The following research was initiated to substantiate a report by Linda Beamish to show "Proven Need" of sustainable community living projects, such as 'The Tree Ark Project' - an exemplar of replicable, sustainable & ecological design/s. 'The Brief' /the-brief.html is a 4 page synopsis of the Ark proposals based upon these findings, as are ALL the pages shown here, and on: http://www.globalarkprojects.com + http://www.AnEarthMother.com http://www.thetreearkproject.org +http://www.e-co-op.org & http://www.eco-ark.org (All of the above websites were set up by Linda Beamish to allow for total inclusion as required by United Nations Agenda 21 - upon which the planning guidelines were based.)
Report Findings - put together to "prove the need" of Eco-Communities - and sustainable community living projects - listed here to help others, and to prevent everyone from having to re-invent the wheel every time they need to quote why they are submitting a planning application for such.
(Graphs will be posted separately, as will updates, a better listing system, & alphabetical bibliography - time & budget have necessitated this current format.)
The subject areas of this study include:
Budget – the global economy,
Climate change – the known predictions, ecology, land-mass, population, demand, environmental research
Communications – technology, the difficulties for excluded groups to be “heard”
Deprivation – poverty, housing, disability, food, water, shelter, human rights
Education – the right to education for all, schools, colleges and universities
Need – charities, non-profit distributors, third-sector, social enterprise
Planning – guidelines for sustainable community living projects, eco-build, the built environment
Pollution – waste, emissions,
Prejudice – prejudgment, working classes, indigenous peoples, fairness, lone parents
Sustainability – what is ultimately “sustainable”, what are the problems, why are so few people living sustainably
The initial objective of this report was to prove the validity and feasibility of a sustainable community living project.Climate Change (Objective 2.1.1)
The climate is changing. The evidence is indisputable.
The levels of Carbon-Dioxide emitted are exasperating the environmental damage, as the high levels of CO2 emissions are accelerating the changes.
These accelerants are fuelled also by ozone-depleting substances (ODS), according to the Environmental Investigations Agency http://www.eia-international.com - whose undercover investigations have proven an illegal trade in chlorofluorocarbons, CFC’s. (In contravention to the 1987 Montreal Protocol treaty.)
As well as their award-winning investigations into the illegal trading of CFC’s, the EIA has proven that the replacements to CFC’s, being HCFC’s and HFC’s (hydroflourocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons), cause as much devastation to the ozone layer as the original CFC’s.
Although the emissions of all ODS are now covered through the Montreal Protocol treaty, September 2007, the introduced reductions still allow for a growth in emissions from 0.4 billion tonnes in 2002 to 1.2 billion tonnes in 2015.
The accumulative total emissions of all ODS, is guaranteeing the following effects of climate change.
The scientists’ climatic and environmental research proves the following:
Right now, as a species, the human race is consuming a minimum 1.2 worlds of resources, Reap Report, SEI.
Right now, 17,000 species are at the point of extinction – IUCN Red List
By 2050 sea levels could rise over 20’ – Ocean Conservatory, www.oceanconservatory.org
20% of mammals, 70% of all plants, in danger – IUCN
By 2100 global temperatures will be higher than they have for the past 2 million years www.priweb.org/globalchange/climatechange
Arctic ice sheets are reducing at a rate far faster than previously predicted –BBC News 24
Sea levels are rising as a result of the melt of arctic ice - IPCC Third Assessment Report
Ocean temperatures are rising, and entire coral reefs incapable of adapting to over a 2 degree rise in temperature, will be gone, resulting in the loss of natural sea defences – www.globalcoral.org
The weight re-distribution of arctic ice melt across the tectonic plates will result in increased levels of seismic activity – resulting in volcanic flume blanketing Earth from the sun, creating a solar winter which will last at least ten years – Al Gore, “An inconvenient Truth”
Increased seismic activity, combined with the rise in sea levels, will result in extensive flooding, tsunamis and tidal surges will also become prevalent - Al Gore, “An inconvenient Truth”
Air pressures will change as a result of the proportional changes to land and sea mass – monsoons, typhoons, tornadoes and hurricanes will all increase in activity, number and strength of velocity. We need to adapt – Professor Michael Kelly, Cambridge University, “Can We Adapt The Built Environment In Time”.
There is no report detailing the total amount of land mass which will be lost to the sea as levels continue to rise. According to “The Earth Observatory”, 23rd January 2009, in their article ‘More Accurate FEMA Flood Maps Could Help Avoid Significant Damages and Losses’, the lack of maps detailing to high-accuracy and high-resolution the land surface data, negates the ability to comprehensively detail the flood risks.
Although it is possible to determine the 20’ increase in sea levels, it is not yet possible to determine the damage storm surges will create. To the date of the publication of this Earth Observatory report, there was only 21% map coverage to meet the quality standards needed as data by FEMA, this after a US$1 billion investment.
The US faces a loss of capital value of $17 billion through annual flooding, with a 30 year capital loss of US$270 billion as detailed by Ryszard B Zeidler, ‘Continental Shorelines: Climate Change & Integrated Coastal Management’, 23rd June 1998 via www.sciencedirect.com
In the UK, the Environment Agency predicts flood risks to 2.3 million homes and 185,000 businesses in England and Wales, representing land and asset loss in excess of £200 billion
The Built Environment – circa 20th Century
The industrial revolution provided the bulk of the construction industry with the materials to construct buildings in a standardised format, invariably, from the 1950’s onwards, this included concrete footings and block-work, with an outer brickwork skin.
In the 1970’s, the honest and apparent use of concrete was re-enforced to provide an economical material for high-rise flats, and it was often used in formwork to provide curved and interesting structure.
Originating from Roman influence, the cement used in construction processes has traditionally provided a solid and reliable glue for almost all buildings, although in rural areas, many local people continued to use more ecologically robust materials, including cob in the UK, especially Norfolk and Suffolk where lime facing work was decorated with pargeting.
