Holistic Sustainable Development Research Articles

Scientific Basis of the Strategy of Holistic Sustainable Development of an Individual, Nation, Civilization

The twentieth century was full of many crises and crisis events in various areas of people's lives. There were crises in science, in particular, physics. There were inter-ethnic, economic, political, financial, social crises, which entailed wars and revolutions. Politicians, sociologists explain, for various reasons and factors, the abundance of crises of the 20th century. But in essence, all crises were the result of the most important crisis of the spiritual, mental and moral crisis, the crisis of consciousness, the soul of an individual.The modern era is characterized by an ecological crisis, a crisis of culture, a crisis of generations of people, a crisis of upbringing, and many, many other crises. At present, all the crises brought mankind to the brink of nuclear and environmental catastrophes.The essence, causes of the emergence of a spiritual crisis, as well as ways out of it to form the scientific foundations of the strategy of holistic sustainable development of an individual, nation, and civilization are considered. Key words: harmony-peace, harmony-love, innovative, cardinal transformation, metamorphosis.

Bioeconomy and SDGs: Does the Bioeconomy Support the Achievement of the SDGs?

AbstractThis paper evaluates how bioeconomy activities, stated in the concepts of the European Union, Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development, and the German government, potentially affect the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The aim of the bioeconomy is to substitute the use of fossil resources by renewable resources, while the SDGs set targets for a holistic sustainable global development. A literature‐based influence analysis on empirical studies is employed to derive three bioeconomy scenarios (business as usual, bioeconomy, and sustainable bioeconomy) and to quantify their effects on the individual SDG targets. It is shown that the bioeconomy scenario has positive as well as negative effects on the SDG targets. While targets for cleaner industrial production are strongly supported, socioeconomic targets are subject to mixed effects and environmental targets significantly hurt. This paper outlines which SDGs need special attention when implementing a bioeconomy according to the above‐mentioned concepts. The results add to the debate on SDG trade‐offs and on the substitutability of SDG targets. Without regulations, policies, and investments ensuring sustainability, or in case the substitutability of SDG targets is not allowed, the bioeconomy concepts have the potential to jeopardize the achievement of several SDGs. In contrast, the sustainable bioeconomy scenario assumes strong sustainability measures that reveal the extensive potential of the bioeconomy to support the achievement of the SDGs.

DISCOVERING THE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA OF THE UNIVERSAL LAW OF HARMONY OF THE CREATOR AND THE LAW OF HARMONY OF GOD TO ENSURE A HOLISTIC SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MAN AND HUMANITY

A mathematical formula was obtained to express the universal Law of Harmony of the CREATOR and the Law of Harmony of GOD, the formula being determined by the condition of orthogonality – orthonormality. New methods were created for development of the Man of the future, based on modern mathematical proofs of the objective truth. Orthogonality is shown to be at the heart of energy-information systems. Orthogonality is the key principle of selection and mutual differentiation of a variety of energyinformation images, structures and systems. Orthogonality defines the quality and effectiveness of functioning of energy-information systems. Orthogonality defines the principles of building modern and prospective energy-information systems. Orthogonality and orthonormality is the path to a constructive energy-information mathematical science. Using isomorphism, one can synthesise not only optimal engineering but also perfect bioenergyinformation systems. The problem of development of a perfect Man can be solved after the perfection criterion has been substantiated. Substantiating and establishing the criteria of Man's perfection makes solving the problem of developing a perfect Man real. Man who is perfect according to the criteria of maximum harmony is a holistic orthogonally orthonormalised image having supreme moral and ethical qualities, and the energy of PEACE and LOVE. Keywords: holistic sustainable development, Law of Harmony of the CREATOR, Law of Harmony of GOD.

Evaluating the Top-Bottom and Bottom-Up Community Development Approaches: Mixed Method Approach as Alternative for Rural Un-Educated Communities in Developing Countries

This paper is evaluating the two popular community development approaches; the Top-down and the Bottom-up with their divergent differences in application and the influence each has in developmental projects/ programmes. The authors then proposes a new model / approach “MIXED METHOD”. The works of John Cohan and Norman Uphoff, Robert Chambers as earlier advocates of participatory development comes to mind as they tried to deviate from the previous and most popular top –down approach. Considering the fact that there has been arguments on the choice of one against the other, this paper proposes the “mixed method” as the most appropriate approach, as a new approach to balance the dichotomy thereby filling the research gap in search of most appropriate community development method. This advocates the application of both methods as there is need for a mix of both top-down and bottom-up for effective community development. This view of mixed method is borrowed from the supportive and effective empirical evidence for the adoption of mixed methods research in recent time. The review of previous articles, books, conference proceedings, and other internet publications were utilized as the methodological approach hence, the study used secondary data. The paper concludes that there should be a systematic blending or mixing of both top-bottom and bottom-up so as to achieve a holistic and appreciable sustainable development that carries every one along. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4p266

