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This proposal was moved to: Public Attitudes and Behaviors Workspace 2021
This proposal was moved here from Public Attitudes and Behaviors Workspace 2016
This proposal was reopened in Shifting Attitudes and Behaviors 2018

Pitch

A large scale civic center & city to serve the global community as a blueprint for sustainable cities and a gathering point for the planet


Description

Summary

Global Civic Center

Civic centers have served local, national or imperial societies – but no such site has been developed to serve the world community to date.

Polls show that more than half the world’s population views itself as global citizens rather than national citizens.

More than half the world’s population considers itself as belonging to the global community hence the case for a  a World Capital & and Civic Center.

The proposed civic center is designed to serve the global community both as a site for cooperation and mediation as well as a point of gathering.  The proposal also focuses on features that provide significant restorative experiences in a forum for the world community.

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CREATING TRUST AND OPTIMISM

Given the tumultuous history of wars and continuous global and local tensions, combined with vast environmental destruction and depletion, there is reason to assume that the collective psychological impact impedes the ability of the global community to change course on climate change.

This proposal is a for restorative site, and innovation center, a Civic Center advancing solutions to the greatest challenges faced by humanity, and most importantly to bring a shift public opinion - by setting an example for a large scale city supplied entirely by renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, desalinized water - providing a high quality of life.  

A sanctuary city for humanity to inspire the planet to build sustainable and humane environments - a blueprint for mega cities in arid areas - to reduce the population pressure on ecosystems.


Is this proposal for a practice or a project?

Project


What actions do you propose?

SEEING IS BELIEVING 

The GCC in combination with the circular city may shift public opinion - by setting an example for a large scale city sustained entirely on renewable energy and sustainable agriculture - at high standard and quality of life.

A city that can grow to about 6 million -  can be referred to as GC - Global Capital or Global Civic Center - GCC. The tower at  the center would serve as a World Mediation and Cooperation Center.

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Accelerating the discovery and design for sustainable mega cities of the future, the GCC will help create the a vital blueprint with the following essential features:

- POWERED ENTIRELY BY GREEN ENERGY - including extensive use of vertical axis windmills - WIND TOWERS/SKYSCRAPERS - (designs included below)

- EFFICIENT AGRICULTURE INCLUDING HYDROPONICS SUPPLYING THE CITY'S NEEDS FROM WITHIN ITS GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS

- AUTOMATED, EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION PROVIDING ACCESS ANYWHERE WITHIN A MINIMUM DISTANCE

- VISUALLY AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS, SAFE AND PLEASANT, WITH EASY ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES AND WATER AS WELL AS TO SERVICES, JOBS, ENTERTAINMENT 

Accomplishing the above goals is technologically and economically feasible - but the barriers are psychological and systemic rather than economic.

Many of the large oil interests have the option to invest heavily in renewable power and make greater profits than in oil and gas, but the entrenched belief in itself in the current model causes the more powerful players to stay with what they know.

This is where the GCC can bring a shift in attitudes. Having a large scale city as  a world civic center where millions have a higher quality of life, on a fossil-fuel-free model, would provide a powerful force in shifting public attitudes and decision makers.   

The GCC design incorporates many natural elements combined with a dense urban environment.

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Responsibility for the environment on a global scale can best be created via a civic center intended for the global community. The GCC provides a point for both spiritual and informational connection, and, metaphorically speaking a sanctuary and treatment center for the Planet.

Additionally the GCC provides a point of intense research and ultimate models for fossil-fuel-free high quality of life and with minimal to no depletion of the environment. The positive psychological value of the GCC may well be the missing link to bringing the world community to taking global measures required to avert the impeding collapse of the climate system.

The GCC proposal may become the most efficient way to create the new awareness needed for meaningful action.

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RESTORATIVE EXPERIENCES

The goal of the GCC concept is to create a gathering place that provides a sense of connectedness and uses all available features found at world landmarks such as famous squares, towers, parks and water. 

