This appears to be an excellent idea and a valuable forum and blog topic for us all. It would help, too, if we could get some actual UN support for our forum/blog(s). After all, the APIX project is contributed for the entire world. Our environment and our economies are of a world wide concern now and the solutions are a world wide program. No one country or group can expect to have all the answers. The Internet was originally devised for scientific research and spread world wide in the hands of many enterprising computer and software developers. It now belongs to all the peoples of the world so why not use it for the good of the people of the world. We who call ourselves engineers can take this golden opportunity to do some world wide good so long as we do not let greedy self interest stand in our way.

It is to be mentioned that the original presentation:

"Let CR4 be the FIRST in the world to not only define
Sustainability Engineering but also to pioneer the subject to new levels of significance" ... is to be slightly corrected as:

Let CR4 be the FIRST in the world to not only REDEFINE
Sustainability Engineering but also to pioneer the subject to new levels of significance."

Apologies for the inadvertent mistake

Having initiated a subject - SUSTAINABILITY ENGINEERING, it is now necessary to "define" the concept. This would need that we first cull and hone the various ideas that are now flying around, world wide, on what sustainable development means to different people!

Economic development, in modern times, connotes a very broad ideology. While its classical significance, related to the standard of living of the people, still holds good, the broader perspective of a holistic and sustainable socioeconomic theme would have to be considered in present day models. This is because, hitherto all the ideas and paradigms on economic development, technology, and social progress have been directed and dictated by a peculiar "fear psychosis" wherein the world is looked upon as a "resource scarce" entity, and all development would have to be based on REDUCING LABOR CONTENT IN TECHNOLOGY. This sort of development economics has created a world where there is indiscriminate consumption of scarce resources by a few groups, at the expense of the majority, leading to catastrophic and environmentally dangerous situations.

In the modified thinking, based on Sustainable Development, all our technology and engineering (directed toward economic development) would have to be based on RENEWABLE RESOURCES and HUMAN RESOURCES. However, as these resources vary across the world, there is need to look at AVAILABLE RESOURCES, and "re-engineer" our development paradigms as appropriate.

It is fashionable these days to indiscriminately use the paradigm – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. The idea connotes different things to different people. For example, for the "vote bank" based politicians (more euphemistically called – STATESMEN) it is the so-called Food, Clothing and Shelter; for the sophisticated economist it would mean things like GDP, PRICE INDEX, etc; for the environmentalist it means more space for the flora and fauna in our surroundings; for the NGO activists, it would mean "NO DISPLACEMENT" of the "indigenous" peoples; for the common folks in the "neighborhoods" it would mean "the availability of at least minimum needs of livelihood". How do we "filter" an unbiased view from all these conflicting ideas? We need to introspect on certain basic TRUTHS on all natural phenomena.

Without going into the intricacies and details on the phenomenon of life on earth, we need to recognize that all natural phenomena are dictated by the principle of ENTROPY, which in turn is based on the SECOND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS – that matter and energy could neither be created nor destroyed, but could only be "changed" from one to another; and when such "change" does occur, ENTROPY increases. To understand more about entropy, we need to compare its likeness to TIME. Both TIME and ENTROPY are positive and can only increase. We do not talk of time reversing – for example, people grow old and we could never think of an old man reverting to his younger years and finally traversing back into his original mother's womb! Iron rusts; rocks weather and crumble; water would flow form a mountain downward (not the other way) ... While the idea of TIME connotes that something is UNAVAILABLE as time progresses, the same is true of ENTROPY too. Every natural phenomenon would have to "follow" the principles of TIME and ENTROPY. Essentially it means that the world (or the universe) is in a constant state of change where in TIME and ENTROPY always increase (or are positive); and it is impossible for us to revert back to an "earlier" level.

It is estimated that LIFE on earth began about more than a billion years ago, and today we (HUMANS) vaingloriously stay at the top of the life pyramid! Both TIME and ENTROPY have continually increased and it could be said with indubitable authority that a great many things have been destroyed (or made unavailable) during this long journey of LIFE on earth. We now know that continents have drifted; ice ages have changed the entire life systems; dinosaurs had existed and perished ... Today we (the so-called modern civilization) who populate the world seem to be in a frenzy to make all things unavailable at greater speeds, through our greed to consume more and more of whatever are left on earth!

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT would not be a jargon, if we recognize the impact of TIME and ENTROPY in all our thought and actions, and the problems involved would be minimal. The biggest one single factor that contributes to the greatest problems in the race to develop is COMPETITION – competition to equal or excel peer groups. And it holds good for the individual as well as a whole nation. We shall not attempt here to "define" the concept of COMPETITION but suffice it to state that it connotes an instinct in all life forms toward achievement oriented "growth process" of peer groups. The net result is CONFLICT. This writer wishes to define Sustainable Development as optimized socio-economic and environmental development, taking into cognizance the effects of TIME-ENTROPY concept, towards reducing competitive conflicts. We should also recognize that it is humanly impossible to nullify the effects of all of these (Time-Entropy, Competition and Conflict) on our development process. The question may be asked: How do we practically achieve sustainable development? Here again this writer wishes to identify the single biggest effect of competitive conflict – SHIFTING POPULATIONS. People flock to cities and urban agglomerations, from far way dilapidated villages, to earn their livelihoods. Essentially, this results in great stress on city management – congestion, poor amenities, water scarcity, crime, and much more … There is another cause for this shifting population – the so-called industrialization of village areas (the setting up of Steel Plants, Mining centers, Power Projects, Dam construction, etc). Thus, this writer is of the view that sustainable development would need a reversal of shifting population. But how could we achieve that? Is it not another UTOPIA?

