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    ANewEthicforHumankind

    1

    ANewEthic

    for

    Humankind

    Searchingforsolutions

    inatroubledworld

    FredG.Thompson

    FuturescanConsulting

    March2009

    ANewEthicforHumankind

    2

    Allrightsreserved

    CopyrightMarch2009FredG.ThompsonPublishedbyFuturescanConsulting

    Ottawa,Canada

    PrintedinCanada

    ISBNNo.978-0-9696624-4-0

    ANewEthicforHumankind

    3

    TableofContents

    Page

    Introduction

    5

    Chapter1-TheCassandras

    9

    Chapter2-Population

    20

    Chapter3-EconomicGrowth

    30

    Chapter4-GlobalWarming

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    42

    Chapter5-Blockages

    47

    Chapter6-TheLawsofChange

    57

    Chapter7-GlobalManifesto

    61

    Chapter8-SocialInventions

    69

    Chapter9-Communities

    73

    Chapter10-OtherWaysto

    theFuture

    83

    Chapter11-PersonalResponses

    92

    Chapter12-Summingitallup

    94

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    "Itiswisetolookahead,butitisdifficulttolookfurtheraheadthanyoucansee."

    WinstonChurchill

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    Introduction

    Thepurposeofthisbookistoshowthatinviewoftheincreasingpopulation,energyshifts,resourceconsumptionandpollution,thecreationofasustainableworldwillneedmassivechangeinhumanattitudesandactions,infactanewethicorhumankind.The21stcenturyemergedwithagraduallyincreasingpublicawarenessthattheworldwasenteringatroublingageandwehadbetterpayattentionifwewantedtobeassuredofasustainablefuture.Itwaspointedoutasearlyas1972byDennisandDonellaMeadowsthatthereareLimitstoGrowth1)andifwewretocontinueatthethencurrentrateofconsumptionoftheEarthsresourceswewouldnothaveasustainableworldinthelongerrangefuture.AurelioPeccei,

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    thefounderoftheClubofRome

    -whichcommissionedtheMeadowsbook-calledfora

    NewEthicforMankindandthatiswhatthispresentdocumentpresentsasanewandignificantreality.TheGoldenAgeofGreece,fromaround500to300BC,wasbuiltontheenergyofslaves.WearenowinanotherGoldenAgeblessedwithenergyfromanabundantsupplyofoilandnaturalresources.Butthiswillofcoursenotbesointhelongerrangefuture.Warningsignsareabundantlyapparent.Wewillneedtoplannowforatruetransitiontoanewageandanewethic.EthicsisdefinedinWebstersdictionaryas:

    "Thedisciplinedealingwithwhatisgoodandbadandwithmoraldutyandobligation",or

    "Theprinciplesofconductgoverninganindividualoragroup."

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    ItistheprinciplesofconductthathavetobechangedtocreatetheNewEthic.

    Thetransitionfromagrowthsocietythatweinthedevelopedcountriespresentl

    yenjoy,toonewithastableworldpopulationandeconomicsustainabilitycouldrequirethegreatestevolutionarychangeinthehistoryofhumankind.Thechangingconductandethicalbaseoftheworldspopulationmustindeedchange.Thisisnoexaggerationaswillbepointedoutinthetextthatfollows.Thisbookthereforewillshowwhythisissoandwhywemustbeginnowtofindwaystoeasethistransitionforthegoodofthefutureofthehumanspeciesonthisfiniteplanet.

    AsMarshallMcLuhanwasheardtosay,ifasystemistoosuccessfulitwillfliponitself.Asoursocietiesgetmorecomplextheyareverylikelytodojustthat.AnotherwaytoexpressthisphenomenonistolookattheChaosTheory2).Bythisprocess,asystem(society,populationgrowth,etc.)willbeproceedingalongasmoothpathwhensomeperturbationisintroducedanditgoesintowilddis

    array,orchaos.

    TheQueuingTheorycanalsobedescribedasusefultounderstandhowsystemscancollapse.Takeforexamplealargemetropolitancitythatdependsonconstantdeliveryofsuppliesbeyonditsborderstofeeditself.Thinkofashortageoffuelavailabletothetransporttrucksandwhatcouldhappentothesupplyingofacitysneeds.TheQueuingTheorysaysthatasmallrestrictioninsupplycannotjustslowtheprocessbyasmallpercentage,butthatitcomestoacompletestop.Forexample,abusyhighwayisloadedtocapacitybutflowingrapidly.Thensomecarortruckslowsdowntolookatanaccidentatthesideoftheroad.Noobstructionisinthewayoftheflow,butithasbeenslowedbyaverysmallpercentageandtheANewEthicforHumankind

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    wholesystemcomestoadeadstop.Similarly,thehousewifestocksuponsugarwhenitisannouncedthatsugarwillberationed.Result:nomoresugarontheshelvesandthesystemshutsdown.Whensuchaphenomenonoccurstosupplyingalargecity,itmaywellshutdown.Apowerblackoutisanexampleofsuchanoverloadedsystemandconsequentshutdown.Now,allthisistogiveaglimpseofwhatcouldhappenasresourcesworldwidegetinshortsupply.Theurgencythenisapparentandmustbedealtwithwellbeforeithappens.AnotherphenomenonofthefutureisthelifeboatprincipleorTriage.Inthiscasealifeboatisloadedwith

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    eopleandothersintheseaareclamouringtoclimbin.Ifcompassionrulesandtheresidentsofthelifeboattrytoletthemin,thenmostlikelyallwillbelost.So,thefortunatefewmustbepreservedandtheothersletgo.Cruelitseems,butotherwiseallwillbelost.AllthisispartofthecontentofaNewEthicndmustbelearnedinthelongterminterestofasustainableplanetandindeedthehumanspecies.

    In1995CharlotteWaterlowproducedthebookTheHingeofHistory3)Ittoldaboutthemega-changethatoccurredinWesternhistoryduetoashiftfromdependenceonGod,toexplainthethingswedontunderstand,tothenewdiscoveriesofscience.ItwastheRenaissanceorrebirth,orEnlightenmentforWesternsociety.Itwouldappearnowthattheyears2008-9representasimilarshiftinWesternthinkingthatisanequallymajorchange.Asecondhingeofhistory.Atthesametimeglobalizationhasarrived,acceleratedbythespeedofcommunications,informationandtransportation.Thisshiftisaccompaniedbyclimatechange,populationgrowth,increasingresourceconsumptionandbeginningtoseethe

    limitstogrowth.

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    ThefollowingChapterwillpresentthe

    Cassandras4)ofthepastthathavewarnedusofthedirectionsthattheworldisging.Thiswillshowtheurgencyofre-structuringthecourseahead.REFERENCES

    1)Meadows,DennisandDonella,LimitstoGrowthPotomacAssociates,Washington,D.C.,19722)Gleick,James,Chaos-MakingaNewScience,PenguinGroup,NewYork,N.Y.,1987(seeformulaonPage70of"Chaos")3)Waterlow,Charlotte,TheHingeofHistoryTheOneWorldTrust,GreatBritain,1995

    4)seeChapter1thatfollows

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    Chapter1

    TheCassandras

    Thischapterwilltellofanumberofpeoplewhowereconcernedaboutthewaytheworldwasandisunfoldinginitstracktothefuture.Theyarethe

    Cassandrasforetellingthefuture.AccordingtoHomersIlliad,Cassandrawasabeafulyoungwoman,blessedwiththegiftofprophecybythegodApollo,whowasinfatuatedwithher.Unfortunately,becausesheshunnedApollo,atthelastminuteheaddedatwisttohergift.Cassandrawasdoomedtotellthetruth,butnever

    tobebelieved.AsLauraFittonsaysinherinternetarticle:...wecalla

    Cassandra

    someonewhosetruewordsareignored,sinceCassandrasdoomwastopredictwhatothersrefusedtobelieve.

    SomeoftheseCassandrasthatIhavefoundofinterestaredescribedbelow.

    RachelCarson

    OneoftheearlyCassandraswasRachelCarsonborninPennsylvaniain1907.Shewasawriter,scientistandecologistwhoworkedfortheU.S.FishandWildlife

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    Serviceandothergovernmentagencies.Sheretiredfromthegovernmentin1952todevotefulltimetowriting.TwoofheroutstandingbookswereTheSeaAroundUs)in1951,andSilentSpring2)in1962.Thefirstbookisalyricalaccountofthebeautiesofthesea.HoweverinherSilentSpringbookin1962sheexposedthehazadsofthepesticideDDT,andeloquentlyquestionedhumanitysfaithintechnologicalprogressandhelpedsetthestagefortheenvironmentalmovement.Hereffortssucceededinmakingsignificantchangesandreductionsinthewidespreaduseofthispesticide.ANewEthicforHumankind

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    Howeversincethattime,thebanningofDDThasbeenquestionedbecauseofthebenefitsitprovidesinthecontrolofmalaria.

    JonasandJonathanSalk

    Areportin1982totheUnitedNationsbyJonasSalkandhissonJonathan3)tookalookatpopulationgrowthoverthelongtermfutureandidentifiedtheperiodbeforethestartofthedeclineingrowthasEpochAandthatafterasEpochB.TheshiftfromEpochAtoEpochBwould,theysaid,requireatremendousshiftinworldattitudes,infactitwouldrequireanevolutionarychange.Itwould

    requireattitudestochangefromoneofcompetitiontooneofcooperation.How,then,wouldsocietyandparticularlytheeconomicworlddealwiththat?Itwould

    indeedrequireaNewEthicforhumankind.Aprofoundobservationforitstime.AlvinToffler

    AbookthatcausedalotofpeopletobeintroducedtothefuturesmovementwasFutureShockbyAlvinToffler,publishedin19714)

    Tofflerisessentiallyajournalist,writingformanywell-knownperiodicals,hasbeenaneditorofFortune,hastaughtsociologyofthefutureattheNewSchoolfrSocialResearch,andtheauthorofseveralbooksonsociopoliticaltopics.FutureShockwasarunawaybestsellerandagoodreadevenfortoday.Hedefinesfutureshockasthedistress,bothphysicalandpsychological,thatarisesfromanoveloadofthehumanorganismsphysicaladaptivesystemsanditsdecision-makingprocesses.Anotherwayofsayingthisisthatfutureshockisthereactiontotherap

    idityofchange,inbothexperiencesandinformation.ANewEthicforHumankind

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    WhatTofflermissedaboutthefutureisasnotableaswhatheincludes.Muchofwhatheforeseeshasindeedcometopassbutwhatofthosetopicshehasnotbeenabletoseefromhisperchinthe1970s.Foronethinghemakesonlyapassingreferencetoterrorismwhichissomuchonthemindsofpoliticiansandthegeneralpublictoday.AlongwiththisisthelackofreferencetotheriseandpowerofMuslimstatesandthepassionsoftribalism.Thephenomenonof,andthereforeheimpactof,theInternetandallitsramificationswasnotmentioned.Tofflersaysquiteabitaboutthefutureofcontrollingtheweather,evenintheglobalsense.Hedescribeshowsomeresearchershaveshownthelikelihoodofbeingabl

    etoplantheweatherfordifferentglobalregionsandthepossiblecooperationofthevariousnationsinvolved.Instead,wehavethegrimrealityofhumansNOTbeingabletocontroltheweatherbutbeingthecontributortotheuncontrollableglobalwarmingthatendangersalllifeontheplanet.Quiteachange!Nowthatsgenuinefutureshock!

    Whatinsomesenseistragic,isthattheendingstatementsofthebookarejustasrelevanttodayastheywerethen.Solittlerealprogresshasbeenmadeinthelast35years.Hereisaquotefromthelastfewpages:

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    Ourfirstandmostpressingneedthereforeis,beforewecanbegintogentlyguideourevolutionarydestiny,beforewecanbuildahumanefuture,istohalttherunawayaccelerationthatissubjectingmultitudestothreatoffutureshock."AurelioPeccei-TheClubofRomeThereisnodoubtthatoneoftheearlyandmostinfluentialpersonstoalerttheworldtotheenvironmentalANewEthicforHumankind

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    dangersaheadwasAurelioPeccei,founderoftheClubofRome.