The proposed GCC contains landmarks with features strongly associated with human well being, restoration, conectedness, point of reference, identification with civilization:

Main landmarks and features: 

  • Tower with Seven Windmills/ lighthouse / sundial 
  • Plaza with a built enclosure / civic center
  • Water
  • Wide open green space / park, trees,
  • Bridge providing expansive views

 

The above elements will be embedded in the proposed GCC  maximizing the restorative effect for anyone visiting this landmark as a point of world gathering and pilgrimage with unique experience of transitional pathways:

  • Walk over the arched promenade
  • Climb on the exterior of the tower  
  • "walk on the water" across the Diamond Lake
  • Walk along the landmarks pointed by shadows of the tip of the sundial/tower creating Analemma landmarks

Given the threats of climate change there is a strong need for a global policy towards sustaining human life with renewable energy. However there is no blue print to be emulated - no proof of concept - that shows that millions of people can live in large urban areas having all their energy needs met with renewable power at a LOWER COST than fossil fuels and with a higher quality of life. Similarly all nutrition needs can be met using sustainable, vertical agriculture that does not deplete and pollute the planet.

Proposal: a circular site of 2.3 miles in diameter with a tower in the center and a body of water within the circle as well as around the site. Concept skyscraper and circular park surrounded by a buildings seeks to provide a place of convergence for collaboration in the world of arts and sciences, business, entertainment and recreation - a site for experiences of connectedness and meaning, a world civic forum. The proposed skyscraper at the center is 3300’ in height.

Circular design of a landmark can bring positive emotional effects to its visitors and even meet a certain need or ancient desire for communion. Many of the famous landmarks have a circular or partially circular elements such as St Peters Square.  One tourist guide describes St Peters Square as “when you first walk into St Peters Sq. you feel embraced into the immense arms of the colonnadeshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDRHrr6uDlU

The obelisk at the center in addition to its role as a monument is also a sundial and in a sense a compass pointing time and space. Similarly the tower in the center will serve as a sundial and a compass symbolizing time and space as well as direction for mankind, particularly as it would house the World’s Civic Center and other world organizations where the direction of future developments would be determined.

The tower at the center will be referred to as the "Tower"  - name to be determined based on public input from choices such as The Diamond Tower, Civic Tower, Sundial Tower, 7 Windmills  Tower  and other suggestions.

 

WIND POWER - TOWER AS A SYMBOL

7 Horizontal  Windmills with vertical “flappers” or wind wings spinning around the tower provide extensive renewable power as well as a symbol to bring public awareness of the potential of wind power. 

Visitors can observe closely the wind mills and the movement of the wind wings which are 20’x30’.

WIND POWER  - SKYSCRAPERS AS WIND TOWERS Horizontal axis windmills with flappers that close when capturing the wind force and open on the return (to reduce resistance).

Towers, tall as skyscrapers, with horizontal axis windmills supply a large portion of renewable energy.

Wind towers capturing a large amount of energy with minimal visual impact while being close proximity to consumers (reducing grid costs). In the image below the tower is shown with "vertical blinds" - adjustable to parallel direction of the wind - designed to cover the windmills for safety and visual integration.

Wind Tower model shown below supplies extensive amount of clean energy.

TOWER AS A SUNDIAL

The tower serves as a sundial and its shadow has a number of landmarks including a complete Analemma for every day of the year at noon.  

Per Webster Dictionary the definition of an Analemma is: "a plot or graph of the position of the sun in the sky at a certain time of day (such as noon) at one locale measured throughout the year that has the shape of a figure 8"

In the image below the shadow is shown on Summer Solstice (June 21) at noon - the shortest shadow of the year, and Winter Solstice (Dec. 21) - the longest shadow of the year at noon.

Below is another view of the Winter Solstice shadow at (Dec. 21) - the longest shadow of the year (at noon)

Summer Solstice  - the shortest shadow of the year at NOON (June 21)

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Image below: 4:00 PM Shadow (on Summer Solstice) -  the Tower lines up across the middle of the length of the Diamond Lake. The tip of the tower marks the closest point on the 4:00 PM Analemma 

WALKING ON WATER - CROSSING SIDES - MEETING IN THE MIDDLE...

