Wanted to acknowledge Chris McCoy's email which I imagine might have caused
some tuts & snorts but actually addresses the fundamental problem of what I
believe we are all trying to achieve. It's linked to all the discussions
about Earth-scale techno-fixes, biodiesel, hydrogen economies, energy
consumption...
We have to stick our necks out here and say that we do not believe in
unending economic growth. We need to change the way we live and reassess
what we value. And the sooner we do this the better for all (i.e. we're not
advocating life in a cave - we're trying to avoid it)
There simply aren't enough resources for everyone to live like we do in the
West - so who decides who goes without? We have one planet & 6 billion
people - that's it. If the West thinks it can provide all the energy for all
these people to live comfortably (i.e. having basic access to clean water,
air, food, shelter - not laptops, mobile phones & iPods!) it is deluding
itself.
Maybe FoE worded their Big Ask in such a way that this fundamental change
isn't spelled out in black & white, for fear of 'scaring' their supporters.
I fear the Green Party will find itself facing this dilemma too, especially
in Scotland where we have members of the Scottish Parliament. What will be
more important to any campaign or political group - support from the public
or getting the real message out?
Getting the majority to accept the problems we're facing & to do something
about it is what the media has been trying to stop us doing for decades!
What would happen to the economy if everyone did start growing their own
food, generating their own electricity etc? Globalisation is the continuing
struggle by the rich & powerful to stay in control. Cynical view but I
believe true.
MM x
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris McCoy" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: climate change discussions, conferences, and related
>
> As an incidental/additional query to you, what (entire) resources are
> required to make solar powered heating or electrical systems, cells etc,
or
> wind-generators, or computers ? etc... Given their resource requirement,
can
> they really be called, the frustratingly-used (fashionable) buzzword,
> Sustainable ? When was the last time Nature as a whole was fashionable ?
>
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