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Biosensitive Futures
For healthy people on a healthy planet
Exchanging information and ideas about the way forward
to an ecologically sustainable, healthy and equitable society
Biosensitive Futures contributes to social change by encouraging informed discussion and debate about the social changes that will be necessary to achieve the transition to a biosensitive society.
The format of this website has recently been changed, and as a result some parts have few - if any - contributions. This is being remedied over the coming months.
The website has five parts:
1. Biounderstanding and biosensitivity
This section of the website consists of articles which set out the theory and scientific basis of the website and explains our use of the terms biounderstanding and biosensitivity.
It provides a thumbnail sketch on the story of life on earth and the human place in nature and discusses the essential characteristics of a biosensitive society of the future.
It also comments on the respective roles of members of the public and of government authorities in the transition to an ecologically sustainable biosensitive society.
2. Scientific facts and principles
This section consists of contributions from different authors summarising current scientific understanding of main ecological and health issues facing our society today. It is for people who want more detail on specific ecological and health issues. The contributions highlight the urgent need for big changes in human activities on Earth.
These contributions are written in a style that is readily understandable by non-scientists.
The topics covered are listed in Table 1
3. Social change
This part will consist of a collection of essays on ways and means of achieving biosensitivity and of overcoming current barriers to necessary reform.
Some contributors will focus on changes in societal arrangements – like the economic or education systems. Others will deal with practical steps that can be taken by individuals, families , community groups, businesses and governments (see Table 2).
This section of the website is in the early stages of development.
4. Community action
This part provides the opportunity for active community groups to inform each other of their activities. It will consist of reports from organisations across Australia concerned with ecological and health issues – describing their aims, activities and achievements and the difficulties they have experienced. It will become functional shortly.
5. Roundtable
In this section, which will is presently being developed, community groups and individuals will be invited to exchange views on ecological and health issues and on the ways and means of making the transition to a biosensitive society.
Table 1
Scientific facts and principles
The building blocks of biounderstanding
| Overviews | Specific themes |
| 1 Our place in nature 2 Ecological issues in Australia 3 Health and civilisation 4 Armed conflict in biohistorical perspective |
1. Ecological issues
|
Table 2
Social change
Suggested themes
| Societal issues | Practicalities |
|
Action by individuals and families Action by local communities The role of government The economic system in a biosensitive society The role of educational authorities Young people and the transition The business world and the transition Alternatives to consumerism The structure of the work force in a biosensitive society Human behavioural characteristics and necessary social change |
Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases Activities aimed at reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Alternatives to fossil fuels Retrofitting houses to reduce greenhouse emissions Designing new houses Biosensitive lifestyles Growing food locally Biosensitive transport systems Biosensitive cities Minimising waste Improving the health of soils in agricultural systems Reforestation The use of grey water |