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Over the last six months, I have carried on a conversation with the public by hosting a radio segment on Santa Fe's KSFR Radio as part of the Journey Home Program with Diego Mulligan. From this interaction a Declaration of War on Energy Dependence, is evolving. This document identifies five areas of opportunity that the citizens can vote for with their wallets and make decisions that can change and better our world. In order to claim victory in this battle, we must: Decentralize Energy Generation Retool Transportation Fleet Retrofit the Suburbs Utilize the Waste Stream as a Resource Create a Sustainable Economy Between now and June 21, 2002, this document will be honed on the air and off to express a workable plan that can provide security in these unstable times, enrich our economy by keeping our monies at home, and lessen our impact on the environment in many ways. We invite you to join in this process. We need your input and support in carrying it forward. E-mail me at: alan@newvillage.com Plan to attend the "Opportunities for a New America" event on June 21 and 22, 2002 at the Greer Mansion corner of Paseo de Paralta and Don Gaspar in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sincerely, Alan Hoffman DRAFT Final version to be distributed 6/13/02. A Declaration of Energy and Security It is impossible to deny that our dependence on foreign oil helped to finance the attacks of September 11th, and continues to undermine our national security. In unity with our War on Terrorism, it is the responsibility of all Americans to ensure our security by reducing that dependence. Driving an obsolete vehicle or squandering our nation's energy reserves gives wealth, aid, and comfort to those that would do us harm. It is incumbent upon us to save the freedoms we cherish by applying our innovation, resources, and creative capacity to reinvent ourselves as a self-reliant nation. This inevitable transformation will enhance our security, invigorate our economy, and improve our environment. On this the 21st day of June 2002 we declare, to achieve victory in our campaign for Independence and Security, we must: Decentralize Energy Generation As the lines between different forms of energy blur, we must open the energy networks to innovation. Electricity will power cars and trains, and sources such as wind, sun, waste oil, hydrogen and even refuse will generate electricity. Distributing generation facilities closer to where the electricity is used make it possible to utilize waste heat for heating homes and industry. Eliminating the need for costly and inefficient transmission lines will dramatically enhance the relative efficiency of Distributed Generation and will stabilize our electric grid, utilize domestic fuels, and reduce pollution. Retool Transportation Fleet Today our nation imports over half of its fuel, some from countries that have vowed to destroy us. We, as American citizens and consumers, call on American manufacturers - some of the most flexible and adaptive industries in the world - to provide us the energy efficient vehicles we need. Over the next ten years, most Americans will replace their present car; let those cars be gas/electric hybrid or hydrogen/electric hybrid vehicles. We have the technology and we must take the first step to our new energy future. Retrofit the Suburb The suburban landscape built over the last fifty years has emerged as the most destructive development pattern in history. These developments devour agricultural land, squander water resources, and do not function without the maximum utilization of the automobile. We must select communities that provide sufficient density and mixed uses to reduce the residents' dependence on the automobile, be pedestrian and bicycle friendly, facilitate public transportation, and simultaneously improve the quality of life for all of us. Utilize Waste Stream as Resource Biomass waste from lumber, agriculture, and restaurant operations can provide substantial energy and organic stock while reducing the demand on landfill space. As the cost of disposing of waste rises, it is becoming financially feasible to design high quality, recycled products. We must cluster this entire process, producing a cascade of value added products. Garbage dumps and sewage treatment plants around the country can be a source of biomass, methane, and pure water while protecting our precious estuaries and oceans. Create a Sustainable Economy Market Economy Plus is the guiding principle capable of generating the changes we need for our national security. Market Economy Plus is laisse faire economics with a long-term perspective. We must demand that our corporations and our government look ahead at least the life expectancy of a child born today. The Enron experience has taught us that shareholders, consumers, employees, and our planet's ecology are not well served by short-term business decisions. We, as Americans, must aid our nation in this great endeavor by embracing a vision that looks far enough into the future to be of value to forthcoming generations. We must choose how to spend our wealth and cast our votes in a way that moves our nation to new prosperity and security. Together we can create a sustainable way of life for our children and grand children into the future.

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Last updated January 24, 2004e, environmental, Architecture, New Village, farms, ranches, real estate, solar, homes, organic, communities