Sustainability is widely regarded as one of the key challenges facing humanity in the new millennium. Having achieved great success in attaining prosperity for a large proportion of mankind through industrial development, the consequences of unfettered growth have begun to catch up with us. A diverse array of crises has begun to make itself felt, threatening many of the environmental and social support systems we take for granted.
The course comprises two main sections. In the first section, we will examine the tremendous challenges that we face, all around the globe. We will identify key problem areas, recognize their consequences, and attempt to understand the reasons for their persistence. Using a holistic perspective based on systems analysis, we will emphasize the interconnectedness between various spheres of social, environmental and economic systems. In the second section, we will survey various policies, technologies and social initiatives that may help us change course to a more promising and fulfilling future. (3 credits)
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them" (Albert Einstein)
Prerequisites:
One prior course in one or more of the following disciplines: Political Science, Social
Science, History, Environmental Sciences.
Additional requirements:
Additional student cost:
Attendance policy:
Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including the classes on site and the field trip. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students are able to:
· recognize the fundamental principles of social, environmental and economic sustainability;
· identify problem areas where unsustainable practices are prevalent and destructive;
· analyze complex problems utilizing the precepts of systems analysis;
· apply a critical sustainability lens to current events; governmental and inter-governmental policy, and other institutions of modern life;
· reflect on their own values regarding a sustainable life-style, and integrate meaningful sustainable practices in their lifestyle
Method of presentation:
· LECTURES: Delivery of core course content.
· Class discussion: Sustainability spans scientific knowledge and personal belief systems. Class discussion enables us to probe the validity and strength of scientific knowledge and argumentation, as well as analyze how our thought processes and behavioral patterns are influenced by, and in turn influence, various sustainability practices
· Reader: Key texts designed to develop general understanding of the subject matter and foment discussion. The readings listed for a particular session must be completed BEFORE coming to class that day.
· Videos: Many sessions include viewing small excerpts from some documentaries or some short videos from key experts related to the readings of each session.
· Analysis: Rudimentary system diagrams and SWOT analysis are powerful tools for identifying mechanisms of cause and effect, interaction, feedback, and eventual areas of improvement for new actions and projects. By preparing them, students will be able to better understand key aspects of sustainable and unsustainable action.
· On site classes: On site classes enable experiential learning of innovative technologies and practices relating to sustainability, as manifested in the city of Barcelona
· Field trips: One half-day mandatory field trip will complement the topics covered in class.
· Class Project: Over the duration of the course, we will design and implement actions that will improve the sustainability of IES community.
LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: English
Field study:
Agenda 21 in Barcelona
Class on site: 'Can Masdeu' (squatted farm house)
Clean Technology and Urban Design at the 'Fabrica del Sol'
Required work and form of assessment:
Class participation (20%); mid-term exam (20%); assignments and pop quizzes (20%); class project (20%); final exam (20%).
· Class participation: I will need your cooperation to make our time together interesting and beneficial for us all. This shouldn’t be too hard, since sustainability is not a dogmatic topic, and it begs for discussion and analysis. I will challenge you to closely examine many assumptions, and to think critically about the concepts, tools and practices we will discuss in class.
· Assignments and pop quizzes: Homework (assigned only for certain sessions) provides an effective means for translating reading assignments into knowledge. They may be transforming text into graphical interpretations of processes called systems diagrams, which link various issues not always viewed as interrelated, and provide a fresh analytical perspective on the topics being studied. Other assignments might comprise SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), as well as pop quizzes with questions of short answers related to the reading or videos seen in class which need to be answered at the beginning of the session and again at the end after the class discussion.
· Mid-term exam: The exam will assess students' knowledge of the basic obstacles to sustainability covered in the first section of the course.
· Class project: An assessment of the efforts and outcomes of the IES sustainability project undertaken by the class. At the final document submitted to the instructor, students will write down their names next to the document sections where they contributed, as well as other ways to report the individual contribution of each student to the class project along the term (team organization, retrieval of information, document structure, etc.). A Wiki-based web site provided by the course may be used to facilitate this project (eventually held in small groups) while still allowing to work coordinated as a unique big group, allowing cooperation and avoiding overlapping from the work begin done by other class mates.
