GROUP
EIGHT'S MISSION STATEMENT:
We envision three main steps in
our work:
1.) Research current development
of the rainforest and its consequences on the ecosystem and the economy.
2) Define the problems
that we see in the current situation, based on our research, and define
new goals.
3) Find alternatives to
the current development that will meet our new goals.
While we do this, we want to take into
consideration a number of issues:
- Is the forest/land that is being
destroyed useful? How can we optimize its use?
- Look at history and best practices,
and learn from native practices.
- How can we use the resources of
the forest to promote sustainable development of local populations/societies/economies?
- Compromises; we have to consider
the balance between ideal development for locals and the forest and the realities
of capitalism and the economy (the roles of big corporations, etc.)
- We have to keep the local population
in mind; our work has to focus on their interaction with the forest.
- We should not act as a "cover-all"
group in Mission 2006.
- It is very important that we interact
with the other teams in the mission, and we plan to have organized liaisons
to each team so that we can stay informed.
- Our main concern is: alternative
development; by whom and how? In other words, we have to reflect on
the ecological interaction between people and nature in the rainforest.
If we can accomplish our three
main steps and take into account all the issues on this list, then we will
consider ourselves deserving of an A in this course.
Questions or comments on this website can be sent to jolmstea@mit.edu.