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The Forum > Article Comments > Living in the future > Comments

Living in the future : Comments

By John Töns, published 20/5/2008

Ever wondered what went through the minds of the Easter Islanders as the last tree was cut down?

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"The challenge with any alternative futures lies not in our capacity to imagine alternatives or even our capacity to implement them; no, it lies with those who wish to remain cocooned in the convenient fiction that there is no need to change."

So, can we do it?

As John Töns suggests, lets start sharing ideas. It's about time we got off the negativity train.
Posted by Q&A, Tuesday, 20 May 2008 9:35:59 AM
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Thanks to the author for eloquently cutting through this farcical non-debate about climate change and energy choices.

On energy choices, the bald fact is that energy consumption in our society is doubling every 25 years. In China and India (although they are starting from a very small per capita base) the growth rate is even faster.

We are perversely trying to ignore this bald fact as if building wind farms or nuclear power stations can somehow be a solution.

The bald fact is we are living way beyond our means, and all the argy bargy about energy choices is a cover for the fact we are afraid to address the core of the problem.

If energy usage continues to expand at the current rate, then our choices are not between different energy options, we would have to develop ALL of them, we would have to dam every last creek, we would have to burn all our garbage, cover all our landscapes with wind generators, use every last ounce of uranium... and we still wouldn't have enough.

As an environmentalist I break ranks with many of my colleagues because I believe renewable energy options are only a solution if we first stabilise consumption of energy. It is insanely stupid to build wind farms so that we can power giant plasma televisions and the like, just as it is stupid to do the same with nuclear power.

We need a much more centred debate about how energy fits in with our cultural values.

So thanks again.
Posted by gecko, Tuesday, 20 May 2008 10:17:08 AM
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A good article John.

I think the main challenge is to organise concern in the community and meld it into a politically powerful force.

There is a large and rapidly growing amount of concern about how horribly out of kilter our current political direction is with sustainability.

We desperately need a sustainability-based party.

The Rudd government is shaping up to be worse than I could have imagined. But maybe this can be a good thing, if it helps galvanise concern in the community about the utter absurdity of even higher immigration, a higher birthrate, and an overall greater rate of human expansion than under Howard.
Posted by Ludwig, Tuesday, 20 May 2008 10:21:39 AM
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Thanks John. It's good to see a bit of sanity, after dealing with the contrarians who seem to be so abundant on this site (and on many others of course).

Amen to the need for a new political force.

Just one point. If we choose to change our direction, we are an example to the world. So we *can* play an important role. And of course everyone has to shift, including us. But we can do it because it's good for us anyway, and I think that's your main point.
Posted by Geoff Davies, Tuesday, 20 May 2008 11:10:36 AM
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Mr. Ton's reference to what China is doing should give everyone a good laugh. His opinions are probably sincere and well-meaning, but there is very little, if anything, people can do about climate change. We have to adapt to climate change, not knock ourselves up with naive ideas for stopping climate change.

Ludwig's population comment is the only sensible one, and both major parties are big populaton growth fanatics who will not adopt or even discuss a population policy.

Whatever is foisted on us by ignorant politicians is what will happen - not what OLO posters and contributors say - and it will be a costly dog's breakfast which will make no difference whatsoever during the time we have to wait for the climate to change again.
Posted by Mr. Right, Tuesday, 20 May 2008 11:15:30 AM
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“Our real challenge lies in developing a 21st century lifestyle that enables us to cope with global warming in a sustainable manner.”

The article is another wasted opportunity.

It is all just window dressing which ignores the elephant in the room.

As Ludwig observed, “Sustainability” is significantly influenced by population numbers.

Maybe we could start with a complete ban on migration and mandatory abortions for women who lack the means to support their “unsustainable” lifestyle and seek public welfare instead.
Posted by Col Rouge, Tuesday, 20 May 2008 11:39:23 AM
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