· Final exam: The exam will assess students' knowledge of the basic obstacles to sustainability covered in the whole course, with special emphasis in the topics learned in the second section of the course.
Session 3: Design, Re-Design and New Industrial Paradigms McDonough, William & Braungart Michael (1998). The NEXT Industrial Revolution. The Atlantic 282(4): 82-92. Available online at: http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/nextIndusRev.pdf
Session 4: Class on site: Agenda 21 in Barcelona. Several Authors. (2009-2012). Sustainability Action Plans. Final papers from previous semesters of ESSO350. Edited by X. de Pedro. cc-by-sa. Available online at: http://iesbarcelona.org/esso350
Session 5: Sustainability Action Plan for IES Abroad – Barcelona. Several Authors. (2009-2012). Sustainability Action Plans. Final papers from previous semesters of ESSO350. Edited by X. de Pedro. cc-by-sa. Available online at: http://iesbarcelona.org/esso350
Session 6: The Human Factor: Demographics and Social Trends Brown, Lester R. (2009). Population Pressure:
Session 7: Policy, Regulations, Incentives and Voluntary Programs for Sustainability. Brown, Lester R. (2009). Can We Mobilize Fast Enough?. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 10, p.143-167). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch10.pdf
Session 9: Urban Planning, Architecture and Transportation Brown, Lester R. (2009). Designing Cities for People. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 6, p.143-167). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch06.pdf
Session 10: Class on site: 'Can Masdeu' (squatted farm house) Cordingley, L. (2004). Can Masdeu: Rise of the Rurbano revolution. p53-68. Available online at: http://www.inthefield.info/rurbano_revolution.pdf
Session 14: Class on site: Clean Technology and Urban Design at the 'Fabrica del Sol' Brown, Lester R. (2009). Stabilizing Climate: An Energy Efficiency Revolution. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 4, p.79-108). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch04.pdf
Session 17: Designing a Sustainable System for Human Knowledge Lessig, L. (2004). Free culture, How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity. The Penguin Press. (Preface, p.xiii-xvi + Ch. 1, p.21-30 & p.170-173). http://www.free-culture.cc/freeculture.pdf
Session 18: The Wisdom and Virtue of Peer-based Crowds Various Authors. The Wisdom of Crowds, Wikipedia. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wisdom_of_Crowds (Accessed March 28th, 2011). cc-by-sa, based on the work Suroviewcki, J. (2004) The Wisdom of Crowds.Brown ISBN 0-316-86173-1.
Benkler, Yochai & Nissenbaum, Helen (2006) Commons-based Peer Production and Virtue. The Journal of Political Philosophy: Volume 14, Number 4, pp. 394–419. Available online at:
Session 19: Energy: Sources, Trends, and their Implications Brown, Lester R. (2009). Stabilizing Climate: Shifting to Renewable Energy. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 5, p.109-142). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch05.pdf
Session 20: Agriculture: Our Relationship with the Land Norse, David (2003). Agriculture and the Environment: Changing Pressures, Solutions and Trade-offs. In Bruinsma, J. (ed.) World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030 - An FAO Perspective: 331-356 Earthscan, London. Available online at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/y4252e/y4252e12.pdf
Session 21: Forests, Fisheries and Disappearing Species Brown, Lester R. (2009). Restoring the Earth. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 8, p.192-215). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch08.pdf
Session 22: Environmental Systems, Social Systems and Human Health World Health Organization (2005). Ecosystems and Human Well-Being Health Synthesis, (Overview, pages 1 – 10). Available online at: http://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/ecosys.pdf
Benkler, Yochai & Nissenbaum, Helen (2006) Commons-based Peer Production and Virtue. The Journal of Political Philosophy: Volume 14, Number 4, pp. 394–419. Available online at:
Brown, Lester R. (2009). Stabilizing Climate: An Energy Efficiency Revolution. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 4, p.79-108). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch04.pdf
Brown, Lester R. (2009). Stabilizing Climate: Shifting to Renewable Energy. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 5, p.109-142). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch05.pdf
Lessig, L. (2004). Free culture, How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity. The Penguin Press. (Preface, p.xiii-xvi + Ch. 1, p.21-30 & p.170-173). http://www.free-culture.cc/freeculture.pdf
