Hi everyone-

Many have been asking, what is a "Blue Economy" that Gunter Pauli is promoting with his new book of the same name.  He also talks about a cascading waterfall metaphor, that is nicely described below, and is related to the blue economy thinking he proposes.  I like it a lot, seems very permaculture--thought others might like to read too.  Margie Bushman, SB Permaculture Network

"A cascade is a waterfall. It requires no power, it flows with the force of gravity. It transports nutrients between biological kingdoms - absorbed minerals feed microorganisms, microorganisms feed plants, plants feed other species, with the waste of one being nourishment for another".

Cascading energy and nutrients leads to sustainability, says Pauli, by reducing or eliminating inputs such as energy, and eliminating waste and its cost - not just as pollution but also as an inefficient use of materials. In ecosystems, there is no waste because the by products of one process are inputs to another process"

from

In Place of a "less bad" Economy

Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
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"We are like trees, we must create new leaves, in new directions, in order to grow." - Anonymous