Designing our future: Society in harmony with nature, from local and regional perspectives

This volume focuses primarily on the social conceptualization and materialization of a society in which nature and humans coexist. The basis of this ideal society is assumed to be the relationship between villages or towns and their natural environment. How these villages and towns can achieve local or regional independence in the face of globalization is examined. It requires food and energy independence so that an area can become independent both materially and in terms of its energy needs. Therefore, natural renewable energy and material circulation systems are necessary. Synergy can be achieved through collaboration among the various elements. In addition, public awareness of the importance of fostering local culture, traditions and ways of thinking is required so that areas can become independent indefinitely. Furthermore, cultural independence demands that public thinking be steered away from “plunder nature” towards “coexistence with nature”. Instead of the globalization of the world economy, which has led to the standardization and simplification of human values, this book proposes the establishment of a society in which nature and humans coexist through the networking of diverse communities to promote and achieve local independence. It also describes the prospects for a society created through synergistic networking to assume local independence as its basic element.

Related Subject(s): Economic and Social Development