The unprecedented response from world leaders to halt the economic meltdown is an interesting case study for our times. As a concentrated short term effort with a focus on creating beneficial long term results, it seems prudent.
Yes, the economy is a pretty big deal. But the economy is relative. Given the current pace with which we are destroying our planet, the attention and collective effort around the financial crisis must be redeployed around the environment to ensure there remains a place for future economies to exist.
Our problem, even in today's digital age, is that out of sight is out of mind. A recent CBC documentary on e-waste showed how our high tech and disposable culture is accelerating the problems our planet is facing. Nothing is built to last anymore and we just replace everything - whether it breaks or is no longer the latest model.
But we can't replace our oceans. We can't replace the air we breath or the earth we stand on. Our lifestyles and attitudes over the last century have guaranteed we will not be able to have similar lifestyles in the immediate future (i.e for children who are already born - my children, your children). If you have not seen Edward Burtynsky's Manufactured Landscapes it is well worth your time to understand the toll our consumerism is taking that we cannot afford to ignore and leading to a much worse fate than any recession or depression could cause.
The lesson here is that, when motivated by fear, the leaders of the world can and will respond urgently and collectively to an impending crisis. That is the good news.
The bad news is that history will likely (and unfortunately) show the crisis prioritized this decade for immediate global response was altogether the wrong one.
Technorati Tags: Green Economy Environment eWaste CBC High Tech Trash Planet Earth Environmentalism
Yes, yes and yes again. Couldn't agree more.
Product marketers take note: Stop annoying us with useless, wasteful mountains of packaging. Boomers are aging and might cut themselves on that sharp plastic! It’s about time we kicked the conversation up a notch about built in obsolescence too.
Thanks for the comments John & Dave. I hope that change can be made with the state of our planet.
Certainly puts everything in perspective. Great post. It begs the question why is the environmental concerns so muted next to other issues like the economy, and how do we get it to the point where it is a focus for government (as opposed to just a promise in an election).