    AurelioPecceiwasanItalianindustrialist,formervice-presidentofFiatMotorswhoquitthecompanyinthe1960

    stodevotefulltimetowhathecalled"theworldproblematique".IntheprocesshefoundedtheClubofRome,aninternationalgroupofdistinguishedbusinessmen,statesmenandscientists.OneoftheirearlyprojectswastocommissionProfessorDr.JayForresteroftheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnologytousetheirsystemsdynamicmodelto"studythelongtermcausesandconsequencesofgrowthinpopulation,industrialcapital,foodproduction,resourceconsumptionandpollution."5)ThisresultedinthepublicationofLimitstoGrowth6)in1972byprincipalauthorsDennisandDonellaMeadows.Theyconcludedthat:

    "ifpresentgrowthtrendsinpopulation,industrialization,pollution,foodproductionandresourcedepletioncontinueunchanged,thelimitstogrowthonthisp

    lanetwillbereachedsometimewithinthenext100years."

    This,theyhastentoadd,isnotaforecast,butwhatwouldhappenifthepresenttrendscontinued.Inspiteofthecaveat,thereportcausedwidespreadandintensecriticism.ThiswasCassandrainspades!

    TwentyyearslaterthesameprincipalauthorspublishedBeyondtheLimits7)toreviewprogressandnoteanysignificantchangesintrends.Hereiswhattheysaid.

    "In1971weconcludedthatthephysicallimitstohumanuseofmaterialsandenergyweresomewheredecadesahead.In1991whenwelookedagainattheANewEthicforHumankind

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    data,thecomputermodelandourownexperienceoftheworld,werealizedthatinspiteoftheworld

    simprovedtechnology,thegreaterawareness,theenvironmentpolicies,manyresourceandpollutionflowshadgrownbeyondtheirsustainablelimits."Andtheycontinue:

    "Thefuture,tobeviableatall,mustbeoneofdrawingback,easingdown,healing."Again,Cassandrahaddeclaredandwasnotbelieved!

    Twelveyearsafterthat,againthesameauthorspublishedanupdateLimitstoGrowth-the30YearUpdate.8)InspiteofallthewarningsinBeyondtheLimitst

    heauthorscannotshowanyimprovementintheworld

    secologicalfootprint.Astheysay:

    "ThepastdecadehasproducedmuchdatathatsupportsoursuggestioninBTL7)thattheworldisinovershootmode.Itnowappearsthattheglobalpercapitagrainproductionpeakedinthemid-1980

    s."Thereisasimilarstoryforfishintheseaandgreenhousegasemissions.Theyseealackofpublicandpoliticalwilltoeffectthenecessarychanges.Inresponsetothequestiontheypose"Whatwillhappen?"theyrespond:

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    "Theglobalchallengecanbesimplystated.Toreachsustainability,humanitymustincreasetheconsumptionlevelsoftheworld

    spoorwhileatthesametimereducinghumanity

    stotalecologicalfootprint."

    Nosmalltask.BothpopulationandeconomicgrowthwillANewEthicforHumankind

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    havetobedealtwithtoachieveanydegreeofsustainability.LesterBrown.

    LesterBrownfoundedtheWorldwatchInstituteinWashingtonin1974.Itwasdevotedtoresearchonthefutureoftheworldinareassuchaspopulation,environment,energy,foodsupplythatwerecriticaltothefutureoftheworld.ThefirstofStateoftheWorld9)annualseriesofpublicationswasin1984andwasmadepossiblebythefinancialsupportoftheRockefellerBrothersFund.Itisinterestingtoseewhattopicsthefirstreportcoveredlookingbacksome25years.Herearesomechaptertitles:StabilizingPopulation

    ReducingDependenceonOil

    ProtectingForests

    DevelopingRenewableEnergy

    ReconsideringtheAutomobilesFuture

    SecuringFoodSupplies

    Thesetopicsarenotonlystillrelevantbuthavetakenonagreatersenseofurgency.Althoughalothasbeendoneovertheyearsintheseandrelatedissues,thelevelofpublicawarenessisnotyetsufficienttomovegovernmentsintoadequateaction.LesterBrownwasindeedaleaderinthiseffortandinthatsenseatrueCassandra.

    TenyearslaterthetopicsthattheInstituteresearchedandpublished,bothasseparatedocumentsandintheannualStateoftheWorldhadbroadenedandinclud

    edthese,amongothers;

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    CarryingCapacity:EarthsBottomLineSafeguardingOceans

    ReshapingthePowerIndustry

    ReinventingTransport

    FacingFoodInsecurity

    TheWorldwatchInstitutealsobegantheannualpublicationofVitalSignsin1972describedas"TrendsthatareShapingourFuture"10).Trendscoveredaree.g.agricultural,energy,environmental,economic,transportation,andothers.Publicationsareinseverallanguagesanddistributedaroundtheworld.Theiroutputhasmade,andisstillmakingavaluablecontributiontowardEarthsstablesociety-ifindeedpeoplearelistening.In2001LesterBrownlefttheWorldwatchInstituteandfoundedtheEarthPolicyInstitutewithsimilarobjectives.TheInstitute,asdescribedintheirwebsite:www.earth-policy.org.isdedicatedtobuildingasustainablefutureaswellasprovidingaplanofhowtogetfromheretot

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    here.LesterBrownisthePresidentoftheorganization.

    WhenLesterBrownwasattendingafunctioninLondon,Ontarioin1979,IarrangedforhimtocometoOttawaandmeetwithPrivyCouncilstaffandbeinterviewedontheCBC.Creatingpublicawarenessissoimportant.

    RonaldWright,JaredDiamond

    Twomajorbookshaveappearedinthelastfewyearsthatdescribetheriseandfallofseparatecivilizationsthroughouthistory.TheonewasAShortHistoryofProgressbyRonaldWright11)andtheotherCollapsebyANewEthicforHumankind

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    JaredDiamond12).Eachtoldoftheprosperingofearlysocietiesandtheireventualdeclineandcollapseduetotheconsumptionoflifesustainingresources.TheSumeriansintheperiodbetween3,000and2,000B.C.inventedthecity,thecorporation,irrigation,writing,accountingandlivedoffthelushareaofthedeltaoftheTigrisandEuphratesriversinwhatisnowIraq-andisnowdesert.Atitspeaktherewereadozencitystates,thelargestwasUrof50,000citizens.Theylived,asallcivilizationsdo,offtheiragriculturalresources.However,overtimetheyfullyexploitedthelifegivingagriculturalresourcesoftheareauntiltheynolongeryieldedthenecessaryfoodstuffsrequiredtosustaint

    heirgrowingpopulation.Ittookathousandyearstoriseandeventuallyfall.

    InasomewhatsimilarmannerthecivilizationsofancientRomeandtheIncasofSouthAmericaroseandeventuallydeclinedandvirtuallydisappeared.MostmodernofthesecivilizationsandasmallmicrocosmoftheothersweretheinhabitantsofEasterIslandofftheSouthAmericancoastinthePacific.Theygrewandconsumedtheirfruitoftheland,cutdownallthetrees,andeventuallyallbutafewresidentsdisappeared.EasterIslandwasdiscoveredbyaDutchfleetin1722andonlyafewoftheoriginalpopulationremained.EasterIslandisknownfortheenormousstonestatuestheinhabitantscraftedandleft,manyofwhichareintacttothisday.

    Thenotsosubtlemessageofthesetwoparticularbooks,withtheirstoriesofa

    ncientSumerandEasterIsland,isawarningtopresentdaypopulationsthatsuchafatemaybeoursifwedonotdealeffectivelywiththesameissuesofover-population,resourceconsumption,andallitimplies.

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    JonathanWeiner

    InhisbookTheNextOneHundredYears13)WeinerwriteseloquentlyoftherisingoccurrenceofCOinthe2

    Earth

    satmospheregoingbackasfarasvariousiceages.AnAmericanresearcherC.D.Keelingbeganin1958totakeairsamplesoftheCOfromaroundtheworldwitha2

    passionthathasneverletup.

    Heshowedacontentof315partspermillionofCO2whenhebeganhiswork,withupsanddownseversince,butwithanoverallannualaverageincreaseof1.5ppm.Althoughthebookwaspublishedin1990,itrepresentsapowerfulmessageforthefuture.IhavebeensoimpressedwiththeintenseresearchasreportedbyW

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    einerthatIhaveincludedfurtherdiscussionintheChapteronGlobalWarming,whichsee.

    GeorgeMonbiot

    AnotherCassandraofnoteistheUKsciencejournalistGeorgeMonbiotwhowroteHeat,HowtoStopthePlanetfromBurningpublishedin200614)Heisconcernedthatwithrisingworldtemperaturesandtheconsequentmeltingofthepolaricefieldsandglaciers,theresultingriseinsealevelswillputindangermanyoftheworld

    slargercities.Insomecasestheseurbancentreswillfaceabandonment.

    Hedoestakecaretoshowsomedegreeofoptimismandhowsuchcanberealizedbutthedataprovidedmakethismoreofafantasythanreality.Tosaveourplanethesayswemustreducegreenhousegasesbysome90%by2030,andhethenquestionstherealityofsuchanachievement.HeendshisIntroductiontothebookwithawrytouchofhumour:"...Ihaveonelasthope:thatImightmakepeoplesodepressedaboutthestateoftheplanetthattheywillstayinbedallday,therebyreducingtheirconsumptionoffossilfuels."

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    ThomasHomer-Dixon

    Tobetterunderstandourowntimesandfuture,Homer-Dixon,aProfessorofPoliticalScienceattheUniversityofToronto,wenttoRometotrytounderstandwhythatancientempiredeclinedandcollapsed.Heandhisresearchersanalysedthetotalenergyrequiredtofeedandmaintainanationandeconomy.Heconcludedthatasasocietygrowsitbecomesmoreandmorecomplextothepointofeventualbreakdown.Hethenshowshowourpresentsocietyisgettingtothatpointofoverlycomplexsystemsleadingtocollapse.Auniqueapproach,describedinhisbookTheUpsideofDown.16)AlGore

    Gore,aformerVice-PresidentandunsuccessfulcandidatefortheU.S.PresidencyistheclassicalmodernCassandra.He,withhispublicationandpresentationso

    fAnInconvenientTruth,hashadapowerfulinfluenceonpublicopinion,world-wide.IhavedescribedmoreonthisinChapter4.