Manufactured cement emits 1 ton of CO2 output for every 1 ton of cement produced. Half of this CO2 emission comes from the energy used to calcine limestone, the other half is from the chemical reaction of the limestone. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2009, Resource Conservation Challenge Workshop Washington DC, March 25th, 2009)
The CO2 emissions associated with clay brick manufacture equate to 0.000225 tonnes of CO2 per square metre of brickwork, 2007 data. (Sustainable Strategy for the Brick Industry.)
In 2007, according to National Statistics, the recorded figure of £490,769,000 was attributed to brick sales in the UK.
At an average purchase price equating to £200 per 1000 bricks, and £16.70 per sq metre, this equates to a nominal 6,612 tonnes of CO2 emitted through brick manufacture in the UK in 2007 - A stark contrast to the amount of CO2 produced through cement manufacture globally for the same year, 2690 million tonnes – www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/651928/the_cement_industry_in_europe_and_the_middle.htm
The manufacture of concrete includes cement, sand and gravel. Obviously for every ton of concrete, apart from the CO2 emissions involved in the manufacture of cementacious primer, sand and gravel will have been quarried, adding to the over-demand of this planet’s resources, and with excavation machinery and transportation of the conglomerates, this considerably adds to global strain.
While concrete remains the second most used material globally, there will remain abundant CO2 emissions through the manufacture of cement, continuing the speed of climate change.
According to Jeremy Faludi, 18th November 2004 “Concrete a ‘Burning’ Issue – http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001610.html - concrete creates 7-10% of CO2 emissions worldwide.
Housing Stock (UK) 4.3.1:
According to the Poverty Site, 25% of all the homes in England alone were classified as “non-decent”, and the number of new 'social housing' dwellings has fallen well beneath the demographic requirement.
In order to satisfy the growing population in the UK, demand for new housing requires 5 million new homes to be built between 2005 and 2025, - Angela Balakrishnan, The Guardian, published 16th March 2007, the article also stating government data showing that new house building in 2006 only rose 0.5%. Shelter quoted this figure will create a shortfall of 1 million homes by 2026.
Graeme Brown, director of communications at Shelter was quoted as stating that 1 in 7 children in the UK are growing up homeless or badly housed. 90,000 people are housed in 'temporary accommodation'.
Lorna Blackwood of the Times Online, 19/10/07, wrote “Empty Homes: the mystery of the UK's million vacant homes”, in which she presented figures showing that 1,260,000 houses are empty.
Housing Statistics 2008, quoted on the Communities and Local Government website, states that in England in 2007, there was 22.2 million dwellings, of which 70% are owner-occupied. The lower quartile house prices were 7.3 times lower the quartile earnings.
The same report went on to quote that there were approximately 44,000 affordable housing units provided in England in 2006-07, of which 30% were in London.
A 'Crisis' Media centre press release, 14th August 2009, states that the social impact of the recession is yet to be felt. During the second quarter of 2009, more than 11,000 households were repossessed.
A report by Crisis on 7th August 2009 had already identified that Council's were failing single homeless people, this was researched by an undercover operation, proving that the advice levels were so poor, that at 45 visits to Councils had the enquirer been genuine, would have resulted in them living on the streets. Most investigators were treated like “second class” citizens, asked to explain their stories repeatedly, in public settings with ‘little empathy’.
Shelter also published an article 20/08/09 'House building in severe decline in the East of England' – according to Government 2nd quartile figures for 2009, the construction of new homes has fallen by 10% from 4,400 to just 3,990 – although there are an estimated 147,850 households on the waiting lists for East of England council housing!
Over Demand (Objective 2.1.4):
Consumer Demand Exceeds 1.2 Worlds Resources;
(A REAP Project: Stockholm Environment Institute, Rachel Birch, Tommy Wiedmann and John Barrett, January 2006), detailed on Breckland Council Development Control Department.
According to this SEI report, humanity’s ecological footprint exceeds Earth’s biological capacity by a factor of at least 20% above Earth’s natural resource levels.
This report is based on demand levels from 1961, when demand stood at only 50% global capacity, rising consistently to the 1.2 world level in 2001.
Some people estimate that the level as it stands in 2009 actually exceeds 1.6 world’s resources, according to one report, although it has not been possible to substantiate this level at the time of preparation of this report.
Based upon SEI research, the UK demand is 65% higher than the global ecological budget. The USA demand exceeds UK levels.
There is a direct correlation between a countries wealth and the over-demand of our planet’s resources. The UK’s Ecological Footprint at the time of this report, stood at 5.4 global hectares per person, whereas Indian and Ethiopian demand levels stood at under 1 global hectare per person.
The SEI study shows demand levels as:
Food 20%
Household Energy 16%
Manufactured Consumables 12%
Transport 15%
There is no detail for the construction sector, but as detailed previously, cement alone accounts for an equal tonnage in CO2 emissions for every ton manufactured.
Considering these levels of over demand on global resources is crucial when forming sustainable community living projects.
A global ecological overshoot exceeding the Earth’s bio-capacity by 20% in 2001, results in the harvesting of trees and fish, before they have the opportunity of replenishing. This ecological overshoot is also reflected in the levels of CO2 being emitted faster than it can be absorbed by eco-systems.
It is obvious that reducing CO2 emissions alone, will not redress the current imbalance in over-demand, nor help to balance the status quo.
Land, Agriculture & Biodiversity
Biodiversity is impacted from many contributing factors, not least by the clearance of woodland and shrub to allow maximised agricultural output.
According to Dr. Ben Darvill, Bumblebee Conservation Trust Director and Research Ecologist, the decline in numbers of bumble bees, is very clearly linked to the loss of their natural habitat.
Chemicals sprayed on fields filter through the substrate and leach into inland waterways, eventually flowing out to sea.
