“Just as a few lonely economists warned us we were living beyond our financial means”
“We created a way of raising standards of living that we can’t possibly pass on to our children,” said Joe Romm, a physicist and climate expert who writes for the climateprogress.org. This generation has been getti9ng wealthy by depleting all our natural resources, such as ; water, hydrocarbons, forests, rivers, fish and arable land and totally ignoring the generatio0n of renewable flows .
“You can get this burst of wealth that we have created from this rapacious behavior,” added Romm. “But it has to collapse, unless adults stand up and say, ‘This is a Ponzi scheme. We have not generated real wealth, and we are destroying a livable climate …’ Real wealth is something you can pass on in a way that others can enjoy.”
Just think for a moment; over a billion people today are suffering from water scarcity; deforestation in the tropics destroys an area the size of Greece every year , an amazing 25 million acres plus; more than half of the world’s fisheries are over-fished or fished at their limit.
“Just as a few lonely economists warned us we were living beyond our financial means and overdrawing our financial assets, scientists are warning us that we’re living beyond our ecological means and overdrawing our natural assets,” argues Glenn Prickett, senior vice president at Conservation International. But, he cautioned, as environmentalists have pointed out: “Mother Nature doesn’t do bailouts.”
Paul Gilding, the Australian environmental business expert has a name for this moment when both Mother Nature and Father Greed have hit the wall at once; “The Great Disruption.”
“We are taking a system operating past its capacity and driving it faster and harder, no matter how wonderful the system is, the laws of physics and biology still apply.” Mr. Gilding as said.
To continue to survive we have to grow, however we must grow in a different way. I believe that our economies need to transition to the concept of net-zero, whereby buildings, cars, factories and homes are designed not only to generate as much energy as they use but to be infinitely recyclable in as many parts as possible. Let’s grow by creating flows rather than plundering more resources.
The good news is that people are already using this economic slowdown to retool and reorient economies. Germany, Britain, China and the U.S. have all used stimulus bills to make huge new investments in clean power. South Korea’s new national paradigm for development is called: “Low carbon, green growth.” Who knew? People are realizing we need more than incremental changes – and we’re seeing the first stirrings of growth in smarter, more efficient, more responsible ways.
A few years from now our children and grandchildren will ask us, ‘What was it like? What were you doing when it started to fall apart? What did you think? What did you do?’ Will you be able to say to them; ” I did my part!”
We all have the ability and wherewithal to take part, even if it’s in a small way, a way we can help ourselves to cheaper more economical methods to run our homes. We can begin by implimenting renewable energy systems such as a wind power generator or home solar systems for our homes today. Then you can proudly say to your grandchildren ‘ I helped reduce the country’s carbon footprint and mad a better world for it. ( click the link above and find out how can build your own home solar power and save on your utilities!