Sustainability Principles Online Dialogue

Resources for educational strategies:
Alex Gerber, Jr.s 2001 book, Wholeness: On Education, Buckminster Fuller, and Tao. Superb, with rich bibliography and resource lists.
Kirby Urner's many posting on the web about synergetics curricula and Bucky's ideas and programs.

We can all look for ways to participate in large action programs, but I am increasingly convinced that local community involvement is the most critical path. Gary Snyder and Wendell Berry are my mentors here. In their thinking, their poetry, and their personal lives, they try to integrate all five of the principles of this dialog.

This idea of building a local model that works is fully consistent with Bucky's design science approach: build a tool that solves a problem and, if it offers real value, others will use it. Snyder and Berry advocate (through non-technological means) lifestyles that are tools to solve global ecological and cultural problems.

Alex Herwitz
I like what BuckyFan has to say, and I agree that the task is enormous and really involves a paradigm shift(which I am also fairly certain is happening). I think (as Joshua has also stated) the language is key in all such beginnings. The idea that B. Fuller had about basing our civilization on raising children, is the right one, and quite easy to say and understand. Every time I have said it to someone it gets a positive response. The next statement is also a simple statement and gets an equally positive response i.e., We need to teach every child everything we know up to this point. The factory/mcas model is absurd and was based on churning out workers for the master builders of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Only the priveleged were to rise above this model.
As far as the actual programs for fielding the above stated general principles, that involves much brainstorming with the most innovative educators. I suggest the Waldorf Schools would be a good place to start since they are well established in their progressive thinking about education. They would be a good niche to help disseminate design science educational ideas. Also Montesouri(sp?), and others. The people are out there, and in here. It is daunting, but I believe we can get funding from folks like Bill and Belinda Gates and others for any such far-reaching projects. Of course it all starts with each individual, and radiates from there. So, we have our beginnings right here and now.

Education is an interesting subject for this forum. The what, how, and who of it is the problem. The dialog contributors here demonstrate a willingness to learn as does Mr. Ben-Eli.
The how to reach more people is a problem unless there is a desire to learn. Making people aware that problems exist is the beginning. So identifying the problems is the essential prerequisite. This is a controversial subject at best. BuckyFan has a point about setting aside our ego and work to the solutions. We can’t slam the door on anyone, as some have done, just because their ideas don’t meet our agenda. Misfits are to be understood not thrown way. Bucky did not quite fit in at Harvard. So how do we come up with a true definition of the problems? To me they must be basic enough so all can agree the “Yes these are the problems”.
The solutions to the problems should be based on the moral principles of freedom and “my rights end where yours began”. This, I think, is the idea expressed in The Fourth Principle. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Joshua's quote is right on the money; education is the key.

In the US, we are now in a society that actually disdains intelligence. When I grew up in the era of the best and the brightest, thoughtful, intelligent, open-minded people were lauded.

Today, as is apparent in a variety of media sources and political representations, folks are tagged with derisive epithets if they demonstrate such qualities.

The task is enormous and can only be accomplished with the utmost cooperation among a unified group. To me, this means not arguing over semantics and not having a pinpoint agenda, which creates divisions among like-minded folk.

We have to put our egos aside and work relentlessly in every part of our lives and interactions to move in the direction of peace, unity, and the universal nature of humans.

The trick is to be committed but not exclusively attached to an idea. If you have a great idea, work with others to promote and make it better and stronger. Don’t worry about authorship and self aggrandizing kudos. I realize it is asking a great deal, but only in this way can things change on a scale that is necessary to change the current World situation.

One last thought, I feel we are at a crossroads, and the recent tumult might actually act as a catalyst for great change. We can make an incredible new Earth or can go the way of the dinosaur. It is up to those of us, who are not satisfied with the status quo of SUVs, cell phones, Madison Ave., etc.