Holistic sustainable development: Floor-layers and micro-enterprises

Attracting and retaining workers is important to ensuring the sustainability of floor laying businesses, which are for the most part micro-enterprises (MiE). The aim of this paper is to shed light on the challenges MiE face in OHS implementation in the context of sustainable development. Participative ergonomics and user-centred design approaches were used. The material collected was reviewed to better understand the floor layers' viewpoints on sustainability. The solutions that were retained and the challenges encountered to make material handling and physical work easier and to develop training and a website are presented. The importance of OHS as a sustainability factor, its structuring effect, what distinguishes MiE from small businesses and possible strategies for workings with them are also discussed.

Peace, Love, Harmony and Perfection are the Basic Components of Holistic Sustainable Development of the Nations and Civilisation

Nickolay Suvorov's book of the Future. – The Perfect was published by International Publishing E.R.A., Moscow-Israel, in 2014 [1]. The book developed a basis for formation of a perfect man – a man of the future, as a holistic complex energy-informational essence. The main result of the book was a scientifically formulated and quantified category of quality and perfection. In this scientific work, the book is presented in the form of three essays: Essay of Peace, Essay of Love, and Essay of Harmony-Perfection. These essays are a collection of 150 short and capacious statements. We believe that the presentation of the book in the form of three essays: Peace, Love, Harmony-Perfection will promote the understanding of the essence and image of Man of the Future – the Perfect Man. The Perfect Man can and must become a reality because the scientific criterion of perfection derived is harmony. Harmony is a footing that will help transform Homo sapiens and form the Perfect Man Keywords: Peace, love, harmony, perfection, perfect man.

The Concept of Holistic and Sustainable Development Based on Harmony

Based on the use of the Greek language and the concepts of ethics, philosophy and higher mathematics, the LOGOS HARMONY has been developed. LOGOS HARMONY allows establishing the following: the basic constituents of a proper world outlook − belief, spirituality and harmony; the quality of energy of inner and outer interaction between people based on harmony-morality and harmony-ethics; the sense and profound content of moral-ethical rules, laws and canons; scientifically substantiated criteria of quality and perfection of human personality; the concept of cosmotheory – the theory of development of humans and the Universe; the sense of the word “prosperity” as aspiration to the summit and highest point as a unification of energy and high ethics and high morality in a single harmonious unity. It has been proved mathematically that the underpinning of development of a Human Being and Humanity is harmonised energy, and the energy of harmony-peace, and the energy of harmony-love. HARMONY is the basis of holistic sustainable development of nations and the human civilisation. Keywords: Cosmotheory, energy, harmony, perfection, harmony-morality, harmony-ethics, Orthogonality.

Modeling urban land use change by the integration of cellular automaton and Markov model

Spatially land use models are indispensable for sustainable land use planning. This study demonstrates a combined Markov–Cellular Automata model to analyze temporal change and spatial distribution of land use stressed by natural and socioeconomic factors in Saga, Japan. Firstly, area change and spatial distribution of land use are calculated using GIS technology, and then the transition among different land use types is analyzed to obtain the transformation matrices during a period of 1976–2006. Meanwhile, an integration evaluation procedure with natural and socioeconomic data is used to generate the transition potential maps. Secondly, using the transition potential maps and transition matrices, a Markov–Cellular Automata model is established to simulate spatial distribution of land use in 2006. Finally, we use this Markov–Cellular Automata model to forecast the future land use changes during the period of 2015–2042. As a consequence, area change simulation predicts a continuing downward trend in agriculture land and forestland areas, as well as an upward trend in built-up areas; spatial distribution simulation indicates that built-up land will expand toward suburban regions, and land use of urban center is at the decline stage. Hence, if the current trends keep constant without holistic sustainable development measures, severe land use decline will ensue. The study is anticipated to help local authorities better understand and address a complex land use system, and develop the improved land use management strategies that can better balance urban expansion and ecological conservation.

