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Our Obsession With Economic Growth is Deadly
Our Obsession With Economic Growth is Deadly
The Waste
The Waste I make some broad statements about work. These are my opinions generally, but most of my opinions are based in recorded — and therefore verifiable — fact and direct experience. To say how I arrived at these statements would take up a library of books and perhaps a good deal of “walking in […]
How the world embraced consumerism
How the world embraced consumerism (Image credit: Getty Images) Over the course of the 20th Century, capitalism moulded the ordinary person into a consumer. Kerryn Higgs traces the historical roots of the world’s unquenchable thirst for more stuff. _____ The notion of human beings as consumers first took shape before World War One, but became commonplace […]
How We End Consumerism
How We End Consumerism
Penalizing Prudence
PENALIZING PRUDENCE “Economy, prudence, and a simple life are the sure masters of need, and will often accomplish that which, their opposites, with a fortune at hand, will fail to do.” – Clara Barton “Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture […]
What does COVID-19 mean for sustainable consumption?
What does COVID-19 mean for sustainable consumption? Our priorities shift when the wolf is at the door, Iona Murphy writes about the impact of the current crisis. It’s quite understandable that people may not have the headspace for sustainability right now. Nonetheless, we’re currently on a hiatus from consumerism—will it last? Back in the beginning […]
Coronavirus Shutdown: The End of Globalization and Planned Obsolescence – Enter Multipolarity
Coronavirus Shutdown: The End of Globalization and Planned Obsolescence – Enter Multipolarity The coronavirus pandemic has shown that the twin processes of globalization and planned obsolescence are deficient and moribund. Globalization was predicated on a number of assumptions including the perpetuity of consumerism, and the withering away of national boundaries as transnational corporations so required. […]
Saving the Planet
SAVING THE PLANET I have often found myself wincing as I hear people talking about saving the planet. It’s felt wrong! I can hear the voices of condemnation screaming at me now … ‘What a horrible person you are not to agree with saving the planet.’… but let me explain. I’m the same age as Geoff […]
Mad World
MAD WORLD And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take When people run in circles it’s a very very Mad world, mad world The haunting Gary Jules […]
George Monbiot’s Out of the Wreckage; A friendly critique
George Monbiot’s Out of the Wreckage; A friendly critique Few have made a more commendable contribution to saving the planet than George Monbiot. His recent book, Out of the Wreckage, continues the effort and puts forward many important ideas…but I believe there are problems with his diagnosis and his remedy. The book is an excellent […]
De-Growth is Feasible: People Want a New Economy
DE-GROWTH IS FEASIBLE: PEOPLE WANT A NEW ECONOMY Branko Milanovic has written a response to my argument. As I read it, I was struck by two things – both quite significant. First, Branko now seems to accept the science on how “green growth” is not a thing, and has backed off his assumption that endless […]
Un-Merry Christmas: The Perverse Incentives to Over-Consume and Over-Spend
Un-Merry Christmas: The Perverse Incentives to Over-Consume and Over-Spend Isn’t it obvious that if we set out to design the most perverse, toxic and doomed system possible, we’d end up with the Keynesian Cargo Cult’s insane permanent growth/Landfill Economy? Few topics are off-limits nowadays: the personal and private are now splashed everywhere for all to […]
The Cognitive Prison Habits of Economic Growth and Development
The Cognitive Prison Habits of Economic Growth and Development This post grew out of a recent facebook discussion. Hat Tip to Bruce Kunkel for the title phrase “Cognitive Prison Habits.” George Monbiot recently made some important points and asked questions we all should be giving some thought to. “Green consumerism, material decoupling, sustainable growth: all are […]
Too right it’s Black Friday: our relentless consumption is trashing the planet
Too right it’s Black Friday: our relentless consumption is trashing the planet Growth must go on – it’s the political imperative everywhere, and it’s destroying the Earth. But there’s no way of greening it, so we need a new system Illustration: Sebastien Thibault Everyone wants everything – how is that going to work? The promise […]
Minimalism: The Value of Living With Less
MINIMALISM: THE VALUE OF LIVING WITH LESS Today’s society seems to measure success on one’s accumulation of possessions, but more and more, people are beginning to embrace the freedom that comes with owning less – developing a more sustainable lifestyle that provides endless benefits. While part of this growing trend toward minimalism can be attributed […]