    SothemanyCassandrashavespoken.Itwouldappearthatthetippingpointisabouttotakeplaceandwearenowbeginningtoexperiencethesecond"HingeofHistory"thefirstbeingtheRenaissanceofthe17thCenturyasdescribedbyCharlotteWaterlow.15).REFERENCES

    1)Carson,Rachel,TheSeaAroundUs,OxfordUniversityPress,1951

    2)Carson,Rachel,SilentSpring,HoughtonMifflin,Boston,1962

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    3)Salk,JonasandJonathan,WorldPopulationandHumanValues,Harper&Row,NewYork,N.Y.1982

    4)Toffler,AlvinFutureShock,BantamBooks,NewYork,N.Y.1971

    5)fromthePrefacetoBeyondtheLimits7)6)Meadows,Dennis&Donella,LimitstoGrowthUniverseBooks,NewYork,1972

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    7)Meadows,Dennis&Donella,BeyondtheLimitsChelseaGreenPublishing,Vermont,19928)Meadows,Dennis&Donella;Randers,Jorgen,LimitstoGrowth-a30YearUpdate,ChelseaGreenPublishing,Vermont,2004

    9)StateoftheWorld,WorldwatchInstitute,Washington,D.C.,198410)"TrendsthatareShapingourFuture",VitalSigns,WorldwatchInstitute,Washington,D.C.197211)Wright,Ronald,AShortHistoryofProgress,HouseofAnansiPress,Inc.,Toronto,200412)Diamond,Jared,Collapse-HowSocietiesChoosetoFailorSucceed,PenguinGroup,NewYork,2005

    13)Weiner,Jonathan,TheNextOneHundredYears,RandomCenturyPublishingGroupLtd.,London,UK,1990

    14)Monbiot,George,Heat-HowtoStopthePlanetfromBurning,RandomHouseofCanadaLtd.,Toronto,2006

    15)Waterlow,CharlotteHingeofHistory,TheOneWorldTrust,GreatBritain,1995

    16)Homer-Dixon,Thomas,TheUpsideofDown-Catastrophe,Creativity,andtheRenewalofCivilization,AlfredA.KnopfCanada,Toronto,2006

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    ChapterThree

    Population

    Itishardtospecifywhichisthemosturgentproblemofthegloballongrangefuture,theonethatifdealtwithsuccessfullywillmostimprovetheglobalfutureofhumankind.Isitpopulationcontrol,energysupply,economicgrowth,globalwarming,orwhat?ThesimpleansweristhatnooneoftheseisTHEmostimportant.Soletusdealwithpopulationgrowthfirst.Itissimplelogicthatthereisultimatelyalimittohowmanypeoplecanlivesustainablyonthisfinitepl

    anet.InBritain,ThomasMalthusin1793publishedhispioneeringessayontheissuesinvolvedwitheverincreasingpopulationgrowthinhisFirstEssayonPopulation.Ithasbeentheclassicdocumentonthesubjectasitpointedoutthedangersofanover-populatedworld.Inithestatesthefundamentalprincipleofhisrevelationsthepopulationofmankindwilleventuallyoutstripmansabilitytosupplyhimselfwiththenecessitiesoflife.Thereasonforthisis,hestated;populatinincreasesinageometricratio,whilethemeansofsubsistenceincreaseinarithmeticratio.

    ThecriticswerenumerousandalthoughMalthussawhimselfasarealist,thecritics,ashesaid,wereidealists.ThenwhatIfoundamusinginthebiographyofMalthus,wasthathewasbornintoafamilywitheightchildren!Soheoughttoknowaboutoverpopulation!

    Themaximumthattheplanetcansustainwillbearrivedateitherbydesignorbydefault.Populationbydesigntakespublicawarenessandstrongpoliticalleadershiptosuccessfullylimitpopulationgrowth.WhereaspopulationlimitationbydefaultislettingNatureexercisethecontrolasshedoesintheanimalkingdom.ToomanyANewEthicforHumankind

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    rabbitsandthefoxestakeoverandbringtheleveldowntothatwhichcanbesu

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    stainedonthelandthatsupportsthem.IfweletNaturedecidewhatformofpopulationcontrolwillbeexercised,willitbedisease,plague,orhumanviolence?Ifwedontmanagepopulationgrowth,thentheworstofthesecouldindeedtakeplace.Intheshortterm,wegenerallyexercisecompassionandmakeeveryefforttosavelives.Moneybythebillionsgoestoaidthepoorandsufferinginvariouscountries.Organizationspleadforcontributionstosavethechildrenindevelopingcountrieswheretheyareindesperateneed.Butwhathappenswhenthesechildrengrowupandhavemorechildrenandthepopulationkeepsongrowing?Compassionisanaturalwaytogo,butifnotmanagedwellleadseventuallytoaburgeoningpopulationwithitsunplannedconsequences.

    Whenpopulationreachesthesustainablemaximumthattheplanetcansupport,whatthenhappens?HereiswhereTriagemighthavetotakeplace..ThisiswhatIhavedescribedintheIntroductionasthelifeboateffect.Ifthelifeboatisalreadyfultocapacityandothersarescramblingtoclimbaboard,compassionsaysletthemin.Butthenallcoulddrown.Soyouhavetobebrutaltosavetheselectfew.Thesamethingoccursinthearmyhospitalwheninthedirestemergencyonlysomanycanbesaved.Thedoctorshavetoselectthosethathavethebestchancetosurviveandlettheothersgosothatatleastsomeormostcanlive.

    Suchanapproachsuggestsabettersolutiontothepopulationproblemanditsmanagement.ItisnotwisetoleaveittoNatureandjustletithappen.Again,onecouldsaythatAIDSisNatureswaytocontrolpopulationinthepoorercountrieswherepopulationgrowthisalreadygreaterthaninthemoreprosperousANewE

    thicforHumankind

    22

    countries.WecantsaythattryingtocureAIDSiswrong,butwecanputproportionatelymoreefforttowardsdealingwiththesourceofpopulationgrowth.Someeffortsarecurrentlyputoneducatingthemenandwomenintheseareasandencouragingtheuseofcontraceptives.Thisistreatingtheproblematthesourceandmustbeencouraged.Compassioncannotbedenied,butpreventionatthesourceshouldtakeprioritywhereverpossible.Thereareotherproblemswithcurbingpopulationgrowth.Themostdramaticofthesebeingtheimpactofincreasingpopulationontheeconomyofacountry.Manyofthemoredevelopedcountrieshaveloworzeropopulationgrowthandasaconsequencearefacingademographictrendto

    wardsanincreasinglyagingpopulation.Thismeanstherewillbelessyoungerpeopletosupplythelabourforceandprovidetheeconomicbasetosupportthesocialsecurityprograms.

    Thepoliticalincentivethenistoincreasepopulation,byimmigrationorbyfertility,tostimulatetheeconomy.Sohowdoyoudealwithmaintainingastablepopulationgrowthandstillhaveahealthyeconomy?Catch22.Itwillrequirestartingwithchangingthebasicassumptionthatanagingpopulationwillinhibiteconomicgrowth.Toresolvethisdemographicimbalance,anewparadigmisrequired,andnewthinkingadopted.TheagingpopulationneednotrequirethesamesocialsupportasinthecurrentWesternassumptions.Theagingpopulationmustlooktobemoreself-sufficient.Thiswilltakesomethinkingandfurtherdevelopment,butitmayhavetooccurtomaintainaformofeconomicgrowthcompatiblewit

    hthisshiftindemographicbalance.SlowingdownpopulationgrowthbyregulationhasbeentriedinsomecountriesasweseeinthefollowingANewEthicforHumankind

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    section.

    Populationlimitationbyplanning(design)isanalternateapproach.Whatmayinrealityhappenisthatpopulationislimitedbybothdefaultandplanning-som

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    eofeach.Butletusdealherewiththeplanningaspects.Somecountrieshavetriedtocontrolpopulationgrowthbyregulationandothersbyeducation.

    TheAncientGreekssawtheproblemsofincreasingpopulationintheirareasofhabitation.TheysetupcoloniesintheMediterraneanandBlackSeatoabsorbthisgrowth.Thisworkedforatimethenthecoloniesreachedtheircapacity.TheGreeksthentriedothermethodsoflimitingpopulation,suchasdelayingtheageofmarriage.ThesearethefirstknownrecordsofpopulationcontrolasreportedintheInternetWikipedia.

    FamilyPlanning

    FamilyPlanningbyvoluntarymethods,tocontrolormanagepopulationgrowthhasbeenpractisedformillennia.AsearchforfamilyplanningonGooglecomesupwith140millionreferences!Ididntcheckthemall!Butitwassurprisingtoseesomanyreferencestomethodsoflimitingpopulationgrowthinvariouscountriesaroundtheworld.Ihavenotmadethischapterafullacademicreportonfamilyplanningbuthavequotedafewinstancestogiveageneralideaofwhatisgoingoninpopulationcontrolbydesignorpurposefulaction.TheSierraClubhasareportontheInternetWhyEnvironmentalistsCareAboutFamilyPlanningAroundtheWorldsayingthatourenvironmentalsuccessesmaybeshort-livediftheydonotinclueeffortstoaddressglobalpopulationgrowth.AndtheygoontosayOneofthemoseffectivewaystoslowglobalpopulationgrowthistoinvestinfamilyplanningprograms.TheyANewEthicforHumankind

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    reportthattheUnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA)isactivein140countriestopromotefamilyplanningprograms.Encouragingnewsindeed.HowevertheynotethattheUnitedStatesundertheBushAdministrationhastakenstepstoblocksupportfortheUNFPAprogramsbecauseofpossiblerelationshipsoftheprogramstoabortionandcoercionparticularlyinChina.MargaretSangerwasamovingforceinNorthAmericaintheearlyyearsofthe20thcenturytowardsencouragingpublicawarenessandacceptanceoffamilyplanningandallitsimplications.Religiousandsocialconstraintspreventedageneralacceptanceofthesubjectinthoseyears.Herworkhasmadeastrongcontributiontotodaysopenpublicdiscussionsandacceptanceoftheissues.

    Economicgrowthhasanimpactonreducingfamilysizeaspeoplemovefromthefarmtotheurbanenvironmentasisnowoccurringinmanycountriesaroundtheworld.

    FamilyplanninginIran.

    WikipediaontheInternetreportsthatbetween1980and1988,alargepopulationinIranwasviewedasacomparativeadvantage.Accordingly,theadministrationpushedprocreationtobolstertheranksofsoldiersforIslam,aimingforanarmyo20million.Thisledtoanannualpopulationgrowthrateofover3%.UNdatashowthatIranspopulationdoubledinjust20years,from27millionin1968to55millionin1988.Butsince2000therehavebeensignificantchangesmade;Iransp

    opulationgrowthratedroppedfromanalltimehighof3.2%in1986tojust1.2%in2001.Thisisoneofthefastestdropseverrecorded.Inreducingitspopulationgrowthtothislevel,aratethatisonlyslightlyANewEthicforHumankind

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    higherthanthatoftheUnitedStates,Iranhasemergedasamodelforothercountriesthatwanttolessentheriskofoverpopulation.

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    In1993,Irandroppedcertainmaternitybenefitsforcoupleswhohadmorethanthreechildren.AccordingtotheBBC,Iranisbelievedtobetheonlycountryintheworldwheremenandwomenarerequiredtoattendclassesaboutcontraceptionbeforetheycanobtainamarriagelicense.

    Inaddition,Iranhasmadebothcondomandcontraceptivepillswidelyavailable.ContraceptivepillsareavailableatpharmaciesacrossIran,andthegovernmentgivesawaycondomsathealthclinicsaroundthecountry.Pakistan

    Pakistan,againasreportedinWikipedia,hashadsimilarexperienceinworkingwithfamilyplanning.Theadministrationwasconcernedthatthecountrywasgrowingsofasttheywouldrunoutoflandtofeedthemselves.Religiousandsocialcustomsmadetheintroductionoffamilyplanningpracticesdifficultorinmanylocalesprohibitive.However,theformationofaFamilyPlanningAssociation(FPA)wassetupin1953andworkbegun.Toshowhowdifficultitwastostart,hereisaquotefromtheInternet:

    "Thecurtainofinvisibilitywasthickandmanywomencouldnotwork,gotoschool,orleavetheirhomeswithoutbeingaccompaniedbyamalerelativeeveniftheyneededtoseeadoctor.Butitwasnotaboutsheddingtheveil,itwasaboutrevitalizingeducation,providinglivelihoodskills,andimprovinghealthcare.

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    HowevertheFPAcontinuedtheirworkandeventuallygotrecognizedbyreceivingfinancialandprogramsupportfromboththeU.N.andtheU.S.A.AndasshownontheInternetreport:

    "TodaytheFamilyPlanningAssociationofPakistanisthelargestnon-governmentorganizationinthesocialsectorandalongsidethegovernmentisthekeyprovideroffamilyplanningservicesinPakistan.Ithas85communityworkunits,withover540servicesoutletsinallprovincesofthecountry."

    Africa

    FamilyPlanninginAfricaisgettingalotofattentionbecauseoftheAIDSpandemic.However,themanydifferentAfricancountries,thedensityofruralpopulation,religiounsandsuperstitionmakeanywellorganizedprogressdifficult.TheU.S.hasbeenactiveinprovidingsupport,bothfinancialandotherwise,intheinterestsofminimizingtheeffectofAIDSinthecontinent.OnereportfoundontheInternet,onthisissuesays:

    "Ratherthanpreparingtomeetthischallenge,U.S.assistanceinfamilyplanninghasactuallydeclined.Since1995,U.S.internationalfundingforfamilyplanningservices,contraceptivesandrelatedprograms,whichservebothwomenandmeninmorethan50countries,hasfallenbymorethan$100million,a35percentreductionwhenadjustedforinflation."

