> From: Chris Barker <ftog@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> As with flying, we will have to do more with less ... or merely do
> less.
As with most things, there seem to be two kinds of people on this list
-- and in this world -- those who think we can continue on
indefinitely as we have (and who damn those who suggest otherwise),
and those who think we're approaching systemic failure of multiple,
interacting resources and institutions that we depend upon for our
very survival.
To me, it comes down to "the precautionary principle," and also the
positive economics of alternatives. For example, the Hirsch Report
says that the jobs created to mitigate global climate change will
generate more economic activity than the "business as usual" that SOME
SAY could result in catastrophic environmental failure, and OTHERS SAY
could result in catastrophic economic failure.
Last I checked, you can't have an economy without an environment, so
the precautionary principle says let's gear up for mitigation and
environmental jobs. The worst that could happen in such a case would
be that it will have been unnecessary, and instead of oil barons,
we'll have solar panel barons. I'll take that bet.
----------------
I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances
confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the
life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in
common hours. -- Henry David Thoreau
:::: Jan Steinman, EcoReality Co-op ::::
--
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