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Ecocities Emerging
To support humanity's transition into the Ecozoic Era
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February 2009
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Greetings,
Welcome to the February 2009 edition of Ecocities Emerging, an initiative of Ecocity Builders and the International Ecocity Conference Series.
"As we build, so shall we live" is the theme upon which the Ecocities Emerging initiative is predicated. This concept is rooted in the real. It seeks to underscore the impact of our collective actions within the context of who and where we are at the most basic level -- one out of well over five million species existing on a planetary body approximately twenty-eight thousand light years from the center of our galaxy and having evolved over a great deal of time. (Happy Birthday Charles Darwin, 12 Feb. 1809.)
But over time we've become experts in denial of the real, which in recent decades has involved creating a global economic system based on theories of unlimited resources and deferred payment. The system is designed to further reward those of us reaping the immediate benefits, and the ends justify the means -- as long as it means we keep getting what we want.
But with the recent collapse of this system, corresponding to the collapse of much of the resource base it was exploiting, the majority of us who were previously benefiting are not getting what we want any more. The good news is that with such a severe problem with the old model, we are finally more open to changing it. There now exists the hopeful possibility that the connection between the real world and how we live in it will finally be acknowledged and a new vision will emerge to begin bringing the two into balance.
We are struggling towards this new direction.The basic understanding of what needs to happen is already here, it's now a matter of building up enough energy to keep pushing through.
As we build, so shall we live.
Kirstin Miller, Ecocity Builders
Oakland, California, February 2009
ecocitybuilders.org
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The
Ecozoic Era refers to a vision, first promoted by cosmologist Thomas
Berry, of an emerging epoch when humanity lives in a mutually enriching
relationship with the larger community of life on Earth.
Will
we be able to make the transition in time to retain a biosphere healthy
enough to regenerate living systems now under extreme stress? There is
no way to be certain, but our position is that there's no time to just sit
around and wonder about it: now is time for action.
Thank
you for all that you are doing to help accelerate progress toward a
civilization in balance with living systems.
Maybe one day all cities
will be ecocities.
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Rights of Nature in New Ecuador Constitution
by Peter Berg
Chimborazo - Ecuador's highest peak
Ecuador has ratified a new constitution overflowing with innovations that make it a trail-blazing 21st Century governing document. Environmental awareness and protection are recognized on a particularly high level in response to present day revelations about local destruction of habitat and species as well as planetary climate change. These are covered as extensively as might be hoped for in sections of the new document titled "Good Life" and "Biodiversity and Natural Resources". But there is more than even environmentalists have previously sought. It is the first constitution in the world to grant "Rights of Nature."
Nature in Ecuador is now recognized to fully possess the "right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its natural cycles, structure, functions and its processes in evolution." To ensure these rights the government is responsible for "precaution and restriction measures in all the activities that can lead to the extinction of species, the destruction of ecosystems or the permanent alteration of natural cycles."
The concept isn't brand new. Wilderness advocates and leading ecologists such as Raymond Dasmann pleaded to grant legal rights to Nature nearly half a century ago, and it has been the subject of numerous "deep ecology" and some law articles and books. What is new to the point of near incomprehension is that this idea is now part of Ecuador's national purpose. Consider the broadest possibilities for interpretation. Don't the processes of resources extraction, manufacturing, energy production, large-scale agriculture, mass transportation, housing development, and nearly all other operations of contemporary society interfere with wild Nature? No one yet knows what laws will follow to carry out the intent of the new constitution, or how they will be applied. Imagine when the U.S. constitution first granted life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We will have to wait to discover what "Rights of Nature" actually means. This much is clear, the prospects for human consciousness have just widened considerably.
How did this happen in a country previously unknown for advanced ecological policies? There are at least as many themes in the national character of Ecuador as in any other country, but two stand out with undeniable clarity. One is that it has a continuous basis in Nature that is close and powerful. The other is that Ecuadorians are able to adapt rapidly to changes - ideas, technology, and fashion. It may have taken time for them to see the effects of large-scale environmental destruction but they have decided to stop it now in the firmest terms.
The grand scale of Ecuador's natural attributes and their significance to the rest of the world is a fixture in the national mind. A transit across the country starts with the Galapagos Islands offshore where Darwin formulated his evolution theories, continues to the coast on the Pacific Ocean which is often unpeopled and wild, moves inland to cloud forests with world-leading numbers of unique birds, plants and insects, ascends to extremely high peaks and major active volcanoes in the Andes Mountains, and finally encounters vast and dense Amazon Basin rain forests feeding oxygen to the planet's atmosphere. It is no accident that the country is the only one named for an earthly phenomenon, the equator that was first discovered there.