NASA data captured photographs showing vast swathes of “dead zones”, now known to cover a total oceanic area of 95,000 square miles. This presented in a study by the Earth Observatory, in a report dated August 14, 2008, study led by Professor Robert Diaz of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, with collaborator, Rutger Rosenberg of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
The report “ shows that the number of "dead zones" – areas of seafloor with too little oxygen for most marine life – has increased by a third between 1995 and 2007.
The dead zone areas are seen to be increasing in size and number, and are known to have been created through run-off of excess fertiliser nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus enter the coastal waters and create an imbalance through the dissolved oxygen, occurring through the decomposition of the increased levels of fertilised blooms of algae.
The areas of “dead zones” has doubled each decade since the 1960's and are now considered to be "the key stressor on marine ecosystems".
All this, when half the food produced worldwide is wasted, according to findings in a brief authored by the Stockholm International Water Institute, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). Dr. Charlotte de Fraiture, a researcher at IWMI. Goes on to say that as much as half the water used in the food production is also wasted.
Robert Stewart, Environmental Geoscience, “Environmental Science in the 21st Century – An Online Textbook”, quotes under ‘Land Degradation in Arid Regions’ that drylands cover 41% of the Earth’s Land surface area, home to some 2.47 billion people. Severe land degradation presently affects between 10 – 20% of the dryland, affecting those dependant upon it. Climate change will affect even greater landmass areas, and it is estimated that this will directly affect at least 250 million people in the developing world.
The report includes the Food and Agricultural Organisation definition of ‘desertification’ as a loss of the biological or economic productivity of an area of arid, dry or sub-humid land, caused by a combination of factors, including processes arising from human activities and habitation patterns. Robert Stewart also includes a quote from the US Department of Agriculture web page;
Plato: “Attica (Athens) was no longer cultivated by true herdsmen, who made husbandry their business, and were lovers of honour, and of a noble nature. As a result Attica had become deforested, the soils depleted, and there are remaining only the bones of the wasted body – all the richer and softer parts of the soil having fallen away.”
Across the world, the last five centuries has seen indigenous people move/d away from their native homelands. Many with traditional knowledge of local biodiversity, planting and ecological balance, have been moved away from land which was deemed “best” for food production and/or mineral resources
In the UK, the 16th century bought a time when the value of sheep’s wool far exceeded the price of grain. It became a commercial advantage to turn agricultural land into pasture for sheep. The hard-working peasants were evicted from their land, with compulsory purchase orders for minimal land values. Where there was once a thriving rural industry, nothing was left but waste and ruined cottages, and flocks of sheep extending to 24,000 in number, sheparded with minimal manpower.
Dispossessed peasants were subjected to vagrancy laws initiated by the Government of the day, and many were subjected to horrible levels of cruelty according to Dr Gilbert Slater, “The Land: The Report of the Land Enquiry Committee”, published by Hodder & Stoughton, 1913. According to an article published on www.homepage.ntlworld.com/janusg/landls.htm which goes on to state that; “this was the Enlosure movement of the 16th century, where enclosure did not mean turning waste lands into cultivated fields, but the conversion of what Langland described as ‘fair fields full of folk’, to desolate sheep walks.”
Deprivation, Poverty and Exclusion in the UK (Objective 2.1.2):
Across the world, the public is being asked to live in a more sustainable manner, the problem which many people face is that they are having problem enough just trying to afford to live.
The cost of sustainable, environmental, ecological, organic and fair-trade, are out of the reach of the pockets of millions of people – no matter what their conscience or faith, or whether they are already awakened to the problems of climate change.
Poverty:
According to a report published by the Joseph Rountree Foundation, “Poverty & Social Exclusion in Britain”, 11th September 2000, “Roughly 9.5 million people in Britain cannot afford adequate housing.” 4 million are not fed properly, and over 10.5 million suffer from financial insecurity.
The Joseph Rountree Foundation also quotes that the poverty survey of 2000, found 2 million children in Britain without the “necessities of life”.
Obviously, since 2000, there has been a further economic recession, and these figures along with the total population have increased since this report was first published.
The Poverty Site, www.poverty.org.uk quotes 2007, low-income by gender figures indicate that the two groups most vulnerable to gender linked low-income are single female pensioners, and female lone parents. Men between the age of 60 and 64 are also more likely to be on low incomes than men in any other age groups.
The records of the Poverty Site show that the official unemployment records are substantially outnumbered by those who want to work, but fall into the category of “economically inactive”, a group predominated by women of all ages, and older men.
The Poverty site also quotes the total figures for UK households in poverty 2007/08 as 13.5 million people living beneath the recognised median British household income.
Tax Credits:
People in the UK whose income falls beneath the accepted cost of living, are entitled to Tax Credits. The total number of recipients claiming Tax Credits in April 2009 was 6,131,100. (KAI Analysis, HMRC)
5.6.3 Unemployment:
The Office for National Statistics, 26th August, 2009 states that there are 4.8 million people in work-less households.
5.6.4. Incapacity Benefit:
According to the KAI Analysis, between June 2008 and May 2009, 456,153 people were required to attend a Personal Capability Assessment for Incapacity Benefit.
5.6.5. Housing Benefit:
According to figures presented on ‘House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 July 2009, review completed by Helen Goodman’ – the latest figures shown are for March 2008, when: 173,000 people claimed Housing Benefit while living in Local Authority Housing, 224,000 people made this claim for their Private Rental houses, and 834,000 for Housing Association Tenures. The total numbers shown being 1,131,000 benefit claimants.
5.6.6. Homelessness/Rough Sleepers:
According to figures provided by the , Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the total number of rough sleepers is:
Scotland(111)
Northern Ireland(88)
Wales(128)
England(165)
Total = 492 UK
These figures appear to exclude a large number of people, Garry Lemon, Senior Press Manager of Crisis Organisation said that the chain figures of the access services serving London alone, Salvation Army and other voluntary and charity sectors, provide help to 3000 people on a regular basis.
