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Climate Change
Part 3
Humans Have Limited Natural Resources
But Also
An Unlimited Natural Talent For Innovation
"Whoever believes in infinite growth
on a finite planet,
is either mad or an economist"
Evolutionary Economist
Kenneth Boulding
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| Our growth contributes to changing the planet. Now we do it exponentially. We are in the midst of rapid, radical change on many fronts... Ecological, Social, Financial, Political, Spiritual.
We will have to globally examine our values
and the way we live.
However, as scare as natural resources are,the human spirit seems infinitely capable of ingenuity and innovation. There is reason to hope. |
Dr. David Suzuki
The Science of Exponential Population Growth
Our species is now abundant enough to check what time it is on the growth clock. On the foresight that comes with knowing the science of exponential growth... We will need wise leaders to help quickly change the way we get food, energy, our homes and institutions as well as industry and waste management.
The digital revolution of the world can be a powerful tool to democratically accomplish informed good in the world.
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This is not a question of returning back the clock to a utopian Eden nor is it just ecologically conserving what we have come to be familiar with. We can't save every plant and animal under threat today or in the future. Some were surely going to become extinct even without us. But like the checks and balances that come from competition in classic economics, evolutionary economics would point out that ecosystems also appear to be more stable (equilibria or predominantly sustaining innovations era) with greater diversity. What we shall save will no doubt be biased and a bit unbalanced and certainly not a conserving of the world's current diversity. Yet without key species and a healthy diversity, ecosystem stability is threatened. That won't be good for us either.
There are already some very specific things we can do, are already doing and should do more of, as individuals, as communities and as global regions. We will have to change the way we get food, energy to our homes, institutions and industry as well as for transport, in order to decrease our production of pollution. We will also have to decide how water shortages will be dealt with, where populations from formerly habitable lands will live. We will surely minimize our negative influence on global weather patterns and maximize our potential to adapt to new ones by economizing resources and not endlessly expanding economies that eat up resources unsustainably. The wished for trick for us will be to make the necessary adaptations and still maintain our health, wealth and quality of life. |
- the Economics of Happiness -
Trailer Deutsch - Nominiert Cosmic Angel 2012
"Whoever follows those who follow the way, discovers his family and is filled with joy."
Dhammapada
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| We already know that even (in chaos theory) small, yet simple, sustained changes, in time lead to big effects.There must be a cultural shift, expressed by policy and we have stick to it. It must be done. Political and commercial interests must made aware of the substantial benefits, as well as the minimized costs, that going “green” has proven to achieve. Make no mistake, the citizens will demand it. Individuals will certainly play a role in helping them become convinced to take action. We will have to make wise decisions and then act on the large problems we face. Acting quickly and competently. As far as the required information and technology is concerned, we need not despair. We've got it.
"Miraculous power and marvelous activity
Drawing water and hewing wood!"
(P'ang-yun)
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But whatever we do...
It can no longer be business as
usual.
Our species is now abundant enough to start being aware of what time it
is on the growth clock. On the foresight that comes with
knowing the science of exponential growth...I think Evolutionary Economics can help. But it is better to act than to keep talking about it.
We will need wise leaders to
help quickly change the way we get food, energy, our homes and institutions as
well as industry and waste management. But the chain is only as strong as the weakest link. Everyone, YOU, must rise to lead, at the very least yourself. Then the chain will be strongest. A healthier planet for us, dominated by the economy of an enlightened empathetic civilization.
The digital revolution of the world can be a powerful tool to
democratically forge a chain of informed good in the world. Let's use it to our advantage.
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