The speed of change can be neck-breakingly excessive. The worst result has been a long history of fast boom-bust agricultural innovations in this food-producing nirvana, most recently ruinous shrimp-farming that denuded habitat-harboring mangroves and pollutes main estuaries. Rapid transition can also bring undoubted benefits like Guayaquil's startling reversal from the worst-rated urban area in the world only ten years ago to today's notably attractive and amenable largest city in the nation. To keep Ecuador's equilibrium, almost half of the population still remains culturally indigenous with loyalties to traditional communities, and most people retain allegiances to large families that have a prevailing influence in social and economic relations. These socially conservative factors act like ballast as Ecuador roars past.
The monumental presence of Nature itself and a cultural flair for change account in a large part for how "Rights of Nature" came to be, and will likely continue to shape the way they are interpreted in the legal laboratory of constitutional law.
Peter Berg, founder of Planet Drum Foundation, has been its director for 35 years. He is a noted ecologist, author and speaker. Planet Drum has been working with the city of Bahia de Caraquez, Equador since 1999 doing revegetation, recycling, alternative energy and other ecocity projects. This month celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Declaration of Bahia de Caraquez as an Eco-City. For more information see www.planetdrum.org.
This article originally appeared in the Planet Drum PULSE, Planet Drum Foundation's Newsletter, and is reprinted with their permission.
Free Public Event: March 11th, 7:30-9:30pm How Can Making Products Locally From Recyclables Solve Local Economic Challenges?
CounterPULSE, 1310 Mission Street (near 9th Street), San Francisco.
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FEATURED NGO
WORK FOR A BETTER BANGLADESH
http://www.wbbtrust.org
Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose goal is to improve public health and the environment through research, material development, advocacy, media work, capacity building of NGOs, and networking.
Specifically, they seek to improve health, personal and national economy, and the environment by promoting non-motorized transport and public transit in place of private cars; by supporting policies to reduce active and passive tobacco use; and by reducing noise pollution and the use of disposable plastics and plastic bags. They also seek to improve the condition of all citizens by working for a more gender-equitable society and reducing violence against women.
WBB's mission is to empower citizens to work to improve their health and environment, and to make their surroundings more healthful and livable.
Streets of Dhaka
WBB ON URBAN STRUCTURE
Could a different approach to urban planning restore quality of life for all city residents? What if nature were allowed back into cities, green spaces-for recreation and agriculture-restored, and safe and convenient travel by efficient and non-polluting means prioritized? WBB believes that such an approach, already being adopted in cities throughout the world, is the only solution to the many urban problems facing Dhaka and other Bangladeshi cities. Separating uses within cities is a common but harmful practice. Forcing people to travel more results in a range of problems including traffic congestion, high fuel use, pollution, and road injuries and deaths. By emphasizing access over mobility, people can meet their needs within their own neighborhoods, freeing up time and money for more important things, such as family and leisure. Every part of the city should contain a mix of homes, offices, schools, health care, shops, and other services. Only polluting factories should be relegated to the city outskirts, if allowed at all. It also makes no sense to separate urban planning from transport policy. The two must be developed in close coordination, so that they complement each other. It does no good to discourage car use if locations are far apart and no good public transport system exists; similarly, simply having mixed use areas is insufficient if traffic is so heavy that people cannot cross the street to access nearby goods and services. By working together to create a mixed-use city that emphasizes short-distance travel made by fuel-free means, public transit for long distances, and trains for travel between cities, many urban problems can be solved simultaneously, and much space and money freed up for other activities. When planning cities, it is also essential to ensure space for nature, recreation, and agriculture. People have many needs beyond earning money and moving about. One essential but often unmet need is for recreation and a chance to reconnect with nature. Trees, parks, and water bodies (rivers, lakes, natural canals) are all vital. Free outdoor recreation also encourages the mixing of different types of people, promoting the civilization upon which all cities rest for their healthful existence.  WBB supports bicycle programs for boys and girls in Dhaka |
Car-Free Journey
by Steve Atlas
As the cold weather continues, many of us long to get away and enjoy a warm car-free vacation. Last month, we visited Fort Myers Beach, Florida. This month, our destination is historic Charleston, South Carolina: a city with history and charm, wonderful gardens, and an easy boat ride to Fort Sumter: the place where the Civil War (also called The War Between the States) began.