Crisis also agreed that it was difficult to quantify the total numbers when so many are those who do not have “statutory boxes” to tick.
5.6.7. Single Parents:
The Independent’s Political Correspondent, Ben Russell stated on 31st January 2007, that out of the 7.3 million families with parents of working age in Britain, nearly 25%, 1.9 million, are lone parents, 56.5% of this number were in work at the time of The Independent’s report.
Gingerbread, the association for one parent families, has records of a known 3.1 million children cared for by the 1.9 million lone parents.
In a study by Cardiff University in April 2004, published by One Parent Families, and funded by the Nuffield Foundation, “Single parents slip through the advice net”:
Findings show that the advice provision is “fragmented, under funded and patchy”.
Researching 12 types of legal and social welfare problems, including debt, contact, benefits and child maintenance, approximately a third of the lone parents surveyed found it 'either difficult or impossible to get the necessary help'. Often, to many, the listed problems lasted for over a year.
41% wanted face to face advice but were unable to find it
32% wanted telephone advice but could not get it
12% had Legal Aid problems which prevented the assistance they needed
33% had significant problems with benefits
42% had significant contact problems
32% had significant violence and/or harassment problems
32% had significant debt problems (Fewer than half lone parents with a significant problem achieved any level of access to help):
34% found it impossible to get access to help with benefits
28% found it impossible to get help with CSA problems
25% found it impossible to get help with the family home
21% found it impossible to get help with contact/residence problems
5.6.8. Pensioners:
In 2007, the number of people of state pensionable age in the UK reached 11.58 million, as recorded by the Office for National Statistics, in an article written by Alan Travis, home affairs editor of the Guardian, published 22nd August, 2008 “Ageing Britain: Pensioners outnumber under-16's for first time”.
The number of bankrupt pensioners in the UK has soared by 160%! - as detailed 6th July 2009 on www.pensions.co.uk
5.6.9. Children Beneath Employment Age:
There were 11.5 million children under 16 years of age in the UK in 2007, as detailed by the Office for National Statistics.
According to BBC News 2009/09/10, Pupils suffer 'shocking poverty', in an article likening today's deprivation levels as “Dickensian”, and quoting the number of children in the UK living in poverty to be 2.9 million.
6,000 children each year leave the care system, out of this number, 4,500 have no qualifications. One fifth of this number of children - 1,200 will become homeless each year. In 2005, the total number of children in care was 60,900 – BBC News, published 2006/09/21 – reflecting on a study by the Centre for Policy Studies.
The Telegraph published an article by Jon Swaine, 20th April 2009, “Care system must be 'radically overhauled', MP's say”. In 2007, only 13% of children in care achieved 5 good grades in the GCSE's they sat, compared to 62% national average.
5.6.10. Self-Employed
According to UK Government statistics, http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/labour_market_trends/Growth_article.pdf the number of people who were self-employed in 2004, was over 3.5 million. In 2007, according to Eurofound, in a report written by Helen Newell of University of Warwick, the total number had increased to over 3.7 million, of which number almost one third were female.
Of course not all those working on a self-employed basis will fall into the category of deprivation, but anyone who earns an irregular wage, has dependants, and has to cover the regular outgoings of a rent or mortgage, has no backing support or benefit able to cope with the irregularity of their income.
This is further exasperated by a system which does not take into account the cost of their business expenses when working out a “buffer”, and many children and families are suffering as a direct result of this omission.
5.6.11. Learning Difficulties
Approximately 985,000 people in England have a learning disability (about 2% of the population). 796,000 of which are aged 20 or over - Estimating Future Need/Demand for Supports for Adults with Learning Disabilities in England. - Institute for Health Research, Lancaster University (2004), who also predict that the number of adults with learning difficulties is likely to increase by 11% between 2001 and 2021, taking the number to over 1 million.
Out of this number, according to the National Statistics & NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre (2004), only 20% of adults with learning disabilities are known to learning disability services
5.6.12. Disability
The Employers' forum on disability, “Disability in the UK, 2009 states that there are approximately 10 million disabled people in the UK.
The Poverty Site states that approximately 33% of all disabled adults between the ages of 25 to retirement age, are living in low-income households, and quotes an increasing gap in this number over the last decade, twice the rate of non-disabled people.
5.6.13. Ethnic Minorities
2 out of 5 people from ethnic minorities live in low-income households according to the Poverty Site. Which Franchise quotes the total number as expected to be more than 5 million people in 2009, equating to some 2 million people from ethnic minorities in low-income households UK.
5.6.14. Travelling Community
The number of people without permanent residence in the UK is difficult to quantify. There are at least 10,000 families forming the Gypsy Council, and a caravan count in January 2009 detailed on the Communities & Local Government Progress Report on Gypsy & Traveller Policy, recorded 17,865 caravans.
5.6.15. Migrant People
Home Office figures show that on 29th March 2008, 2,305 people were detained under UK Immigration Powers in IRCs. This is not an inclusive figure as it fails to show those detained in provisions under 'sole' immigration powers.
Although according to The New Statesman 2008, the figure for immigrant children alone is actually in excess of 2000, seen as passing through UK's immigration detention centres.
5.6.16. Prisoners
The figure for the total number of prisoners in England and Wales, was 82,319 – an increase of 140 more than the previous record set in February 2008 - 25th April 2008, in a report written by David Barrett, PA, The independent, stating that “Number of prisoners hit new peak”.
Total UK Population: 61,000,000 – BBC News, 27/08/09.
Pie chart of proportional UK breakdown to be posted online later. N.B. There is known overlap of the numbers of people in more than one of these categories.
