Introduction

Humans have been remarkably successful, spreading throughout the planet, altering and shaping landscapes to improve conditions for our comfort and safety. The impact of that level of consumption on the Earth’s environment and resources would be staggering. The literature and know-how of the alternative and appropriate technology movements, organic agriculture, energy efficiency and many others goes back at least to the early 1960s. There have been many efforts to summarize what it means to live, work, and produce in an ecologically appropriate manner based on an understanding of fundamental ecological principles. The more a society and an economy is organized for the purpose of producing goods and services for sale, the more powerful is the force of commoditization. A transportation system built around personal automobiles involves many more opportunities to package and sell than does a coordinated system of public transit. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.