This book left me feeling optimistic about the future, and the potential of humankind to begin to make changes for the better. It should be in use in schools, to inspire the industrial designers of the next generation.

Many of the ideas put forward in this book are based on observation of nature, specifically in comparison with how industrialisation grew and has spread globally. Interesting to note is the abundance of the natural world, plants produce huge quantities of petals, leaves and seeds in order to reproduce, but the petals, leaves and other organic materials are not wasted, but are part of the life cycle, breaking down to become compost. Human design is so short-sighted when it comes to considering the ‘afterlife’ of products, beyond recycling or the landfill.

The beauty of diversity is also covered, that the one-size-fits-all approach human designs sometimes have is not reflected in organic development. Traditional or indigenous buildings being an excellent example of this, having developed in response to varying weather conditions and needs of the occupants.

But enough from me, track it down and read it for yourself!

This was available at my local library, for more information visit this site:

www.mcdonough.com

Auckland War Memorial Museum present the effects of deadly nuclear warfare.

A chilling story from a German missionary living in Japan re-tells what he witnessed:
dw-world.de

view here

From an article in National Geographic more…

Photos of the giant catch here.

Related links:
From the Herald
Stardome
From the Northern Hemisphere

Go NASA!

Where do you go to get permission to start firing at such “heavenly bodies”?
Is it really about unlocking the secrets of the universe or weakly disguised weapons testing?

Great to see global issues brought down to a local level.

David Suzuki Foundation

End of Suburbia highlights just how unsustainably these resources have been used. ‘Suburbia’, or ‘The American Dream’ is far more fragile than ever before imagined, we have become lulled into thinking that we can continue consuming power and products like there is no tomorrow.

Some experts; writers, geologists and other scientists suggest that we are already on the way down, we have reached a global peak and from now prices will continue to rise, demand continue to increase – and politicians will get desperate, as we have already seen ample evidence with Americas war for oil in Iraq.

Now we need to think ahead, our resources are limited, and so we must think sustainably, to move forward. On a positive note, one writer believes that this may force people to become neighbourly again, we will need to work together, and we can make changes on a local level.

This documentary was screened in Auckland by The Green Party NZ.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2946715.stm

Uranium-238 is a trace element that remains after uranium-235 has been used in reactors or in the making of nuclear weapons. When radioactive particles collide and interact with human cells and body tissue, they interfere with cell division, breaking the body down on a cellular level. One part of fallout from atomic bombs is strontium 90, and according to the wikkipedia, is mistaken by the human body for calcium and so is deposited in the bones where it remains and continues to poison the body.

Highlighting the hypocrisy of Americas assault on Iraq to find ‘weapons of mass destruction’, this article http://www.counterpunch.org/du.html notes that the Pentagon refused disclose the chemical and metallic properties of its munitions, following reports of peacekeepers working in Sarajevo coming down with cancers.

http://www.mindfully.org/Nucs/Cancer-After-DU-Bomb.htm

Like many of us I am concerned about my and my families health, and am bombared by the media trying to sell the latest fad to lower cholesterol, reduce fat, improve fitness and the list goes on. Although I am aware that NutraSweet and Equal contain a nerve agent, I was never convinced that I ought replace sugar with this synthetic product, and given the choice between sugar and an artificial sweetener the choice is easy. After reading this article by Dr Joseph Mercola I was more convinced than ever that neither product is fit for human consumption. It is a long article but, do read to the end, if you are happy using NutraSweet or Equal, please consider the effect it can have on a child.

Interesting to learn the effect aspartame has on the production of serotonin, and how this food aditive promoted as dietry supplement actually stimulates hunger cravings rather than satisfying them.

Aspartame – fruad and deception

excitotoxins.info

Snopes.com