Norse, David (2003). Agriculture and the Environment: Changing Pressures, Solutions and Trade-offs. In Bruinsma, J. (ed.) World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030 - An FAO Perspective: 331-356 Earthscan, London. Available online at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/y4252e/y4252e12.pdf
Several Authors. (2009-2011). Sustainability Action Plans. Final papers from previous semesters of ESSO350. Edited by X. de Pedro. cc-by-sa. Available online at: http://iesbarcelona.org/esso350
Various authors. (2012) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wisdom_of_Crowds (Accessed March 28th, 2011). (About the book by Surowiecki, J. (2004). The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations Little, Brown ISBN 0-316-86173-1)
Sustainability is widely regarded as one of the key challenges facing humanity in the new millennium. Having achieved great success in attaining prosperity for a large proportion of mankind through industrial development, the consequences of unfettered growth have begun to catch up with us. A diverse array of crises has begun to make itself felt, threatening many of the environmental and social support systems we take for granted.
The course comprises two main sections. In the first section, we will examine the tremendous challenges that we face, all around the globe. We will identify key problem areas, recognize their consequences, and attempt to understand the reasons for their persistence. Using a holistic perspective based on systems analysis, we will emphasize the interconnectedness between various spheres of social, environmental and economic systems. In the second section, we will survey various policies, technologies and social initiatives that may help us change course to a more promising and fulfilling future. (3 credits)
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them" (Albert Einstein)
One prior course in one or more of the following disciplines: Political Science, Social
Science, History, Environmental Sciences.
Attendance is mandatory for all IES classes, including the classes on site and the field trip. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than three classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.
By the end of the course, students are able to:
· recognize the fundamental principles of social, environmental and economic sustainability;
· identify problem areas where unsustainable practices are prevalent and destructive;
· analyze complex problems utilizing the precepts of systems analysis;
· apply a critical sustainability lens to current events; governmental and inter-governmental policy, and other institutions of modern life;
· reflect on their own values regarding a sustainable life-style, and integrate meaningful sustainable practices in their lifestyle
· LECTURES: Delivery of core course content.
· Class discussion: Sustainability spans scientific knowledge and personal belief systems. Class discussion enables us to probe the validity and strength of scientific knowledge and argumentation, as well as analyze how our thought processes and behavioral patterns are influenced by, and in turn influence, various sustainability practices
· Reader: Key texts designed to develop general understanding of the subject matter and foment discussion. The readings listed for a particular session must be completed BEFORE coming to class that day.
· Videos: Many sessions include viewing small excerpts from some documentaries or some short videos from key experts related to the readings of each session.
· Analysis: Rudimentary system diagrams and SWOT analysis are powerful tools for identifying mechanisms of cause and effect, interaction, feedback, and eventual areas of improvement for new actions and projects. By preparing them, students will be able to better understand key aspects of sustainable and unsustainable action.
· On site classes: On site classes enable experiential learning of innovative technologies and practices relating to sustainability, as manifested in the city of Barcelona
· Field trips: One half-day mandatory field trip will complement the topics covered in class.
· Class Project: Over the duration of the course, we will design and implement actions that will improve the sustainability of IES community.
LANGUAGE OF PRESENTATION: English
Agenda 21 in Barcelona
Class on site: 'Can Masdeu' (squatted farm house)
Clean Technology and Urban Design at the 'Fabrica del Sol'
Class participation (20%); mid-term exam (20%); assignments and pop quizzes (20%); class project (20%); final exam (20%).
· Class participation: I will need your cooperation to make our time together interesting and beneficial for us all. This shouldn’t be too hard, since sustainability is not a dogmatic topic, and it begs for discussion and analysis. I will challenge you to closely examine many assumptions, and to think critically about the concepts, tools and practices we will discuss in class.