That then would be the reason for defining and codifying SUSTAINABILITY ENGINEERING

Dear Hari & All,

Sustainability Engineering is obviously a fine title almost suitable for subsumation of Blog APIX-Pilot-Plant-Design-Project-Recycling-Wastes, which I guess now to get to the blog, we type that out since it does not appear on the CR4 homepage on the right to scroll to.

Where I am now is a different position than normal for me and it has a corporatese Sociological name as Loyal Leader of the Opposition which doesn't mean I am necessarily opposed to your plans or proposals, but is a bit different.

Actually I am not sure that I have a ready copy of the re-write of the APIX mission statement, but if you are going to propose another blog, I'd certainly like some discussion of what my concepts codified in that piece offered from the group that so far exists.

Certainly I am short of reading and writing time since I spend my days at hard labor as a carpenter for money, which does limit some of my ability to do all that I might if there was some livelihood associated with it.

If all of a sudden I got a check from the sale of my screenplay, I'd have a bit more time to work on things like Bio Mass Bob and his Cohort of Conservationists for instance. Conversely if I got check to work on the creation of a Toy Character Product Line, appropriate to your table material, I'd have more time to work on it.

Possibly Roger and Regina and the Recyclers is a better Character Concept?

Non Profit does not actually mean some people do not make a living working on what they work on.

A film Grip, and I was often enough a Key Grip, is on a set basically the site specific improvisational set engineer who works with the Gaffer and Electric department to achieve the shots for the Director of Photography. A strict definition is "camera support".

I've often been also a Gaffer. The Electric department does have some additional responsibilities beyond those of the Grip department in that all departments from catering to production typically need electricity and that position calls for more political talent than the Grip department.

Simply put, as the Gaffer, I have to know who to give power to first, second, or third, and keep everyone getting along about it.

The positions become equal since the Key Grip is in charge of Safety, and I have had to be very unpleasant on occasion in that position.

When I do things for free, I am willing and able up to a point.

That point is basically I'll donate my time and thought in a different category from something I have done "freelance" for my livelihood. My motive is to prove that I can do that to a professional standard.

Anyway my main study outside of my daily bread pursuits has been Political Science and Military History. My work of conceptual art, Transcendia, would have great need for sustainable infrastructure, so I will attempt to keep up and do what I can, regardless.

As far as what is already going APIX is summate to say: I am for TV documentation of what is so far of your work. : I am for a machine list appropriate to your chart. I am for system platens that conform to location realities for every habitat.

"Sustainable" is becoming a icon word like "Green", but it would be valuable to make a title that also implies the wellbeing that comes from private profit as well.

I spent all day digging holes under a house for vital improvements to its foundation. I tell you sometimes I would really rather see a house torn down and a modular set of well wired and new rooms with a roof coffin keyed together.

My website hasn't made any money and I am sure glad Global Spec is continuing and supporting CR4. If Transcendia had some money I'd sure be endorsing advertised stuff from Global spec, basically because it is good stuff from what I've dreamed of getting as far as batteries and solar are concerned.

My standardized Wet Cells so far can produce some reliable 1 volt reads on my meter, and I am just now embarking on the load life testing with some LEDs I bought today.

I actually got good performance using piss water as the electrolyte.

The Septic Tank Battery Design would seem to fit somewhere in the blog proposals.

My study of energy had caused me to really think of energy storage and batteries.

Best All,

I'm wore out and signing off.

Hi pvhramani,

We are planning to introduce a new section or two in the short-term. One of the sections (as yet unnamed) will focus on the idea that "engineers united" can effect positive change, be it in localities and municipalities, energy solutions, questions of waste and sustainability, non-profits (such as Engineers Without Borders) and the like. I'll be posting a blog entry on the idea early next week.

- Chris

Hi Chris

An excellent idea! ... is what would be the first comment. In this respect, this writer has certain very definite ideas and views:

1. The entire processes and themes of Sustainable Development that are being tom-tommed all over seem to work on the sad idea that it is something to do with humanitarian support/ help, aimed at "giving something" to essentially downtrodden people (who number over 3 billion in the world total of 7 billion - India alone having nearly 800 million such people, where this writer lives now).

2. It is sad also to note that huge corporations seem to be interested in the "sustainability programs" not so much as an economic activity, but as a "subsidized" program wherein they enjoy tax benefits of their governments

3. This writer wishes to state that Sustainable Development has to become a new Modern Economic activity inasmuch as any other industry, agriculture and all other forms of business and industry are also economic activities. (the old adage that there cannot be any "free lunch" works here too)

It is based on these fundamental aspects of the world's practical needs, of the downtrodden, that the Project of APIX has been defined and planned.

It is, therefore, appealed and wished that the new forum, as planned by CR4, should not become another "also-ran"; and in order that we do not repeat what virtually every one else seems to do by "joining the band wagon", we should debate the different aspects in an Open Forum, wherein the members of CR4 be encouraged to come out without any inhibitions to present each one's ideas/ themes/ concepts/ suggestions, in this regard

Thank you

pvhramani

I HAVE BEEN TRYING --also for many years.

Maybe you all should look intowww.assambambooworld.com( many improvements needed soon

and< www.innovation2survive.com> being launched before the New Year