Designing Sustainable Communities

TIME:   Monday, March 22, 2010 from 5:30 pm-8:30 pm

PLACE: Lloyd House, 3901 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati 45220 (park on Lafayette Ave) http://lloydhouse.blogspot.com/

SPEAKERS: Dr. Vlasta Molak and associates, Gaia Foundation (www.gaiafoundation.net),

COST:   $18 includes healthy buffet dinner (limited to 18 pre-paid attendees). Make checks payable to Gaia Foundation, and send to Dr. Vlasta Molak, 8987 Cotillion Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45231

DESCRIPTION:   Sustainable development was defined at the Earth Summit in 1992 Rio de Janeiro as such activities and development which will stop and reverse negative impacts that human activities had on Earth.  In its present form, the Western (and Eastern) civilizations are not sustainable because they depends on the use of fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources decreasing in supply, and create wastes, which are toxic and often lasting thousands of years (chemical and nuclear waste).  

Therefore, people at all levels or organization (families, streets, neighborhoods, villages, towns, cities, states and countries) need to learn how to live sustainably in terms of conservation of energy and resources, efficiency, travel modes, collecting water and energy at site, and using renewable energy and resources, in order to continue good life on Earth.

Our seminar will teach the basic principles of sustainable development and how to apply them in everyday lives of individuals and groups of individuals who live in a community and form a street, neighborhood, City, County and State.  We will contrast the conventional development with sustainable development and re-development, as done in various parts of our society and particularly in Cincinnati, which is our case study (see www.gaiafoundation.net, SEARCH, Gaia Oasis and Sky Gardens).

Also, a very practical knowledge about decreasing one's utilities costs will be taught.  By decreasing waste of energy, water, and choosing healthy foods and renewable energy and other resources uses, including collecting clean rain water, growing food in rain and roof gardens, collecting solar (thermal and photovoltaic) energy at roofs, biking, walking and using public transport, where available, will not only be good for the Earth but also decrease the "bottom line" for the costs of living.

Dr. Molak is in a process of redesigning her house in Finneytown, which is OFF-THE-GRID, creating zero waste, and using no grid electricity, gas or water.   She had gained considerable practical expertise in sustainable living with minimal impact on the environment.  Aside benefits to environment, there are no utility bills either, which enables large savings, which can be used on more meaningful investments than those creating CO2 emissions. 

For more information E-mail DrMolak@gmail.com