Planning Requirements (Objective 2.1.5):
Initial research of the Planning Guidelines at the Local Authority (Breckland Council) website, confirmed that in order for any planning application to be considered for new build in the countryside, it must conform to Planning Policies as detailed in appendix 1a.
In addition to the guidelines listed below, and details shown in appendix 1a, any sustainable community living project would also need to be “replicable”, “an exemplar of sustainable design”, “inclusive”, and be deemed “fair and democratic”.
In summary, in order to form a sustainable community living project, according to the Local Authority guidelines alone, it would need to comply to:
SO8 To protect and enhance the quality and distinctiveness of the biodiversity, geology and landscape of Breckland
SO10 To require high quality design that meets high environmental standards
SO11 To enhance open space provision throughout the District
SO12 To promote renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions
SO13 To minimise the risk of flooding to existing and new developments
SO14 To maximise the opportunity to redevelop sustainable previously developed land
SO15 To prevent groundwater contamination & deterioration in air, water & soil quality
SO16 To require the efficient use of water resources
SO17 To minimise the amount of waste produced and promote sustainable waste management
SO18 To provide for a significant modal shift from a reliance on the private car, in particular single person car use, to sustainable forms of transport
Further planning requirements as detailed in Table 1a.
HOU 1 – Housing land supply
HOU 2 – Housing in towns and villages
HOU 4 – Housing need
HOU 7 – Housing in dispersed rural communities
HOU 8 – Houses in the countryside
HOU 12 – Personal and domestic circumstances
Any new housing would also need to fulfil “the Sustainable Community Strategy for Breckland 2008-2011”, quoting that sustainable communities ‘are likely’ to be:
Active, inclusive and safe
Well run, designed and built
Environmentally sensitive
Well connected
Thriving & well served
Fair for everyoneHave a strong economy with skilled jobs
Be able to support themselvesBuild good quality homes that are affordable for future generations
Offer skills and vocational training for young people
Promote recycling
Offer a range of local services
Present opportunities for all members of the community
The Sustainable Community Strategy shows that Breckland’s priorities include:promoting better access to affordable housing for local people increase the number of vulnerable people achieving independent living
SO1 the delivery of a minimum 15,200 net new homes
SO2 securing sufficient affordable housing for those in need
The Local Development Framework prioritises:
SO4 To develop and retain a flexible and highly skilled workforce through training
SO13 To ensure high and stable levels of employment through restructuring the local economy
SO19 To ensure good accessibility for all to jobs, facilities and services in Breckland
The Local Authority’s priorities for environmental sustainability includes the needs to:
Minimise the impact on climate change by all those living and working in the district
Raise environmental awareness in local communitiesMinimise the impact of waste production and increase recycling rates
Reduce the environmental impact of travel Adapting to climate change
Reducing per capita CO2 emissions in the LA areaMunicipal waste land filledTackling fuel poverty – people receiving income based benefits living in homes with a low energy efficiency rating
Almost half the world, a number in excess of three billion people, live on less than $2.50 per day80% of all humanity lives on less than US$10 per day– World Bank Development Indicators 2008
25,000 children under the age of 5 years, die each day due to poverty – UNICEF10.6 million children died before the age of 5 years in 2003
72 million (minimum) primary school aged children in the developing world were not in school in 2005 (of which 57% girls)
121 million children worldwide are out of education
Almost 1 billion people at the start of the 21st Century could not read a book or sign their name
40 million people live with HIV/AIDS, accounting for 3 million deaths in 2004
15 million children are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS
350-500 million cases of malaria per annum, with 1 million fatalities
1.1 billion people in developing countries lack access to water
2.6 billion people lack basic sanitation in developing countries
1.8 billion people have access to a water source within 1 kilometre outside their home
1.8 million children die every year from diarrhoea
1.4 million children die each year from a lack of access to safe drinking water & sanitation
¾ of the 385 million people living on less than US$1 per day live in rural areas
Half the world's population lives in cities and towns, 33% = 1 billion live in slum conditions
1.6 billion people live without electricity = ¼ of all humanity
Every $1 in aid received by a Developing Country is offset by the $25 spent on debt repayment
The Gross Domestic Product of the 41 most indebted countries, 567 million people, is less than the wealth of the world's 7 richest people combined.
To provide access to basic social services in developing countries, it would cost an additional:
Billion US$Global Provisions6Education for all9Water & sanitation for all12Reproductive health for all women13Basic health and nutritionTable 4.7.2.
The figures showing the spending of the developed world in 1998:
Billion US$Global Provisions
8US – cosmetics
11EU – ice cream
12EU & US – perfume
17EU & US – pet food
35Japan – business entertainment
50EU – cigarettes
105EU – alcohol
400World – narcotics
780World – military spending
According to World Bank Development Indicators 2008, the share of world's private consumption in 2005, equated to the following;
The world's richest 20% consume 76.6% resources
The world's middle 60% consume 21.9% resources
The world's poorest 20% consume 1.5% resources
Amup Shah goes on to highlight the distance between the world’s poorest countries to the world’s richest countries over the time period 1820 to 1992, as shown in table 4.7.4 below:
182019131950197319923:111:135:144:172:1
Suzanne Goldenberg, US environment correspondent for the Guardian, published an article 30th September 2009, stating ‘By 2050, 25 million more children will go’. Highlighting a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute for the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, climate change will lead to food shortages and soaring prices for basic diet staples including wheat, maize and Soya beans.
Failing crops and yields will create famine, and the reduced levels of such staple dietary commodities will push the price out reach for millions of vulnerable people in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. This also has the potential to affect many more millions - billions of people globally.
The Earth Observatory published an article 13th June 2004 “Two Billion Vulnerable to Floods by 2050; Number Expected to Double or More in Two Generations”, due to climate change, deforestation, rising sea levels and population growth in areas prone to flooding.
