Work Edward Goldsmith

1 work

1.1 primitive people s fund
1.2 theory of unified science
1.3 ecologist
1.4 blueprint survival
1.5 people party
1.6 cornwall
1.7 gandhi peace foundation
1.8 world bank
1.9 forests campaign
1.10 goldsmith foundation
1.11 way
1.12 later life

work
primitive people s fund

in london, @ meetings of primitive people s fund (the committee founded survival international), goldsmith teamed fund s treasurer robert prescott-allen, explorer jean liedloff, , writer world medicine, peter bunyard, found ecologist in 1969.

theory of unified science

after rejecting saw excessively reductionist , compartmentalised approach of mainstream academia, spent of time researching , developing own theories unification of sciences. theory of unified science heavily influenced cybernetics, general systems theory of ludwig von bertalanffy, holism of academic ecologists, , functionalism employed many anthropologists. theory later published, in final form, way: ecological world view. (see below)

early on, goldsmith had formulated concept of biosphere integrated cybernetic entity, self-regulating parts (of included tribal societies) co-operating, largely unconsciously, mutual benefit of whole, view anticipated aspects of gaia thesis, of become leading proponent.

goldsmith critic of neo-darwinism. claimed reductionist theory , if understand evolution, necessary abandon reductionistic , mechanistic paradigm of science .

the ecologist

having established ecologist in 1969 founding editors robert allen, jean liedloff, , peter bunyard, goldsmith use journal platform theoretical concerns regular articles appearing under heading towards unified science . journal became important forum green movement, articles focusing on relevance , survival of hunter-gatherer societies, alternative technology , organic farming, prescient articles climate change, resource depletion, , nuclear accidents. accompanied usual gamut of articles examining pollution, overpopulation, deforestation, soil erosion, corporate power, large dams, and, not least, world bank s alleged role in financing destruction of our planet .

a blueprint survival

signed on thirty of leading scientists of day—l, including sir julian huxley, sir frank fraser darling, sir peter medawar, sir peter scott, , c. h. waddington, goldsmith , fellow editor robert allen made headlines in january 1972 blueprint survival.

the blueprint far reaching proposal radical transition largely decentralised , deindustrialised society, attempt prevent authors referred breakdown of society , irreversible disruption of life-support systems on planet . became key text green movement, selling on half million copies, , translated 16 different languages. in many ways, anticipated concerns taken today s transition movement.

goldsmith , allen argued rather devise imaginary utopias, did marxist , liberal political theorists of time, should instead example of existing tribal peoples, who, authors claimed, real-life working models of societies adapted both long-term survival needs , needs of living world on depended. tribal peoples alone, authors argued, had demonstrated viable means pressing problems facing humanity answered successfully.

such societies characterised small, human-scale communities, low-impact technologies, successful population controls, sustainable resource management, holistic , ecologically integrated worldviews , high degree of social cohesion, physical health, psychological well-being , spiritual fulfilment of members.

the people party

the blueprint major inspiration embryonic political party called people (later become green party,) invited goldsmith stand eye constituency in suffolk candidate in february 1974 general election.

the campaign focused on threat of desertification intensive farming practised in area, goldsmith emphasised of bactrian camel supplied aspinall. goldsmith in turn accompanied bearded supporters dressed in garb of arab sheiks, implication being if modern oil-intensive farming practises allowed continue, camel viable means of transport left in suffolk. goldsmith lost deposit, unorthodox campaign succeeded in attracting media s attention , highlighted issues. again stood now-renamed ecology party @ european elections in 1979, winning more respectable portion of vote.

cornwall

in 1973, buoyed success of blueprint , sudden rise in public awareness of ecological issues, partly brought stockholm conference , publication of club of rome s limits growth in same year. goldsmith , editorial team moved offices in london relocate rural cornwall, in far west of england. goldsmith , colleagues bought farms, , following 17 years, attempted form small-scale, relatively self-sufficient community of own, , ecologist continued produced on-site, in between other chores.

in 1977, when central electricity generating board (cegb) threatened site nuclear reactor on farmland in luxulyan, cornwall, goldsmith among organised continuous sit-in of land, local people blocking entrance , staffing round-the-clock garrisons prevent cegb contractors starting drilling work. example of environmental protest camp, high court of england , wales awarded in favour of cegb allowing drilling go ahead. cegb never went on develop site, however.

the gandhi peace foundation

in 1974, goldsmith spent 4 months gandhi peace foundation in new delhi, comparing gandhian (sarvodaya) movement ecology movement in europe. led goldsmith forge close links indian environmental activists, in particular chipko movement, including sunderlal bahuguna , vandana shiva. have major influence on goldsmith s approach environmental activism , led special issue of ecologist on subject.

world bank

in 1984, colleague nicholas hildyard, goldsmith authored multi-volume report on destructive effects of large-scale, hydroelectric dams. beginning of long attack against international monetary fund , world bank, goldsmith , colleagues accused of financing destruction of planet.

in 1 episode, goldsmith wrote open letter president of world bank, alden w. clausen, demanding bank stop financing destruction of tropical world, devastation of remaining forests, extermination of wildlife , impoverishment , starvation of human inhabitants . @ time, connection between large-scale development projects , social , environmental destruction had not been recognised, within environmental movement.

forests campaign

in 1989, goldsmith helped organise international campaign calling immediate end destruction of world s remaining forests detrimental effects on indigenous cultures, biodiversity , global climate. campaign raised on 3 million signatures, taken in wheelbarrows un s headquarters in new york city. goldsmith , party of activists subsequently occupied main lobby, refusing move until secretary general, perez de cuellar, agreed see them. group demanded him call extraordinary general meeting of security council tackle global crisis of deforestation. although failing, campaign managed organise meeting in senate group of senators, headed al gore, whom activists called upon end support of world bank.

the goldsmith foundation

in 1991, financial support of brother james, goldsmith established goldsmith (jmg) foundation supporting diverse range of non-governmental organisations campaigning against environmentally destructive activities, along organisations providing sustainable alternatives.

the way

in 1990, urged on arne næss, goldsmith left editorship of ecologist nicholas hildyard, while taking time off write philosophical magnum opus way: ecological worldview. way (1992) culmination , synthesis of more 4 decades of theoretical development, embodying coherent worldview goldsmith attempt explain self-inflicted problems facing world , propose way out of them. of work mature in goldsmith s mind time published first issues of ecologist in 1970.

later life

in addition uk ecologist, goldsmith later helped found , support ecologist independent enterprises in many parts of world:

brazil (in portuguese); france (in french); asia (india); italy (in italian); greece (in greek); pacific (new zealand); lebanon (in arabic); latin america (in spanish); , colombia (in spanish).

he continued attend key meetings around world , involved himself variety of campaign organisations becoming president of climate initiatives fund, richmond, london; board member of international forum on globalization, san francisco, usa; founder member of marunui conservation ltd., mangawhai, new zealand (1987); , founder member , vice-president of ecoropa, european ecological club , think tank (1975).