Ashwani, Great points. So for me this brings up more questions that could help:
What does ESA want to grow - in ESA itself, in the U.S., in the world, etc.? What do we want to stay about the same? What do we want to shrink? What do we want to develop or improve in quality? Plus, re: throughput: What are the links between ESA products and services and material throughput? Are there different kinds of (non-material?) throughput - like knowledge or information or others? What are the links between different types of throughput? Does an increase in knowledge or information throughput require a linked increase in material throughput? Some of these are addressed in the draft policy state on growth and stead state, but maybe worth more discussion. Some more thoughts... Dan Ashwani Vasishth wrote: > Growth is a complicated word. After all, we all know that we do grow. > In many ways, and throughout our lives. So growth is good too. > (Personally, I hope ESA DOES grow--in many ways. But not in others.) > > The classic distinction in sustainability planning is between growth and > development. Growth bad, development good. But even this does not do > justice to the world as we know it. > > Throughput growth, now that's another story. There's a clear target. > > -- Dan Fiscus Assistant Professor Biology Department Frostburg State University 308 Compton Science Center Frostburg, MD 21532 USA 301-687-4170 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
