Thursday 16 December 2010

Trees Naked Planet Magazine

TREES MAGAZINE



Inspired by HERMANN HESSE from the book WANDERING

TREES

For me, trees have always been the most penetrating preachers. I revere them when they live in tribes and families, in fores ts and groves. And even more I revere them when they stand alone. They are like lonely persons. Not like hermits who have stolen away out of some weakness, but like great solitary men, like Beethoven and Nietzsche. In their highest boughs the world rustles, their roots rest in infinity, but they don not lose themselves there, they struggle with all the force of their lives for one thing only: to fulfill themselves according to their own laws, to build up their own form, to represent themselves. Nothing is holier, nothing is more exemplary that a beautiful, strong tree. When a tree is cut down and reveals its naked death-wound to the sun, one can read its whole history in the luminous, inscribed disk of its trunk; in the years of its years, its scars, all the struggle, all the suffering, all the sickness, all the happiness and prosperity stand truly written, the narrow years and the luxurious years, the attacks withstood, the storms endured. And every young farmboy knows that the hardest, and noblest wood has the narrowest rings, that high on the mountains and in continuing danger the most indestructible, the strongest, the ideal trees grow.

Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, who ever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.

A tree says: A kernel is hidden in me, a spark, a thought, I am life from eternal life. The attempt and the risk that the eternal mother took with me is unique, unique the form and veins of my skin, unique the smallest play of leaves in my branches and the smallest scar on my bark. I was made to form and reveal the eternal in my own smallest special detail.

A tree says: My strength is trust. I know nothing about my father, I know nothing about the thousand children that every year spring out of me. I live out the secret of my seed to the very end, and care for nothing else. I trust that God is in me. I trust that my labor is holy. Out of this trust I live.

When we are stricken and cannot bear our lives any longer, then a tree has something to say to us: Be still! Be still! Look at me! Life is not easy, life is not difficult. Those are childish thoughts. Let God speak within you, and your thoughts will grow silent. You are anxious because your path leads away from mother and home. But every step and everyday lead you back again to the mother. Home is neither here nor there. Home is within you, or home is nowhere at all.

A longing to wander tears my heart when I hear trees rustling in the wind at evening. If one listens to them silently for a long time, this longing reveals its kernel, its meaning. It is not so much a matter escaping from one’s suffering, though it may seem to be so. It is a longing for home, for a memory of the mother, for new metaphors for life. It leads home. Every path leads homeward, every step is birth, every step is death, every grave is mother.

So the tree rustles in the evening, when we stand uneasy before our childish thoughts. Trees have long thoughts, long-breathing and restful, just as they have longer lives than ours. They are wiser than we are, as long as we do not listen to them. But when we have learned how to listen to trees, then the brevity and the quickness and the childlike hastiness of our thoughts achieve an incomparable joy. Whoever has learned to listen to trees no longer want to be a tree. He wants to be nothing except what he is. That is home. That is happiness.

Wednesday 9 June 2010

ESTRIATUS SITE is under construction


New website is currently under construction. Joomla's template is used as the starting point.

New ESTRIATUS site is coming soon

Estriatus is a link and online community between creatives, inspirational individuals and small organizations that share similar values, goals and passions about our world and constantly question its current affairs and problems.

CONTRIBUTORS
We welcome contributors from all kinds of disciplines and backgrounds.
If you are a writer, traveler, designer or a researcher and would like to contribute to our community and magazine please get in touch.

PROJECTS
Estriatus magazine
• Promotion and help to individuals and organizations who are too busy with saving, exploring and helping our world
• Creating a platform for communication and creating a link between creative, scientific and business platforms.

COMMUNITY
Estriatus is about sharing ideas, so if you would like to share and contribute to our community please join us on facebook, twitter or follow our blog which will be updated regularly by our team members.

DESIGN
We are constantly looking for new ideas on how to redesign our world, communities, change people’s perceptions. If you have ideas, want to make a difference and like to be challenged then we can’t wait to hear from you.