· Assignments and pop quizzes: Homework (assigned only for certain sessions) provides an effective means for translating reading assignments into knowledge. They may be transforming text into graphical interpretations of processes called systems diagrams, which link various issues not always viewed as interrelated, and provide a fresh analytical perspective on the topics being studied. Other assignments might comprise SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats), as well as pop quizzes with questions of short answers related to the reading or videos seen in class which need to be answered at the beginning of the session and again at the end after the class discussion.
· Mid-term exam: The exam will assess students' knowledge of the basic obstacles to sustainability covered in the first section of the course.
· Class project: An assessment of the efforts and outcomes of the IES sustainability project undertaken by the class. At the final document submitted to the instructor, students will write down their names next to the document sections where they contributed, as well as other ways to report the individual contribution of each student to the class project along the term (team organization, retrieval of information, document structure, etc.). A Wiki-based web site provided by the course may be used to facilitate this project (eventually held in small groups) while still allowing to work coordinated as a unique big group, allowing cooperation and avoiding overlapping from the work begin done by other class mates.
· Final exam: The exam will assess students' knowledge of the basic obstacles to sustainability covered in the whole course, with special emphasis in the topics learned in the second section of the course.
Session 1: What IS sustainability, anyway?
Session 2: Systems Thinking: A Primer Capra, Fritjof, Ecology and Community (10 pages). Available online at: http://www.ecoliteracy.org/publications/pdf/community.pdf
Session 3: Design, Re-Design and New Industrial Paradigms McDonough, William & Braungart Michael (1998). The NEXT Industrial Revolution. The Atlantic 282(4): 82-92. Available online at: http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/nextIndusRev.pdf
Session 4: Class on site: Agenda 21 in Barcelona. Several Authors. (2009-2012). Sustainability Action Plans. Final papers from previous semesters of ESSO350. Edited by X. de Pedro. cc-by-sa. Available online at: http://iesbarcelona.org/esso350
Session 5: Sustainability Action Plan for IES Abroad – Barcelona. Several Authors. (2009-2012). Sustainability Action Plans. Final papers from previous semesters of ESSO350. Edited by X. de Pedro. cc-by-sa. Available online at: http://iesbarcelona.org/esso350
Session 6: The Human Factor: Demographics and Social Trends Brown, Lester R. (2009). Population Pressure:
Land and Water. Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 2, p.31-54). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch02.pdf
Session 7: Policy, Regulations, Incentives and Voluntary Programs for Sustainability. Brown, Lester R. (2009). Can We Mobilize Fast Enough?. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 10, p.143-167). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch10.pdf
Session 8: Local Community Networks Wheeler, David, et al. (2005) Creating Sustainable Local Enterprise Networks. Sloan Management Review, 47(1):33-40. Available online: http://www.honeycareafrica.com/PDF/Sustainable_Local_Enterprise_Networks.pdf
Session 9: Urban Planning, Architecture and Transportation Brown, Lester R. (2009). Designing Cities for People. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 6, p.143-167). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch06.pdf
Session 10: Class on site: 'Can Masdeu' (squatted farm house) Cordingley, L. (2004). Can Masdeu: Rise of the Rurbano revolution. p53-68. Available online at: http://www.inthefield.info/rurbano_revolution.pdf
Session 11: Permaculture Ethics & Design Principles
Holmgren, D. (2007). Essence of Permaculture. 23pp. Ed. Holmgren Design Services. Available online at: http://www.holmgren.com.au/DLFiles/PDFs/Essence_of_PC_eBook.pdf
Session 12: MID-TERM EXAM
Session 13: Ecological Economics Fournier, Val?rie. (2008). Escaping from the economy: the politics of degrowth . International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy , Vol. 28 No. 11/12, (pp. 528-545). Available online at: http://www.web.ca/~bthomson/degrowth/fournier_the_politics_of_degrowth_13mar08.pdf