    India

    FamilyPlanninginIndiahasbeenpractisedsinceANewEthicforHumankind

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    the1950stocurbpopulationgrowth.Butoddlyenough,sincethattimethepopulationinIndiahasdoubled,from430,000,000in1960to1.014billionin2000.Atonetimeduringthatperiodthegovernmentimplementedsterilizationplansandrewardedthosethatparticipated.Neglectingtheencouragementandsupportoffa

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    milyplanninginfavourofsterilizationisconsideredtobethecauseofthisincrease.

    Individualsdidnotadoptthesterilizationprogram.Soin1994thegovernmentbegantheNewPopulationPlan(NPP),sothecountryisworkingtowardsmanagingpopulationgrowthbutsofarisnotsucceeding.However,theprovinceofKeralainsouthwesternIndiahasadifferentstory,asdescribedinAlGores1992book,EarthintheBalance.1)

    PopulationinKeralahasbeenstabilizedatzerofollowingaplanadoptedbytheprovincialleaders.AsreportedinGore

    sbook,

    First,theyhaveachievedanextremelyhighrateofliteracy,especiallyamongwomen.Second,throughgoodhealthcareandadequatenutrition,theyhaveloweredtheirinfantmortalityratedramatically.Andthird,theyhavemadebirthcontrolreadilyandfreelyavailable.

    So,asKeralahasdemonstrated,populationcanbestabilizedifthereisadequateplanningandthepoliticalwilltoimplement.

    China

    Chinawasconcernedwithitsrapidlygrowingpopulationandtheneedtobeabletofeeditspeoplewhere80%

    wereruralbased.ItimplementedapopulationcontrolANewEthicforHumankind

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    programin1979.Thegoalwastobeonechildpercouple,particularlyinurbanareas,withprogramswithbothpositiveandnegativeincentivestoencourageparticipationAheavyeducationprogramwasimplementedtodiscouragemorethanonechildpercouple.Ruralcommitteeswerecreatedtoencourageonechildpercoupleanddiscouragecoupleshavingmorethanonechild.IntheChineseculture,malechildrenwerepreferredsothatitwassuspectedthatabortionsandinfanticidewerepractisedandbirthsoffemalechildrennotreported.Somepregnantwomenwerereportedtohavegonetorelativesorchildlesscouplestogivebirth.Edu

    cationofbirthcontrolmethodswasimplementedandlatermarriagesencouraged.

    ItisreportedthatChinaintendstocontinuewiththeone-childpolicyto2010andthattheone-childpolicyworksatleastinurbanareas.Somereportthat250millionto300millionbirthshavebeenpreventedbytheone-childpolicy.

    Criticshavenotonlypointedoutthehumanrightsabusesthatthecontrolprogramencourages,buttheimpactonthedemographicbalance.Astheprogramproceedsthepopulationwillbecomemoremalebasedandthepreponderanceofoldermaleswilllacksufficientyoungercitizenstoprovideforthesocialsupportoftheirelders.

    Conclusions

    Sowhatdoesallthismeanintermsofthelongtermgrowthoftheplanet?

    Firstofallwemustacceptthefactthatthereisindeedalimittothecarryingcapacityofthisfiniteplanetandthatpopulationcontrolmustbeexercisedintheinterestsofallhumanity.

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    Thequestionthenarises,howbestdowedealwithittolimitthiscontinuinggrowth?

    AstumblingblockinthewayofpopulationcontrolbydesignisthepolicyoftheCatholicChurchagainstbirthcontrolbyanybutnaturalmeans.Apuzzle,butitisboundtoresolveitselfovertimewhentherealityoftheproblembecomesmoreapparent.

    Aswehaveseen,alotofFamilyPlanningandPopulationControlproceduresareineffectintheworldtodayandhavebeenformanyyears.FamilyPlanninginsomecountrieshasreducednationalpopulationgrowthratesbutinnearlyalllessdevelopednations,populationcontinuestogrow.Enforcedmethodssuchaslegislatingfamilysizeorenforcingsterilizationisonlypartiallysuccessful.Since98%ofpopulationgrowthisinthedevelopingcountries,thenitfollowsthatthedevelopednationsshouldputmoreeffortintohelpingtheirlessfortunateneighbourstogettheirpopulationgrowthundercontrol.

    Developednationscouldhavetheirownproblemstoowithpopulationcontrolwiththeimbalancesofthedemographicdistribution.

    Itwouldappearthatinviewofallthissomebasicassumptionsmustberevised.Forexample,wehavetothinkofpopulationcontrolincombinationwithadifferentformofeconomicgrowth.Indevelopedcountries,economicgrowthisup,and

    populationdown.Inlessdevelopedcountriesthereverseistrue.Butthefuturedependsonbothbeingstable.Thatisthetrick.Thisiswhythispaperisseekinganewethicforhumankind.

    REFERENCE

    Gore,Al,EarthintheBalance,HoughtonMifflinCompany,NewYork,1992

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    Chapter3

    EconomicGrowth

    IthinkitisfairtosaythattheRomansinthefirstcenturyA.D.didnotknowwhatwenowcalleconomics.Theymeasuredtheirwealthbymilitaryexploitsandthcaptureofslavesasakeysourceofenergy.IftheydidhaveeconomicgrowthitmsthavebeenseverelyrestrictedsincetheydidalltheirrecordkeepingandaccountingforthehugeRomanEmpireusingRomannumerals,whichisquiteamazing!ItwastheArabsthatintroducedarithmeticwiththezero.

    Butsincetheindustrialrevolution,theWesterncountriesdiscoveredthemeansofincreasingthenationswealthbymanufacturingandtradinginbothgoodsandservices.Capitalismwasbornandthestandardoflivingofthecitizenhasconti

    nuallyincreased.Thequestionthenarises,caneconomicgrowthgoonforever?Is"sustainablegrowth"anoxymoron?AsearchoftheInternetshowsalargenumberofreferencestoeconomicgrowthanditspossibleconsequences.WhenIsatdowntorewriteanearlydraftofthisChapter,Ihadanewanddisturbinginsight.Grantedthateconomicgrowth,aswehaveknownit,cannotgoonforever,thenhowwoulditeverbepossibletoslowitdown?Bylegislation?Iguessnot.Bypopularagreementofthecitizens?Equallyunlikely.Thereforeitmustbethrustuponus,perishthethought.Or,changethenatureofeconomicgrowthtooneoflessconsumptionofresourcesandsourcesofpollution.Theinformationsocietyisanexampleofsuchaconcept.However,forthemomentletusputasidethatpr

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    ospectandseewhatcertainauthors,startingfromtheearlyyears,havesaidabouteconomicgrowth.

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    ItbeginswithAdamSmithandhisbook,TheWealthofNationspublishedinEnglandin1776.1)AdamSmith

    Smithissaidtobethefirstpoliticaleconomistwhowroteofeconomics.ItwaspartofhisworkasaScottishprofessorofphilosophy.Oneofhisbasicprincipleswasthatthemarketplaceisdrivenbyself-interestandthatthisshouldnotbeconstrainedbythesettingofrulesorpoliticallegislation.Thereis,ashesaysinhisbook,an

    invisiblehandatworkinthesupplyanddemandandthesettingofpricesofgoodsndservices.ToquoteTheWealthofNations1)onthis:

    Everyindividualnecessarilylabourstorendertheannualrevenueofthesocietyasgreatashecan.Hegenerallyindeedneitherintendstopromotethepublicinterest,norknowshowmuchheispromotingit.Heintendsonlyhisowngain,andheisinthis,asinmanyothercases,ledbyaninvisiblehandtopromoteanendwhichwasnopartofhisintention.Bypursuinghisowninteresthefrequently

    promotesthatofthesocietymoreeffectuallythanwhenhereallyintendstopromoteit.

    Asformentotrytocontrolthemarketplace,hedoesnotfavourit.

    Itisthehighestimpertinenceandpresumption,therefore,inkingsandministerstopretendtowatchovertheeconomyofprivatepeople,andtorestraintheirexpense.

    SmithwasgreatlyinfluencedbythesituationheANewEthicforHumankind

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    observedinFrancewherecitizensatthetimewereunderaveryheavytaxburdenandmiserablypoor.ThissituationeventuallybroughtontheFrenchRevolutionandtheriseofNapoleon.

    Smithdidnotseethelongrangeviewofeconomicgrowthconsumingnaturesbasicresources.InterestingthatMalthusdidseealimittopopulation,butSmithdidnotseeaneventuallimittoeconomicgrowth.Whathepointedoutwastheincentivethatwasthedrivingforceofsuchgrowth-self-interestofindividualsandcorporations,andheencouragedthat!Andlittlehaschangedtothisday.

    JonasandJonathanSalk

    AspointedoutinthepreviousChapter,theSalkshadauniqueapproachtothef

    utureinthattheysaythattoreducepopulationfromwhattheycallEpochAtoEpochBwouldrequireamajorshiftinthebehaviourofpeoplefromcompetitiontocooperation.Thiswouldbeachangeofevolutionarymagnitude.Maybenotpossibleifweconsiderthatthehunterinstincthasbeenincorporatedinthemalememberofthespeciessincetimebegan.Replacingcompetitionwithcooperationintheeconomicrealmishardtoimagine.Itwouldcertainlyconstituteanewethiconthepartofbusinessforsuchachangetotakeplace.Butitmayindeedhavetotakeplaceinsomeformoranother.Itmaybethepriceofsurvival.E.F.Schumacher,etal

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    FritzSchumacherwasaprofessionalstatisticianandeconomistworkinginBritain.Hispublicationin1973givesthemessageinthetitle:SmallisBeautiful.2)MuchofthebookisabouttheconsumptionofnaturescapitalandtheclassifyingofnaturalresourcesasincomeANewEthicforHumankind

    33

    ratherthancapitalandthereforeconsumingresourcestowardstheirextinction.

    ThereisachapteronBuddhisteconomics.Inthisphilosophy,manworksforsatisfaction,ratherthanputtingupwithdissatisfactionforthesakeofthewage.Modernproductionrequiresspecializationandtheuseofmachinestoreplacetheindividualwhereverpossible.ThisisdescribedintheratherlengthybutperceptiveforewordbyTheodoreRoszak.HetalksaboutGandhiseconomicprogramforIndiaasfeaturingdevelopinghandicraftsinthevillages.Labourintensiveproductionatthevillagelevelistobepreferredtoproductionlineworkinanurbanenvironment.ThisisalsowhatSchumacherwouldliketoseebutrealizesthatitwouldresultinapovertybasedsociety.Itmayindeedbethefutureofhumanityifthesocio-economiccollapseoccursaspredictedbymany.SothemessageinSchumachersbookisclear-keeplifesimpleandseethebeautyofthiswayoflife.Heseesthedangersthatlieaheadintheover-consumptionofnaturescapitaljustastheauthorsofLimitstoGrowthbutinhisownway.

    TheinspirationforthecreationofSchumachersbookcamefromanAmericanRobert

    SwannofNewEngland,U.S.A.whohadadmiredSchumachersarticlesinResurgencemagazine.SwanntravelledtoEnglandtomeetSchumacherandurgedhimtoassemblethearticlesintoabook.LaterSchumacherinturninspiredSwanntocreateanorganizationintheU.S.topromotethevaluesofhisphilosophies.ThusbecametheE.F.SchumacherSocietyofGreatBarrington,Massachusetts.TheSociety,foundedin1980,holdsannuallectures,managestheSchumacherLibraryof12,000volumes,andpromotessuchissuesasdecentralization,human-scalesocieties,regionallybasedeconomicsystems,ANewEthicforHumankind

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    localcurrencyexperiments,andcommunitylandtrusts.AstheirwebsitesaysThecommunitylandtrustmodeldevelopedbyRobertSwannprovidesjustsuchavehicle

    fordemocratizinglandandplacesstewardshipinthehandsofademocratically-structuredregionalorganization.SuchideasasthesetakealongtimetobegenerallyacceptedandadoptedbuttheSchumacherSocietyistakingaleadershiproleinthisregard.SchumacherandtheSchumacherSociety

    sworkisaninspirationforsuchactivitiesasVoluntarySimplicity3)andnewapproachestolanduse,money,andagoodmodelforfuturegenerationstoreducethepressureofthegrowtheconomyandtheecologicalfootprint.