Introducing Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston has a rich history beautiful historic district, and distinct southern charm. The magnificent beauty of Charleston, SC makes it a city that is easy to fall in love with, and impossible to forget. The topography includes tidal marshes, saltwater lakes, freshwater lakes, wide-mouthed rivers, bays, coves, the Atlantic Ocean and its beaches. The mild weather, unforgettable gardens, and special charm of the historic area make Charleston a special place to live. Because it is a compact city, transit serves many parts of Charleston.
Getting There Without Driving
AMTRAK trains, Greyhound buses, and various airlines make it easy to visit Charleston without driving. Airlines serving Charleston include: Air Tran (budget airline), American Airlines Eagle, Continental, Delta, Northwest, United Express, and US Air.
Public transportation makes it easy and affordable to travel downtown to Charleston's historic area, after you arrive. CARTA (Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority) Route 11 serves both the Airport and Greyhound Bus Station.
From the AMTRAK station, it's a two-block walk to the corner of Rivers Ave. and Durant. At that corner, take CARTA's Route 10 downtown.
"read on"
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Ecocity World Summit 2009
Istanbul Turkey, December 13-15
http://www.ecocity2009.com
Organized by Yildiz Technical University Faculty Of Architecture, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and
Parantez International in Istanbul
Hagia Sophia is a former patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Famous in particular for its massive dome that from inside seems to float on light, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture. CONGRESS ORGANIZATIONADVISORY BOARD Mr. Richard Register, Ecocity Builders, USA Prof. Dr. Huseyin Cengiz, Yıldız Technical University, Turkey Prof. Dr. Semra Atabay, Yıldız Technical University, Turkey Mr. Paul Downtown, Ecopolis Architects, Australia Mr. Rusong Wang, Ecological Society of China Ms. Kirstin Miller, Ecocity Builders, USA Dr. Zeynep Kaçmaz OZTURK, Eko Şehir, Turkey LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITEE Prof. Dr. Huseyin CENGİZ - Chair Prof. Dr. Semra ATABAY Dr. Zeynep Kaçmaz OZTURK CONGRESS ADMINISTRATION Dr. Zeynep K. OZTURK / Administrator Ass. Prof. Dr. Yigit EVREN Ass. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Doruk OZUGUL Ass. Prof. Dr. Elif Ornek OZDEN Dr. Aysegul OZBAKIR
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The Economy -- Complex but Comprehensible?
by Richard Register
Suburbs hit the wall of the absurd, the surrealistic
Allison Arieff, New York Times writer, and I were having lunch at San Francisco's Ferry Building two weeks ago. She had just written a piece called "What will save the Suburbs?" which I had run across reading the Times on the internet. I wrote to her about "rolling back sprawl" and she wrote back. This almost never happens. Everyone wants to stay comfortable. Not Allison. She wanted to think further about it. So I gave her my answer. What will save the suburbs? Turning them into real villages, towns and small cities. Find their centers, build them up with the full range of life's activities work, play, selling, shopping, sleeping, eating, celebrating, learning, dancing, singing, everything at close proximity. Roll back sprawl toward those centers, removing and recycling buildings by willing seller deals, worst off buildings first liberating from asphalt the world of agriculture and nature. Won't happen over night but it can be done and healthy changes will turn up in a matter of only months. That or catastrophic collapse.
Rio Vista "Hearth and Home at Liberty" development outside of Rio Vista, California, San Francisco Chronicle image.
She threw a couple of my comments into her next Times article, "What Will Save the Suburbs, Part 2," and by the time you read this I will have visited and photographed one of the more extreme cases of suburban collapse where the wave of suburban expansion hits the wall of absurdity and begins rolling back to reasonable acreage and vital town centers: Hearth and Home at Liberty. That's a would be 558 unit sprawl development just outside Rio Vista, California where thirteen model homes were built after the streets were paved and then all abandoned to dust and tumbleweeds.
What will the bail out build?
$2.5 trillion? That's a pretty big bank bailout, you might be thinking. Hope it works. All that new money channeled through the lenders as new and restructured loans is supposed to re-grease American's spending habits and with luck, as we start borrowing again and consuming every impulse item from China we can think of, and out around the world the wave of growth will once again sweep the planet. We can get our cushy jobs back, the ten million
suddenly unemployed Chinese can return to their factories and we can breath a sigh of relief safe in our growing pile of stuff again. Back to that dream of infinite growth in a finite environment, all sealed within that thin bubble-like film of life between deathly cold space above and Hades' hot magma below. Barack Obama has a lot of courage but maybe not yet enough to say, this ain't working any more. Or maybe the vision just isn't clear enough yet to say this is how we roll back sprawl.
