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August 2004

The Political Compass, or why the US democracy isn't.

As we approach US and Australian elections, its useful to look at the differences.

As countries all over the world have shown, a multi-party system allows a much larger proportion of the population to feel that they have somebody in the government who represents them, and it usually requires a prospective leader to draw together a coalition among a number of different parties in order to form a government. They at least have to consider other points of views to avoid their voter base abandoning them to a third-party.

Both the major parties in the US are afraid of such a system, because such a system would show, by the votes that would move to third parties, that they represented very few of the electorate, rather than the companies that have bought their election. As a result neither party, when in power, does anything to change a system which guarantees that a vote for a minor party won't even be counted for the purposes of determining the "least-worst" candidate.

The work of Paul Ray's "Political Compass"
is a useful reminder at this time of the election, that when you analyze the US public's views on different issues and that most people are essentially forced to choose between two parties, neither of which represent their views on most issues.

In Australia, whether I agree with the result or not, we at least have a system where most people feel they have someone to vote for, and most people not only vote (its compulsory here) but consider the issues before doing so.

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Instructions for making a bamboo geodesic dome

While exploring the Geodesics, Bamboo and Tensegrity I realized that the Bamboo Dome instructions, reputedly done by Buckminster Fuller, could be adapted for continuous poles.

Attached are detailed instructions for anyone who wants to give it a go, I'm sure there are probably easier ways to do this, and comments are welcome!

Continue reading "Instructions for making a bamboo geodesic dome"

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Tensegrity, Geodesics and Bamboo

I've been fascinated by Buckminster Fuller's Geodesic domes for a long time. I live in an area which grows a lot of bamboo, and its often used for construction projects, but a big challenge is the jointing. I've been realizing that tensegrity - Buckie's system of balancing compressive and tensional forces, might provide a solution as in a typical tensegrity structure the struts don't join.

Unsuprisingly, this isn't a new idea, and the links before are some of the best I found.

First, a few examples of what can be done

A nice collection of pictures of different styles of modern bamboo architecture.

Pictures of a plan by Michael McDonough to build a tensegrity bamboo bridge in Mendocino - its unclear if it ever got built.

An article on biomimicry and bamboo and his amazing "hooch" treehouse.

And now some of the techniques and math's needed

Here's an interesting tent from Shelter Systems using the skin of the tent as the tension part. There are also pictures of one way of joining the poles.

There is some descriptions which help with the math here, especially this diagram

A simple calculator and the formula for Geodesic structs.

This is the best page I've seen for calculations and complete instructions for a bamboo dome

And getting to the simple end of things, here are complete instructions for building a tensegrity coffee table,

Directions

I'm unsure where this leads, I have an intuition that there are some lessons here for sustainability. Bamboo is an abundant natural resource, and there should be a way to use tensegrity, or geodesics or something to use it in an efficient way for many uses where currently plastic, or metal are used. At the very least, I think I'm going to give the coffee table a go, using bamboo instead of copper pipe, and I have some ideas that might make the dome instructions above a little less labor intensive.

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Software Companies as beehives

If you've ever tried to manage programmers, you'll recognize the truths in this short article that compares a team of programmers to a beehive.

Card.on.Software.html

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World events spark interest in solar cell energy start-ups

At least in the US, VC funding seems to have caught on to Clean Technologies being the next big thing. (Mercury News is Silicon Valley's daily paper). See the full article.

MercuryNews.com | 08/15/2004 | World events spark interest in solar cell energy start-ups

After years of shying away from funding solar cell energy start-ups because of high costs, venture capitalists are almost tripping over themselves to sign up the most promising companies, many of them in Silicon Valley.

Breakthroughs in solar technology, favorable policy proposals by Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, disgust about dependence on foreign sources of oil, and skyrocketing demand for energy worldwide are all playing a role.

Continue reading "World events spark interest in solar cell energy start-ups"

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Why We're Here by Kevin Salwen in Making a Difference

I came across this new magazine that covers an issue that is close to my heart, that of doing well by doing good, i.e. running a successful business that also cares about its environment and community.

I have been on the road a ton lately and it's given me the opportunity to talk about Worthwhile to a host of new groups and people. In introducing the concept of the magazine (and of course this site), I typically offer up 3 sentences of general intro:

1. Worthwhile is a new business lifestyle magazine for people who want their careers to mean more than a paycheck.

2. So, we offer ideas and role models for professionals and executives to inject more meaning, passion and fulfillment into their worklives.

3. Increasingly, smart companies know that to gain the loyalty of their employees and customers they have to appeal to that deeper need instead of just financial results, so they are going back to -- and expressing -- their core values in a passionate way.

What often comes next is a discussion of how things are changing in workplaces all around America. People so often tell me how they are taking control over their own worklives (and by extension their lives), either by standing up for something at their offices or bailing out to join or start their own organization that matches their values. And at the most senior levels of companies, I hear repeatedly about new ways of thinking, about caring about doing well by doing good (yes, some of it is lip-service, but I'm inspired about how much is real). If you haven't seen what is going on at companies like Interface, Seventh Generation, Clif Bar, and, yes, huge companies like Gap Inc. and H-P, then you're not paying attention.

The next generation of business leaders is developing right now. They have heart and soul as well as brains. They wear their values on their chests and talk about ideas that were seen 10 years ago as "the soft stuff." They know how to make money AND lead with inspiration fueled by core values.

I can't tell you how thrilled I am to be part of creating the magazine that brings it front and center.

[Worthwhile]

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Otherpower - home-made energy

If you love tinkering around in a shed, and are interested in sustainability then you'll love this low-tech site. Lots of how-to's and they are also a source for parts for energy-tinkerers (LED's, Magnets etc etc).

http://www.otherpower.com/

We are a group of alternative energy enthusiasts who want to spread the message that It's EASY to make your own power FROM SCRATCH! Otherpower.com's headquarters is located in a remote part of the Northern Colorado mountains, 15 miles past the nearest power pole or phone line. All of our houses and shops run on only solar, wind, water and generator power...not because we are trying to make some sort of political or environmental statement, but because these are the only options available. And we refuse to move to town.

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Papyrus Australia - Paper from Banana trees

Papyrus is making paper from banana trees, using no chemicals, no water and minimal power. In my opinion, its the most exciting innovation I've seen in sustainability for years, with the potential to revolutionize the paper industry.

I've worked with Papyrus since November 2003 assisting with the process of organising the business - business plans, contracts, investments, publicity etc etc.

There is lots more on the website www.papyrusaustralia.com.au

- Mitra

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Introducing Natural Innovation

Natural Innovation is a company that will work in the areas of creating TBL businesses, especially local to our base in Byron Bay. Currently the only full-time person is Mitra, with help from many friends and colleagues. As more projects become available I'd love to expand it.

There is more on the company at www.naturalinnovation.org

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Introducing Mitra Ardron

Hi, and welcome to my Blog.

I work at the interfaces of Sustainability, Community and Technology. In particular I'm interested in the creation of Triple Bottom Line businesses around new technologies.

I'm based in Byron Bay, on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia. Some of the entries here are likely to be of particular relevance to this area, others I hope of wider relevance.

Enjoy the blog, and please send me any feedback.

You can find out more about me, and the work I've done in the past at my home page www.mitra.biz

- Mitra Ardron

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