    DennisandDonellaMeadows

    AsauthorsoftheLimitstoGrowthseriestheyeloquentlypointoutthelimitstoeconomicgrowthintheirseveralbooks.AsquotedinapreviousChapter,theysaythatovershoothasalreadyoccurredandwemust"increasetheconsumptionle

    velsoftheworld

    spoorwhileatthesametimereducinghumanity

    stotalecologicalfootprint".Inotherwords,economicgrowthmustbeshiftedfromthewealthynationstothepoorerones.Moreeasilysaidthandone.Againwearefacedwiththeneedtoreduceeconomicgrowthasweexperienceitintheconsumernations.AsIliketosay"NewResultsneedNewRules".

    AlGore

    Gore,withtheintroductionofAnInconvenientTruth5)invariousmediahashelpedthegeneralpublictorealizetherealdangersofglobalwarmingandenvironm

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    entalconcernsingeneral.ThisisthebeginningofwhatIhavereferredtobeforeasthesecondHingeofHistory.ANewEthicforHumankind

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    WithsufficientpublicawarenessthestageissetforpoliticalrecognitionandpermissiontolegislatestrongermeasurestoprotecttheEarthfromclimatechange,resourcedepletionandpollution.AlGoreisdoingmorefortheenvironmentnowasafreelancerthanhewasabletodoasVice-PresidentoftheU.S.HehasalwaysbeenconcernedabouttheenvironmentbutasV.P.hehadtocompromisehisdeeperconvictionsbecausethepublicwasnotreadyforstringentmeasures.TheU.S.AdministrationdidnotsignontotheKyotoProtocolbecausetheeconomywasmoreimportantatthetimethantheenvironment.Somuchforeconomicgrowth!Now,outofpolitics,Mr.Gorehasbeenabletofullyexploithisconcernsfortheenvironment.WhatinterestsmeaboutAlGoreisthestoryofhisearlylifeastoldinthebookbyHankHillin6)uptothetimeofhisselectionasVice-PresidenttoPresidentClinton.GoresfatherwasalongtimesenatorandpoliticswasintheGorefamilylife.AftergettinghisB.A.fromHarvardhedidnotwantapoliticalcareerinspiteof,orperhapsbecauseof,hisfatherslongtimeactivityinpoliticsHesignedupwiththelocalnewspaperinhissmalltowninTennesseeandwasareporterfortwoyears.ThewarinVietnamwastheninfullswingandtheriskofbeingdraftedwashigh.Hedidnotwanttoavoidbeingintheconflictasitwouldnotbeappropriateifhelaterchoseapoliticalcareer.So,hedecidedtoenlistandwassoonassignedtomilitaryjournalisticduty.Hen

    everwasinfavouroftheVietnamwarbuthedidhisbesttodohisdutyforhiscountry.Thetragedyofwar,thehorrorshesawandexperiencedfirsthand,hadapowerfulimpactonhim.

    Onhisreturnfromwaractivityhewasnotthesameman.HewassodeeplymovedthathesignedupforANewEthicforHumankind

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    coursesattheVanderbiltUniversitySchoolofDivinityandstudiedtherefortwoyearstryingtodecidewhatheshoulddowithhislife.Hethencontinuedwithhisjournalisticcareerwithanintervaloperatingahousingdevelopmentactivity.Afterthreeyearsofreportinghefinallywasdrawnintopoliticsanddecide

    dtorunfortheHouseofRepresentatives-ashisfatheralwayswantedhimto.Therestofhiscareerisprettywellknown.IfirstencounteredAlGoreJr.asakeyspeakerataWorldFutureconferenceinWashingtoninthe70stalkingabout(whatelse?)theenvironment!AndIhavebeeninterestedinhiscareereversince.

    In1992GoreproducedthebookEarthintheBalance7)togivehisviewsontheenvironment.InitisChapter10Economics:TruthorConsequencesapowerfuldiatribontheinadequaciesofcurrenteconomictheory.Afewquotestellthestory:

    Infact,thepartialblindnessofourcurrenteconomicsystemisthesinglemostpowerfulforcebehindwhatseemstobeirrationaldecisionsabouttheglobalenvironment.

    Classicaleconomicsalsofailstoaccountproperlyforallthecostsassociatedwithwhatwewillcallconsumption.Everytimeweconsumesomething,somesortofwasteiscreated,butthisfactisconvenientlyforgottenbyclassicaleconomists.

    Ourfailuretomeasureeconomicexternalitiesisakindofeconomicblindness,anditsconsequencescanbestaggering.

    Iwonderifitisthatsimple.WhenaproductisANewEthicforHumankind

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    manufacturedithasvaluebecausepeoplewillbuyit.Thewasteproducedhasnovaluebecausenoonewillbuyitandsoitdoesnotgetintotheeconomicequation.Heappearstoholdtheclassicaleconomistsatfaultfornotincludingtheseexternalcostsintheequationtoknowthetruecostsofoureconomictransactions.Iratherwouldpointoutthatnoonepresentlyknowshowtodothis!Andthereforeitcallsforseriousresearchtoupdatetheeconomictheorycurrentlyinuse.Itisoutofdate.Weareindeedblindtotherealandurgentneedforthis.IntheinterestsofthelongtermsustainabilityoftheplanetwemustputourmindsandourmoneyonthedevelopmentofaHolisticTheoryofEconomicssothatecangetthetruemeasureofeconomicgrowthanditsgloballongtermeffects.Measurementwemustdo,butwemustlearntomeasuretherightthings.Andasyetwedontknowhow.Soundssimple,butitisastrongchallengeandworthdoing.

    AttheendofhisChapter10,GorequotesaspeechbyWinstonChurchilltourgethegovernmenttoactioninthefaceoftheoncomingWarinEurope.Itbearsrepeating.

    Theeraofprocrastination,...half-measures,delays,iscomingtoitsclose.Initsplaceweareenteringaperiodofconsequences.

    Astirringspeechindeedandjustasappropriateatthistimewhenseriousconse

    quencesareenvisioned.EconomicgrowthmustbecontainedorthewarsofthefuturewillbefortheremainingresourcesthatEarthmayprovide.

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    JaredDiamond

    JaredDiamondsbookCollapse:HowSocietiesChoosetoFailorSucceed.4)doesafirstclassjoboftellinghowsocietiesgothroughthisfail/succeedcycle.ItishereIwouldliketoaddhisstoryoftheislandofHispaniolacontainingHaitiandDominicanRepublic.WhatmakesthestoryofthetwocountriesonHispaniola

    islandintheCaribbeaninteresting,isthestarkcomparisonwiththeirconditiontoday.WhenColumbusdiscoveredthemin1492theywerebothcompletelyforested.Nowitisadifferentstory.Haitiisimpoverishedandhasaforestcoverofbarely1%,andtheDominicanRepublichas28%andlesspoverty.Themainreasonisthatduringtheyearsoftheslavetrade,shipswouldarriveinHaiti,unloadslavesfromAfricaandreturntoFrancewithashiploadoftimber.Inadditiontotheunrestrictedlogging,thefarmerspractisedslashandburntogainnewlandfortheirsubsistenceagriculture.TheDominicanRepublicontheotherhandreceivedimmigrantsfromEurope,mostlySpanishandconstrainedtheirloggingoperations.DuringtheruleofTrujillo,heloggedforhisownpurposesbutdidnotletinprivateoperators.Afterhisassassination,loggingbyprivatepartiesresumed.ThenwhenDelaguer,anotherdictator,tookover,helegislatedthebanningofcommerciallogging.Inspiteofthat,privateinterestsbootleggedloggin

    guntilDelaguersentinthearmytostopit.Soitwasadeterminedefforttopreservenaturesresource.DiamondtellsofstandingontheborderbetweenHaitiandDRandlookingwesttoseerelativelybarrenlandofHaiti,thenlookingeasttoseeforestcoveroftheDR.Adramaticexperienceindeed.Datafromthetwocountriesfortheyear2000showthecontrastevenmoreclearly.9)

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    HaitiDominicanRepublicUnemployment70%13.8%

    Literacy48.8%83.2%

    Lifeexpectancy54.1years71.4yearsItwouldnotbefairtoclaimthatallthisdifferenceisbecauseofdenudingtheforests,butitisindeedoneimportantfactorandmustbeconsidered.Measurement

    Thewholetheoryandpracticeofeconomicsisbasedonmeasurement-inoneformoranother.AsaprominentBritishscientistoncesaid,tofullyunderstandanythingyoumustproperlymeasureit.Measuringithasbeenastrangebeasthowever.Tomeasureacountry

    seconomicstatusthe"GrossDomesticProduct"includeseverythingthathasmonetaryvalue,includingcollectinggarbageorfixinganythingthat

    sbroken.Othersystemshavebeendevelopedbutnonehasbeengenerallyadopted.Iwroteapaperlookingatthesevariousefforts"GenuineProgressandWell-beingIndicators"availableontheInternet8).Muchneedstobedoneinthisareaofmeasurement.

    InavisittoCubarecentlyIhadaninterestingviewofthecontrastbetweenawealthycountryandathirdworldone.TheresortthatIwasstayinginwasAmericanstylewithallthehighstandardsofWesternaccommodation.OnatriptooneofthesmallertownsontheislandIsawwhata"verypoorthirdworldcountry"lookedlike.Thecitizenswerereportedlyprovidedwithfreeeducationandfreehealthcarebutwere,atthesametime,verypoorinthematerialsense.Bicyc

    leswerepredominantonthemainstreets,andcars,whattherewere,wererareandofANewEthicforHumankind

    40

    ancientvintage.Taxiswerebicyclebased.WhenIgotbackhometoCanadaIfoundsomestatisticsthatwere,forthepurposeofthisdocument,veryrevealing.TheCOput2

    intotheatmosphereintermsoftonspercapitaperyear(datafor2004)wereasfollows.Canada=16.5andCuba

    =2.1.Thatsaysitall.

    InmyearlyyearsasanindustrialengineerIlearnedthateveryjobconsistedofthreeparts:MakeReady,Do,andPutAway.Inthemodernindustrialpracticethesepartsarenotcompletelyfollowed.ThepreparationfortheproductionofaproductmostoftendoesnotincludethefullcostsofMakeReady.Thecostofdenudingtheforestdoesnotenterintotheequationofpreparationofpackaging.TheDopartisusuallywellcovered.ThePutAwaypartisthedisposalofthewasteoftheproductwhichisgenerallyignoredandbecomespartofpublicexpense.Anew"holisticeconomics"wouldnecessarilyhavetoconsideralloftheseworkelementsinsomenewandinnovativeform.Whatmustbedone

    Firstofallwemustacceptthateconomicgrowth,asitnowoperates,mustbechangedorsimplyreducedinhigh-consumingcountries.Someofthekeypointsthen

    appeartobe:

    -makethegeneralpublic,businessandgovernmentmorefullyawareoftheneedtochangeeconomicgrowth.

    -findwaystoreducetheincentivesthatdrivethegrowthsyndrome

    -developaformof"holisticeconomics"tomodernizeeconomictheoryandpracticewithaviewtoencompassingthelongrangeviewtowardsasustainableplanet.

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    So,thetwoenginesofchange,populationincreaseandeconomicgrowtharedrivingthebuscalledEarthrelentlesslytowardsthebreaksintheroadaheadasyetnotfullyseenbythebusdriverorthosedirectingandmanagingthetrip.Theroadmapforthistripisthecurrenteconomictheoryignoringthelongtermview.Thechangesrequiredtoensureasustainableplanetarenotgoingtobeeasy.Populationcontrolhasshownsomepossibilityofachievement,buteconomicgrowthhasnot.ItwillbelikewhatIoncelabelledamajortaskas

    "turningtheelephantaround"9).Itisn

    teasy,oratleastnotinahurry!

