Donella Meadows Archives

Life Beyond Growth

By Alan AtKisson Alternatives and Complements to GDP-Measured Growth as a Framing Concept for Social Progress 2012 Annual Survey Report of the Institute for Studies in Happiness, Economy, and Society — ISHES (Tokyo, Japan) Table of Contents Preface A Note on Sources and References Introduction Chapter 1: The Historical Foundations of Economic Growth Chapter 2:The Rise (and Possible Future Fall) of the Growth Paradigm Chapter 3: The Building Blocks [...]

Speeding Through a School Zone

by Elizabeth Sawin – June 4, 2003 – It is easy to see the assumptions of previous eras. They stand out so clearly. “Kings are divine.” “Women are too dim-witted to vote.” “Slaves are sub-human property.” It is much harder to see the assumptions of our own time, but as an old assumption begins to loose some of its power to explain the world, it becomes [...]

Questions to Shape the Future

by Elizabeth Sawin – January 15, 2003 – Viagra may help to save endangered species. That was the odd sounding headline of a recent Reuters story. It turns out that Viagra has reduced demand for reindeer antler velvet and for the sex organs of Canadian seals. It may be helping green turtles, geckos, and sea horses, too. Parts of these animals are used [...]

Why is the World Angry About the US Farm Bill?

by Hal Hamilton – September 19, 2002 – Editorials and proclamations around the world express dismay about the 2002 U.S. farm bill. Media releases from the world summit in Johannesburg were full of criticisms by people in the developing world. They blame us for hypocritically touting free trade while we subsidize exports that are dumped in their markets. Their local farmers are pushed [...]

Up is not Down, Black is not White

by Elizabeth Sawin – July 1, 2002 – Once kings claimed that their power came directly from God. Once lawmakers decreed that slaves were not human beings. Once men said that women could not think clearly and therefore should not vote. But black is not white just because the powerful say so. We no longer view kings as divine or the descendants of slaves [...]

About DMI

Since its founding in 1996 by environmental leader Donella Meadows, our Institute has been at the forefront of sustainability thinking and training. Our initiatives have addressed economic, environmental, and social challenges from a range of angles and at many levels. In everything we do, the disciplines of systems thinking and organizational learning inform and shape our work. It is this focus on whole-system analysis, combined with careful listening, truth telling, and visioning, that make the Donella Meadows Institute unique among sustainability organizations.  Read More

Newsletter Sign Up

DMI will be producing an E-newsletter with news from the organization, updates on the work of our fellows, and more. Sign up here if you'd like to hear about what we're working on.

Contact Form

captcha