Institute for Planetary Renewal says We Could All Be Living Debt-Free In an Ecological Paradise Of Our Own Creation

We believe that it is possible to substantially INCREASE our quality of life and our material comforts by applying better design principles to solve the needs of housing, energy, food, and other necessities and comforts. We do not have to suffer. In fact, we are suffering now much more than we need to because of the poor designs of our civilization.
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In an enlightened society, not much of a government is needed. Local governments should be the most dominant and have the greatest authority, followed by regional and national governments. Just the opposite of what we have today. When our needs are met on more than just the physical level, there will be little interest in crime, violence, and other behaviors that require massive government structures.

The Problem:
Civilization is disintegrating, (which is obvious). This is because our civilization was not built on sustainable principles.
A brief summary of conditions--

Physical Structure:
The infrastructure is nearing its life cycle and is collapsing. It is not possible to replace it with equivalent systems because the resources to do so are too expensive or no longer exist (vast oil reserves).

Social Structure:
Families have little time to devote to the critical task of nurturing children. Hence, crime, violence, drugs, greed, and other social ills. The evening news tells much of the story. Most families are stressed beyond their recuperative abilities.

Education:
The educational system has failed to educate a majority of children beyond a basic level. Standards are lower. Some high school "graduates" cannot even read beyond elementary school level. Schools are often violent, chaotic, and depressing places for children to be.

Food Supply:
On average, we only have 6 inches of topsoil left. Essential nutrients were mined from it long ago. Now the bulk of our food is empty calories with consequent loss of health and vitality.


Health Care:
The current system has failed to maintain the health of the population. Drug resistant strains of many diseases are on the rise. Degenerative diseases are at epidemic levels.

Energy:
We have squandered our non-renewable energy supplies. We can look forward to increasing costs for diminishing supplies of energy.


Environment:
We have poisoned the planet we live on.

In terms of the systems we depend upon for sustaining our lives, we have allowed the complexities to grow beyond our ability to manage them. There is a huge waste of resources in shipping food and other locally producible goods around the country and around the world. Local self reliance is a wise course. For a sustainable society, in general, we must replace:


Current Condition Vs. Future Choice
Complexity Vs. Simplicity
Big Systems Vs. Small Systems
Centralized Systems Vs. Decentralized Systems
High Tech Vs. Lower Tech
Dependence Vs. Self Reliance
Welfare Vs. Self Responsibility


For other amenities of a modern society such as educational resources, entertainment, computers, industrial equipment, and many goods and services, access to world commerce, high tech, and vast transportation systems are a welcome addition and complement to local production and self reliance.

Sustainable Agricultural Development -- Crop Protection
• Sustainable Agricultural Development -- Tree and Vine Crops
• Greenhouses
• Space Heating
• Water Heating
• Solar Cooking
• Solar Toilet
• Water Harvesting
• Natural Refrigeration
• Making Walls
• Making Compound Curved Forms