You will learn the Natural Step’s (TNS) creative, out-of-the-box, cost-effective and proven hands on approaches and how to apply them. Small and large businesses, communities, government agencies, academic and religious institutions, nonprofits and individuals in their homes and communities are using them to build safer, healthier environments, save money, improve performance, attract and retain employees, create jobs, get funding, gain strategic position, meet ISO 14000, eliminate regulatory burdens, build teams, address divisive issues and create positive, shared solutions, while becoming environmentally and socially responsible. It gives hope and opens up a whole new world beyond pollution prevention, waste reduction and recycling.

In only 11 years, TNS is being implemented in numerous countries and is widely used by:

• More than 70 corporations, including Home Depot, Nike, Mitsubishi Electric USA, Collins Pine, the world’s largest manufacturers of appliances (Electrolux), furniture (IKEA) and floor coverings (Interface) and Sweden’s three major supermarket chains, biggest oil company, largest hotel chain and McDonald’s.
• More than 70 municipalities, including both rural towns and urban cities like Stockholm, as well as public institutions such as the University of Texas at Houston Health Science Center.
• Hundreds of thousands of young people in schools and communities through computer networks, TV programs, and a Youth Parliament.
• Thousands of organic and conventional farmers whose TNS consensus process helped shift toward a sustainable agriculture that saved money and dramatically reduced pesticide use.
• A range of 19 professional groups, from doctors and lawyers to architects and consultants.

My mission is to transform my company into a sustainable business—one that does well by doing good--by using the principles of the Natural Step.
--Ray Anderson, CEO, Interface, Inc., world’s largest commercial floor covering manufacturer

As a scientist at Sweden’s leading cancer research institute, physician Dr. Karl Henrik Robert was concerned that increasing cancer rates, especially among young children such as those he was treating, were tied to environmental factors. He was frustrated by the lack of agreement among scientists about the cause or what to do, so he began a consensus process which resulted in 50 leading Swedish scientists agreeing on the underlying principles needed for sustainability.

This information was then shared with major corporations who recognized the need for action. They supported the sending of an audiocassette and brochure to every home and school in Sweden--4.3 million. Leading artists, musicians and scientists produced a national TV special in 1989 to launch an educational campaign and TNS as a nonprofit backed by the King of Sweden.

Economist, ecologist, and author Terry Gips is one of the first TNS-US trainers and President of Sustainability Associates, a Minneapolis environmental consulting firm. He wrote Breaking the Pesticide Habit and has served as a White House and Congressional aide, co-founder of the Sacramento Community Garden Program, President of the Alliance for Sustainability, Cargill economist, and Aveda Corporation Director of Ecological Affairs.

Agenda

This seminar introduces the public and business, government, school, and community leaders to the Natural Step and assists them in using it in their workplaces, community, and personal lives.

Sustainability and Systems Thinking What is sustainability? Participants move beyond the complexity of details to system principles and shared models and goals.

Basic Science Through an interactive dialogue, we examine the scientific principles governing life on Earth: the laws of conservation of matter, the second law of thermodynamics, material quality and the role of green cells. We then look at evolution and natural cycles to understand the present status of the planet.

The Core of TNS: The Four Conditions for Sustainability Using these scientific principles, we examine the core of TNS, the four conditions or principles for sustainability. Particular attention is given to the powerful explanatory tools of Material Flow Theory and Basic Needs Analysis of Manfred Max-Neef, which expands TNS into an invaluable tool for addressing both social and environmental considerations. Get homework assignment.

4:30-5:30pm Dinner Break at Mohonk Practical Application Exercise during dinner break.

1:00 pm Review of Assignment, Reality Therapy, Natural Capital, Ecological Footprint and Investing for the Future After firming up our understanding of TNS, we explore how people are fooled by the present "reality" and how to bring about a new awareness using Natural Capitalism, Ecological Footprint Analysis and the real economics of the "funnel" to understand the benefits from using the TNS principles or costs from ignoring them.

Case Studies Slide presentation and discussion: How TNS is used by communities and businesses.