Session 14: Class on site: Clean Technology and Urban Design at the 'Fabrica del Sol' Brown, Lester R. (2009). Stabilizing Climate: An Energy Efficiency Revolution. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 4, p.79-108). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch04.pdf
Session 15: Ethical Banking and Fair Trade. Goyal , Dr. K.A. & Joshi, V. (2011) A study of social and ethical issues in banking industry. Int. J. Eco. Res., 2(5), p.49-57. Available online at: http://www.ijeronline.com/documents/volumes/Vol%202%20issue%205/ijer20110205SO(5).pdf
Session 16: Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS) and Hardware Farmer, J. (2007). Sustainability study. A case study review of open source sustainability models. pp1-14 (out of 60). Available online at: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/programmes/distributedelearning/sustainabilitystudy-1%5B1%5D.0.pdf
Session 17: Designing a Sustainable System for Human Knowledge Lessig, L. (2004). Free culture, How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity. The Penguin Press. (Preface, p.xiii-xvi + Ch. 1, p.21-30 & p.170-173). http://www.free-culture.cc/freeculture.pdf
Session 18: The Wisdom and Virtue of Peer-based Crowds Various Authors. The Wisdom of Crowds, Wikipedia. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wisdom_of_Crowds (Accessed March 28th, 2011). cc-by-sa, based on the work Suroviewcki, J. (2004) The Wisdom of Crowds. Brown ISBN 0-316-86173-1.
Benkler, Yochai & Nissenbaum, Helen (2006) Commons-based Peer Production and Virtue. The Journal of Political Philosophy: Volume 14, Number 4, pp. 394–419. Available online at:
http://www.nyu.edu/projects/nissenbaum/papers/jopp_235.pdf
Session 19: Energy: Sources, Trends, and their Implications Brown, Lester R. (2009). Stabilizing Climate: Shifting to Renewable Energy. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 5, p.109-142). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch05.pdf
Session 20: Agriculture: Our Relationship with the Land Norse, David (2003). Agriculture and the Environment: Changing Pressures, Solutions and Trade-offs. In Bruinsma, J. (ed.) World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030 - An FAO Perspective: 331-356 Earthscan, London. Available online at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/y4252e/y4252e12.pdf
Session 21: Forests, Fisheries and Disappearing Species Brown, Lester R. (2009). Restoring the Earth. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 8, p.192-215). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch08.pdf
Session 22: Environmental Systems, Social Systems and Human Health World Health Organization (2005). Ecosystems and Human Well-Being Health Synthesis, (Overview, pages 1 – 10). Available online at: http://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/ecosys.pdf
Ewing, David (2006). The Pollution Within. National Geographic (7 pp) Available: http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0610/feature4/index.html
Session 23: Climate Change GreenFacts (2007). Scientific facts on Climate Change. 2007 Update. Source document: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): "Fourth Assessment Report (AR4)" (2007). Summary & Details: GreenFacts (2007) (Level 1 – 2007 Update, 16 pp). Available online at: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/climate-change-ar4/climate-change-ar4-foldout.pdf
Session 24: Business, Biomimicry and Sustainable Development Senge, Peter & Carstedt, Goran (2001) Innovating Our Way to the Next Industrial Evolution. Sloan Management Review, 42(2): 24-38. Available online at: http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/plan/Sustainability/Steering_Committee_Handouts/Innovating%20Our%20Way%20to%20the%20Next%20Industrial%20Revolution-MIT-SMR.pdf
Benkler, Yochai & Nissenbaum, Helen (2006) Commons-based Peer Production and Virtue. The Journal of Political Philosophy: Volume 14, Number 4, pp. 394–419. Available online at:
http://www.nyu.edu/projects/nissenbaum/papers/jopp_235.pdf
Brown, Lester R. (2009). Can We Mobilize Fast Enough?. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 10, p.241-268). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch10.pdf
Brown, Lester R. (2009). Designing Cities for People. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 6, p.143-167). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch06.pdf
