In just one century, technological and scientific progress has made unprecedented improvements in living conditions possible. Nonetheless, we are now realizing that these technical advances carried within them the seeds of many of today’s environmental and social problems. A new scientific approach is opening the way to a new pattern of development that takes inspiration from the organization of ecosystems, or the way living systems function, and attempts to integrate these ideas into human technology. This is precisely what certain Architects of Change are working on.
The economic, social and environmental issues of our time gradually transform our worldview. Soon, it will become essential to redefine the standards of our capitalist societies and to put capitalism to the test in the face of the new realities of man’s place in the world’s economy. Are the concepts of entrepreneurship and sustainable development compatible? It seems that some Architects of Change are working hard to show that it is indeed possible to practice a form of responsible capitalism that is both financially and socially profitable for shareholders, corporate leaders and consumers alike.
The exponential increase in the number of humans on the planet has resulted in the urgent need to find new strategies to deal with the housing issue. At a time when the future of the planet is a constant source of concern, it is worthwhile to re-examine how we design and build our homes and cities in order to meet the challenges of sustainable development. Constructing, using, maintaining and even destroying buildings incurs significant environmental costs, which is why some Architects of Change are working on concepts that run counter to conventional trends in architecture and are attempting to adapt new building projects to today’s realities.
Human beings play a key role with regard to the Earth's biodiversity and their lifestyles greatly influence the balance of ecosystems. The impacts of industrialization and demographic development on the planet are real and are beginning to pose major challenges for future generations. The pressure that humans place on natural resources often results in encroachment on wild regions that are the habitat for countless life forms. Thankfully, the Architects have found ways of stimulating the economy while respecting the issues of biodiversity and avoiding the destruction of ecosystems.
Few people today can remember how farming was done many decades ago, before the appearance of petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides. However, in farmers’ fields around the world, major issues have arisen surrounding intensive agriculture, mechanization, standardization of farming practices and the use of chemical products. But, thanks to the efforts of some Architects of Change, traditional agrarian values — inextricably linked to the history and the culture of the people who live on the land — are rising like the phoenix from the ashes in farming areas in every corner of the globe. Determined to make a difference and reverse current trends, these Architects suggest that it is through a return to traditional agrarian values that sustainable development will become possible in modern agribusiness.
The economic growth of industrialized nations, motivated by the pursuit of ever-greater profits, has driven a blind and irrational exploitation of the planet’s non-renewable natural resources. Since the industrial revolution, the market economy has dictated the standards of a capitalist system that has shown little concern for environmental and social values. More recently, we have become aware of the effects that such blind and unfettered economic development can have on our shared future. Convinced that it is still possible to reverse this trend, some Architects of Change are defying established norms by advocating for a green economy, within an inflexible system that must nonetheless be changed and redefined to meet the needs of future generations.
In this era when the number of consumer products available has exceeded the total number of species in nature, we have to ask ourselves just how far we should go in this reckless race of ceaselessly producing and buying goods. The trash we generate, our outmoded or broken gadgets, the water we waste — it is all thrown out into the environment after we have used it. Far from being satisfied with managing the accumulation of electronic wastes, most of which contain toxic materials that are harmful to the environment and human health, Fernando Nilo also wanted Recylca to provide jobs for socially disadvantaged people. In 2003, after a long search to raise investment capital, Nilo’s electronic waste recycling company became a reality.
The social problems that affect urban and rural populations alike are not limited to developing countries. Illiteracy, elevated school drop-out rates, delinquency, unemployment and poverty are issues that face countries around the world, both in the East and the West. The youth of any society represent its future. Unfortunately, a large number do not have access to the necessary tools to help them reach their full potential. Some fall into delinquency or live in poverty, others do not have access to adequate education. By focusing on our young people, some Architects of Change are working to ensure a better future.
The quality of healthcare and sanitation varies significantly around the world. Despite improvements in quality of life and education over the past decades, there is still much work to be done regarding the access to healthcare and sanitation services and awareness of public health issues. To fight against disease and avoidable health issues, efforts should be directed towards prevention and education. This is the focus for some Architects of Change.