The report based upon data from United Nations University quotes Dr Bogardi as concluding; “Instead of starting with the focus on natural hazards and their quantification, the assessment and ranking of the vulnerability of affected groups should serve as the starting point in defining priorities and remedial interventions.”
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as amended by Protocol No.11, Rome, 4.XI.1950 – Article 2 – Right to life, quotes in Section1, ‘Rights and Freedoms’; ‘1. Everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime for which this penalty is provided by law.
The United Nations General Assembly, Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio de Janeiro, 13-14 June 1992, Annex 1, Principle 1 states that:
Human beings are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.
The full United Nations; Agenda 21, 1992. is a vast, phenomenally comprehensive and inclusive series of proposals forming one detailed account of the inclusive polices needed for total inclusion which would eradicate world poverty, provide water and education for all, and outlines the need for a holistic, cooperative and interlinked solution to the effects of climate change. Promoting sustainability and the reduction of impact and demand, this document offers the way to implement the changes needed.
Following on from Agenda 21, The Earth Charter was formed, and has been endorsed by ‘thousands of organisations, including UNESCO and the World Conservation Union’. www.EarthCharter.org
The Earth Charter recognises the critical moment we now face in Earth’s history, and considers this to be a time when humanity must choose its own future.
Recognising the fragility of this world now, the charter urges people to join together, as one global community, with a common destiny. It promotes the need for a shared vision, for a common standard of conduct under which ‘all individuals, organisations, businesses, governments, and transnational institutions’ should be guided and assessed.
Principals of The Earth Charter are as set out below:
I. Respect and Care for The Community of Life:
Respect Earth and life in all its diversity
Care for the community of life with understanding, compassion, and love
Build democratic societies that are just, participatory, sustainable and peaceful
Secure Earth’s bounty and beauty for present and future generations
II. Ecological Integrity:
Protect and restore the integrity of Earth’s ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life
Prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, supply a precautionary approach
Adopt patterns of production, consumption, and reproduction that safeguard Earth’s regenerative capacities, human rights, and community well-being
Advance the study of ecological sustainability and promote the open exchange and wide application of the knowledge acquired
III. Social and Economic Justice
Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social, and environmental imperative
Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner
Affirm gender, equality and equity as prerequisites to sustainable development and ensure universal access to education, health care, and economic opportunity
Uphold the right of all, without discrimination, to a natural and social environment supportive of human dignity, bodily health, and spiritual well-being, with special attention to the rights of indigenous peoples and minorities
IV. Democracy, Non-violence and Peace
Strengthen democratic institutions at all levels, and provide transparency and accountability in governance, inclusive participation in decision making, and access to justice
Integrate into formal education and life-long learning the knowledge, values, and skills needed for a sustainable way of life
Treat all living beings with respect and consideration
Promote a culture of tolerance, non-violence and peace
The Earth Charter calls upon everyone to consider a new beginning, follow and adopt the basic principles, and promote the values and objectives of the Charter.
In conclusion, the Charter states “Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.
Listing those Environmental Organisations & Research/Advisors Published Papers researched for the formation of the working strategy and the “Letter of Logic” of Global Ark Projects – detailed list not inclusive – data also accumulated from any number of total sources for the purpose of clarifying the overall climate predictions and requirement for sustainability in all aspects of our proposals.Avaaz.orgClimate Wake Up Call.Committee on Climate Change (CCC; independent advisors to UK Government)Technical Appendix social research background 6&7 final versionBuilding a Low-Carbon Economy December 2008CNN NEWS:Dawa Steven Sherpa, leader of Eco Everest Expeditions, aiming to educate climbers about their impact on the Himalayas and highlight the affects of climate change on the region.(CNN) -- The indigenous people of Alaska have stood firm against some of the most extreme weather conditions on Earth for thousands of years. But now, flooding blamed on climate change is forcing at least one Eskimo village to move to safer ground. - (continuing)... Newtok is just one example of what the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns is part of a growing climate change crisis that will displace 150 million people by 2050.Environmental Investigations Agency:Environmental Crime – A Threat to Our FutureFacing the F-Gas ChallengeFighting Environment Criminals: A Race Against Crime – Winter 2008Friends of the Earth – FoE Publications:Who benefits from gm crops? 