Brown, Lester R. (2009). Population Pressure: Land and Water. Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 2, p.31-54). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch02.pdf
Brown, Lester R. (2009). Restoring the Earth. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 8, p.192-215). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch08.pdf
Brown, Lester R. (2009). Stabilizing Climate: An Energy Efficiency Revolution. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 4, p.79-108). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch04.pdf
Brown, Lester R. (2009). Stabilizing Climate: Shifting to Renewable Energy. In Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc. (Ch. 5, p.109-142). Available online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4ch05.pdf
Capra, Fritjof, Ecology and Community (10 pages). Available online at: http://www.ecoliteracy.org/publications/pdf/community.pdf
Cordingley, L. (2004). Can Masdeu: Rise of the Rurbano revolution. p53-68. Available online at: http://www.inthefield.info/rurbano_revolution.pdf
Ewing, David (2006). The Pollution Within. National Geographic (7 pp) Available: http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0610/feature4/index.html
Farmer, J. (2007). Sustainability study. A case study review of open source sustainability models. pp1-14 (out of 60). Available online at: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/programmes/distributedelearning/sustainabilitystudy-1%5B1%5D.0.pdf
Fournier, Val?rie. (2008). Escaping from the economy: the politics of degrowth . International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy , Vol. 28 No. 11/12, (pp. 528-545). Available online at: http://www.web.ca/~bthomson/degrowth/fournier_the_politics_of_degrowth_13mar08.pdf
Goyal , Dr. K.A. & Joshi, V. (2011) A study of social and ethical issues in banking industry. Int. J. Eco. Res., 2(5), 49-57. Available online at: http://www.ijeronline.com/documents/volumes/Vol%202%20issue%205/ijer20110205SO(5).pdf
GreenFacts (2007). Scientific facts on Climate Change. 2007 Update. Source document: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): "Fourth Assessment Report (AR4)" (2007). Summary & Details: GreenFacts (2007) (Level 1 – 2007 Update, 16 pp). Available online at: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/climate-change-ar4/climate-change-ar4-foldout.pdf
Holmgren, D. (2007). Essence of Permaculture. 23pp. Ed. Holmgren Design Services. Available online at: http://www.holmgren.com.au/DLFiles/PDFs/Essence_of_PC_eBook.pdf
Lessig, L. (2004). Free culture, How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity. The Penguin Press. (Preface, p.xiii-xvi + Ch. 1, p.21-30 & p.170-173). http://www.free-culture.cc/freeculture.pdf
McDonough, William & Braungart Michael (1998). The NEXT Industrial Revolution. The Atlantic 282(4): 82-92. Available online at: http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/nextIndusRev.pdf
Norse, David (2003). Agriculture and the Environment: Changing Pressures, Solutions and Trade-offs. In Bruinsma, J. (ed.) World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030 - An FAO Perspective: 331-356 Earthscan, London. Available online at: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/005/y4252e/y4252e12.pdf
Senge, Peter & Carstedt, Goran (2001) Innovating Our Way to the Next Industrial Evolution. Sloan Management Review, 42(2): 24-38. Available online at: http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/plan/Sustainability/Steering_Committee_Handouts/Innovating%20Our%20Way%20to%20the%20Next%20Industrial%20Revolution-MIT-SMR.pdf
Several Authors. (2009-2011). Sustainability Action Plans. Final papers from previous semesters of ESSO350. Edited by X. de Pedro. cc-by-sa. Available online at: http://iesbarcelona.org/esso350
Various authors. (2012) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wisdom_of_Crowds (Accessed March 28th, 2011). (About the book by Surowiecki, J. (2004). The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations Little, Brown ISBN 0-316-86173-1)
Wheeler, David, et al. (2005) Creating Sustainable Local Enterprise Networks. Sloan Management Review, 47(1): 33-40. Available online at: http://www.honeycareafrica.com/PDF/Sustainable_Local_Enterprise_Networks.pdf
World Health Organization (2005). Ecosystems and Human Well-Being Health Synthesis, (Overview, pages 1 – 10). Available online at: http://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/ecosys.pdf