Approximately 370 million people belong to indigenous communities in some 70 countries around the world. They are the descendents of the first people to inhabit their native lands, long before colonization, and generally adopt lifestyles that incorporate their ancestral traditions. As their survival is often closely tied to access to the natural resources around them, indigenous peoples in many countries are frequently dispossessed, impoverished, ignored or exploited by modern business practices. Fortunately, some Architects of Change have decided to treat indigenous groups with respect, by joining forces with them and trying to build bridges between peoples.
The informal sector of the economy includes activities that are not structured according to the economic model of developed nations or those that are completely unregulated and lack formal structure. Nonetheless, this type of work occupies a very important place in the global economy. For want of education or proper training, many of the world’s people manage to survive through doing various odd jobs on the fringes of the mainstream economy. In order to break the cycle of poverty, poor workers must strive toward professionalization by organizing among themselves and asserting their rights.
Water is vital for our planet and every living thing on it. However, this essential resource has been misused, wasted and polluted by human beings for centuries. Around the world, it is used for bathing, transportation or simply for entertainment. It powers factories and too often serves as a dumpsite for waste. It is becoming increasingly urgent for us to realize that the polluted water that we send back into the environment is inextricably linked to the water we drink. While in developed countries we manage to protect our water supply by treating our sewage, drinking water in poor countries is too often a vanishing resource – even a luxury.
Since the discovery of fire, man has unceasingly invested time and money into seeking out and exploiting new energy sources. It is an endless challenge, since today’s society is even more dependent on using the planet’s resources to sustain our lifestyles. Indeed, the incredible pace of progress in the modern world is attributable to our mastery of various sources of energy, renewable and otherwise. However, after much abuse of these resources, it is time to find alternative, sustainable solutions in order to continue to meet the energy needs of people around the world.
A critical economic sector for many countries around the world, tourism also has its share of drawbacks. One negative is that tourism is often a major source of pollution due to the transportation of tourists, construction of resorts, recreational activities and the waste generated by visitors. Tourism can also damage ecosystems by disrupting populations of both plants and animals, and it can create a cycle of dependency among the poor. Fortunately, responsible tourism is gaining ground – tourism that responds to the needs of both the people and the environment, tourism that benefits both visitors and their hosts.
It is estimated that 80% of the world's population will live in cities by 2050. In recent decades, however, this rapid urbanization has provoked or worsened many social and ecological problems throughout the world. So it is worth asking whether current models of urban development can be improved. By taking a close look at the specific needs of slum dwellers in South Africa, by developing a basis of organic farming in Cuba, and by creating eco-neighbourhoods in China, some social entrepreneurs have been able to transform the urban landscape.
The population of large cities has increased after decades of rural exodus. This situation has increased urban poverty and opened the door for the creation of ghettos and slums. A significant number of people all over the world live in extreme poverty. In cities, it is increasingly common to see children begging on the street while people pass them with jaded indifference. Before the plight of the poor, we must ask ourselves whether we have lost our spirit of solidarity and if we have become insensitive to the suffering of others.
Approximately half of the world’s population is now under the age of 25. The problems facing millions of children and young people every day are numerous: poverty, illiteracy, dropping out of school, violence, forced labour, prostitution and drug addiction. No country is immune. How can we help the world’s youth while focusing on self-sufficiency instead of charity? According to some Architects of Change, by introducing young people to the cultural wealth that surrounds them and giving them an education, we can provide them with the key tools they need for their development and freedom.
The situation of the world’s forests is more worrisome than ever before. It is estimated that over three quarters of old-growth forests have already disappeared and those remaining are disappearing at a rate of several million hectares per year. In addition to endangering our quality of life and the planet’s biodiversity, their disappearance is accelerating global warming. It is therefore urgent to reverse the trend now in order to save what remains of the planet’s forests and restore what has been destroyed. To do so, new methods of exploitation and sustainable forest management must be developed and people must be educated on the importance of forest preservation. Given the tools, everyone will be able participate in their own way in this extensive restoration.