    REFERENCES

    1)Smith,Adam,TheWealthofNationsseeInternet:www.blupte.com/Literature/Biographies/Philosophy/Smith.htm

    2)Schumacher,E.F.,SmallisBeautiful,Harper&Row,NewYork,1973

    3)Elgin,Duane,VoluntarySimplicity,WilliamMorrow,19814)Diamond,Jarod,Collapse-HowSocietiesChoosetoFailorSucceed,PenguinGroup,19955)Gore,Al,AnInconvenientTruth,Rodale,20066)Hillin,Hank,AlGore-HisLifeand

    Career,CarolPublishing,1992

    7)Gore,Al,EarthintheBalanceHoughtonMifflin,NewYork,1992

    8)www.fredgthompson.comandfollowlinksonthesidebartoProceedingsthenselectJanuary2006andseepage28forpaperonGPI.

    9)www.fredgthompson.comandfollowlinkstoProceedingsthenselectMay2007andseepage17forpaperon"TurningtheElephantAround".ANewEthicforHumankind

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    Chapter4

    GlobalWarming

    ThetwoprecedingChaptersonPopulationandEconomicGrowtharethedrivingforcesofenvironmentalbreakdown,leadingofcoursetoclimatechangeandglobalwarming.MuchhasbeencoveredintheseChaptersaboutglobalwarminganditscausesbuttheimportanceofthesubjectissuchthatIthinkitwillbeusefultopresentmoreofthecriticalaspectsofitinthisChapter.Asanymodernresearcherknows,asearchoftheInternetisthe"libraryoftheworld"tocheckfirst.ThewebsitefortheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)isalargesourceofreferencematerialonglobalwarming.1)

    ByhappenstanceIpickedupabookoffthebargaincounterinmyfavouritebookstorebyJonathanWeinerTheNextHundredYears2).Itwasafortunatechoice.Weiner

    sstoryoftheresearchbyCharlesDavidKeelingrevealsalotabouttheoccurrenceofCOinthe2

    world

    satmosphereandthereforeglobalwarming.KeelinggraduatedinchemistryfromNorthwesternUniversityinEvanston,IllandbeganworkingatCaltechinLosAngelesin1954.EarlyonhetookaninterestinmeasuringtheamountofCOintheairincludingdevising2

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    amanometertodothat.ItwasthebeginningofalifecareertomeasureCOandhedidthisfirstaroundthe2

    laboratorythenoutinthefield,upthelocalmountainsthenfinallyaroundtheworld.Whatwassurprisingwastheconsistencyoftheresults,around315partspermillion,nomatterwherehemeasuredit.Therewerevariationsintheseasonsandinsomelocalregionsbutthe315figureseemedtobeconsistentaverage.Thatwasintheearlyyearsofhismeasurements.By1988thatfigurehadANewEthicforHumankind

    43

    risento350ppm.Weiner

    sbookwaspublishedin1990butacheckontheInternetshowedmoreup-to-datevaluesofCO.

    2

    TheOfficeofOceanicandAtmosphericResearch,partoftheU.S.DepartmentofCommerce,reportsdatafrom2004showing378ppmofCOintheatmosphere.2

    AndWikipediashowsthe2007ratetobe384ppm.Sothereisadocumentedsteadyriseinthecontent.Theirinformationalsoincludedsomehistoricaldatashowingthatpre-industriallevelsofCO(howevertheymeasured2

    itatthetime)at278ppm.Theyreportalsothattheriseperyearappearstobeabout1.5ppm.Thisisverysignificantinformation.

    KeelingalsolookedintohistoricaldataandasWeinerreports:

    "Therecordshowsanexponentiallyrisingcurve,inlockstepwiththerisingcurveofthehumanpopulation.Inonehundredyearstherehadbeenonlythreehesitationsineitherrise.Thesehesitationsoccurredaroundtheyears1915,1930,and1940;oneworlddepressionandtwoworldwars."Ican

    thelpbutbeamusedbythequotefromWeinerabouttheoccurrenceofmethane(worsethanCO)asa2

    contributortoglobalwarming.

    "Cowsbelchabouttwiceaminute,andputafewpoundsofmethaneintotheaireveryweek.Thus,clearingarainforesttomakeacowpasturereleasesmethanetwiceover.Firstthegasrisesfromtheexplosionoftermitesthateatthewood,thenfromthegrassyherdsthateatthegrass."ANewEthicforHumankind

    44

    Soitseemsthatnomatterwhatyoudo,itcreatesmoreglobalwarming!

    KeelingmetRogerRevellewhentheywereworkingontheplanningfortheInternationalGeophysicalYearprogram.AndwhenIreviewed(forthethirdtime)theDVDofAlGore

    sAnInconvenientTruthInoticedthatwhenGorewasastudentatuniversityoneofhisprofessorswasRogerRevelle.RevelleimpressedGorewithh

    isinformationonthegrowingpresenceofCOintheatmosphereandthe2

    resultingglobalwarmingandallitsimplications.ThusbeganGore

    slifelonginterestinthesecriticalissues.GorealsomentionsintheDVDpresentationthathiseffortsasaSenatorinCongresstopromoteconcernsforglobalwarmingwerenottoosuccessful.IalsolearnedthatwhenGorewasVicePresidentforBillClintonhehadtosuppresshisenthusiasmforglobalwarmingissuesinordertoconformwithpoliticalstrategiesatthetime.Gore

    sresearchonthesubjectofglobalwarmingasshowninthepresentationisthoroughandveryconvincing.Herearesomeofthehighlights:

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    -analysesoficecoresshowCOconcentrationsfor2

    anunbelievabletimespan,650,000years,andshowasteadyincrease,withtheodddipforcertainclimateconditionsasiceages,etc.

    -picturesshowtheoccurrenceofsteadilymeltingglaciersinvariousmountainrangesandarcticandantarcticicecaps.

    -40%oftheworldpopulationdependonwaterfromthemeltingglaciersandthatisrapidlydryingup.

    -occurrenceofCOintheatmospherehasnever2

    beenover300partspermillionuntilrecentdecadesandnowisrisingfasterthanever.

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    -globaltemperatureshaveneverbeenhotterthanoverthelast10yearswithapeakin2005

    .-iftheglobaltemperaturesincrease,aspredicted,manylargeshorelinesettlementsworld-wide(includingManhattanIsland)willbegraduallyflooded

    -increasingglobaltemperaturesexacerbateextremeweatherashurricanesandtornadosandevaporateadditionalwaterfromwaterbodiesandthelanditself.

    -asurveyshowedthatworldscientistsallagreedontherealityofglobalwarmingbutthemediawassomethinglike52%uncertain.

    -thepublicreactionislikenedtothefrog,whenputintograduallyincreasinghotwater,cannotrealizewhatisgoingonandisdestroyed;yetifheistossedintoboilingwaterheissuddenlyfullyawareandjumpsout.Ittakesashocktogetaction-butitmaybetoolate.

    Theevidenceissostrongthatwecannolongerdenytheoccurrenceofclimatechangeandglobalwarming.LookingatthelongrangehistoryofmankindcanputthepresentandfutureinperspectiveandmoreeasilyseehowthechangeswouldgenerateincreasingamountsofCOintheworld

    senvelope.

    2

    Earlymanwasahunterandanomadmovingtowherethehuntingwasbest.Withtheinventionofagriculture,peoplethensettledinonespot.Thisrequiredclearingtheforeststocultivatetheland.Villageshadthehousesclusteredclosetogetherbecauseofprimitivetransportation.Whenthecarwasinventedthenpeoplelivedinhouseswithlawnandgardensandtravelledtoworkwhereveritwas.

    Thesuburbwasinvented.AteachstagemoreenergywasconsumedpercapitaandmorenaturalANewEthicforHumankind

    46

    resourcesconsumed-andthereforemoregreenhousegasesgenerated.

    Thequestionthenarises,atwhatpointwillthisconsuminglifestylebechanged,sloweddownorevenreversed?

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    REFERENCES

    1)ChecktheInternet:

    http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/2)Weiner,Jonathan,TheNextOneHundredYears,RandomCenturyPublishingGroupLtd.,London,UK,1990

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    ChapterFive

    BlockagesHavingcomethisfarinexaminingthetwomostpowerfulenginesdrivingtheworldtowardsanunsustainablefuture-populationandeconomicgrowths

    -itbegsthequestion,whatisstoppinguscorrectingcourseforasustainableworld?Whataretheblockages?First,itmustbegrantedthatsomemeasuresareindeedbeingtakentoleadustoasustainableglobalenvironment.TheKyotoProtocolisanexample.1)Butthemeasuresproposedarenotbeingadoptedbyallcountries.TheU.S.hasnotsignedup,mostlyforeconomicreasons.Canadahassignedonbutitisnotreachingtheproposedlevelsofconstraint.So,whatthenaretheblockagesthatarestoppingusmakingprogresstowardreasonablegoals?Ihavelistedafew.

    1.Apathy

    Apathyofthegeneralpublicisoftenpointedoutasacauseofnotenforcingproperactionsintheinterestsofsustainability.Thepublicisheavilyinfluencedbythemediaandthemediaaretoooftenfocusedongettingtheattentionoftheiraudiencebywhatevermeans-"breakingnews",gameshows,entertainment.Hence,alackofinterestonthepartofthepublicforseriousissues,particularlythoseofalongtermnature.Complacency,likeapathy,isanotherformofdisinterestandthereforeofinaction.TheBritishexpression

    ImallrightJackisacommononeinthisregard.LookinginGoogleforadefinitiofapathycomesupwithItsnotimportant:dontworryaboutit.

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    2.Denial

    Onmattersofimportancethereisoftenanattitudeofdenial.Thisisparticularlysoiftheissuesinvolvemajorchangesorarefrighteningtobehold.Climatechangehasbeenindenialforalongtime,andisstillsoforsomepeople.

    ThomasHomer-DixoninhisbookTheUpsideofDown2)identifiesthreestagesofdenial.Thefirststagesaystheissuejustdoesntexist;thesecondstageadmits

    theproblembutsaysitdoesntmatter;thethirdsayswearejustnotgoingtothinkaboutit.

    Sodenialisablockagetotakingactiononmajorproblemsthatpeoplecannotface.

    AnothersearchonGoogle3)broughtupthisquotefromapoliticianinIndia,SanjayNirupamOnealwayshearsaboutAIDSandhowitsthisbigproblem.ButIhavepersonallynevercomeacrossanyonewithAIDSorseenanyonedyingofthedisease....Ithinkitsjusthype.

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    Hardtobelieve,butthereitis.

    IthinkthataftertheKatrinadisasterintheU.S.manypeoplereturnedtotheirhomesindenialthatitcouldeverhappenagain.Othersacknowledgedthepossibilityofarecurrence,takingthelongtermviewandmovedelsewhereoutofdanger.

    3.Compassion

    Itisnaturaltowanttoconserveandlengthenlifeevenatconsiderablecost.AspointedoutinthepreviousChapter,itisbettertoputtheemphasisoneducationtopreventtheexistenceofpovertyorignorance.AtonetimeBillGateswithasincereheartwasdonatingagoodshareofhisfortunetothereliefofsufferinginAfrica.Aspointedoutinthepreviouschapter,itwouldbebetterinthelongrunforsuchmoneytogotopreventingthedis-ANewEthicforHumankind49

    easebeingdonatedto.Compassionisshortterm,butrealitymustbedealtwithtopreventevenmoresufferinginthelongerterm.Sointhatsense,compassioncanbeablockage.Seemsharshbutitisreallymorerealistic.Aninterestingexample:Iprovidedsupportbysmallmonthlypaymentstoafamilyinadevelopingcountrythroughoneoftheseveralagenciesthatprovidedthatservice.Afriendofminehadoccasiontovisitthecountryconcernedandtheactualfamilyrece

    ivingthebenefits.Itturnedoutthatthemoneybeingprovidedsetthefamilyapartfromtheirpeersandalthoughallwereindeeppovertyitupsetthesocialbalanceandwasresented.Theglassesthatwereprovidedbytheagencyfrommycontributionswerenotwornbythechildneedingthemasitmadehimstandoutunfavourablyfromhisfriendsandneighbours.Inotherwordstheactsofcompassiondidnotcontributetoanimprovedsocialsituation.Forcompassiontobeablockagetoimprovementisastrangephenomenonbutmustfirstberecognizedthenexercisedwithreasonablejudgement.

