Cradle to Cradle Ch. 1

Cradle to Cradle Ch. 1

A Brief History of the Industrial Revolution

-I the industrial revolution was designed with respect to its negative consequences the result would be a detriment to the earth, in regards to mass energy consumption, using up resources at a high rate, and even creating an un healthy standard for living.  The leaders in the industrial revolution did not intend for this to happen, but the problem was that there was no design.

-Industry pre industrial revolution was based on individual skills, but then moved to mass mechanical production.  Faster transportation, like the train and steamship, also raised the pressure to output more and compete with other companies.

-The industrial revolution changed the landscape from farm land to factory town, bit by bit.  This created more dangerous environments and work conditions.

-There was a push back, for good reason, for the industrial revolution, but many were optimistic about the advancement of mankind, and thought the ability to now have more luxuries, that were before unattainable, more important than the environmental effects it was having.

-Ford was one of the major game changers in the efficiency of producing with the utilization of assembly lines.  He made time of work go down, and payments go up, all while making a product that was available to everyone.  But this process was only considered on the economic level and was not considered for the bigger picture of effect.

“Those Essences Unchanged by Man”

-There are a core group of natural resources that were used and are still used today, which factories are built near, for easy access, and were collected at an uncaring rate because of the notion that there would always be more and the earth would always provide.

-Even though we know how fragile the earth is today, we still run under an ignorant system that has greatly improved the standard of living, but has placed a big problem in the lap of today’s generation.

From Cradle to Grave

-Things are made to be used and thrown away, but the things don’t really go “away”.

-Many things only consist of 5% of the actually material used to make it and even then is made not to last so you are forced to buy a new one

One Size Fits All

-Universal design solutions were created, but did not fit context as a result.

-Products are designed for worst case scenarios so that the product could be sold to anyone and anywhere, but the effect the product has on the environment increases with the potency of the chemicals used and “disposed” of into different water sources.

Brute Force

-“If brute force doesn’t work, you’re not using enough of it.”  If factories are not running “correctly” more fuel is burned, which at some point will run out, but until then it continues to hurt the air we need to breath.

-We are missing out on a true “infinite” energy source and that is the sun.

A Culture of Monoculture

-A uniformity or hominization is created when ignoring the natural, which is always unique.  Even the crops are artificially altered to perform the way we want and create a mono-use to the once dynamic soil.

-The mass use of chemicals creates the need to use more chemicals in order to keep production “in balance”.

-Nature has a complex ecosystem, which is sustainable, but man has a narrow focus of production, which continues the “brute force” method.

Activity Equals Prosperity

-“in the race for economic progress, social activity, ecological impact, cultural activity, and long-term effects can be overlooked.”  Economy can grow from a mass hospital raise in patience, but is this a good thing?

Crude Products

-“product plus: as a buyer you go the item or service you wanted, plus additives that you didn’t ask for and didn’t know were included and that may be harmful to you and your loved ones.”

-Off gases can weaken the immune system and can be the cause of “unknown” sickness.

A Strategy of Tragedy, or a Strategy of Change?

-The industrial revolution has brought about some good, but even more long lasting bad, and unless we change, the destruction will continue to snow ball.