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World can 'afford' to solve its environmental woes: OECD - Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/environmentclimatewarmingoecd
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Yahoo! News
9 comments:
Too bad the article did not give a hint as to what the "suggested measures" are, nor any suggestions for how to include "every single developed country" in the program. I suppose one would have to read the OECD report.
The trouble I see with having developing countries comply with a range of measures to solve environmental problems, is that the developed countries attempting to enforce the measures have themselves committed some of the most damaging environmental destruction on their way to becoming so developed. Would countries like Brazil, India and China not have a legitimate beef with nations like the US, the UK and Canada, who have all contributed greatly to loss of biodiversity, climate change, water scarcity, etc., but now want everyone else to help solve the problem they have created? I am personally all for having everyone cooperate to help solve our world problems, but I can envision some developing nations saying, That just isn't fair.
There's a lot of money to be made from creating new technologies which help clean up the earth. I recall in the 90's talk of how much money could be made from recycling if we could get enough people and corporations on board. It didn't really happen the way it was projected.
Right now, the only thing that motivates the powers that be is profit. Its a strange time in history. I don't believe anything will happen during this period of corruption until the United States leads with an entirely new set of values.
Multi-national corporations have such a huge influence on what happens in government all over the world, that this article only makes me wonder who is actually behind these forcasts.
Is it a rally cry as happens in the stock market? Get people excited first? Well, I guess its better than nothing. My trust quotient is just way low lately.
Thanks for the article Freeda.
Christine, like you, my trust quotient is low. But I have to disagree that profit as a motive at this time in history is unique. I think that it has always been the driving factor to the human race.
June, I agree with you that most of the environmental damage has been done BY developed counties TO developing nations and peoples.
I am still worried that only a catastrophic human event will force the changes we need to make as a species... And like Mr. Gore questioned in An Inconvenient Truth, will it be after we've already passed a crucial tipping point.
I keep going back to one of the original questions that you pose Freeda, which is, what narrative can we put forth as environmentalists, that will sway the average, (fat, dumb, and)happy US citizen, into meaningful action?
KW
I think religion has a big role in helping create a culture of sustainability. They play a big part in politics especially the Catholics. As you can see in some of our reading there are some religions that are doing well, to make their selves aware of their environment. Then they're not so good at other parts like air and water pollution. I think in our community if you are really big into your church you can promote a good healthy lifestyle and preach it to your congregation. If you're not into a religion you can still go to your children's school, and volunteer your time in the food program to help them recycle and compost. Maybe you can start a garden to help show them how to produce food.
Sorry, I posted the wrong comment. It is not cheap, and it is affordable, so which countries are going to be able to afford it. India knows there is problem with global warming, but they choose to ignore it. They have high amounts of carbon dioxide in the air, but are they willing to give up some of their technology. Let's look at it from a business point of view most companies are out there to make money. Yes, we can put more stringent regulations on the companies that do the most damage to our environment, but they have enough money to pay for it. They will continue doing damage to our environment, and continue getting fines. It just seems like it's a vicious cycle.
Christine,
I like your comment about the only thing that motivates the powers to be is profit and the only way it looks like anything will change is if the United State leads with a total new set of values.
This would be nice if the United States would do this but I doubt it. Money runs the world and it is human nature to look out for self-survival and gain power, especially with males who are driven by testosterone. The good news is new technologies are also driven by making profit and the rich know this, even though the system may not change the rich can get richer by making new forms of energy.
I am guessing this is where are discussions blog is for the week of 3/11.
So, I want to talk about some insight from Joanna Macy. In her writings of the Personal Guidelines For The Great Movement one of her claims motivates us to act our age. Joanna says in so many words since every particle in our body is as old as the first flare set forth in space and time the particles are speaking for us when we stand up and voice our opinion about protecting the earth and other living life forms. She says we are really speaking from fifteen billion years of authority.
I personally wonder if this is true that since every living cell seems to be alive and conscious if they influence are thoughts and desires. What do you guys think of this?
Crystal,
I always enjoy your comments. I think Joanna Macy has a very cosmic and frankly beautiful point. There's an old (and I mean old) Crosby, Stills and Nash tune which says, "We are stardust..." because our chemical make up is very close to that of the celestial bodies.
So if we are part of the universe/earth, then maybe the earth isn't always just about pure sustainability. Maybe it’s more about cyclical events. But maybe, with a shift in our thinking we can make this particular cycle that we are in, sustainable for a little bit longer.
As a result, I’ve decided that don't always want to be negative and cynical about the possibility of change. When I see June’s face light up over local food production, I get chill bumps. I’m so heartened to see a passion develop for someone. I too would like to find that bright shining star on which to hang my hopes.
The thought process of the Macy presentation impressed me. I think there are so many elements in this demonstration, which are on the right track.
This is the first time that such material has "resonated" with me. But, it directly addresses my main concern, which has always been, can man change his thinking about the earth.
I tend to internalize such material so that instead of intellectual discussion, or a recitation of the written material, it becomes more of a "sense" that I have about things.
In this way, (and to finally answer your question,) I think it is definitely possible to be changed at the cellular level by the shift in consciousness of others.
And oh, by the way... I hope we can all have fun singing this oldie but goodie in its entirety!
Woodstock
by Crosby Stills Nash & Young
album: Deja Vu (1970)
Well I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him 'Tell me where are you going?'
This he told me
Said 'I'm going down to Yasgur's farm
Gonna join in a rock and roll band
Got to get back to the land to set my soul free
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
Well then can I walk beside you
I have come to lose the smog
And I feel as I'm a cog in something turning
And maybe it's the time of year
Yes and maybe it's the time of man
And I don't know who I am
But life is for learning
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere was a song and celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bombers death planes
Riding shotgun in the sky
Turning into butterflies
Above our nation.
We are stardust, we are golden
We are caught in the devil's bargain
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden
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