In a previous post I mentioned that cities are living organisms that suffer from illnesses, some chronic, and these ills can even lead to their demise. One of the most serious illnesses a city can have is lack of green spaces for its citizens. See entire post

From what I’ve been reading in the press and hearing from people about sustainability in its most varied forms and applications, I’ve noticed that most people don’t really know what it means; perhaps it’s a new concept that only now is gaining importance in our lives. 

In these past few weeks I’ve been posting on the blog with the main intention of spreading the meaning of sustainability. I believe that in order to change the world we first have to understand the concept and then evaluate and discuss it, so that we can make people more aware of the need for change. Then we can start implementing change, even when we face enormous difficulty.   See entire post

Life is a rare gift and nothing compares to it. It is the greatest expression of creation. It may sound like I’m about to talk about religion, but that’s not the case.

 I want to discuss a very important subject: the hope for a better life, the hope for building a more equalitarian world with more justice, less violence; a world where we can live with our families in the tranquility of believing that our children and grandchildren will grow up in a healthy and happy environment.

Children are our greatest hope for changing the imperfect world created by our generation and by the generations that preceded us. They are our reason for believing that it is all worth it - fighting against people’s general apathy and indifference, in politicians, business people, clerics, workers, and in anyone who fails to take a firm stance in this fundamental moment of transformation. See entire post

When I decided to create this blog my intention was to create a space where I could share my opinions and experience with those interested. 

I expected reactions from a few people, probably from readers who were close to the sustainability subject. 

I was pleasantly surprised, however, by the large number of users who accessed the blog and left me a message. To all of you, my sincere thanks for your words of support and motivation for me to continue this mission of changing the world. 

Yes, I believe in our ability to revert the self-extinction process we have imposed to our species, but this task will require the participation of many people. The will to change the conditions in which we live today, with an escalating perception of risk, is strong and present in many of us. See entire post

These days it’s impossible to talk about sustainability without mentioning North American politician Al Gore (http://www.algore.com/). He is a kind of ambassador to the cause and an inspiration to many, including myself.

Al Gore was vice president of the US during Bill Clinton’s term in office and lost the presidential election to George W. Bush. In spite of his prominence as a politician, which makes him a role model for many people, it’s his work in fighting global warming that stands out.

Those who think he turned environmentalist only after loosing the elections in 2000 are wrong. Since 1978, when he was just an assemblyman, he has been lecturing about the planet’s eminent destruction, as in the 2006 documentary “An inconvenient truth”. See entire post

I thought of several subjects I could approach to start the blog, but I felt that anything I said would be impersonal if I didn’t introduce myself.

My name is Luiz Fernando Lucho do Valle, I was born in Porto Alegre, I’m 53 years old, I have four children, four grandchildren and a degree in civil engineering.

My intention with this blog is to help change the world. To that end I want to rouse in people an interest in sustainability, as happened to me some years ago.

In the end of 2003 I was in Guarapari in the state of Espírito Santo, sitting alone on a rock by the seashore, and I decided to take stock of my life. I thought about my origins, my family, my career and everything I had done so far. See entire post