Title: Of sustainability, elephants and Prefab Sprouts

Authors: Vuk Uskokovic

Addresses: Division of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, University of California, 707 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143 0758, USA

Abstract: Industrial symbiosis and the qualitative optimisation of chemical fabrication methods are described as the means to attaining eco-friendly technologies. However, it is argued that the sustainability of any organised pattern of human interference with the supporting natural substrates could not be predicted with the absolute accuracy. The overwhelming complexity of ecological relationships prevents a perfect deduction of the complete spectra of effects that human pathways of production and/or consumption bring forth. As a solution, the restoration of approaches that take into sustainability accounts the deepest aspirations lying at the foundations of human strivings towards the improvement of life qualities is suggested. The major thesis of this work is, thereupon, in sympathy with the idea that the key to achieving truly sustainable networks of human creativity may lie not only in apparent causes initiated by human deeds, but also in the benevolence and grace of impalpable and ineffable sprouts of our actions in the world.

Keywords: chemistry; complexity; diversity; ecology; ecosystems; ethics; industrial symbiosis; sustainability; sustainable development; uncertainty; zero waste.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2008.020378

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.85 - 102

Published online: 20 Sep 2008 *

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