Tomorrows Sustainable World

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Tomorrows Sustainable World

• Odyssey of the Mind
• June 2008
• George Seielstad
• University of North Dakota

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1,140,000 Supermarket Paper Bags every hour
1,140,000 Supermarket Paper Bags every hour
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
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15,000,000 Sheets of Paper every 5 minutes
15,000,000 Sheets of Paper every 5 minutes
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
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2,000,000 Plastic Bottles every 5 minutes.
2,000,000 Plastic Bottles every 5 minutes.
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
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426,000 cell phones retired every day
426,000 cell phones retired every day
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
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60,000 Plastic Bags every 5 seconds
60,000 Plastic Bags every 5 seconds
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
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106,000 Aluminum Cans every 30 seconds
106,000 Aluminum Cans every 30 seconds
Artist Chris Jordan, 2007 Running the
Numbers http//www.chrisjordan.com
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410,000 Paper Cups every 15 minutes
410,000 Paper Cups every 15 minutes
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The Economist March 10, 2007
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? Nutrient Recycling ? Water Purification ?
Climate Moderation ? Pollination ? Soil
Stabilization ? Library of Genes ? Radiation
Protection
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Social Justice
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Proportion Living on 200/day
58 live in U.S. 6 in U.S. have gt50 worlds
wealth
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Proportion Living on 10/day
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Proportion Living on 10/day
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Unsustainable Gap

• Todayand every dayAmericans will drive
  200,000,000 cars, consuming 10,500,000 barrels of
  oil
• What if everyone in the world drove as we do?

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Beijing, China
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Spending Natures Capital
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Spending Natures Interest
Newfoundland Fishery
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Inflection Point for Civilization
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Historic Good Fortune
Years before Present
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Rare Historic Opportunity

• If people are the problem, we are also the
  solution.

What we have before us are some breathtaking
opportunities disguised as insoluble
problems. John Gardner, Pres.
Johnsons Secy. of Health, Education, Welfare
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Antarctic Ozone Hole
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CFCs in Atmosphere
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Worlds Most Needed Qualities

• Original, Creative Thought
• Planetary Literacy
• Distinction between Need and Want
• More Investment, Less Consumption
• Cultural Inclusiveness
• Life-cycle Planning
• Action--Now

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Commitment to Action
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Moral Obligations

• Work on behalf of
• All Your Generation
• All Future Generations
• All Species
• For All Time

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Worlds Fate is in your hands. You can be the
most important person in history. If not you,
who?
Worlds Fate is in your hands. You can be the
most important person in history. If not you,
who?
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The End
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• George Seielstad
• University of North Dakota
• gseielst_at_aero.und.edu
• http//www.umac.org