Practical Application Participants meet in small groups to apply what they have learned to an actual project in their firms, community, or home in a three-part process: 1) Application of the four TNS principles to the present; 2) Visioning the project so that it meets all four principles; and 3) Backcasting or reverse engineering to determine an action plan for the first year in accomplishing the vision.

Reports, Dialogue, Questions, Evaluation and Next Steps – 9:00 pm Closing

Conditions for Sustainability

1. What we take from the Earth: Minerals and fossil fuels - Substances from the Earth’s crust must not systematically increase in the biosphere. This means fossil fuels, metals and other minerals must not be extracted at a faster rate than their redeposit and reintegration into the Earth’s crust.

2. What we make: Pesticides and toxic materials - Substances produced by society must not systematically increase in nature. This means substances must not be produced faster than they can be broken down and reintegrated into natural cycles.

3. What we do to the Earth: Protecting biodiversity and eco-systems - The physical basis for the productivity and diversity of nature must not be systematically deteriorated. This means the productive surfaces of nature must not be diminished in quality or quantity, and we must not harvest more from nature than can be recreated and renewed.

4. How we use resources and meet basic needs - There must be just and efficient use of resources with respect to meeting the needs of all people. This means that basic human needs should be met with the most resource efficient methods possible.

Hudson Valley Sustainable Communities Network
is a nonprofit project of the Tides Center committed to fostering a society based on the principle that future generations deserve access to a healthy ecosystem, and an economy based on nontoxic, sustainable practices in energy, agriculture and other fields of human endeavor achieved through effective communication and participatory democracy through networking with individuals and organizations in the Hudson Valley, NY, and beyond, and through educational forums and issue-specific actions as needed. Membership $25. HVSCN, P.O. Box 116, Cottekill, NY 12419; (914) 687-0239; e-mail: hvscn@aol.com; website: www.hvscn.com.

Sustainability Associates
is a consulting firm working with business to achieve cost savings, improved performance, strategic advantage, and ecological and social responsibility through leading edge sustainability thinking, eco-auditing, marketing, capital formation, policy and training. For further information, call Terry Gips at 612-374-4765, fax 612-377-6019, email: tgips@mtn.org or write: 2584 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55405.

The Alliance for Sustainability
is a nonprofit, tax-deductible organization supporting a range of sustainability projects, including Natural Step Seminars and Introductions across the US, monthly Minnesota Network meetings, Sustainability Resource Center, Hopi Terrace Restoration, and the Center for Alternative Development Initiatives (Philippines). A $25 membership includes the e-mail newsletter Manna and discounts on publications and Natural Step seminars. A free basic membership is also offered and includes the e-mail newsletter Manna. Contact the Alliance at 1521 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414; Tel: 612-331-1099; Fax: 612-379-1527; Email: iasa@mtn.org, Web: www.mtn.org/iasa

For more information about the Natural Step, please contact The Natural Step-US: PO Box 20372, San Francisco, CA 94129; Tel: 415-561-3344; Fax: 612-561-3345; e-mail: tns@naturalstep.org; Web: www.naturalstep.org.

The laws of Congress and the laws of physics have grown divergent,
and the laws of physics are not likely to yield.
-- Author Bill McKibben

Print the form below and send via mail to register or use our online registration form.

Response Form
The Natural Step Sustainable Business and Communities
April 29, 2001, Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY

___I can’t attend, but I’d be interested in learning about other events.

___Please Register Me - Early registration must be received by Tuesday, April 24.

Early registration for members of sponsoring groups: $95. A limited number of scholarships are available. Add $10 after early registration deadline and $10 if not a member of sponsoring group. Fees include materials.

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Payment can be made by Visa or Mastercard ($2 processing fee) or check ("Alliance for Sustainability/TNS Seminar"). You can register with the Alliance for Sustainability by phone (914-687-9253) or e-mail (mannajo@aol.com). If paying by check, please make check payable to Alliance/TNS Seminar and mail to HVSCN, 148 Cottekill Rd., Cottekill, NY 12419. Fees are non-refundable but may be applied to a future seminar.

Please bring a previously used name tag if you have one.