610 CONFERENCE ON NATURAL BEAUTY 



I repeat: I am not describing an unattainable dream, but a con- 

 cept that is already well developed, and that we can begin to actualize 

 as soon as we decide to do so. I have claimed that it is easier to 

 solve all the major problems of our day simultaneously, rather than 

 one by one. The expected effect of this immense program on the 

 peace of the world is developed in my working paper "Holopolis: 

 Herald of the Great Society." 



ROBERT W. EVANS. The request by President Johnson for con- 

 ferences on natural beauty at State and regional levels provided two 

 essential requirements for a successful national program a focusing 

 of attention at a Federal level on a complexity of problems and an 

 endorsement of all the grassroots efforts out of which the conference 

 was generated. 



In every city these concerns have been held very largely by private 

 citizens and nongovernmental groups, in such variety and numbers 

 as to provide all the impetus for the local private effort the President 

 considered essential. His call for national activity involves the 

 top levels of government. But the third requisite effective liaison 

 with local governmental bodies was not sufficiently examined by 

 the panels. 



The conference members were mainly talking to each other about 

 subjects on which we were in complete agreement. The question 

 remains whether or not we will find a genuinely receptive audience 

 in our own public officials. Without their attention our interests 

 may not be realized. 



In many cities and States, well-organized private-citizen efforts 

 to preserve, beautify, and restore their cultural, natural, and recrea- 

 tional resources receive little or no serious attention from their own 

 governmental bodies. Too often, the agencies whose responsibilities 

 lie in carrying out citizen programs and requests dismiss them as 

 unessential, frivolous, or impractical. 



It was encouraging to see some of these local agencies represented 

 at the conference, and to find a few acting as panelists. But if the 

 State and regional conferences are to be more than talk, a primary 

 stress will have to be placed on involving many representatives of 

 all governing agencies. It is necessary that they become motivated 

 by the same interests and objectives which impel their citizens' 

 demands. They must be shown that efforts involving beauty and 

 culture are as important as those which involve business and 

 budget first. It is essential to demonstrate to them that aesthetic and 