2008Greenpeace:Climate Change – “The problems” & “The Solutions”International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)IUCN Red list of endangered speciesIUCN & Climate Change, Brief April 2009Tyndall Centre – Working PapersVia - UEAUnited Nations – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report – Included in 1.3 “... Of the more than 29,000 observational data series, from 75 studies, that show significant change in many physical and biological systems, more than 89% are consistent with the direction of change expected as a response to warming ...”Working Group 1 Report “The Physical Science Basis”Working Group 3 –“ Mitigation of Climate Change”Working Group 2 Report - “Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”Climate Change & WaterWWF Reports:Living Planet Report 2008Sustainable development opinion: curbing UK impacts on global biodiversity: an agenda for action – August 2008 WWF-UKMarine Update 61 Assessing the impacts of climate change in the Arctic – June 2007 WWF-UKFishing, climate change and North East Atlantic cod stocks – May 2007 WWF-UKCarbon Choices – May 2009 WWF-UKA Closing window of opportunity – Global Greenhouse Reality 2008 – by Dr. Martin Sommerkorn, WWF International Arctic ProgrammeClimate change: Faster, sooner, stronger – October 2008 WWF-UKA joint WWF-FoE response (to Government draft “Options Paper” regarding EU 2020 20% renewable energy targets – October 2007 WWF-UKDebt and Climate Change – January 2007Other Research forming the basis of Global Ark Projects' & the Tree Ark Project (sustainable community living project) gained in part from the following resources, web-sites and organisations:The New York Times – Energy & Environment: Europe readies for effects of climate change – JEAN-MARIE MACABREY, ClimateWire 2nd April 2009Sustainable Energy – Without the hot air - by David JC MacKay - UIT, Cambridge, England 2009Breckland Council – Community Projects – The Sustainable Community Strategy for Breckland 2008 – 2011Breckland Council – Breckland 4 Business – Designs on a Greener Future - 23/04/2009Consultation Response – Planning Policy Statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas – Friends of the Earth December 2003“Debate Erupts over Effects of Climate Change on Disease” - by Katherine Nightingale, 9th April 2009 – Science & Development NetworkDirectory of Social Change – Information & Training for the Voluntary Sector – 2009Technology Strategy Board – Driving Innovation – Low Impact Buildings – Innovation Platform T08/007Design Principle 4 – SustainabilitySustainable Business Resource Pack – Hampshire & Isle of White – 2007Round House Case Study – 2004The National Autistic Society (NAS) Press Release: “New research reveals thousands of adults with autism are isolated and ignored” - “I Exist” - February 2008Natural Buildings Techniques – resources@strawbalecentral.comTouchwood – Ecological & Social Foundation – IndiaI.E.S. - Seawater Brine RecyclingElsevier – Desalination 156 (2003) 295-304Whitepaper – Design & Sustainability – DesignTalks (undated)Ecology & Community – By Frijof Capra – Centre for Ecoliteracy – BerkeleyEcoliteracy: The Challenge for Education in the Next Century – Liverpool Schumacher Lectures (Centre for Ecoliteracy) – by Frijof Capra, 20th March 1999“SUSTRANS” - Annual Review 2007Current & Future Photovoltaics, V.1 – Foresight – By: Matt Boreland, Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Loughborough University - AND – Darren Bagnall, Nanoscale System Integration Group, Electronics & Computer Science, Southampton University.Organic Conducting Polymer Flexible Electronics & Foldable Displays & Photovoltaics – Paul R. Berger – Ohio State University – August 2008Greenfleet – “Sustainable Transport” - (via their website)“Compressed Air Moves Forward” - by Rebecca Harrison – Reuters News 27th October 2002Some of the Websites researched to form these proposals (– and in the hope of finding some form of support for the level of work needed to form the proposals):http://www.sustainable.gatech.edu/ - Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systemshttp://www.stepin.org/ - Sustainable Technology Education Project http://www.cfsd.org.uk/ - The Centre for Sustainable Designhttp://www.oakdenehollins.co.uk/servicization.html – Oakdene Hollins Ltd – Sustainable Innovation http://www.design-talks.com/content/home – DesignTalkshttp://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/home – Renewable Energy World.comhttp://www.talbotts.co.uk – Talbott's Biomass Generatorshttp://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/portable_biomas.php – Treehugger – A Discovery Companyhttp://www.sustrans.org.uk/ - Sustranshttp://www.2degreesnetwork.com/join/networks/low-carbon-commercial-real-estate/ - 2degrees Real Estatehttp://css.snre.umich.edu/?gclid=CPHSyO3AxJYCFQ_UlAodFQn9yA – Centre for Sustainable Systemshttp://www.u3p.net/ - Voiliers Solaires – Solar Sailshttp://sloppyfilms.blogspot.com/2006/08/busycle-in-minneapolis.html – Sloppyshorts – Busycle in Minneapolishttp://www.ecotopia.com/st/ - Sustainable Transportationhttp://ecoliteracy.org/about/index.html – Centre for Ecoliteracyhttp://archive.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2002/paris/preview/gm-hywire/ - CarDesignNews – GM Hy-wirehttp://www.earthship.net/ - Earthship Biotecturehttp://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/5860/home?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0 – Wiley InterScience – Progress in Photovoltaics + The Brazilian experience with a photovoltaic powered reverse osmosis planthttp://www.springerlink.com/content/llg70352qj252517/ - SpringerLink – Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Solar Powered Water Desalination Planthttp://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2005/08/renewable-energy-brings-water-to-the-world-35664 – Renewable Energy World – Renewable Energy Brings Water to the World, by Ed Brown, 23/08/2005http://www.spectrawatermakers.com/ - Spectra Watermakershttp://cleantech.com/news/node/843 – CleanTech Group LLChttp://beta.technologyreview.com/read_article.aspx?id=16977&a=f – Technology Review -Cheap Drinking Water from the Oceanhttp://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10465 - Wave-powered 'ducks' could purify seawater http://www.iestech.com/desalination.htm – I.E.S.http://www.geocities.com/tominelpaso/links.htmlhttp://www.ourwaterfuture.com/charity_initiative.html -Our Water Futurehttp://www.wateraid.org/uk/ - Water Aidhttp://www.ece.osu.edu/~berger/summ_polymer05.html – E.C.E. - Paul R. Berger the Ohio State Universityhttp://www.cat.org.uk/index.tmpl?refer=index&init=1 – Centre for Alternative Technologyhttp://www.oneclimate.net/?gclid=CIqhisX3xZYCFQLolAodQRdHzg – OneClimate.nethttp://www.pobronson.com/factbook/pages/43.html – The Factbook – on Everything Family – Single Parentshttp://www.envirowise.gov.uk/uk/About-Envirowise.html – Envirowise – Sustainable Practices & Profitshttp://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail – Business Linkhttp://www.smallbusiness.co.uk/?gclid=CIDKgYaT0ZYCFQaT1QodmWig2Q – Business Start-Up Advicehttp://sylworkshops1122.eventbrite.com/ - Single Parents