Significant Writings - Blueprint for Survival

1972 A Blueprint for Survival
by the editors of The Ecologist

endorsed by 44 eminent scientists and academics

"the principle defect of the industrial way of life with its ethos of expansion is that it is not sustainable"

Background by Michael Allaby

The 'Blueprint' appeared as the entire January, 1972, issue of The Ecologist magazine. The document was written fairly quickly, as most such documents are, and the contributions from the various authors (Edward Goldsmith, Robert Allen, Michael Allaby, John Davoll, and Sam Lawrence) assembled in what was then the editorial office of the magazine, in Edward Goldsmith's home at Kew Green, London.

While it was still in its proof stage Robert Allen circulated it to a number of eminent academics, inviting them to endorse its main argument by attaching their names to it. By the time it was published, the inside front cover of the magazine carried the following 33 supporting names: Prof. Don Arthur, King's College, London; Prof. D. Bryce-Smith, University of Reading; Sir Frank Fraser Darling; Prof. G.W. Dimbleby, Institute of Archaeology, University of London; Prof George Dunnet, University of Aberdeen; Dr. P.N. Edmunds, Fife District Laboratory; Prof. R.W. Edwards, University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology; Dr. S.R. Eyre, University of Leeds; Prof. Douglas Falconer, University of Edinburgh; Prof. John Friend, University of Hull; Prof. F.W. Grimes, Institute of Archaeology, University of London; Prof John Hawthorn, University of Strathclyde; Prof. G. Melvyn Howe, University of Strathclyde; Sir Julian Huxley, FRS; Dr. David Lack, FRS, University of Oxford; Dr. J.P. Lester, British Medical Association; Dr. John A. Loraine, MRC Clinical Endocrinology Unit, Edinburgh; Diana G.M. Loraine; Dr. Aubrey Manning, University of Edinburgh; Prof. Vincent Marks, University of Surrey; Prof. Ivor Mills, University of Cambridge; Dr. E. Mishan, American University, Washington; Prof. P.J. Newbould, New University of Ulster; Prof. Forbes W. Robertson, University of Aberdeen; Prof. WA. Robson, London School of Economics; Dr. J. Rose; Sir Edward Salisbury, FRS; Dr. R. Scorer Imperial College, London; Peter Scott; Dr. Malcolm Slesser University of Strathclyde; Prof. C.H. Waddington, FRS, University of Edinburgh; Dr. Watson, University of Strathclyde, and Prof V.C. Wynne-Edwards, FRS, University of Aberdeen and chairman of the Natural Environment Research Council.

With such a pedigree it is hardly surprising that the press conference held to launch the Blueprint was packed. For a little while after it appeared it was actually difficult to get into the Goldsmith house for the reporters and photographers crowding the doorway. Predictably, the issue of the magazine sold out and was reprinted several times. Then it appeared in book form and was translated into many languages.

Source: Michael Allaby, ed., Thinking Green: An Anthology of Essential Ecological Writing, Barrie & Jenkins, London, 1989, p. 119.