rusticity. A clever neomodern future retains the best of a traditional ‘past’ which
is harmoniously organic and cyclic, and combines this with the best of the hi-tech
‘present’ in situations where this conjunction is economically feasible, socially
appropriate, environmentally benign, and indefinitely sustainable.
The Soft Pathways Matrix
The pathways to a ‘tolerable triple harmony’ are as manifold and complex as
is depicted in the vertical and horizontal array given as box 3.7 a Matrix for
conservation with development – identified throughout this book as the
Matrix.
It would deflect from my purpose were the main thread of the current within-
nation and socio-environmental discourse to stray into the box 3.7 maze. The
Matrixis there for the reader to scan and contemplate – according to the
circumstance and situation being addressed. Attention to some key words and
phrases within the ambit of sustainable co-dependency sets the context: ‘quality’,
‘balance’ and ‘appropriateness’ come to the fore.
Qualitywith respect to soft-path outcomes has been profiled previously. There
can be fiscal savings, even gains, through the improved environmental quality
which results from toxin-free and diverse production; an uplifting of the feel-good
factor by celebrating the qualityof a nation’s natural heritage; and community
pride can emanate from a flowering of the qualityof human skills. There arises,
of course, the correctional converse: avoidance of mediocre design and avoidance
of shoddy projects which incur maintenance and which give rise to excessive oper-
ational and transaction costs. A quality-of-life pursuit within open democracies
couples with the security of high levels of employment.
Balancetargets the soft pathways pragmatically, threading in two components
which incorporate some of the ‘quality’ reasoning, with a social leavening. In
summary:
- Balance factor one: maintaining social wellbeing, along with material growth,
within a context of work-routine security; positioning ‘people place and com-
munity’ alongside growth-for-profit. - Balance factor two: maintaining resource and habitat equilibrium in line with
the reasoning given earlier:
Conservative uptake of once-in-history finite resources
carefully and with respect for the future;
Sustainably engage the use of renewable life-support
resources, with consideration for the needs of generations
yet to come;
Preserve natural heritage and cultural heritage extrinsic
resources as though for all future time;
Exploitfree-flow resources in a socially and environmen-
tally acceptable way.
Charter for Conservation with Development 107‘If our species is to
survive the
predicaments we have
created for ourselves,
we must develop a
capacity for whole-
systems thought and
action.’
When Corporations Rule
the World
David C. Korten, 1995.