Culture of Peace Initiative
Peace Practices - Peace Day September 21
The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) is a UN-designated "Peace Messenger Initiative" with participants in all the world's regions. Its purpose is to unite the strengths of organizations and individuals who are working to make Peace a practical reality. The highlight of the Initiative is International Day of Peace (Peace Day), which is celebrated ...learn more
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Sep 14, 2007
Updated: Nov 25, 2009
Membership: Open
Public
Topic: Continuous growth - versus - ecological balance
Posts (1 - 4 of 4)
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Hi Craig, I enjoyed the rabbits and aliens. Thanks for posting this big thoughtful piece of work. On the theme of rabbits, economics is like a magic show - what the magicians are doing is not always what the audience sees. In fact the audience (all of us) aren't meant to see what's going on out of view. Hence we end up sharing various illusions about economics that don't get questioned because the magicians don't get around to saying what's what. Perhaps the most common illusion is that the economy is set up for growth in population and resource consumption. So it would seem because that's what's been happening, but there's a hidden magic trick. The economy is actually set up to seek growth in the monetary value of economic activity. So if you could overnight change this activity to something productive rather than destructive then economics wouldn't mind, the show would go on. I don't know if this is an interesting line of thinking for you but it leads to possibilities for making that change, even if it takes longer than one night! Please see here (From credit crunch to planet crunch - or revival?) about growth and 'planet saving', and here (Systemic Economic Instruments for Energy, Climate and Global Security) for how to modify growth calculations to conjure up global peace and security. Comments welcome on those pages! Thanks, James |
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Hi James, Thanks for getting back to me. As I understand it, we should be aiming for a 'steady-state economy' rather than a growing one. I agree that it would be better for society to do productive things rather than destructive things. But we can still do seemingly 'productive' things (e.g. building new houses) and have a negative impact, if we don't get the balance right with nature. Part of the problem (I think) is that in the 'developed' countries we've all been conditioned to believe that we should all expect such a high material standard of living. But the reality is that our planet does not have the physical resources to provide that high standard of living to everyone currently living on the planet. Let alone for growing populations. (As you would know this isn't rocket science. People need stuff to live. Stuff comes from nature. The planet (nature) is finite. More stuff taken from nature means less nature. Nature supports people. If we keep taking from nature - we are stuffed.) To me, this suggests the 'developed' countries are not providing a very good role model. And that we need to learn to live with less. If we can't sustainably achieve a growing physical economy (to meet our need for personal & societal security) that suggests we need to think a bit deeper about how we live together on the planet. No doubt economic instruments will be part of the solution - but to my simple mind it's about simpler stuff too - cooperation instead of competition, living with less, greater sharing of ideas & technologies, etc... Cheers, Craig |
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Hi Craig The steady state economy could be part of the illusion, if it makes us believe that growth is inevitably about destruction and material flows. I was offering above that it doesn't have to be that way. Imagine if the economy was set up to get things right, to reverse problems instead of causing them. Them more economic activity would be encouraged and 'steady state' might apply to physical flows not financial (though more likely the physical flows would be shrinking like mad).
You may enjoy a book I helped with, 'positive development' (http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=4390 ) that shows how to do houses and whole urban regions with net positive impacts.
Yes material standards and visions of development are part of the problem. Living with less and simplicity are part of the solution. I'd suggest that economics is the way to make these changes, and the economic tools can be fairly simple too! |
Hi all,
I wanted to share some thoughts that I've written into a short fictional story. I've loaded a .pdf copy onto my Wiser Earth page (Files & Photos gallery):
http://www.wiserearth.org/user/5dman/section/gallery
The aim was to take a holistic view of our sustainability issues - with the main argument being that while we pursue endless growth in populations & resource consumption (as communities, nations and globally) we won't be able to avoid running into trouble with the environment and/or each other (e.g. nations fighting over ever scarcer resources such as oil, water, etc.).
The story imagines a view from outside the planet - ie. how might "the aliens" pass on an important message about sustainability to us. The book requires an open mind - but it doesn't take itself too seriously (despite the serious issues!). Try to save your judgement until the end.
It uses some iconic symbolism to merge ideas from science, sustainability & spirituality.
Please check out the .pdf file if you're interested (via the link above) and feel free to send us any thoughts.
The story mentions having a "5 dimensional" view, which means taking a more holistic view of the world, incorporating both physical and spiritual things.
Cheers,
Craig