Stepping Stones: Appropriate Technology and Beyond

Description

The ideas of appropriate technology grew out of a sense that something was seriously wrong with a way of life that allowed the squandering of natural resources—and money—for questionable material gains. Some people responded to the deteriorating physical, social, and economic environment by developing more meaningful and equitable life-styles and communities. Others went “back to the land” to explore the values of self-sufficiency. Still others honed their political and organizing skills by working for human rights and economic justice. All are now coming together to form a social and political force that has the potential to change the course of our society. The pieces collected here are the philosophical stepping stones that have helped shape the techniques, values, tools, and politics of appropriate technology. They are intended as a companion to RAINBOOK: RESOURCES FoR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY, which documents the manifestations of the ideas presented here. And they include a number of new, important responses to the question about what lies beyond appropriate technology. Lane de Moll is co-editor of Rain Magazine (Journal of Appropriate Technology) and Gigi Coe is with the California Office of Appropriate Technology. Part I—THE PARTY’S OVER Horsedrawn Tools and the Doctrine of Labor-Saving—Wendell Berry Introduction Size Speak to the Earth and It Shall Teach Thee—C. R. On Size—Leopold Kohr Ashbee Small Business: Testimony to the Senate Small Changing Possibilities—Tom Bender Business Committee—Barry Stein Lessons—Siewart Brand The Briarpatch Network—Andy Alpine Net Energy It Takes Energy to Get Energy—Wilson Clark Sustainability The Soil and Health—Sir Albert Howard Energy, Ecology and Economics—Howard T. Forest Farming—J. Sholto Douglas & Robert Hart Odum Cosmic Economics—Joel Schatz & Tom Bender Biotechnology—John Todd Energy Strategy: The Road Not Taken—Amory Value and Values Lovins Clothesline Paradox—Siteve Baer Simplicity Household Economy—Scott Burns Voluntary Simplicity—Richard Gregg : Buddhist Economics—E. F. Schumacher On Citizenship and Conscience—Wendell Berry Conscious Culture of Poverty—E. F. Schumacher Building with Mudbrick—Hassan Fathy New Values—Tom Bender An Ecologically Sound Architecture Is Technology for What and for Whom Possible—Malcolm Wells Radical Monopoly—ivan Illich Part III—BEYOND APPROPRIATE isn’t Nature Neutral?—Frances Moore Lappé & TECHNOLOGY Joseph Collins Introduction Time to Stop—E. F. Schumacher Flight from Freedom—Kar! Hess Technology with a Human Face—E. F. Schumacher Why Big Business Loves A.T.—Tom Bender Can Americans Convert to Lower Energy Part !i—APPROPRIATE T2CHNGLOGY Use?—Margaret Mead DEFINITIONS Nurturing a Responsible Agriculture-—Gil Friend Introduction Independent Cities: Changing the Nature of from A.T. and State Government—Sim VanderRyn Economic Development—David Morris from Big and/or Little?—Wilson Clark Neighborhood Energy: Designing for Democracy in from Towards a Liberatory Technology—Murray the 1980s—Lee Johnson Bookchin Getting Through the Looking Glass—Tom Bender from Rainbook—Tom Bender Nature of Tools—livan Illich RESOURCES