Redesigning Design Itself

Our current system is based on the rights and interests of humans. Our laws, policies of ownership, and concepts of economic success are developed for the progress of humans via the consumption of nature, in all of its forms.

So, how can we recognize the value of nature?

How can we recognize the rights of nature?

Well, to achieve a sustainable balance between humans and nature, we must recognize the true value that nature has in our lives. It is the most valuable asset in our, and every other living species', lives and we should recognize this value accordingly.

In the globalized economic system that we have today, we have to develop a way to recognize this value in every decision that is made. To achieve this, every transaction should be taxed, in one form or another, to accurately assess the impact that that decision will have on nature. This will immediately demand emphasis on those decisions with the least impact, inevitably leading towards the development of cleaner and more sustainable technologies.

Our system, however, cannot operate efficiently unless these rules are supported by enforcement to ensure that they are properly followed. This enforcement, in our society, comes from the recognition of rights. Currently, only humans have rights. Those rights are universally for the consumption of natural resources (i.e. food, water, energy, land, etc.) at the unrecognized expense of other species, the environment as a whole, and especially our own species' long-term survival. Perhaps recognizing the rights of future generations to a sustainable inventory of natural resources could lead to effective policies to address the problem..

Government polices must be accepted and enforced, on a global level, that are formed to appreciate a balance between our need to consume and our need for nature, in all of its forms, to be able to sustain itself.

Political and economic differences are going to have to be put aside if this is going to work. It will not work unless all humans can accept our common situation and work together for a solution that will benefit everybody.