Training Workshopshttp://www.thethinkingbusiness.co.uk/Innovative_creative.html – The Thinking Business, for Creativity & Innovationshttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/index.htm – DirectGov -Environment & greener livinghttp://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/digitalinclusion/research/ - Communities & Local Governmenthttp://www.northnorfolk.org/ldf/1235_1462.asp – North Norfolk District Council – Sustainability Appraisalhttp://www.globalwarmingart.com/ - Global Warming Arthttp://www.norfolkbiodiversity.org/ - Norfolk Biodiversity Partnershiphttp://www.greenstat.co.uk/ - the Green Stationary companyhttp://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/forum/thread-maint.do?topicId=8969579 – Improvement & Development Agency – Sustainable Communities Act – Local Panelshttp://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/forum/thread-maint.do?topicId=8411670 - Improvement & Development Agency – Local Climate Impact Profilehttp://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=80829 - Improvement & Development Agency – Environmental sustainability and climate changehttp://www.hcaacademy.co.uk/ - Homes & Communities Academyhttp://www.inspire-east.org.uk/home.aspx – Inspire East – ideas and actions for sustainable communitieshttp://www.lowimpact.org/contact.htm – LILI – Low-impact living initiativeshttp://www.esmeefairbairn.org.uk/grants2005/scjj.html – Esmee Fairbairn Foundationhttp://www.normanlamb.org.uk/pages/councillors.html – Local MP, Norman Lambhttp://www.bizmapeast.co.uk/ - The Business Map – EEDAhttp://www.enterprising-women.org/show.php?nav=2 – Enterprising Womenhttp://www.defra.gov.uk/sustainable/government/ - Sustainable Development in Government – DEFRAhttp://www.funderfinder.org.uk/ - Fund Finderhttp://www.churchcare.co.uk/funding.php?IK – Church of England – Funding & resources for community projectshttp://entrepreneur.virgin.com/2008/12/11/what-does-it-take-to-be-a-virgin-entrepreneur/ - Richard Branson http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/ - Communities & Local Government – Housing statistics by topichttp://naturalhomes.org/house.htm – Natural Homeshttp://www.ecobooks.com/catalogs/naturalbuilding.htm – Eco Books – Books on Natural Buildinghttp://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/ecotowns/ - Communities & Local Government – eco-townshttp://www.thebiggreenidea.org/news/article/micro-hydro-continues-to-prosper-despite-the-credit-crunch/ - The Big Green Idea – Success for Settle Hydrohttp://www.firstgiving.org/bolivia – First Giving – Bringing Clean Water to Boliviahttp://oneplanetproducts.com/ - One Planet Productshttp://www.dta.org.uk/aboutourmembers/whatisadevelopmenttrust.htm – Deveopment Trusts Associationshttp://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ - Natural Englandhttp://www.governmentfunding.org.uk/ - Government Funding http://www.prowess.org.uk/about/about.asp – Prowesshttp://www.gcp.uk.net/index.php – Greater Cambridge Partnershiphttp://www.unltd.org.uk/index.php – UnLtd charityhttp://www.treehouseworkshop.com/ - TreeHouse Workshophttp://candobetter.org/DemandAffordableHousing – (We) can do better – demand affordable housinghttp://www.public-domain-photos.com/# - Public-Domain-Photoshttp://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11637 – New Scientist - Environmentalhttp://ed.acrewoods.net/node/220 – Ed's Website – Planning Policy and Low Impact Developments – What are the planning barriers to low impact developments in Britain - 30th September 2008http://www.evnuk.org.uk/networks.html – Eco-Village Network UKhttp://www.off-grid.net/2007/08/26/landmark-off-grid-housing-victory/ - Off-Grid – free yourselfhttp://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6441363 – Improvement and Development Agency – Rural Excellence action learning for strategic housinghttp://www.nwes.org.uk/ - NWES Encouraging Enterprisehttp://jonathancloud.com/?page_id=12 – Jonathan Cloud: Life, Examined -Altonomy: Building the Sustainable Economy, One Opportunity at a Time – www.altonomy.comhttp://www.norfolkrcc.org.uk/wiki/index.php/Main_Page – Norfolk Rural Community Councilhttp://www.cueeast.org/contacts.htm – University of East Anglia – CueEast – Community-university-engagementhttp://www.greenspec.co.uk/html/design/designcontent.html – Green Spechttp://www.echoinggreen.org/ - Echoing Green – Social changehttp://www.co-operative.coop/ - The Co-Operativehttp://www.fsb.org.uk/ - Federation of Small Businesseshttp://www.norfolkchamber.co.uk/Pages/XTRA/businessfinance.aspx – Norfolk Chamber of Commercehttp://www.futerra.co.uk/home – Futerra Sustainability Communicationshttp://www.eenews.net/cw/ - ClimateWire – the Politics and Business of Climate Changehttp://www.eenews.net/special_reports/bangladesh/ - ClimateWire – Bangladesh needs the West's help, but it isn't waiting for it – by Lisa Freidman, E&E reporter – Bangladesh – where the climate exodus beginshttp://www.icr.org/research/index/researchp_as_platetectonicsl/ - Institute for Creation Research – Catastrophic Plate Tectonics: A Global Flood Model of Earth Historyhttp://feww.wordpress.com/2009/01/01/climate-change-earthquakes-volcanic-eruption/ - Fire Earth – Environmental Issues - Climate Change IS Increasing the Frequencies of Major Geological Events - There will be more earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides both on the land and sea floor – quotes... “In a study first published on the web in 2004, NASA and United States Geological Survey (USGS) scientists found that retreating glaciers in southern Alaska may lead to more earthquakes in future. “The study examined the likelihood of increased earthquake activity in southern Alaska as a result of rapidly melting glaciers. As glaciers melt they lighten the load on the Earth’s crust. Tectonic plates, that are mobile pieces of the Earth’s crust, can then move more freely.” [The study appeared in the July 2004 issue of the Journal of Global and Planetary Change.]”The above detailed listing forms a non-exhaustive list of a percentage of the total researched material, used for all the elements forming the arguments, the reasons, our sustainable community living project, “The Tree Ark Project” and our demand to be allowed to live sustainably, and our wish to host THE debate at www.GlobalArkProjects.com for the future of all our children, and all species. Founder.
