Historically; an important role of museums has been to contribute to national homogenization. The book specifically deals with how the Swedish museum sector of culture and history addresses new demands from a society that is profoundly characterized by migration and cultural diversity. Besides the museums representations of migration and cultural diversity; the book also examines how changes in the museum sector relate to general policy developments in the fields of culture; integration and minorities. The book also discusses whether and how museums are open for dialogue and collaboration with migrants and ethnic minorities and the kinds of problems museums encounter in their efforts to be more inclusive.
#1145799 in eBooks 2015-03-03 2015-03-03File Name: B00U81QGF4
Review
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Cradle to Cradle; release 2.0By Chuck in SedonaC2C and The UpcycleWilliam McDonough; an American architect; and Michael Braungart; a German chemist; combined to write Cradle to Cradle (C2C). C2C; published in 2002; discusses product design; with emphasis on materials utilization efficiency in an environmental context. C2C proposes that product design consider negative effects; especially toxicity; to humans and the natural world at every step in the products value chain; including disposition when the product is no longer useful. In essence; C2C goes beyond "cradle to grave" design; which ends at a landfill or an incinerator; to "cradle to cradle" design; where non-toxic materials are reclaimed; recycled or reused in generation after generation of products.Recently; the same two authors published The Upcycle. The Upcycle isnt really a sequel to C2C. Rather; as its title implies; it is an expansion on C2C; based on experience -- in this case; two decades of experience. Think of The Upcycle as another generation of the same product; rather like release 1.0 and release 2.0 of a software package.Here are a few of the key ideas from The Upcycle:>> More good; rather than less bad: The general approach to environmental impacts and human well-being is to do less bad -- reduce atmospheric emissions; reduce industrial accidents and reduce waste to landfill; for example. The Upcycle asserts that reduction; even reduction to zero; isnt sufficient. Production should aim beyond shrinking its negative footprint on the world to producing an increasing positive footprint. Where the term "sustainability" confers a sense of steady state; "upcycle" suggests continuing improvement; product generation over product generation>> Design as a latchkey to abundance: I bought The Upcycle because of its subtitle: Beyond Sustainability -- Designing for Abundance. The book proposes that design -- tangible product design; as well as process and systems design -- can lead to upcycling; and that an emphasis on upcycling leads away from a world of scarcity to a world of abundance.>> "Biosphere" vs. "Technosphere": The Upcycle distinguishes between the "biosphere" -- the natural world and its biological cycles -- and the "technosphere" -- the realm of the synthetic. Natural products and natural cycles provide models for design within the technosphere. However; the recovery processes in the two spheres differ significantly; such that mixing natural materials with synthetic materials in the same product may impair upcycling.>> Regarding toxicity: C2C and The Upcycle both regard toxicity as both cumulative and pernicious. Cradle to cradle design relies on detailed assessment of the potential toxicology of all components of every material used in the manufacture of a product. The level of concern goes well beyond most governmental regulations on toxicity; as they existed at the beginning of the current century.The Upcycle provides the term "enchanted skepticism"; which describes my general reaction to that book. Many of the ideas are fascinating. Im quite convinced that radical improvements in materials utilization; across product generations; are possible. Recent product and process design innovations in the automobile industry and in building construction present interesting cases in point; although The Upcycle affords little attention to either. However; favorable examples are one thing. Broad practicability across a wide range of manufactured products may be another.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Practicle ways to have an effect on the invironment for business and individuals.By DavidThe Upcycle: Beyond Sustainability--Designing....; This book and its companion (written first) Cradle to Cradle describe how in practical terms people and businesses can affect the health of the planet. The authors are/have worked with companies and governments to put their theories into practice. It works and those companies who have gone that route have saved money and improved the environment around them. Individuals can also follow many of their ideas to improve our lives and the environment. The choices can be as simple as planting trees; recycling and buying products from companies who follow the authors stands to putting solar panels on your roof. Read the books; get to work.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Sustainability 201By JBRIt helps to have read McDonough and Braungarts Cradle to Cradle; but not a requirement. This is a good sequel and a logical extension. Its hard to argue with their premise; that we should think first when we design things as to where the products will eventually travel. To the grave or to something better. Something better seems to make sense. Once you understand their premise; the individual success stories are rewarding to read.On the one hand; the book is a lot about McDonough and Braungart; on the other hand; they are clearly two of the leaders in the world of sustainability. I do appreciate the fact that they recognize that in order for companies and people to change their ways; that figuring out how to make a profit is key. Altruism is commendable; but in the end real change; unfortunately; will only come from improving the bottom line.
