David Korten
David Korten
David C. Kortenis an American author, former professor of the Harvard Business School, political activist, prominent critic of corporate globalization, and "by training and inclination a student of psychology and behavioral systems". His best-known publication is, When Corporations Rule the World. In 2011, he was named an Utne Reader visionary...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionActivist
CountryUnited States of America
zero taken ecosystems
To achieve true sustainability, we must reduce our "garbage index" - that which we permanently throw away into the environment that will not be naturally recycled for reuse - to near zero. Productive activities must be organized as closed systems. Minerals and other nonbiodegradable resources, once taken from the ground, must become a part of society's permanent capital stock and be recycled in perpetuity. Organic materials may be disposed into the natural ecosystems, but only in ways that assure that they are absorbed back into the natural production system.
interesting people notes
It is interesting to note that the 200 richest people have more assets than the 2 billion poorest.
country cooperation scandinavia
More humane societies are usually smaller, like the Scandinavian countries and Holland, where it is much easier to reach consensus and cooperation.
party thinking skills
I think one of the most important skills of a local organizer of a local economy is an ability to put on a terrific street party.
absolutely american-activist bigger essential increased order picture poverty solutions
In order to find solutions to the increased poverty around the world, it is absolutely essential to keep the bigger picture in mind.
american-activist brussels citizens eu gap increasing lack makers perceived problems similar
The EU will face problems similar to the US: an increasing gap between the citizens and decision makers in Brussels and a perceived or even real lack of democracy.
american-activist asians excesses latin street wall
What I would tell the Europeans, but also the Asians and the Latin Americans, is: keep the excesses of Wall Street out of your system.
american-activist claim
My claim is that we do not have a market economy, but a capitalist economy.
american-activist among change concerned health quality taking values
More and more surveys in the US are indicating a change in values taking place among consumers, who become more concerned about quality of life, food, health and the environment.
american-activist cost experience faster housing increased people third
My own experience in the third world was that even if people started to make more money, the cost of living and housing increased often faster than the wages.
american-activist consuming flows means money monstrous
Money flows into the US, and inflates US assets, and allows the US to have a monstrous trade deficit. That means we are consuming more than we are producing.
american-activist believe prediction scenario
If I would need to make a prediction I still believe Kaplan's scenario is very plausible.
community needs credit
There was a time in the United States when most of our financial institutions were local. Which essentially meant that local communities were able to create their own credit, or their own money, in response to their own needs. We still depended on banks, but it was a much more democratic process.
suicidal acceptance people
When the institutions of money rule the world, it is perhaps inevitable that the interests of money will take precedence over the interests of people. What we are experiencing might best be described as a case of money colonizing life. To accept this absurd distortion of human institutions and purpose should be considered nothing less than an act of collective, suicidal insanity.