growth, growther, growthest

growth isn't possible


Dr. Victoria Johnson of nef:

Magic bullets - such as carbon capture and storage, nuclear or even geo-engineering - are potentially dangerous distractions.

BBC news, in short


download the publication (pdf) here.

The definition of growth based on a pecuniary increase alone is just one possible but ancient criteria ruling our lives; should we not better begin to evaluate other areas that could benefit from "growing" such as "quality of life" in general terms or "harmony", "health", "comfort", "knowledge" and "wisdom"; finally "real solutions to real problems" could do with massive growth!

Carpe diem!

... that's where I long to be...

Take a break...



Carpe diem!

and what...?

telegraph:Global warming will bring killer heat, floods and storms to Britain

source

1972: our biology prof introduces a new book to us: "This is going to be part of your life, read it!". We read it, we discussed it and read it to others, we were heavily impressed; it made sense and set the goals; ever since then I wait to see and live the consequences of "The Limits to Growth". The Club of Rome started the discussion - but nothing happened except we came up with different names for basically the same problem: "climate catastrophe" or "climate change", "global warming" and "green house gases", "peak-oil" or "carbon society".

The effects of the temperature rise would also be seen in food shortages in the short term in many areas of Europe, especially the south. Droughts in East Anglia would make wheat more difficult to produce, although it would be possible to grow more Mediterranean fruits and vegetables in the south of England.

Although climate change has in the past been seen as potentially positive for northern Europe, because more crops could be grown in cooler areas, the new predictions found this would be balanced out by significant losses in commercial forestry and livestock because of the threat of pests and plant disease.

John Mitchell, director of climate science at the Met Office, said that the research highlighted the importance of a global deal on climate change. “This latest research emphasises the necessity to make drastic cuts in emissions as quickly as possible if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. It highlights the importance of the negotiations that will take place in Copenhagen in December,” he said.

Is this part of our lives ever going to be addressed like it should? With common sense and human intelligence?

Carpe diem!

1929 : 2009

A Tale of Two Depressions

As much as I like to be an optimist this makes it hard(er).

The comparison of 1929 and 2009 does not end at finding a "9" at the end of each year's figure; also brushing any comparison aside by declaring the world of '29 was "unprepared" and "not fully developed" in reality is a very counter productive argument: one could say that even though '29 had enormous economic potential lying ahead, it soon rang 1939.

While starting a war is always an option, 2009 sees the world having run out of the majority of comparably peaceful economic chances. Fully developed, few blank spots on the map, matured, over crowded, an inflation of crunches, black holes, bad and no banks, etc. - what and where are the options?

Could it be us for whom the bell tolls?

Carpe diem!