Area of shallow water (approx. 2 inches) allows walking across the the Diamond Lake with a sense of "walking on water" as part of the restorative experience with thousands of other visitors "crossing sides"...Click on image to expand - Diamond Island - a point of meeting and rest for visitors crossing (and "switching sides" - i.e. identifying with the other side)

The tip of the tower at the 4:00 PM Analema (on Summer Solstice)

Shadow on Sept. 1 at NOON - AnalemmaClose up Sept. 1 - NOON Analemma    - Click on image to expand 

September 1st -  at 4:00 pm Analemma  - Click on images to expand  - "Analemma Square"

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"Analemma Sq" - April 1 (4:00 PM)

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Approaching the Arched Promenade on the circular boulevard. May be the widest sidewalk in the world at over 90' (30m) - with capacity to absorb large numbers of visitors. With the diameter of 2.3 miles (3.22km) the circular boulevard is about 4.1 miles (5.8km) Circular boulevard to house a large number of caffes and entertainment places combined with world organizations hosting conventions and conferences - Click images

Crossing the bridges towards the Arched Promenade

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Climbing the arch promenade on the way towards the tower.

Therapeutic Landscapes are part of a literature emerging from cultural geography identifying the interplay of the environment, the social conditions and human perception in producing the therapeutic effect. 

The GCC provides vast open views of green space from the numerous buildings surrounding the site as well as from the elevated promenade and from the tower at the center. Click on image to expand

Therapeutic Landscapes

Viewing open green spaces from vantage points is referred to as the Prospect pattern and has evolved from research on visual preference and spatial habitat responses, as well as cultural anthropology, evolutionary psychology and architectural analysis; benefits include reductions in stress, irritation, fatigue and perceived vulnerability, as well as improved comfort. According to evolutionary psychology we are attracted to spaces that are similar to the African savannas on which we evolved as a species.

https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/

 

"A space with a good Prospect condition feels open and freeing, yet imparts a sense of safety and control..."

Click image to expandClick images to expand

Reaching the middle/peak area of the arched promenade symbolizes a new phase (over the hill), a new beginning from where the tower becomes more visible until it can be seen in its entirety.

The area on the left is the space for a safari which should ideally house as many endangered species as possible while providing open spaces with minimal caging. The area on the right is a suggested mapping for a botanical garden. 

In addition to the open green spaces the GCC includes elements that offer a sense of connection to the natural world in a way that relates to our evolutionary psychology.

Re-wilding research as part of the safari     Click on image to expand

Descending from the peak of the Arched Promenade the visitor is welcomed by the World Civic Plaza experiencing a sense of homecoming to the ingathering of the nations.

Four water fountains (“four corners of the globe”) spray water on the hanging globe (e.g. once per hour for five minutes)  filling it with water through holes at the top and causing it to move lower. Holes at the bottom of the globe allow the water to be released and thus move back up. Then the cycle begins again with the water fountains filling up the globe .

 

Visitors can ascend the base area of the tower via exterior ramps that create three triangles in sequence symbolizing aspiration, reaching for new heights, closure, convergence, a new beginning when reaching each apex of a triangle. Image below shows the shadow of the tower on Winter Solstice (Dec. 21) - longest shadow of the year at 12:00 PM.

Global Civic Center - A capital for the world - a road map for sustainable living                                                                        A blueprint for a better planet for hosting human life

CIRCULAR SHAPE OF THE GCC - SAME ELLIPTICAL RATIO (NEARLY CIRCULAR) AS THE EARTH'S ORBIT AROUND THE SUN

 

 


Who will take these actions?

An organization would need to be created: The Global Civic Center Initiative which may be started by a Consortium of Academic Institutions for the GCC.

Once a site is decided the consortium would begin to build research centers for advancements in all areas related to climate change.   

Many world organizations will be attracted to dedicate resources and talent to the endeavor such as the ones listed below and many more:

The Global Parliament of Mayors - an organization that builds on the experience, expertise and leadership of mayors in tackling local challenges resulting from global problems -with climate change at the forefront.