    4.Beliefsystems

    Beliefsystems,liketribalism,canactasblockagestocertainaspectsofthesocialstructure.Religionisabeliefsystemthatwhenrigidandstrictlyfollow

    edcanconflictwithorlimittheapplicationofsuchprogramsasbirthcontrol,socialstability.Warsareoftenbasedonareligiousstruggleforpowerordominance.5.Tribalism

    InherbookWorldonFire4)theauthorAmyChuatalksabouttheimpactoftribalismonworldactivities.Shedescribesitasethnichatred.ItcanbeseeninIsralvsPalestine,inSunnivsShiite,andMuslimvsChristian.ANewEthicforHumankind

    50

    ChuastartsherbookwiththestoryofthemurderofherauntinthePhilippinesbyherchauffeur.HerauntwasoneoftheChineseminoritythatcontrolledmuch

    ofthePhilippineeconomyandthechauffeurwasofthenativemajority.Ethnichatred,shesays,isrampantinsuchjurisdictionswheretheethnicminoritycontrolsthemajorityofthetoolsofpower.Thesub-titleofherbooktellsthesubstanceofthecontent:HowExportingFreeMarketDemocracyBreedsEthnicHatredandGlobalInstability.Ethnicbeliefsandcustomsaresoingrainedthattheyoverrideordinaryjusticeandequalityofrelationships.Andindividualsinthenativemajorityarewillingtogototheextremeintheirbehaviourtoprotecttheirculture.Anyonewhoiswillingtogototheextremeisadangerouspersonandpotentiallyliabletocreatesocialinstability.6.BirthControl

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    Thereluctancetopracticebirthcontrolisamajorfactorinpopulationcontrol.ThepolicyoftheCatholicChurchistobantheuseofartificialbirthcontrolmethodsorabortionaswaspointedoutinapreviouschapter.Agenciesandactiviststhatopposeartificialmethodsofbirthcontrolandabortionareadefiniteblockagetothecontrolofpopulationgrowth.Andpopulationgrowthisoneofthemostseriousfactorsinthecreationofasustainableplanet.

    Ifsavinglivesistheissuethenonemustconsiderthecostsinlivesofaplanetthatcannotsustainitsgrowingpopulation.Shorttermthinkingandcompassionacttoleadtheworldintomassstarvationandsocialstressesoftheworstkind.Strangethatsomepeoplecannotseeoracceptthat.

    Ifoundoutthatwww.Lifenews.comwasusefulforfurtherinformationonprogramstolimitpopulationgrowth,ANewEthicforHumankind

    51

    muchofitpro-lifeandthereforecontroversial.Butwhatisreality?

    7.Poverty

    Povertyisarecognizedsourceandcauseofpopulationgrowth.Itisinthecountrieswiththeloweststandardoflivingthathavethelargestgrowthrates.Raisingtheeconomicleveldoesresult,generally,inlowerbirthrates.Butthisa

    ttheexpenseofincreasedeconomicgrowthanditsconsequencestotheenvironment.

    Povertyisoneblockagetoenvironmentalstabilitybutitsalleviationmustbecombinedwithreducingeconomicgrowthelsewheretobalancetheequation.8.Self-interest

    Self-interestisoneofthemostpowerfulincentivesinbothindividualandorganizationaldecisionsandactions.Andself-interestrarelylooksveryfarahead.AsAdamSmithsaid,self-interestisthedrivingforceofthemarketplaceandshouldnotbeinterferedwith.Selfinterestisarguablythemostimportantblockagetotheimplementationofprogramstoensureasustainablefutureworld.

    9.Short-termvslongterm.

    Short-termthinkingisoneofthemostcriticalofblockagestotheacceptanceandimplementationofprogramstopreservetheenvironment.Rightnow,everythingisgoingwell,dontdisturbit,isacommonattitude.Suchanattitudepervadescurrenteconomics,aswasmentionedinapreviousChapter.

    Actionstoprotecttheworldfromexcessiveglobalwarmingortheconsumingofresourcestothepointofextinctionare,bytheirverynature,longrangeconcerns.ANewEthicforHumankind

    52

    ScientistsformanyyearswerewarningtheCanadiangovernmentofthetrendsinover-fishingontheAtlanticcoast.Butitwasnotuntiltheshort-termforecastsmadetheendofthecodfisheryappearfrighteninglyclosethatthelong-termtrendsbecameanimminentreality.10.Incentives

    Tounderstandanyactionitisimportanttolookfortheincentivesthatunderlieanddrivetheprocess.Tounderstandwhypeopledowhattheydo,justaskwhatistheincentive?Inmanyoftheblockageslistedhere,thekeytounderstandingthemistoseekandidentifytheincentivethatdrivesthem.

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    11.Economics

    Inthefieldofeconomicsthepracticeofnotallowingforfullproductcostingisanimportantblockagetotheconstraintsofconsumption.Thecostsofdisposingofwasteduringmanufactureandthedisposalofpackagingbytheconsumeraretwoexternalcoststhatarebornebythetaxpayer.

    Insomeindustriescertainby-productsorwastesaredumpedfreelyintotheairorwatersystems.Thesearesignificantcontributorstopollutionandglobalwarmingandcannotbeignored.

    ThewholeissueofexternalitiesinthecostingprocessisworthyofexaminationandnewmethodsfoundtowardsamoreequitablesystemThesolutionisnotonlyinthefieldofeconomicsbutalsointhecreatingofpublicacceptanceofappropriatemethodsofallocatingtheseexternalitiesfairly.

    WehaveshowninapreviousChapterhowgrowthdrivestheeconomicengine.Itisoneofthemostpowerfulforcesthatmustbere-alignedintheinterestofstabilityofANewEthicforHumankind

    53

    theplanet.Mustwefacea"no-growth"economy?Well,perhaps,butnotintheoldway

    12.Capitalism(business)

    OneofthemostpowerfulinfluencesintherunningofacountryisbusinessorcapitalismaspractisedintheWest.AsImayhavementionedbefore,InoticedanewsreportofaU.S.senatorwhodeclinedtorunforre-electionwhenhisseatwasassured,because,ashesaid,thecountrywasungovernable.HewasreferringtothepoweroflobbiestoinfluencethevotesinCongressoftenoverridingthewishesofthepeopleinhisconstituency.ThiswasalsothecasewhentheU.S.declinedtoratifytheKyotoProtocol;thecurrenteconomyandtheimpactofbusinessesweremoreimportantthanthelongruninterestsofthecountry.Itwasthebusinesseconomyfirst,andenvironmentsecond.

    Foranotherexample,ittookyearsofefforttoeffectchangesintheuseoftobaccobythecitizenrybecauseofthestrengthofthebusinessopposition.Businessisonepowerfulblockagetomeasuresthataffectsthem.13.Cost

    Costofimplementationofprogramstoprotecttheenvironmentortheover-consumptionofresourcesisablockagetoconcertedactiononthepartofbothbusinessandgovernment.

    However,manycompanieshaveshownthatthecostsofimplementingconservationmeasureshavebeenrecoverableintheshorttermbyinnovationandnewtechnology.RayAndersonCEOofhiscarpetmanufacturingcompanyisagoodexample.5)TheInternethasaquotefromthereference:

    "BycombiningenvironmentalismwithdedicationANewEthicforHumankind

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    tohiscompany

    ssuccess,Andersonhasproventhatbeinggreencanalsobringinthegreenforbigbusiness"

    14.Governance

    Althoughdemocracyissaidtobethebestformofgovernmentthattheworldhas

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    experienced,itisoftendiscouraginglyslowtoactwhenimportantissuesareofalongtermnature.Whetherpopulationcontrolisagoodthingornot,itisabundantlyclearthatitwouldbeverydifficulttolegislateinademocracy-althoughithasbeeninChina.MovingintoIraqbytheUSin2001whentheevidencewasnotsufficientandthepublicwasnotfullysupportive,showsthefrailtyofthedemocraticprocess.Theremayindeedbeanewformofgovernanceyettobefound,andpractised,thatwillservethepeoplewiththelong-terminterestsofthenation.Itispossiblethatinthefuturewhenstabilityisseriouslythreatened,amorefirmformofgovernancewillbethealternativetoourpresentdemocraticform.Inthisevent,weshallhavetowaitandsee!

    IntheearlydaysoftheBritishparliamentarysystemtheysetupaHouseofLords.Thiswastoensurethatthedecisionsofparliament,consistingoftheelectedpeasantsandmerchants,didnotendangerthestabilityofthenation.Thusthetyrannyofthemajoritywaskeptincheckbytheso-calledupperhouse.

    Decisionsbygovernmentscanbesoall-embracingastobethemostimportantlevelofpolicymakingandactionthatexistsinanation.Therefore,itismoreimportanttoworkatthislevelformajorchangesintheoverallenvironment.Thetop-downapproachismoreeffectivethantryingtoimplementlargechangesattheindividuallevel.

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    Democracyissupposedtobringstabilitytothenation,butsometimesthewillofthemajorityisindeeddangerous.Thishasbeendemonstratedmanytimes.InAmericasefforttospreaddemocracytoothercountries,ithasoftenoccurredthatitbackfiredbygeneratingantiAmericangovernmentmovementsinthetargetcountry..Frominformationindiscussionwithpeopleconcerned,IwasgiventounderstandthatwhenPierreTrudeauwasinSalzburgattendingaClubofRomemeeting,hewasheardtosaysomethingtothiseffect:Iagreewiththeimportanceofallwearediscussing,butifIweretogobacktoCanadaandtrytoimplementtherequiredprograms,Iwouldbeoutofofficeatthenextelection-orbefore.Andthesadpartisthatmysuccessorwouldbeinthesamefix.

    Soberwords,butIseethisasrealityasweareexperiencingit.

    15.Politicalwill

    Aftertheremarksinthepreviousparagraph,itiseasytoseethatittakesstrongpoliticalwilltoproposeandpossiblyimplementprogramsthatinvolvemajorchangesandcostsintheinterestofthelongtermlifeoftheplanet.Iwastoldatonetimethatagovernmentministersaidthattoimplementanyprogram,ittakesthesupportofatleast80%ofthepeople.Thismayornotbeanaccuratefigure,butitdoesshowthedifficulties,yesblockagestotheimplementationofboldinitiativesinthedemocraticregimes.Sad,perhapsbutnecessarytounderstand.16.Globalization

    Withmodernmethodsoftransportationandcommunicationstheprocessofglobalizationismovingrapidlyandseemsunstoppable.ItcreatesandencouragesANewEthicforHumankind

    56

    increasedeconomicgrowth,corporateconcentrationandthereforeincreasedconsumptionandpollution.Globalizationbycreatingtheconcentrationofwealthinfewerhandsgivesmorepowertobusinessandincreasesthespreadbetweenthesocialclasses.Howtodealwiththisongoingphenomenonisnotclear,butthefirs

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    tstepistobeawareofthedangerstotheenvironmentandplanappropriatesteps.Itcanbeindeedasignificantblockagetoadoptingwidespreadenvironmentalprograms.Tosumup

    Thekeyblockages,toputitsimply,are:1.Thelackofpoliticalwillandcourageforgovernmentstorecognizeandenactthenecessarystepstoprotectthefuture.

    2.Thelackofpublicsupportforthenecessarychangesingovernmentregulationsandlegislation.2.Theincentivesforgrowththatkeeptheeconomygrowingrelentlesslyonward.