Sinking cities
I was visiting China in October you know, Black October of the Crash of 2008 gliding over the sunken suburbs and farmlands of Huaibei (pronounced why-bay). We were guests in a tiny boat with smaller outboard motor straining forward. I was trying to grasp, with the eight other glum-faced international experts assembled by Professor Rusong Wang of the Chinese Academy of Science, what it really meant for all those thousands of acres to subside into the still waters as the sodden coalmines on which the city's economy had been built caved in, one tunnel after another, far below.
Ghostly shells of farmhouses drifted by under our boat in the murky water.
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The Local Living Economies Movement Manifesto
Maximizing relationships, not maximizing profits Growth of consciousness and creativity, not brands and market-share, Democracy and decentralized ownership, not concentrated wealth. A living return, not the highest return. A fair price, not the lowest price. Sharing, not hoarding, Simplicity, not gluttony, Life serving, not self-serving. Partnership, not domination. Cooperation based, not competition based. Win-win exchange, not win-loose exploitation. Family farms, not factory farms. Bio-diversity, not monocrops. Cultural diversity, not monoculture. Creativity, not conformity. Slow food, not fast food. Our bucks, not Starbucks. Our mart, not Wal-Mart. Valuing life over life-style. And as the Earth Charter says, "Being more, not having more." - Judi Wicks Judy Wicks is owner and founder of Philadelphia's 25-year-old White Dog Cafe, and is a national leader in the local, living economies movement. She is co-founder of the nationwide Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), and founder of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN). She is also president of White Dog Community Enterprises, a non-profit 501c3 dedicated to building a local living economy in the Philadelphia region.
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ECO-City Project
Joint ECO-City developments
in Scandinavia and Spain
 Project Manager, ECO-City in Tudela, SpainThe aim of the "ECO-City project" is to demonstrate innovative integrated energy concepts in the supply and demand side in three successful communities in Denmark/Sweden, Spain and Norway, respectively the cross border community of Helsingĝr and Helsingborg, the community of Tudela and the community of Trondheim. From the outset the three communities all have an advanced energy profile in comparison to other national and neighbouring communities and activities initiated as part "ECO-City" hence builds on that platform.  Trondheim, NorwayThe large number of demonstration activities are based on both the demand, i.e. demonstration of ECO-buildings and rational use of energy, and the production side, i.e. demonstration of various renewable energy technologies. All demonstration projects are defined in a "Whole Community Approach", in which all project initiatives are considered as integrated components. The aim being to ensure optimal interaction and balancing of the demand and supply at all times. The activities will be coordinated between the three communities to exploit and learn from experiences across borders and traditions. Associated community, Zilina, Slovak RepublicThe role of the associated community Zilina is to receive inspiration and input from the ECO-City projects and concepts. Also neighbouring municipalities to the project in the three project communities will be targeted through specific dissemination activities.  Zilina, Slovak RepublicSummary of ECO-City objectives for the Tudela CommunityRenewable energy supplyA wind farm with two 1.5 to 3.0 MW turbines is currently being planned. It will be located at the northern boundary of Tudela on top of the hills, as this particular area has a significant wind potential. Furthermore 2,000 m2 of solar collectors for domestic hot tap water, space heating and possibly district heating will be installed to supply the buildings. Finally some 4,000 m2 of photovoltaic panels will be integrated in the energy system contributing significantly to the 100% RES supply of the community. Energy efficiency in buildingsAn ECO-community of 70,000 m2 dwellings within the neighbourhood called 'Campo de Golf', located inside the red dot line, lies at the north western boundary of Tudela. The objective there is to cover all the energy demand of the neighbourhood with 100% renewable energy sources on yearly balance and to apply technologies for efficient use of energy. This will allow achieving a 'zero-emission' community. Use of bioclimatic architecture, passive solar heating and energy storage in thermal mass will be included. Specific innovationsIn addition to the construction of new building and renewable energy production facilities, the use of advanced metering and supply / demand control system will be integrated in the buildings. Also socio-economic project monitoring will be undertaken among the future community inhabitants and reported separately. Click here for more information on this project Project co-funded by the European Commission
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Principal Features of an Ecocity
http://www.ecocityprojects.net/
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Ecocities Emerging Sponsors and Partners
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An eco-friendly place to live, work and play.
Designed for people, animals and the earth.
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Click here for more information and to register for classes
in the Sustainable Design Program at UC Berkeley Extension.
Go Green with Berkeley!
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