Page 40 RAIN Oct./Nov. 1983 RAINMAKERS LOOK AT THE FUTURE compiled by Jeff Strang One thing that characterizes most past and present Rainmakers is their concern about the future and their ability to assess the hopeful emerging trends in society. Many of them have agreed to share their visions in this anniversary issue.— JS Environment Continued degradation of natural resources. —Laura Stuchinsky (RAIN staff, 1980-82) Environmental movement will accelerate. —Don Stotler (former director of Eco-Net, RAIN's original "parent organization) Everyone will be affected by some sort of environmental calamity which will drive home the message that we must cooperate with each other and with the environment. —John Steinke (Rain Umbrella Board, 1981-82) Community Increased communication between cultures through both electronic (computers, video, etc.) and human contact. —Kris Nelson (Resource Center staff, 1982-) Global communications of unprecedented scale, leading to increased worldwide cooperation, yet among smaller units. —J. Steinke Coalitions will become more important, building lines of communication across issues, race, sex, etc. —L. Stuchinsky Living Compact, space-efficient cottages ... more interesting, denser neighborhoods ... intensive gardens and miniorchards replacing suburban lawns ... redivision of lots and structures to accommodate a wide variety of family/ living group sizes ... a new generation of user-friendly public buildings ... owner-finished shells ... greater architectural variations from region to region. —Dave Deppen (RAIN contributor since 1975) Communities will become more important as people recognize their potential power, self-reliance, and support. —Ann Borquist (Resource Center staff, 1982-) More people will be "living lightly." —D. Stotler Governance and Power Greater reliance on local solutions through local governments. Radically different local governments based on high citizen involvement, mediation rather than provision, and corporation-style management. —Bruce Borquist (Resource Center staff, 1982) Uprising of the world's professionals (those who use collaborative reasoning) and a downfall of politicians (those who use combative reasoning). —Phil Henshaw (RAIN contributor since 1977) From striving for power to personal satisfaction. —Jeff Strang (Resource Center staff, 1983-) The "I've got mine" crowd is in charge, and I believe they will stay in charge until the end of this century. —Gigi Coe {Stepping Stones co-editor, 1978) Energy More energy conservation and solar construction. —J. Strang Shift from heavy industry to more energy efficient and intelligent (information-rich) products. Pervasive application of the conservation model. —K. Nelson Economics We need to maximize the commercial potential of the ideas and inventions that we know are superior to what is all around us now. —Dan Knapp (RAIN contributor since 1977) Barring nuclear war, the U.S. will likely grow bigger, better, and wealthier. —A. Borquist
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