re: “The first step in developing the technology of sustainability is to develop the means of measuring the health of the planet in all of its intricate dimensions.”

This is a huge mistake especially, considering the broad wealth of suitable sustainable technology and the considerable recognition that we are in an emergency with the call for extreme urgency advocated by Lester R. Brown of the Earth Policy Institute as detailed in his excellent primer “Plan B 4.0 Mobilizing to Save Civilization,” 2009, http://www.earthpolicy.org:

“Did you know? A bicycle is a marvel of engineering efficiency, one where an investment in 22 pounds of metal and rubber boosts the efficiency of an individual mobility (walking!) by a factor of three. On my bike I estimate that I get easily 7 miles per potato. For more information view the text and data in Chapter 6 of Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization”

http://www.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/books/pb4/pb4_table_of_contents

“The ambitiousness of this plan is not driven by perceived political feasibility but by scientific reality.”

Ted Turner, who distributes copies of each Plan B to heads of state and their key cabinet members, the Fortune 500 CEOs, and members of Congress, has distributed 5,500 copies of Plan B 3.0. With the book available from the Strand for less than $9; can be downloaded free from

http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/pb4book.pdf