Kulu -

I don't think the Easter Islanders ever did. I always imagine an Easter Island greenie saying to the workers who were cutting down the last of the trees "Unless we keep a few trees growing we can't grow any more. We need to plan for the future so our kids will have trees. If they don't have trees they won't have firewood, building materials and food."

To this the workers replied "What's more important a few trees or our jobs?"

The dilemma is how to get the message across. Reading the comments on the other articles (Heinberg, Malcolm King, Tim Murray) there is a strong feeling among the anti-sustainabilitiers that there really isn't anything to worry about. I'm fatter and happier than I was last year, so what's the problem.

I say "most of the world doesn't eat like we do" and they say, "Life's tough all over."
I say "we don't have enough farmland and water to feed 5 billion, and certainly not 9.5 billion on a first world meat and fish diet," and they say "Technology will improve. It always has, and it always will."
I say "if technology fixes everything, where is the cure for cancer after 50 years of trying," they say "All you do is complain. Shut up and go shopping."

I understand that there is fear about a massive changes to our way of life, but we are racing the opposite way, increasing rather than decreasing immigration, bribing women to get pregnant, running down more ecosystems. How about net zero immigration, would that really change much in our daily lives?

Thanks for your comments.