Union of Concerned Scientists 

Idle No More

Greenpeace

Sierra Club

Environmental Defense Fund

The initiative would attract private institutions and corporations wishing to have a presence in the most environmentally efficient city in the world with the highest standards for meeting human needs - and expected to reach to about 6 million; and ultimately developing the most advanced technologies related to climate change from agriculture, to energy, construction, mass transit and more

Similarly the initiative would attract thousands of global organizations both for-profit and non-profit, particularly focused in the areas agriculture, energy, environmental research and eventually in all areas of science.

The GCC would provide a more effective home for world forums currently scattered around the globe.   

 

 


Where will these actions be taken?

One of the most complex and challenging aspects of the GCC is determining the location in a way that does not favor any particular nation, religion, culture etc. 

However the ideal location is in a warm and dry climate which allows visitors to enjoy access unimpeded by weather. 

All solutions will need to be explored. However it seems that one avenue would be to have a lottery from number of possible location such as:

Mexico, Middle East, North Africa, India,  Australia.

Other criteria for efficiency and expediency would be to have the proposed GCC in the vicinity (but not adjacency) of an existing large city that can supply the resources to begin this large undertaking. So the vicinity of cities such as Mexico City, Dubai, Mumbai, Sydney, Melbourne.

Further complexities in determining the location is finding politically neutral areas.

After considering all the above points it seems that an effective location is on the US and Mexico border. The advantages include having the close vicinity to advanced technologies available in the US - and this also increases the chances of creating a new "Silicon Valley" providing sufficient critical mass for the initially more expensive technologies for green buildings, green energy, desalinization. All water supplied to the GCC needs to be from desalinization as part of the goal of creating the blue print for sustaining human life without depleting water resources.

The location on the US Mexico border increases the chances for "buy-in" for land provision by asking two countries instead of one. The border location also provides for the idea of a more neutral territory.  The area shown in the image below is selected only for its vicinity to the Gulf of California as a vacationing "availabilty" - while being on the US Mexico border

REPLICATION OF CoLab City MODEL

Other countries will chose to build new cities based on the ColLab City blueprint in order to meet a long list o needs:

- Reduce the pressure on exiting urban areas - reduce emissions 

- Reduce urban sprawl from ecosystems that are vital for the planet - and begin rewilding areas are of greatest importance.

- Reduce the risk of wars and revolutions due to economic insecurity (CoLab City model can meet essential needs and provide for human well being at a fraction of the current model battered by fossil fuel costs, limited space for housing and transportation, safety, and more) 

- Prepare for rising sea levels - all CoLab model cities are at a minimum elevation of 70 meters. Countries like Bangladesh can begin the infrastructure for such cities with particular subsidies for populations in the low lying areas and in areas that deplete vital ecosystems. Bangladesh has  areas at over 1000m elevation.

With populations gradually moving to cities modeled on the CoLab City the drop in fossil fuels, combined with reduced pressure on natural systems  would result in a vital reduction of C02.

 

 


In addition, specify the country or countries where these actions will be taken.

United States


Country 2

Mexico


Country 3

India


Country 4

China


Country 5

Bangladesh


Impact/Benefits


What impact will these actions have on greenhouse gas emissions and/or adapting to climate change?

A BLUEPRINT FOR LARGE CITIES POWERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY

It would be difficult to calculate the how much these actions will reduce emissions though the impact of such a project can accelerate by years the advancements needed both from a technological as well as political and psychological angle. This acceleration may make a difference in reducing emissions in time before the global warming levels pass the tipping point. 

This proposal approaches the problem of emissions mitigation from a psychological perspective by impacting perceptions and convictions of dependence on the fossil fuels model. 

A home for collaboration between numerous global organizations that are striving to contribute to solving the greatest challenges of our time of which reduction in greenhouse gases is at the highest priority.

A LIVING PROOF OF LARGE POPULATIONS FREE FROM: 

- FOSSIL FUELS

- LAND FILLS

- POLLUTION

- DEPENDENCE ON CARS 

- TRAFFIC JAMS

- UNSAFE, POOR AREAS

A CAPITAL FOR THE WORLD'S SCIENTISTS, ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGES

A CAPITAL FOR COLLABORATION, MEDIATION AND NEGOTIATIONS 

Having a large scale city running entirely on renewable energy - with extensive research facilities -  would provide a vital blue print for the planet; a home/cradle and a mediation center; an avenue with global standards for a better planet.

