The following people represent a focus for the main challenges and opportunities for the environmental well being of the planet for the 21st century. We call them “Global Gurus”. We are proud to distinguish them as members of our Honor Roll.
David Suzuki (public domain)
Dr. David Suzuki (Bio Diversity)
” Without the levels of solar radiation received on our planet life would struggle to exist. Bio-diversity as it exists now and so abundantly in the past, owes its creation primarily to the sun.
Preservation of life on earth will be made easier if solar energy was used to power our built environment. With significant technological breakthroughs in photo-voltaic cells over the last 30 years combined with more focused knowledge of passive solar design techniques up to 30% of greenhouse gas production (at 1990 levels) could be avoided.
Eventually this would help planet earth restore a manageable balance and greatly assist in protecting bio-diversity and eco-systems.”
Check out a video message from Dr. Suzuki
For further information about Dr. David Suzuki and David Suzuki Foundation, visit his website
Dr. Amory Lovins (Built Environment)
“Solar energy use (both passive and active) in the built environment has an important part to play in reducing greenhouse gas production in the first half of the 21st century. To achieve meaningful results, the individual’s choice of home, car and work place will make a difference.
One of the major barriers for wide spread adoption is lack of awareness and knowledge of the world’s population. The internet as a potent vehicle of change, will reduce this educational shortfall by making readily accessible information available to a greater proportion of the global population.”
For information about Amory Lovins’s and Rocky Mountain Institute’s prolific activities, see their website
Mr. Max Lindegger (Permaculture)
Max is one of the most respected pioneers of permaculture. For many years, he worked closely with Dr Bill Mollison, universally acknowledged as the father of permaculture. Maxwell is widely recognized as having the ability and knowledge to successfully develop eco-villages any where on planet earth and truly is a most personable and practical leader in the field.
“Permaculture is not possible without the prudent use of solar energy in the natural, cultivated and built environment. It is so important for the next generation to understand what advances in technology can do in helping the human race to take a holistic approach to saving the natural environment. Hopefully, we may maximize the use of solar and renewable energy and minimize the “ecological footprint” we make as individuals and a community on this earth. We’ve got the solutions – it’s time to implement them!”
For further information about the benefits of sustainable development and living, visit EcoLogical Solutions
Dr. Tim Flannery (Indigenous Culture)
“For millennia Indigenous cultures have lived in harmony with nature. With the advent of colonization and disruption of traditional habitats, indigenous populations have been often forced to live using artificial power and water systems that simply place enormous economic burdens and pollute their land.
Creation of harmonious natural environments that bridge the old and the new worlds is the challenge that will assist indigenous people to attain inter-generational equity. Modern native environments must be ecologically sustainable as they were in the past.
Solar energy systems and ecological-design of new accommodation can contribute to preserving indigenous cultures and lifestyles if respect and knowledge is demonstrated by outsiders genuinely wishing to help. The practicing of culture is critical to the maintenance of self-esteem of indigenous people. The ability to this will depend greatly on the ecologically sustainable design of the community infra-structure in this modern world.
All modern cultures can learn much about ourselves through valuing indigenous cultures. It makes sense place greater emphasis and show respect by finding better ways of collaborating and assisting these communities.”
For further information about indigenous culture, visit the South Australian Museum website
Dr. Hermann Scheer (Solar Economics)
“For thousands of years human civilisations has relied on a solar economy including renewable by products from the sun such as wood and wind mills. In comparison, extensive use of fossil fuel has been a relatively short period and it is predicted that the dominance of it will be short lived, even if we use all fossil energy that is available.
Much has been made of the hydrogen economy which has a great deal of technical problems to be solved before it becomes the economic replacement of the carbon economy. When this does occur, it will be the use of solar energy which will make it viable and sustainable.
In order to avoid the devastating effects of climate change, pollution and over-population, the planet needs the replacement of all nuclear and fossil energies by the use of solar energy in the first half of the 21st century. This will create numerous benefits for all societies: ecologically, economically, culturally, socially – and for peacekeeping in the world.”
For information about Hermann Scheer, visit his website
Sadly in 2010 Hermann passed away at the relatively young age of 66 years old. He was a potent force for change for solar and renewable energy. The loss of his presence and dynamism will for some time undoubtedly be set a back for all supporters of an evolving stronger solar economy. However, his website and foundation will undoubtedly keep his name and ideals alive for future generations.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.