The Nonfiction Portions of Legacy: Chapters 9-10

In most novels, blurring the line between fiction and nonfiction is all part of the fun. In Legacy, understanding which items are really happening in our nonfiction world is an essential part of the project. Listed below are references to further information on many of the real parts of Legacy. These are presented in the sequence in which they appear in the book. See also the Resources section of this website, as well as Chapter 11 of the novel.

Caution: This page may contain plot spoilers!

Chapter 9

Globalization (Section 1)
* James Gustave Speth, in Red Sky at Morning, lists nine reasons that globalization exacerbates environmental problems. Three of his reasons were quoted in the text.  He also lists 4 factors where globalization may help environmental quality, yet he concludes “Globalization should hold great promise, but that promise is not being realized today, nor will it be unless globalization is consciously managed for people and for the environment. If the world wishes to evolve toward an international economy, and it certainly seems to, it will need to develop an international policy equal to the challenge of governing its newly global economy.” p.147.
* Globalization creating a world monoculture is a phrase from David Holmgren, Permaculture, p.211

World Environment Organization, international support (Section 3)
* “The leaders of France, Germany, and other countries have called for the creation of a World Environment Organization.” James Gustave Speth, Red Sky at Morning, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2004, p. 177. (Legacy note 103)

Urban farming, goats (Section 5)
* Jim Montgomery and Mateo Rutherford of West Berkeley keep goats successfully in a 6,000 square foot urban yard. John Fall, “Urban farmers produce nearly all their food with a sustainable garden in their backyard,” San Francisco Chronicle, July 23, 2004. (Legacy note 104)

Death with dignity (Section 8)
* The Hospice Foundation of America provides comfort-oriented care and support to family and patient in the final stages of terminal illness. http://www.hospicefoundation.org/  (Legacy note 105)

Air travel (Section 10)
* “The Advisory Council for Aeronautical Research in Europe (ACARE) proposed very tough environmental targets for, primarily, emissions and noise levels in 2020. The EU has adopted these targets and is endeavouring to put them into international legislation through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Commitment to sustainable aviation will mean an international R&D agenda of massive proportions. Research into advanced aerodynamics, materials, more fuel efficient and cleaner engines, and more electric aircraft, the production of lighter structures, and decisive improvements to Air Traffic Management (ATM) technologies, are just a handful of the key areas of research and development needed to meet these targets.” Per QuinetiQ corporation, “Sustainable aviation for 2020,” link accessed July 30, 2005. (Legacy note 106)

SEZ delineations overseas (Section 12)
* Nations named in text are in keeping with sea level rise predictions outlined in Chapter 1, Section 4, above.
* “… a special effort of world science, led by global scientific research centers of governments, academia, and industry, must commit specifically to addressing the unmet challenges of the poor. Public funding, private philanthropies, and not-for-profit foundations will have to back these commitments, precisely because market forces alone will not suffice.” Jeffrey D. Sachs, The End of Poverty, New York: Penguin Press, 2005. (Legacy note 107)

Chapter 10

Burial practices (Section 1)
* Several organizations, mostly outside the U.S., are active in bringing our burial customs to a more Sustainable form. The Natural Death Center works on a panorama of issues, including woodland burials. http://www.london21.org/articles_item.php?id=1013class=pageblue Ecopod creates recycled paper, paper mache sculpted coffins http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=1453&lang=English A British sustainability group is studying ways to achieve more energy efficient cremations http://www.idea-knowledge.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=72893 (Legacy note 108)
* There are several groups in Europe creating woodlands burial grounds; a few are starting in the United States.

Ocean Conveyor (Section 2)

§        Orion Magazine Jan/Feb 2005

World Sustainability Commission (Section 5)
* James Gustave Speth presents various proposals for an “international polity … as robust as the international economy” in chapter 9 of Red Sky at Morning. Attributes of the fictitious World Sustainability Commission outlined in the text are in part from the political observations of James Gustave Speth, embellished with the nature-based philosophical reflections of David Holmgren, Permaculture: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability, chapters 9 and 10. (Legacy note 109)

Forestry Plan (Section 5)
* Oak trees in the Forest of Dean were replanted circa 1808 at the recommendation of Admiral Lord Nelson, in anticipation of long-term future timber needs for shipbuilding. Trees from this forest were felled in 2004 to restore Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory.