Wednesday 17 February 2010

Principles for GDC members to follow and definition of sustainable design.

On the occasion of World Graphic Design Day 2009, Canada’s design professionals adopted a working definition of sustainable communication design and incorporated sustainability values and principles as key tenets of the Canadian graphic design practice.

Defining Sustainable Practice
Unanimously endorsed at the annual general meeting of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) held from 24-25 April 2009 in Winnipeg, the working definition states:

Sustainable communication design is the application of sustainability principles to communication design practice. Practitioners consider the full life cycle of products and services, and commit to strategies, processes and materials that value environmental, cultural, social and economic responsibility.

The definition is supported by a statement of values and principles to guide the GDC and its members’ actions:

1. Encourage the evolution of the GDC and the graphic design practice by:

  • acknowledging that we are part of an interdependent world;
  • accepting responsibility for the consequences our actions have on our natural environment;
  • developing and building sustainable strategies and practices;
  • participating with the international design community in developing global best practices working to create products and services that are re-usable and/or provide long term value;
  • and by purchasing recycled, local and non-toxic materials wherever possible.

2. Demonstrate our commitment to improve the natural environment by:

  • sharing these principles through our Icograda network;
  • collaborating with other design organizations worldwide to promote and develop best practices for sustainable communications design;
  • integrating environmental criteria into all design processes and organizational decision making;
  • employing accountable and transparent processes and procedures;
  • reviewing our environmental impacts regularly and continually working to reduce them;
  • adopting practices that use materials in continuous cycles;
  • seeking suppliers who use sustainable practices;
  • acting as community and industry advocates for environmentally responsible design practices;
  • and by developing and providing products and services that improve the quality of life of all beings and support the health and well-being of the planet.

3. Raise and foster awareness of sustainable communication design practice by:

  • promoting the intrinsic and greater value of sustainable communication design;
  • encouraging clients to integrate sustainable principles into their communication projects;
  • providing education and information resources to our members and the community at large to inform environmentally responsible design decisions;
  • and by championing sustainable communication solutions for our communities.

Valerie Elliott MGDC, Chair of the GDC’s National Sustainability Committee said, “Our goal is not to develop a definition by consensus but rather to share dialogue and engage in the process of development in tandem with others around the world. To this end, over the past year, we have crafted this working definition as a starting point for initial discussions with worldwide graphic design organizations.”

“Graphic designers view our practice as a problem-solving discipline. The GDC recognizes that design is a key component in changing the future of the world’s health.” added Rod Roodenburg MGDC, GDC President. “We need to consider not only the work we produce for our clients but how we run our design practices. The definition, values and principles unanimously endorsed by our National Council provide the framework for the GDC to build solid policy, hold ourselves accountable as an organization, and through the actions of our members, as a profession.”

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

GDC National Sustainability Committee launches new section on gdc.net

The National Sustainability Committee is pleased to announce the launch of a new section on the GDC website devoted entirely to sustainability issues and resources.

“Communication design is evolving.” stated Valerie Elliott, GDC Sustainability Committee Chair. “The demand for products and services that are environmentally, culturally and socially responsible is growing. The National Sustainability Committee is acutely aware that our challenges are best faced by communicating with designers and organizations around the world with the same mandate. As we evolve, so too will our tools and resources section of the GDC website. So keep watching here as more will be posted in the coming months.”

GDC President Rod Roodenburg described the GDC’s position on sustainable design and its effect on Canadian business as follows: “Business, government and industry are looking to designers for branding and communications in new and sophisticated ways. Part of this trend rests in the realization that designers have their fingers on the pulse of social conscience. The GDC’s definition of sustainable communication design coupled with over 50 years of ethical practices makes certified GDC members a natural resource for any practical and forward-thinking enterprise.”

The new section is found under For Designers and has a sub-menu link to a special blog that was set up to facilitate discussion surrounding the definition of "sustainable design". There is also a link under Quicklinks at the right side of the site.

Check it out today!
www.gdc.net/designers/sustainable_design