In part one, of this 4 part series, Korten melds economic theory to the built environment (man-made structures that define our local communities and larger society), he argues requires fundamental political, economic, and environmental restructuring in order to avert serious consequences for humankind. Along the way, he summarizes the story of our existence as he has interpreted it from philosophers, religious, and scientific thinkers throughout the ages. Pointing to the preamble to the Earth’s Charter crafted at the 1992 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Korton argues this framework provides for an understanding of the type of new world economy that will sustain life for everyone, including that of the natural world, the foundation for all of life?including our species? necessary to prosper.