Framework for Sustainability Assessment by Transportation Agencies

The application of the concept of sustainability by transportation agencies is often limited by agencies’ understanding of what sustainability means and how it can be integrated into the regular functions of the agencies. This paper presents a flexible approach and framework that can equip transportation agencies with the tools required to understand what sustainability means and incorporate sustainability into the organizational culture. This approach and method can also help agencies lay the groundwork for the use of performance measures so the agencies can progress toward sustainability goals and outcomes. The framework development process was an extension of findings from literature review, case studies, and interviews conducted as part of ongoing research under the NCHRP project Sustainability Performance Measures for State Departments of Transportation and Other Transportation Agencies. The proposed framework can be applied or adapted for use in a range of transportation agencies, including state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations. A key feature of this framework is that it moves away from the traditional sustainable transportation perspective and instead promotes the consideration of transportation from a holistic sustainable development perspective. The framework defines broadly applicable transportation goals that can be broken down into a menu of objectives and performance measures to cover various transportation contexts. The framework is also designed to direct an agency's strategic planning toward the practical implementation of sustainability through performance measurement.

Auroville: the city the earth needs – 'a successful case of changing the climate for holistic sustainable development'

This article was submitted without an abstract, please refer to the full-text PDF file.

Auroville: the city the earth needs – 'a successful case of changing the climate for holistic sustainable development'

Auroville: the city the earth needs – 'a successful case of changing the climate for holistic sustainable development'

Rural sustainability under threat in Zimbabwe – Simulation of future land use/cover changes in the Bindura district based on the Markov-cellular automata model

Spatially explicit land use/cover models are indispensable for sustainable rural land use planning, particularly in southern African countries that are experiencing rapid land use/cover changes. Using Zimbabwe as an example, we simulated future land use/cover changes up to 2030 based on a Markov-cellular automata model that integrates Markovian transition probabilities computed from satellite-derived land use/cover maps and a cellular automata spatial filter. A multicriteria evaluation (MCE) procedure was used to generate transition potential maps from biophysical and socioeconomic data. Dynamic adjustments of transition probabilities and transition potential map thresholds were implemented in the Markov-cellular automata model through a multi-objective land allocation (MOLA) procedure. Using the normalised transition probabilities, the Markov-cellular automata model simulated future land use/cover changes (up to 2030) under the 2000 calibration scenario, predicting a continuing downward trend in woodland areas and an upward trend in bareland areas. Future land use/cover simulations indicated that if the current land use/cover trends continue in the study area without holistic sustainable development measures, severe land degradation will ensue.

Is construction procurement a key to sustainable development?

Has specialization of professional roles obstructed the holistic approach and sustainable development? A preliminary survey in Botswana involving construction professionals found that existing procurement systems have not integrated the efforts of the different project participants and also fail to fulfil the expectations of the users. A holistic approach involving the re-integration of construction disciplines by applying new procurement methods is proposed. An integrated, holistic way of working could provide a number of synergies through the consideration of the building project as an entire system. The implications include better decision making upstream, more efficient use of resources and the mitigation of negative environmental effects downstream. La spècialisation professionnelle est-elle un obstacle à l'approche globale et au dèveloppement durable? Une ètude prèliminaire menèe au Botswana et portant sur les mètiers de la construction a rèvèlè que les systèmes d'approvisionnement actuels n'intègrent pas les efforts des diffèrents participants à un projet et ne rèpondent pas aux attentes des utilisateurs. Cet article propose une approche globale dont le succès repose sur la réintégration de ces métiers et sur de nouvelles méthodes d'approvisionnement. Une méthode de travail intégrée et holistique, où un projet de construction serait considéré comme un système complet, pourrait faire naître un certain nombre de synergies. Cette hypothèse exige un meilleur processus décisionnel en amont une utilisation plus efficace des ressources et l'atténuation des effets négatifs sur l'environnement en aval.

Holistic Sustainable Development: Implications for Planning Processes, Foreign Aid and Support for Research

A holistic concept of sustainable development has emerged in which economic, ecological, social and political factors need to be simultaneously considered. Participation by individuals, particularly at the community level, is seen as an important means for achieving sustainable development and formulating development goals. These goals grow out of an organic interactive participatory process. Methods of project appraisal are reviewed in the light of sustainable development concepts. Then, the role of research and foreign aid in promoting sustainable development is addressed. To make the discussion more concrete, this analysis is carried out by considering the case of the South Pacific in general, along with a specific research project, namely giant clam farming. The paper concludes by pointing out important linkages which exist between planning processes, international cooperation in research and foreign aid.