RESEARCH FOR REWILDING THE PLANET

The GCC has wide areas dedicated to plant and animal life - created in a space that was previously empty. This landscape  can be viewed from the arched promenade providing a powerful experience for the visitor and appreciation for the natural world in the context of restoration.

INFLUENCING PUBLIC OPINION TO APPRECIATE AND DEMAND RESTORATION OF ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Experimentation with creating an environment for thriving plant and animal life would inspire a movement towards rewilding of the planet with dramatic impacts in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Rewilding witnessed by millions of visitors inspiring the idea, and ultimately the public demand,  for returning to ecological balance.

A BLUEPRINT FOR CLEAN & AUTOMATED MASS TRANSIT ON A LARGE SCALE 

The GCC would provide a blueprint for a city of as much as 6 million with automated urban mobility for a mass transit system, powered entirely by renewable energy, at a level of comfort, speed and access, greater or at least equal to cars - at a fraction of the cost of traditional mass transit systems. This feature, replicated around the world would reduce emissions dramatically. 

The model we propose for such a mass transit system is the MINI ELEVATED cTrain design which has won last year's CoLab competition in the Transportation category and received positive reviews from the AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS

The cTrain concept has received interest from the Indian local and state governments: article in The Indian Express

All areas will include the cTrain as part of the fabric of the city - eliminating the necessity of cars except for shopping.


What are other key benefits?

The GCC as a city, a scientific research center, as well as a space for collaboration and mediation can have many exponential benefits. 

The GCC - as a city reaching eventually to a population of six million will be a laboratory (possibly named CoLab City) where many of the proposals from the CoLab competition can be tested and applied.

A city for a new way of life FREE FROM: 

- FOSSIL FUELS

- LAND FILLS

- AIR POLLUTION  and NOISE POLLUTION

- DEPENDENCE ON CARS 

- TRAFFIC JAMS

- UNSAFE, POOR AREAS

 

FEWER WARS - As point of mediation it may reduce the number of armed conflicts, which would indirectly provide a way to reduce emissions. In other words, while a conflict is raging all the efforts towards emission reductions are null.  

GREATER PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS 

With extensive media coverage of the progress of the GCC, bringing proven solutions as well as a higher quality of life for the residents,  there is a strong possibility that the public opinion and DEMAND will shift towards a sustainable model based on the GCC.

- POWERED ENTIRELY BY GREEN ENERGY

- EFFICIENT AGRICULTURE INCLUDING HYDROPONICS SUPPLYING THE CITY'S NEEDS FROM WITHIN ITS GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS

- AUTOMATED, EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION PROVIDING ACCESS ANYWHERE WITHIN A MINIMUM DISTANCE

- VISUALLY AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS, SAFE AND PLEASANT, WITH EASY ACCESS TO GREEN SPACES AND WATER AS WELL AS TO SERVICES, JOBS, ENTERTAINMENT 

NO TRASH - NO LANDFILLS - ALL WASTE IS RECYCLED, INCLUDING EXTENSIVE USE OF COMPOSTING SYSTEMS 

Sustainable Construction

Building the GCC will include the most advanced and environmental friendly construction methods requiring the extensive use of recycled and renewable materials from around the world - helping clean many existing landfills where reusable materials are available. Usage of wood will be restricted to bamboo and other sustainable construction materials.

PLACE OF REFUGE

The GCC model - CoLab City is  a blueprint for mega cities to be replicated around the world  to accommodate millions and capable to provide a sanctuary for a large number of refugees to reduce or prevent climate refugees scenario by beginning to attract people from low level areas.

EVERYONE LIVES DOWNTOWN

To make the city attractive two major circular boulevards are designated to house most entertainment and work places providing the "downtown" close to anywhere in the city to avoid "clustering."

Express and local elevated trains bring fast and easy access anywhere in the city within a few blocks.

More importantly once a blueprint is in place for building a city with the standards of the GCC (or CoLab City model) many other similar cities will be built around the globe.

 

The GCC will speed up by years, and possibly by decades, the development of sustainable standards and Global agreements.

