A new report by the Royal Society, chaired by Nobel prize-winning
biologist Sir John Sulston warns that world population must be
stabilized and consumption in wealthy nations must be reduced or the
entire planet is in big trouble. As the report reads: "The number of
people living on the planet has never been higher, their levels of
consumption are unprecedented and vast changes are taking place in the
environment. We can choose to rebalance the use of resources to a more
egalitarian pattern of consumption... or we can choose to do nothing and
to drift into a downward spiral of economic and environmental ills
leading to a more unequal and inhospitable future."
This is the same warning that President Jimmy Carter gave Americans
back in the 1970's - but it was ignored when Ronald Reagan came to
power with a "more positive" message basically telling Americans we can
do whatever we want. And then after 9/11 - Bush told us all we should
go shopping and consume ever more.
And now with corporations calling the shots in Washington -
long-term sustainability of the planet takes a back seat to short-term
profits. If we don't change our ways soon - and embrace clean,
alternative energy and educate women around the plant - then we all
could be headed for a rough century.
-Thom
(Is there any chance we will learn in time? Tell us here.)
No comments:
Post a Comment