GreenYes Archives

[GreenYes Archives] - [Thread Index] - [Date Index]
[Date Prev] - [Date Next] - [Thread Prev] - [Thread Next]


[greenyes] 'Restoration Economy' Approaches $2 Trillion Annually Worldwide


GreenYes Colleagues,

A fascinating book by Storm Cunningham, The Restoration Economy, provides
insights into a vast global economy focused on restoring both the built and
natural environments. Cunningham speaks at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco
at 6:00 p.m.

Web sites listed at the end of the news release may be of interest regarding
the Revitalization Institute, Storm's book and public speaking.

Lance King
Community Solutions

______________________________________________________________________
Revitalization Institute
Canal Center Plaza, Suite 300,
Alexandria, VA 22314 USA
703-706-4780
www.RevitalizationInstitute.org
______________________________________________________________________


NEWS RELEASE
November 9, 2004

Contacts:
Storm Cunningham, Executive Director,
703.626.5155 (cell) & 703.706.4780;
Lance King, Consultant, 703.536.7282


'Restoration' Is Fast Becoming Dominant Form of Development-Investment
Approaching $2 Trillion A Year Worldwide

San Francisco Seen as a Leader, Expert Will Tell Commonwealth Club

SAN FRANCISCO (November 9, 2004) - Communities around the world are
revitalizing economies by restoring the natural and built environments, a leading
expert will tell The Commonwealth Club (5:30 p.m.-- 595 Market St, 2nd Floor)
today .

Recognized as one of the world's foremost experts in his field, author
Storm Cunningham revealed in The Restoration Economy the previously
undocumented trillion-dollar global industries that are restoring our natural and manmade
environments. Cunningham estimates that almost $2 trillion annually are
being spent restoring our ecosystems, watersheds, fisheries, agricultural lands,
brownfields, infrastructure, heritage, and disaster or war damage.

Founder and executive director of the Revitalization Institute, based in
Alexandria, Virginia, Cunningham is a highly sought after speaker, addressing
leaders in business, government, institutions of higher education, and
non-governmental organizations.

"After the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, San Francisco snatched an
opportunity from disaster, by restoring and redeveloping the Embarcadero
waterfront. By planning restoration of the historic ferry building, removing the old
freeway and rehabilitating land to build the new stadium for the San Francisco
Giants downtown, the city landscape was revitalized," Cunningham said.

"Now, cities like Seattle and Toronto are studying the lessons learned in
San Francisco. The Nisqually Earthquake in 2001 caused an estimated $1.5
billion in damage in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Civic leaders from government,
business and non-governmental organizations hope to benefit from what San Francisco
has done. They are considering removing the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which is
blocking redevelopment of their waterfront," Cunningham said.

- More -

Revitalization Institute - News Release - San Francisco, November 9, 2004
Page 2

"In Toronto, some people are 'praying for an earthquake' to hit the
Gardiner Expressway, which is similarly impeding waterfront revitalization.
Speaking there last month, I found people who responded enthusiastically to the
lessons to be learned from San Francisco. But you don't have to wait for a
disaster to strike," he said.

There are three modes of the development lifecycle described by
Cunningham in his presentation at the Commonwealth Club. Mature civilizations stand
on three legs:
· New Development;
· Maintenance/Conservation; and,
· Restorative Development.

"For the first time in human history, restorative development is becoming
dominant," he said.

"The San Francisco Bay Area is a leader in restoration of natural
resources as well, from wetlands restoration in the South Bay where Cargill operated
its salt business to Hamilton Field, the former Air Force Base, in Marin
County. Frankly, the examples are too numerous to do more than highlight a few
today," Cunningham said.

Cunningham's presentation highlights major restoration projects in Europe,
the Middle East, the United States, Central America and East Asia in 8
distinct sectors of the natural and built environment. He sees most successful
projects involving three or more sectors, such as revitalization of the
Embarcadero waterfront-infrastructure (freeway removal), historic preservation and
restoration (Ferry Building), clean-up of pollution (SBC park site for Giants
stadium and the adjacent polluted water).

For additional information, visit us on the Internet at:
www.RevitalizationInstitute.org,
www.stormcunningham.com (public speaking), and www.restorationeconomy.com
(book).

###








[GreenYes Archives] - [Date Index] - [Thread Index]
[Date Prev] - [Date Next] - [Thread Prev] - [Thread Next]