Inventing a sustainable city
Kathleen Olp - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Metro
- Page 1 of 1
Fred Meyer is concerned about the fate of Iowa City.
This concern has spurred the Iowa City resident to create a sustainable city, dependent only on local resources.
"People are going to look at this group and think we're crazy," the 37-year-old said. "No town has ever done it, but there is lots of genius in Iowa City."
Meyer started the Abundant Iowa City campaign, which, he said, seeks to create a self-reliant, permanent community that enhances the health of its people and environment. The group has had three meetings, which are breeding ground for further outside discussion with other activist groups.
"You can either wait to react, which gets messy, or you can plan," Meyer said, referring to the many environmental issues currently affecting the world.
Three main challenges exist with the environment: climate change and energy and resource depletion, he said. He isn't looking to start something new but rather looking to align groups in Iowa City to start a movement, he said.
The group looks for Iowa City to rely solely on local products, which range from growing local food to using local energy.
"Many identify so strongly with the industrialized society that they will never consider alternatives despite the overwhelming evidence of a better life for themselves and their community," Meyer said in his proposal for the group.
The group's third meeting Tuesday night comes after the U.N. Environment Program released its fourth report Oct. 25, highlighting problematic environmental issues. It stated that human populations are living far beyond their means and inflicting damage on the environment that could pass points of no return.
It cited specific problems, including climate change, the rate of extinction of species, and the challenge of feeding a growing population, as specific risks to humanity.
Sarah West, who works at New Pioneer Co-op in Iowa City, is concerned about these problems. The 24 year-old is creating a group called Food Not Lawns, which will encourage citizens to make use of their land to grow food.
"We can contribute to a sustainable city starting in our backyard," she said. "I don't think people know how serious overconsuming has become."
Thomas Webering, 21, said he plans on entering the UI next year to study environmental science, and he cited the potential of the field as a motivating factor.
"A sustainable city is a great idea," he said. "Iowa City is a progressive enough city to make it happen."
Meyer said he hopes to raise awareness of the environment with his group.
"No crisis in the history of our civilization compares to the challenge before us," he said. "But this is not an environmental crisis - it is a cultural crisis. The problems are so long-lived and pervasive we now view them as the norm, as an inevitable consequence faced by every culture."
E-mail DI reporter Kathleen Olp at:
mary-olp@uiowa.edu
This concern has spurred the Iowa City resident to create a sustainable city, dependent only on local resources.
"People are going to look at this group and think we're crazy," the 37-year-old said. "No town has ever done it, but there is lots of genius in Iowa City."
Meyer started the Abundant Iowa City campaign, which, he said, seeks to create a self-reliant, permanent community that enhances the health of its people and environment. The group has had three meetings, which are breeding ground for further outside discussion with other activist groups.
"You can either wait to react, which gets messy, or you can plan," Meyer said, referring to the many environmental issues currently affecting the world.
Three main challenges exist with the environment: climate change and energy and resource depletion, he said. He isn't looking to start something new but rather looking to align groups in Iowa City to start a movement, he said.
The group looks for Iowa City to rely solely on local products, which range from growing local food to using local energy.
"Many identify so strongly with the industrialized society that they will never consider alternatives despite the overwhelming evidence of a better life for themselves and their community," Meyer said in his proposal for the group.
The group's third meeting Tuesday night comes after the U.N. Environment Program released its fourth report Oct. 25, highlighting problematic environmental issues. It stated that human populations are living far beyond their means and inflicting damage on the environment that could pass points of no return.
It cited specific problems, including climate change, the rate of extinction of species, and the challenge of feeding a growing population, as specific risks to humanity.
Sarah West, who works at New Pioneer Co-op in Iowa City, is concerned about these problems. The 24 year-old is creating a group called Food Not Lawns, which will encourage citizens to make use of their land to grow food.
"We can contribute to a sustainable city starting in our backyard," she said. "I don't think people know how serious overconsuming has become."
Thomas Webering, 21, said he plans on entering the UI next year to study environmental science, and he cited the potential of the field as a motivating factor.
"A sustainable city is a great idea," he said. "Iowa City is a progressive enough city to make it happen."
Meyer said he hopes to raise awareness of the environment with his group.
"No crisis in the history of our civilization compares to the challenge before us," he said. "But this is not an environmental crisis - it is a cultural crisis. The problems are so long-lived and pervasive we now view them as the norm, as an inevitable consequence faced by every culture."
E-mail DI reporter Kathleen Olp at:
mary-olp@uiowa.edu
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