Living within Nature: Integrated whole
systems thinking
The typical analytical process involves taking things apart to understand
them. However the essential properties of living systems exist in the whole,
not in the individual pieces. When we study environments and cultures,
we must recognize and respect the connections among parts, in context with
each other, and with the whole.
Resource efficiency
Because
living systems are interdependent, resources applied to solve one problem
may contribute to the solution of others. The value and
effectiveness
of investments of talent, time and treasure can be leveraged when
we think and act at the level of whole systems.
Collaborative proaction for cumulative beneficial change
Big
environmental problems often result from cumulative negative effects
of many small adverse actions taken over time. Each of
us can contribute
individually to their solution. However, it is through informed
and coordinated collective action among the many businesses, governments,
and civil society institutions (including faith communities) that define
our culture that we shall achieve cummulative improvements that signify
at the level of watershed ecosystems.
We
do not have the luxury of endless time to stop making mistakes and
correct the ones we have made. Among our essential tasks is to figure
out how to learn and work collaboratively and how to sustain positive
collective proaction. That is Impact+Amplify's purpose and utility.
Averting disasters or mitigating their potential for harm
Most disasters ("natural," health and social)
can be averted by learning to live safely, healthily, prosperously
and peacefully
within nature's restorative capacity. Humans must choose to adapt
by creating
and sustaining environments and cultures in balance with
nature, however imperfectly we understand it. That is both the challenge
and the opportunity
of our age - and of our locale.
Civil
Society Organization (an “NGO” defined
as what it is, not what it isn’t.)
Without imposed limitations of time, place or subject matter, Impact
+ Amplify uses all the flexibility inherent in being a civil
society organization
to teach and promote integrated whole systems thought and proaction
at both ecosystemic and cultural scale. We seek to enable life-long
learning
and sustained productive collaborations among people of good
will.
Note:
Often it is necessary to catalyze, facilitate and sustain connections
and working relationships among governments, agencies,
businesses, and organizations that, though understanding the need
of and potential for flexible,
creative collaborations, may be restricted (within "silos")
by jurisdictional boundaries or established
missions.
Please
the American Assembly's document, "Collaborating
to Make Democracy Work" about the creative role civil
society institutions play in facilitating collaboration with government
and businesses and with each other. [ A copy is posted in the Resources
section of this website.]
strategies: time
Since
civil society institutions are not restricted by business or electoral
cycles, we are able to initiate and sustain long-range
vision and creative
proaction through the extended periods of time that may
be needed to achieve beneficial and meaningful environmental and
cultural change.
See
the "Age of the Anthropocene" and "The Ecozoic
Age" in the Resources
section of this website.
strategies: place
Centered
in creation: Humans are centered in creation
by our ability to look both outward and inward at nature.
Looking
outward at nature:
Preserving, restoring and enhancing
the hydrology and biodiversity of watershed ecosystems through
integrated,
proactive,
low-impact development of
forest and farm land and of the
built environment [Please
see the “Mountains
to Sea” section of this
website.]
Looking inward at nature:
Nourishing health; physical, intellectual
and spiritual [Please see the “Nourishing
Health” section
of this website. There your can download and fill
out forms to create a personal
medical history and a medical
family tree.
Facilitating creation of a green and ethical
regional economy that
values and accounts both natural and human capital.
There is no environmental justice that does not include social
justice. Sabbath
Economics [Please
see the “Green
and Ethical Economy” section
of this website]
“Genius Loci” (the
spirit of place) How the environment has shaped and continues to shape history
(plate tectonics, geology,
topography, hydrology, biology and anthropology) [Please
see the “Mountains
to Sea” section
of this website.]
• The headwaters region: send solutions downstream (physically and metaphorically)
• The Great Warrior Path, The Philadelphia Wagon Road, the Carolina
Trail and the Wilderness Trail Consciousness about how
have people lived within nature and how mountain and river ecosystems have shaped
and
been shaped
by culture through time (past, present and future).
Development of a regional
natural and social history S.O.L.
Strategies: people
To
some extent, people may have success distancing themselves from the majority
culture. But no one exists outside of nature. Beginning with responsibility
for the health of our own bodies, each of us must manage part of nature.
Participation
strategies: people
When
possible, Impact + Amplify seeks to work with and through existing
institutions of our culture (partners and stakeholders). We invite
personal participation in and financial support of our inclusive process
of thought and proaction and in our evolving programs by individuals,
faith or cultural communities, members of the Blue Ridge Environmental
Network (BREN), cultural and educational institutions, governments,
businesses and industries.
Participation
Strategies: financial
support
Tax-exempt
contributions may be made through the Clean Valley Council - Impact
account, c/o the Clean Valley Council, 541 Luck Avenue, Suite 319 Roanoke
VA 24016 (540) 345-5523
Please
see: The American
Assembly’s document, “Collaborating
to Make Democracy Work” about the creative
role civil society institutions play in facilitating
collaborations
with government
and business and with
each other [a copy is posted in the Resources section
of this Website].
Participation
Strategies: contact information
Tom
Cain
Executive Director
Impact+Amplify