By providing the development and application of new technologies providing higher standards of leaving such as access to green automated mass transit as a human right will bring a dramatic drop in emissions.

 


Costs/Challenges


What are the proposal’s projected costs?

Creating the The Global Civic Center Initiative would require a minimum of $300-500k to form the organization and staff needed to reach out to universities to present the initiative.  

The initial cost - to get the GCC off the ground would take a minimum of $1b to begin preparing the infrastructure as well as build the first research centers with accommodations. 

If the GCC adheres in its entirety to the fossil-fuel-free model, the initial costs would be relatively higher with construction trucks including all earth moving  equipment powered by electrical energy technologies. The benefits to reducing emissions in the future are worth the higher initial costs as this experience will accelerate the switch to electric motors for trucks and equipment. In the long term the electric construction power will be cheaper than fossil-fuel equipment as the building of the GCC will continue well over a decade providing ample time for the learning curve needed to make effective equipment. The vicinity of Tesla factories presents an additional advantage. 

Once a minimal level of activity begins, it is expected that other organizations and corporations will become interested. A separate arm of the GCC will be needed, such as the GCC Trust, to manage the funds and sell land. 

For this project it is important to measure the costs in relation to the large array benefits mainly the improved quality of life and with it the health of the planet as many of the technologies as well as the lifestyle will be replicated around the globe. 


Timeline

short-term (1-15 years)

 

YR-1-2 - The Global Civic Center Initiative  - Consortium of Academic Institutions and corporations together with international organizations raises the first $1 billion and makes final decision on site location, master plan for the city is completed 

YR-3 - Construction begins for research centers dedicated to advancements in all areas related to climate change.   

YR-4 - Private institutions and corporations begin intense construction -  seeking to have a presence in the most environmentally efficient city in the world with the highest standards for meeting human needs

YR - 5 - All global organizations and major corporations have a presence at the GCC. 

YR - 10 - Population reaches to 1 million - entirely supported by renewable energy and all other criteria for a sustainable & high quality of life.

The newly created eco system in the nature reserve of the GCC inspires restoration of destroyed environments around the globe in a drive for rewilding and restoring the natural balance of the planet as near as possible to the start of the industrial revolution.

- the blueprint for life supported entirely by renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture brings public pressure on policymakers and  many cities in the world are converting to the GCC model.

medium-term (15-50 years)

YR- 15 - The GCC population surpasses 6 million and the model is replicated aggressively  around the globe for all new cities.

YR -20 - Majority of the cities around the world have adopted the Mini Elevated cTrain model, or a similar mode of elevated trains - covering all areas of human activity in cities - powered by renewables. The cTrain principle is incorporated as a standard for health cities as well as a human right to access work places as well as to a healthy environment.

 YR-25 - all forms of combustion engines are obsolete and fossil fuels used for cooking and heating are replaced in 90% of the globe with electric power from renewables

long-term (50-100 years)

YR-50 - following aggressive rewilding, elimination of fossil fuels and carbon absorbing technologies the CO2 levels are back to the levels close to the start of the Industrial Revolution

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CONCLUSION

The Global Civic Center is a means for developing a blueprint for sustainable cities of the future - the CoLab City Model. With cities that can accommodate millions - mostly in arid areas - using desalinated water, preferably in the vicinity of oceans -  that do not effect ecosystems on a sustainable, and a high quality of life the road to rewilding the planet and restoring the natural balance to the levels before

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About the author(s)

Emil Jacob, owner and founder of Jacob Innovations LLC, design firm in Cambridge, MA.


He had his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Toronto and has worked extensively in IT as a Business Systems Analyst finding innovative ways to streamline and automate operations through software and optimized interfaces.

The GCC was is a comprehensive project and in his Masters program in DESIGN FOR HUMAN HEALTH at the Boston Architectural College, 2016:  World Civic Center concept – applying lessons from neuroscience to maximize restorative experiences in landscape and architectural design

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I am a strong believer in simple solutions to overwhelming challenges, most importantly climate change. I am particularly concerned about the cataclysmic scenario of runaway global warming hence I believe that all efforts are vital. Especially concerted efforts by multiple entities and large numbers of contributors - hence my proposal for CoLab City.  

