy and Ecodesign Dr

Proutist Economic Development People’s Economy and Ecodesign Dr. Michael Towsey 2004 Proutist Universal 1

People’s Economy • Sarkar: "In drafting the economic plan of a particular region, local engineers, economists, scientists, professionals, technicians, farmers, industrial labourers, intellectuals and other specialists should be consulted. . . " • Why? • Because people‘s economy is about design for the people ecological design, urban design, architectural design, workplace design. • Three examples from Cuba, Brazil, Columbia. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal 2

1. Urban Agriculture • Department of Urban Agriculture, Cuba. Three components: organoponicos, garden clubs, seed banks. • Green Team with Australian Conservation Foundation. Further information: robin@earthcare. com. au Organic farming, intercropping, permaculture. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal 3

2. Green Pharmacy • Future Vision Eco-village Parangaba, Brazil Dr. Susan Andrews • Prosperity through bio-economics – the linking of economics, ecology and spirituality. www. visaofuturo. org. br • Urban agriculture, Cuba: – – medicinal herbs grown with food crops; these low cost medicines are integrated into the public health care system. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal 4

3. ZERI Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives • Founded by Gunter Pauli in early 1990 s. • Principle: waste equals food. • Cluster industries so as to have zero wastes: – waste from one industry is resource for another industry. • 50 projects on 5 continents. • ZERI has research centre in Las Gaviotas, Columbia. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal 5

ZERI – coffee plantation project, Columbia Problem: Waste from coffee industry pollutes water ways. Solution: Profitable industries to process coffee waste. • www. zeri. org Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal 6

Eco-design no waste = maximum utilisation of all resources; = high resource productivity. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal 7

Eco-design in South America http: //www. zeri. org Students, Brazil Paolo Lugari, Columbia Dr. Michael Towsey Reforestation, Proutist Universal. Columbia 8

An economy is a living system Economic boundary energy Self-sufficient balanced economy heat Ecodesign: recycle everything within the economy. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal 9

Resource productivity • Industrial revolution – multiplied labour productivity. • Informatoin revolution – multiplied information productivity. • The next revolution – will multiply natural resource productivity. • "Natural Capitalism – the Next Industrial Revolution", Paul Hawken et al, publisher Earth. Scan, 2000. • "An analysis of how the world would work if the world‘s 'natural capital' were properly valued. . . " - The Financial Times. • "This is huge deal!" – Bill Clinton. Dr. Michael Towsey Proutist Universal 10