Imagine George Bush “getting sentimental with the worlds most revered peace anthem. Its easy if you try…”
TripleJ just played this guys sampling masterpiece… download and listen to it here (6.3MB) and check out the rest of his album.
This blog reply to a Tom Friedman article is worth reading.
Our policy makers preach that individuals, corporations and governments making decisions based on their self-interest produces outcomes that are best for everybody. Unfortunately, thats a manipulation of economic theory and has led to the deliberate removal of the “fair go” we claim to offer. Nobel prize winning economist, Stiglitz demonstrates that self-interest doesn’t lead to the most efficient markets when unrealistic assumptions are removed from the models. (Don’t get me started on equal access to markets, information and capital.)
To obtain a sustainable flat world, we (the rich) would have to produce less waste and use less energy and the poor must be able to consume more than they currently do. Who is genuinely working towards that?
We know things will run out. What will happen when everybody knows things are running out? Or are we already there? Who will still believe in a fair go?
This Wednesday’s National Press Club’s address was by Hunter Lovins of RMI fame (she’s no longer there), launching ‘The Natural Advantage of Nations’, coordinated by the people behind The Natural Edge Project. These people are doing the best engineering support to a sustainable future of any group I’m familiar with.
Her speech didn’t 100% address the questions as indicated in the promo, but was no worse off for it.
Summarised:
*We’ve damaged enviromental systems and can’t afford to do it anymore
*We must change, but can make a profit doing things better
*Some business case reasons for engaging sustainability/natural capitalism/call it what you like : Higher profit; Lower risk; Better image (attract talented staff). Across all sectors top environmental performers are doing better than average economically.
*Case study examples (IBM, BP, DuPont etc)
*Water savings possibly more critical than energy
*Biomimicry and examples of it (beetles collecting dew -> fog nets, Abalone -> improved ceramic process) - leading to lower energy requirements and no long-term waste
Throughout she kept referring to australian world leadership and never addresses the failings until question time forced her to talk about coal (and for the US nuclear)
*She then introduced the book and how it came about as an extension of natural capitalism.
Question time was excellent although the last one was abruptly cut off as they went over time. Maybe the transcripts will be available, I’m not sure. A while back I considered trying to go to Snowmass (RMI) and decided not to, preferring to settle back here. I must say, I continue to be impressed by their work and as part of wanting to join in, may yet get there. One never knows.