Below is a list of my seven interconnected submissions creating synergies that curb climate change.

The CoLab City proposal depends on the success of the Global Civic Center proposal which itself benefits from the MINI Elevated cTrains proposal. 

** 2 is based on **1 

*4 is based on *3  

Shifting Attitudes and Behaviors
**1. Global Civic Center & Capital - the road to a sustainable planet   --- CURRENT PROPOSAL

Adaptation
**2. CoLab City - a blueprint for resilient, green cities

Transportation
*3. Mini Elevated GreenTrains - complete transit solution - powered by green energy               

Adaptation 
*4. Mini Elevated GREEN TRAINS - preparing for flooded subways in coastal cities  

Buildings
5. Universal Ceiling Fan- Heating, Cooling, Superior Ambiance Without Fossil Fuels

Energy Supply
6. Vertical Axis Windmill Tower for densely populated areas

Buildings
7. Transforming low income housing areas: SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE, PROFITABLE

 

A converging summary of the seven submissions


Related Proposals

The most recent and the most advanced is a project that includes some of the goals of the GCC are floating cities by the Seasteading Institute  with actual plans for beginning development as early as 2019 - article in The Guardian.

The GCC and the Seasteading Institute can cooperate and complement one another in many ways from the new technologies they intend to develop. 

The Seasteading model can is a great avenue for providing alternatives for populations in ocean areas such as Southeast Asia, attracting people away from areas with sensitive ecosystems and thus helping to restore the planet to the natural balance before the Industrial Revolution.

The CoLab City model (as a blueprint from the Global Civic Center) provides an alternative model for populations in the vicinity of desert areas attracting them away from sensitive ecosystems with the goal of restoring the natural balance of the planet. 

The Seasteading model also provides more variety and avenues for research in sustaining human needs without impacting ecosystems while making the project of attracting populations away from sensitive ecosystems more interesting and even fascinating.

A modest proposal: Establishing a 'future' capital of the world - 1 NOVEMBER 2012 - Aljazeera

There are many organizations that advocate for global standards and conventions as well as global citizenship such as the ones listed below, but few examples of a physical place designated as a Global Civic Center 

GLOBALSL, A MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL HUB SUPPORTING ETHICAL GLOBAL LEARNING AND COMMUNITY-CAMPUS PARTNERSHIPS - development of thinking on global citizenship 

GLOBE International  - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - originally founded in 1989 by legislators from the US Congress, European Parliament, Japanese Diet and the Russian State Duma with the mission to respond to urgent environmental challenges through the development and advancement of legislation.

Global Citizenship – What Are We Talking About and Why Does It Matter?   March 11, 2012  - Inside HIGHER ED

Innovative Approaches Bringing Urban Farming To Cities Across The Globe  Thespoon.tech  July 18, 2017

Urban Ecology Reformation is Spreading Across the Globe  - June 26, 2016  - The Nature of Cities is an international platform to share diverse, transformative ideas about cities as ecosystems of people, nature, and infrastructure. 

 

 


References

Literature review

Zeisel, John. Inquiry by design: Environment/behavior/neuroscience in architecture, interiors, landscape, and planning. WW Norton & Co, 2006.

Grimley, Naomi. (2016, April 28). Identity 2016: Global citizenship' rising, poll suggests. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-36139904

Moughtin, C. (2003). Urban design: street and square. Routledge.

Childs, M. C. (2006). Squares: A public place design guide for urbanists. UNM Press.

Schar, M. F., Leifer, L. J., Hinds, P., & Shavelson, R. J. (2011). Pivot thinking and the differential sharing of information within new product development teams. Stanford University.

Bernstein, Kyle T., Jennifer Ahern, Melissa Tracy, Joseph A. Boscarino, David Vlahov, and Sandro Galea. "Television watching and the risk of incident probable posttraumatic stress disorder: A prospective evaluation." The Journal of nervous and mental disease 195, no. 1 (2007): 41-47.

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This proposal is based on paper I written 2016 in the Masters in Design for Human Health program at the Boston Architectural College (for Behavior and Design course)