Red and white tea roses (Section 6)
* Literary reference: In Victorian times, flowers bore a poetic message. Rose (tea) - I'll always remember.  Rose (white) - Eternal Love; innocence. Rose (red) - Love; I love you.  Rose (red and white) - Together; unity.

WCSD reflection (Section 6)
* Johannesburg messages written on flags: “On the final day of speeches [at the 2002 Johannesburg WSSD], many protestors … jeered U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell … ‘Following the [NGO] press conference [on the final day of the Summit], members of NGOs from the United States pinned a large U.S. flag to the wall outside the briefing room. On it they had written: “Thank you, President Bush, for making the U.S. so hated.”’” Per Anup Shah, quoting AllAfrica.com, www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Development/WSSD.asp  accessed 1/27/05
* The other references in the paragraph are to fictional events included in earlier chapters of Legacy.

REGROW going international (Section 7)
* The list of REGROW International countries in the text is from the Society of Wetlands Scientists member countries. http://www.sws.org/

Beach sand (Section 8)
* “Cumulative costs for sand replenishment to protect California’s coastline from a 20-inch sea level rise through 2100 could be $174 million to $3.5 billion.” Per “Climate Change and California” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 230-F-97-008e, September 1997, available as PDF.

ROOTS International World Tours (Section 8)
* The countries described in the fictional ROOTS International world tours are those forecast to experience the highest temperature changes, per the Hadley Center. accessed 7/14/05.

Green Revolution (Section 9)
* Although the "Green Revolution" carries a great name, it fosters dependency on petrochemical fertilizers and patented hybrid seed, thus compounding the indebtedness, poverty and unsustainability issues in many third world countries.  (source link, accessed 7/12/05)
* “‘I didn’t invent anything here,’ Julio [Chero of Peru] said. ‘Our fathers did these things. The land was all they had, and things like manure and biological controls. They saved seeds and had improvement plots to strengthen their seed lines. They knew farming. We came to do it another way, which we thought would be easier, relying on things we could buy, or chemicals supplied by the government – if we could get them. That’s what hurt the land. Now we’re learning to rely on ourselves again.’” From “Compartir Recursos, Not Just to Get, but to Give” by Barbara Kingsolver, World Ark magazine, July/August 2005

Barry’s Courtyard plants (Section 10)
* Literary reference: In Victorian times, flowers bore a poetic message. Orange tree – generosity. Yarrow – health, healing, cure for heartache. Mint – warmth of feeling. Sage – wisdom, great respect.

Alden Administration (Section 10)
* Jeffrey D. Sachs discusses enlightened globalization in Chapter 18 of his book The End of Poverty. Sachs makes the point that the multinational companies are not the problem, but can be part of the solution. Other Sachs ideas in the fictitious Alden Administration’s policies include international cooperation, redeeming the role of the U.S. in the world, and Sustainable development. (Legacy note 110)
*   [Clinton/UN item here ]

Addendum
* There is an international initiative for a Nobel Prize for Sustainable Development. www.sustainable-prize.net accessed Feb. 20, 2005. (Legacy note 110)

Photo credits: International flags by M. Proebster, Heidelberg, Germany; Ethiopian Children by Niall Crotty, Ashrofd, Co. Wicklow, Ireland Eire; We're the Kids in India by Jamie Ling, Sidney, NSW, Australia; Lavender by Russell Jones, Hayes, London, United Kingdom; Best Friends Forever by Patti Gray, Kewanee, IL; Sisters and Friends by Melissa Gutierrez, Geneva, Switzerland; children by Jean Tracewell Photography, Santa Ana, CA; Child close up 2 by Gina Meyers, Los Angeles, CA; Friendship by R. Burgos S., San Jose, Costa Rica; lavendar, by Russell Jones, Hayes, London, UK.