>I just read "The Nature of Economics" by Jane Jacobs. It isn't a
>great book, but it has some interesting ideas. It is mostly
>about "biomimicry" as an economic and industrial strategy. She
>distinguishes between "development" and "growth". Growth
>involves an increased use of energy, land, or other resources.
>Development, on the other hand, involves an increase in
>complexity, diversity, or efficiency. Using an ecological
>example, she argues that as ecosystems mature there are more and
>more organisms using the same sunlight -- plants, grazers, soil
>organisms, decomposers, etc. The distinction seems useful to me,
>but GDP and other measures confound them.
>
> John
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Andy Ray Taylor" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 2:30 AM
> Subject: Re: European Greens launch - growth not the goal
>
>
>> Doesn't this all depend on growth IN WHAT?
>>
>> How about growth in massage, retreat centres,
>> permaculture training workshops, local currencies,
>> solar-powered hot tubs - would that be a bad kind
>> of economic growth?
>>
>> Shouldn't we actually have BIGGER ecological
>> footprints but leave behind wetlands?
>>
>> Andy
>>
>> --- Chris <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks for that information Chris.
>>>
>>> I note the rules for the competition state
>>>
>>> "Being against climate change is not the same as being against
>>> growth and employment."
>>>
>>> Whilst that may be true I am puzzled by the fear of
>>> confronting the
>>> idea that continued economic growth is the primary purpose of
>>> human
>>> endeavour.
>>> (Friends of the Earth have a campaign called The Big Ask
>>> running at
>>> the moment which also seeks to support the idea of unending
>> economic
>>> growth).
>>>
>>> What are the reasons for ensuring unending economic growth
>>> remains
>>> the number one commandment of human existence? Won't it just
>>> result
>> in people having more money to buy things with? And if so,
>> won't such
>>> increasing consumption undermine any attempts to reduce CO2
>> emissions?
>>>
>>> Bemusedly yours
>>>
>>> Chris Shaw
>>>
>>
>> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>> * * *
>>
>> Andy Ray Taylor is checking emails most weekdays
>>
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>>
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>>
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>>
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>>
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>>
>
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