In many parts of the world, even today, women are still living in oppressive conditions. Prostitution, submission, torture, violence, exploitation and poverty are often part of daily life for these women who have few rights and who, sadly, have no means of escaping their situation. Globally, more than one in five women will be the victim of serious sexual or physical abuse at some point in her life. Faced with no way out and no rights in many countries, many women still manage to rebuild their lives by finding some independence or through access to education.
Revolutionizing the world is an ambitious project to say the least, and our dream will only become reality if we are willing to take things one step at a time. More and more people agree that we must act locally to create a global impact. However, in order to change people’s mentalities and habits, we need to head off the beaten track and look for ‘visionary ideas’. This is exactly what Harvey Locke (Banff), Pierre Morency (Sherbrooke) and Sidney Ribaux (Montreal) are working towards on a daily basis.
The current economy is completely detached from people’s lifestyles and present-day environmental issues. We are becoming increasingly consumer-driven. It is vital to transform the economy so that communities can benefit from it in a sustainable, united and fair way. With this in mind, swapping goods or services is proving to be an ideal solution. Maude Léonard (Montreal), Gerald Wheatley (Calgary) and Tammy Moreau (Fredericton) have all embraced this practice.
Vehicles and concrete structures dominate modern-day towns and cities, creating urban landscapes increasingly devoid of trees and green spaces. Urban sprawl encroaches upon unspoilt countryside every day. However, it is possible to invite nature back into towns in order to enhance our quality of life. This is what Michel Labrecque (Montreal), Geoffrey Cape (Toronto) and Lindsay Cole (Vancouver) are trying to achieve.
Intensive farming, unsustainable forestry methods and industrial fishing have seriously eaten away at the bounty of resources our planet has to offer. We have attempted to dominate the world so much that we have hindered its development. However, it is possible to gently reap the benefits of our planet’s resources without damaging it. This is what Beau Gillis (Freeport), Marc Chiasson (Magog) and Léonard Otis (Saint-Damase de Matane) aim to demonstrate.
Arts and culture strengthen the identity of a community. As well as breathing new life into society, they act as an ‘economic engine’ and can also change mentalities. By discovering their creative potential, young people all over the world channel their energy into the arts and contribute towards the creation of a better world. Young people can count on Gavin Sheppard (Toronto), Reine Lebel (Port-au-Prince) and Gil Favreau (Montreal) to help their development.
On a global scale, we produce more food than we are able to consume. However, millions of people in the world go hungry every day. Nevertheless, we can tackle the issue by raising awareness and concentrating on food aid. The challenge is not only to feed the world, but above all to educate it. This plan of attack has been adopted by Jean-François Archambault (Montreal), Joyce Rock (Vancouver) and dumpster divers in Montreal.
In recent years, thinking green has become a profitable and somewhat inevitable strategy for industries. There is a lot of money to be made from the concept of ecology. Large businesses advocating sustainable development and integrating it throughout their practises, previously thought to be unconventional, are becoming more prevalent. Alain Lemaire (Kingsley Falls), Édouard Clément (Montreal) and David Labistour (Vancouver) are actively involved in this challenge.
Compared to previous generations, young people today are much more aware of the problems our planet faces. More and more youngsters are willing to pitch in, individually or through school projects, to make a difference. Driven by social and environmental concerns, they are determined to make our world a better place. This is what Catherine Gauthier (Montreal), Charlie-Élizabeth Nadeau (Quebec) and many schools throughout Canada demonstrate every day.
We are currently exploiting the world’s resources to the maximum extent. Unfortunately, as our needs increase each day, the availability of resources is beginning to dwindle. If we want to continue to satisfy the demands of our modern lifestyle, we urgently need to discover new sources of energy. The objective is to develop environmentally friendly, renewable types of energy. This is what Michel Laberge (Burnaby-Vancouver), Shabana Bhatti (Ketch Harbour) and Michel Gauthier (Montreal) are striving to achieve.