Comments for Growthbusters: Hooked on Growth

Comment on Techno-Optimism or The Good Life? by Dave Gardner

Dave Gardner — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:06:27 +0000

An excellent follow-on to this is a story in Common Dreams today about the “Perpetual Growth Myth” and the need for human, not technological solutions: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/02/20-5

Comment on Fear of Rejection by Shelley Sechrist

Shelley Sechrist — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:24:54 +0000

I am always surprised and disappointed by those kinds of negative reactions whenever I mention the need to do something about too many people on the planet. Even people that you think should know better. I have not figured out a more “acceptable” way to approach this most important topic but I do think this will change little by little as the taboo is ever so slowly dismantled.
Let’s never give up.Maybe we are just ahead of our times.

Comment on Growth-Busting the Kochs in Rancho Mirage by Dave Gardner

Dave Gardner — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:34:32 +0000

One year later, here’s a report from Lee Fang about this year’s Palm Springs Koch-sponsored event: http://www.alternet.org/story/153998/koch_brothers_convene_super-secret_billionaires%27_meeting_for_2012_elections?page=1

Comment on Population Taboo – Kiss it Adieu! by Dan Kustudic

Dan Kustudic — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:10:35 +0000

Excellent ! We need to have this kind of breakthrough – through the ‘SILENT LIE’
perpetrated by the media controlled by the profitieering crooks of the mammonites of the world. The hones, hard working segment of the people will be glad to be informed about this necessity ! Dan K.

Comment on Colorado Water: Working on the Wrong Problem! by Dan Kustudic

Dan Kustudic — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:53:27 +0000

Good article, but you are omitting one of the main problems. You say :’……most politicians of either party do everything they can to enable the maximum amount of growth …..endless exponential population growth ‘. Yes, but the REASON for them wanting this is so that those who have become RICH on the backs of other suckers – need more suckers to continue to increase their ‘riches’ regardcless what that does to environmental degradation. Dan K.

Comment on Growth Culture Page-Turners by Steven Earl Salmony

Steven Earl Salmony — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:00:44 +0000

We have an overpopulation problem and in the face of that problem deniers and ‘business as usual’ enthusiasts often say cavalierly, “Have the courage to do nothing.” That ideas of this kind are ever associated with word courage is the height of dishonesty and duplicity. Such expressions are also the most profound examples of self-serving thought and individual cowardice I can imagine. That such a point of view is broadcast by the mainstream media is a sign to us of its wrongheadedness.

Let us not fail for another year to examine and report on extant research of human population dynamics/human overpopulation. The refusal of many too many experts to assume their responsibilities to science and perform their duties to humanity could be one of the most colossal mistakes in human history. Such woefully inadequate behavior by deniers, as is evident in the collusion of many too many experts, will soon enough be replaced with objective observations and truthful expressions from those in possession of clear vision, intellectual honesty and moral courage.

Why not acknowledge science regarding human overpopulation and, by so doing, take a path toward sustainability? If we keep repeating the mistakes made in the past by denying science, nothing new and different can happen. Without an open acknowledgement of the root cause(s) of what is ailing the human family, how are we to move forward to raise awareness of the global predicament? Once awareness is raised among a critical mass of people, it becomes possible to organize for the purpose of formulating policies and actionable programs. Denial has kept us and continues to keep us from gaining momentum needed to address and overcome the human-driven challenges that currently threaten human well being and environmental health.

Comment on 7 Billion – And Your Community Wants Its Share by Vernon Brechin

Vernon Brechin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:35:42 +0000

I urge readers to consider the following thoughts. Homo sapiens has evolved via natural sexual selection to favor our survival over that of any creatures that get in our way. One feature of us, that sets us apart, is an immense ego which tends to convince ourselves of our superiority over all other creatures. It has served to perpetuate ourselves. Due to our overwhelmingly advanced technologies and cultural prowess it’s now clear that this combination is destroying this planet’s life support systems. Some of us may believe that if we go extinct there is no point in any other of the millions of higher lifeforms surviving. Perhaps some of us are capable of setting aside our programmed egocentric view of our species and taking a more heretical view of ourselves. Could it possibly be that our species has evolved to be like the cancer cell that eventually destroys its’ host in the quest to reproduce itself as prolifically as possible? Could it be that our programming makes us blind to that possibility?

When we look into a child’s cute face what generates the warm-fuzzes that we feel? Does that feeling arise from some maternal/paternal programming that’s ancient and has nothing to do with maintaining a sustainable environment? Are we more likely to bring offspring into the world, not for their sake, but because ancient drives within us compel us act? Will those children follow our wishes for a better environment, or will they find ways of immersing themselves in various diversions, from the coming environmental collapse, such as by focusing on video games and by further resource consumption? How many of us take into consideration the dire near-term scientific predictions when considering bringing children into the world? My guess is this factor plays almost no role in most people’s decision. Personal and private rights seems to factor in as a major priority. In China they realized that continued survival meant giving up some of those rights. Is there any evidence that scientists, that are well aware of the coming environmental collapse, are deciding that it’s not ethical to beget their own children? If a study has not been done on this then it should be done.

For those who are curious and want to explore more about such concepts I suggest a visit to the humorous presentations on the VHEMT website. You may want to start with the Wikipedia article on the ‘movement.’

Comment on Growth Culture Page-Turners by Steven Earl Salmony

Steven Earl Salmony — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:34:14 +0000

‘Kicking so many cans down the road’ and denying responsibility for our reckless overconsumption, relentless overproduction and rampant overpopulation activities today can fulfill nothing more than the promise of a disastrous future for children everywhere tomorrow. Choosing now to live outrageously greedy lifestyles that are soon to become patently unsustainable provides all the wrong lessons to our children, who must learn to live sustainably before it is too late for human behavior change to make a difference.

Comment on Explore New Paths Forward by admin

admin — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 14:34:08 +0000

This looks like an excellent 3-part series to aid our exploration. The first part, here: http://www.EnergyEconomyOnline.com/As_Growth_Fails_Part_I.html
explains well how we got where are today.

Comment on Don’t Shop! by Steven Earl Salmony

Steven Earl Salmony — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:28:37 +0000

‎’Kicking so many cans down the road’ and denying responsibility for our reckless overconsumption, relentless overproduction and rampant overpopulation activities today can fulfill nothing more than the promise of a disastrous future for children everywhere tomorrow. Choosing now to live outrageously greedy lifestyles that are patently unsustainable provides all the wrong lessons to our children, who must learn to live sustainably before it is too late for human behavior change to make a difference.