    REFERENCES

    1)SeeWikipediaontheInternet

    2)Homer-Dixon,Thomas,TheUpsideofDown,AlfredA.KnopfCanada,2006

    3)Googlesearchfor"AIDS,India,SanjayNuripam"4)Chua,Amy,WorldonFire,RandomHouse,Inc.,NewYork,2003

    5)SeeInternet;

    http://www.myhero.com/myhero/

    hero.asp?hero=r_anderson

    ANewEthicforHumankind

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    ChapterSix

    TheLawsofChange

    Changeisessentialifhumanityistoprogress.Wemaybesubjectedtoit,orindeedwemaybetheagentsofchange.Perhapsboth!

    PeterdeJager,aconsultantonthemanagementofchange1)showedhowSirIsaacNewtonsLawsofMotionappliedtotheimplementationofchangeinhumanbehaviour.Newtonslawsshowthataprocesswillcontinuealongthesamepathunlesssomeoutsideforceisapplied.So,humanbehaviourwillonlychangewheneffortisapplied.Themagnitudeofchangeisproportionaltotheforceapplied.Itmakessense.

    ThereisalawofchangethatIheardofatonetimeandhavefoundquiteusefulthatgoessomethinglikethis:

    "Tomakeanarithmeticchangeitisnecessarytoapplyanexponentialeffort."Inotherwordstomakeatwotimesdifferenceittakesafourtimeseffort.Orth

    reetonine,etc.Apersonalcase:Iwasgivingatalktoagroupofforemeninapapermillduringoneofmyconsultingassignmentsandmentionedthelawofchangeandhowitapplied.ThenIsaidtomakeasignificantchangeyouhavetoBLAST!

    Well,nextdayasIwentaroundtheplant,variouspeoplesaid:Whatdidyousaytotheforemenlastnight?Theyareallraisinghelltoday!So,maybeIoverdidthelesson.

    Havingsaidthat,InowhavetorecognizeachapterinmybookManagementReader

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    2)calledTryingHarder.Theessencehereisthateffortalonecanonlyincreaseotputasmallamount,somethinglike28%.Ontheotherhand,achangeofmethodcanincreasetheoutputmanytimesover.Sothemessageissimply:ANewEthicforHumankind

    58

    Tryingharderdoesntwork;changethemethod.Alessontoberemembered,andtobecludedwiththelawsofchange.

    Anotherexample:Iwasinchargeofajobevaluationprojectwherethetargetwastowriteandrate10,000jobsinoneyear.Alargecommitment.Andweweregettingbehindschedule.Ourteamwaswritinganaverageof3jobsperinterviewerperdayandthatwasnotenough.Iurgedthestafftoworkharderandimprovethecurrentoutput.Afterawhile,nochange.Still3jobsperday.SoIrememberedaseminarwhereweweretoldhowtorescheduleworktoreachdeadlinesthatwereslipping.Thiswasforcompaniesworkingonequipmenttoreachandlandonthemoon-andreturnsafelytoEarth.Hundreds,ifnotthousandsofcontractorsandsub-contractorswereinvolvedandallhadtocoordinatetoafixedscheduletomaketheestablisheddeadlines.Asmalldelayinoneoperationcouldcostthewholeprogramhugelosses.Sotheindividualprojectshadtobefinishedontime.Ifaprojectgetsbehindschedulewhatcanyoudotocatchup?Severaloptions:

    -addalotmorelabour

    -addaninfusionofmuchmoremoney

    -increasethequalityrisk

    -makeamajorchangeofmethodWecouldnotaddmoremoneyormorelabourbutwecouldconsiderqualityandmethod.Sowechangedfromeachinterviewerworkingdirectlywiththejobincumbent,totrainingthesupervisorofthejobtobedescribedtowritethejobandourinterviewerwouldedittheoutput.Thisincreasedthequalityriskasmallamountbutincreasedoutputbytwoorthreetimes.WethenwereANewEthicforHumankind

    59

    abletomeetourdeadlineof10,000jobsinthatoneyear.Amajoraccomplishment.

    Howdoesallthisrelatetocreatingasustainableworldthroughanewethic?Well,ittakeshugeefforttomakemajorchangesandanurgentneedfornewmethodsthatwemayyethavetolearn.Nomeantask.Now,whatkindofchangeswouldweanticipatetocreateasustainableworld?

    ChangerequiresmotivationandincentivesorwecontinueaswithNewtonsLawsofMotion-continuinginthesameoldway.Changecanhappenfromthebottomup(activistsandpublicdemonstrations)orfromthetopdown(governmentorCEOdict

    um).Theaveragecitizencanrespondandadapttochange,orpreferablyactasanmotivatorofchange.

    WesawinapreviousChapterhowtheincentivesforprofitcreateanever-changinggrowtheconomy.Sohowdoyoustopit?Theremustbeconstraints,aswellasincentives,insomeformofbalance.Constraintsaretherulesandregulationsimposedbygovernments.Inademocracy,constraintscanonlybeimposedonanacceptingpublicandthathaslimits.LesterBrowninhisbookEco-Economy3)showshowtaxshifting,asappliedinsomecountriesinEuropeisausefulgovernmentpolicytoencourageecologicalimprovement.Inthiscase,personalincometaxes

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    arereducedbutataxonpollutersisincreasedsothatthetotaltaxgatheredisthesame.Itisanexcellentexampleofapplyingnewconceptstothetraditionaleconomicgrowthsyndromeintheinterestsofpreservingtheenvironment.Allthisinvitesthequestion,canyoulegislatehumanbehaviour?Inademocracy,yesifthepeoplegenerallyareinsupport.TakeforexampleHumanRights.EstablishinglawsfortherecognitionofhumanrightswasANewEthicforHumankind

    60

    amajorachievementofthe20thcentury.Consideralsotobaccolegislation,orseat-beltlaws.Buthowfarcanapoliticalleadergoinenforcingmeasurestoreduceglobalwarming?Notveryfar,asweseeintheKyotoProtocol,andtheactionsofvariouscountriesoftheworld.Fearisapowerfulmotivatorforinducingchange.Fearofthedrasticeffectsofclimatechange,aspointedoutbymanyscientists,hasshownsomepositiveresults.Somepeoplesaythatfearofterrorismhasproducedanover-reaction.Thismaybeso,butthereasonisthatitisanissuethatpeoplecanseeandexperience.Itisheretoday.Fearoftheeffectsontheworldenvironmentisalongertermissueandisoftendeniedorneutralized.Fearoftengeneratesdenialandthereluctancetoact,orthereplacementwithhope.Realitymustbeacknowledged.Thetrickthereforeistounderstandthelawsofchangethenfindouthowtocreatetheincentivesandmotivatorscombinedwithabalanceofconstraintstoensureasustainableworld.

    REFERENCES

    1)deJager,PeteronManagementofChange:http://www.technobility.com/docs/article054.htm2)www.fredgthompson.comthenclickonPublicationsonsidebarandfindManagementReader.3)Brown,Lester,Eco-Economy-BuildinganEconomyfortheEarth,KoganPage,London,U.K.,2003

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    ChapterSeven

    GlobalManifesto

    InmyinterestintakingsomekindofactionregardingthelongerrangefutureIpreparedthisGlobalManifestoseveralyearsagoandpublisheditontheInternet.Ihaveupdatedthedatabutotherwiseitisthesameastheoriginal.Itformsagoodsummaryofchangesthatneedtobemadetoprovideforabetterworldintheyearstocome.Iwouldencouragereaderstofeelfreetocopyanddistributewithduerecognitionofauthorship.GlobalManifesto

    PREAMBLE

    Itisbecomingmoreandmoreobviousthatsteadilyincreasingpopulationandincreasingmaterialconsumptionarecreatingaworldthatisfastconsumingitscapitalandpushingnatureslimits.Therehasbeennolackofwarningsissuedbyvar

    iousindividualsandorganizationsbutmorecorrectiveactionmustbeimplemented.Thetimeisnowwhenurgentactionisrequiredbeforepollutionandshortagesoffertileland-andwater-createaworldthatcannotrecoverfromthepillagingthathasbeenandisgoingon.Thefollowingdocumenthasbeenpreparedtoalertdecisionmakersinbusiness,governmentandacademiatowhatactionisurgentlyrequired.A.POPULATION

    FACTS

    Worldpopulationin2007isestimatedbytheU.S.CensusBureautobe6.6billio

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    nandincreasingby73ANewEthicforHumankind

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    millionperyear,agrowthrateof1.15%.By2050theyestimateitwillreach9.4billionatthereducedrateofincreaseof0.49dependingonratesoffertility,especiallyinthethirdworld.1)

    Increasingpopulationrequiresincreasingsuppliesofenergy,water,grazingland,grainlands,fisheriesandothernaturalresourcesallofwhicharealreadyatrisk,anddecliningonanabsoluteandperpersonbasis.Increasingpopulationgeneratesmorepollutionofair,waterandthesoilastheresultofincreasedconsumptionofresources.Increasingpopulationbecomesconcentratedincitieswhichgeneratesproblemsofhousing,transportation,foodandenergy,withincreasedpotentialforpovertyandsocialunrest.

    ACTIONREQUIRED

    Nationalgovernmentsmustmakeurgenteffortstostabilizepopulationbylimitingbirthsby:familyplanning,birthcontrolandupgradingthestatusofwomen,andinsomecasestheenactingoflegislationlimitingfamilysize.

    Religiousandsocialbodiesmustliftrestrictionsonbirthcontrol.

    Theeducationofwomeninlessdevelopedcountriesshouldbeencouragedandfinancedbythemoredevelopedcountries.

    B.ENERGY

    FACTS

    Oilandcoalrepresent64%ofworldenergyusedofwhichoilwas36%(2006)2)mostofwhichisburnedreleasinglargeamountsofCOtotheatmosphere.Thisis2

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    amajorcontributortoglobalwarming.Massiveburningofcoal-28%ofworldenergy(2006)-willhaveaseriousimpactonglobalwarmingdueagaintothereleaseofCOtotheatmosphere.Alternative2

    energytoreplaceoilisunlikelytobeavailabletosatisfyincreasingdemands(evenathigherprices)bythenextdecadeatpresentratesofdevelopment.Politicaldecisionsinoilproducingcountriescoulddrasticallyreduceorcutoffoilsuppliestothemajoroilconsumingcountriescausingamajorfuelcrisisintransportation,heatingandelectricpowergeneration.ThewebsiteTheComingGlobalOilCrisissupportstheaboveconcerns:3)

    Agrowingnumberofanalystsnowpredictthatglobaloilproductionwillpeakwith

    inthecomingdecadeandthenstarttodecline,leadingtohigherenergypriceswithmajoreconomicconsequences.Oilisthelargestsingletradedcommodityintheworld.Itsuppliesabout95percentofalltransportationfuelsand40percentoftheworldscommercialenergy.Italsoprovidesfeedstockforthousandsofmanufacturedproductsandiscriticalforfoodproduction.

    ACTIONREQUIRED

    Commitmentofmuchlargerresourcestothedevelopmentofalternativesourcesofenergy(suchaswind,solar,geothermal,fuelcell,hydrogen)toreplaceoil,p

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    articularlyintransportation,bynationalgovernmentsandbusiness,withspecifictargetsofavailabilitytoadefinitetimehorizon.

    LargeincreaseininvestmentintheprocessesfortheANewEthicforHumankind

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    capturingandsequesteringofCOtoavoiditsreleaseinto2

    theatmosphere,includingtheimmediatefundingofprototypes,isurgentlyrequired.GovernmentsmustsetandenforcestricterstandardsforautomobilegeneratedpollutionasinCalifornia.Programsmustbeimplementedbytheenergyindustrytoincreasepublicacceptanceofnuclearenergytoenabletheinstallationoftherequiredsupplyofenergybythetimetheoilsupplyisoverthepeakinthenext10orsoyears.Researchmustbeincreasedonacceptablemeansofdisposalofnuclearwaste.

    Bothgovernmentsandbusinessesareurgedtoprepareandpublishrealisticalternativescenariosfortheanticipatedconstraintsimposedbyareducedoilsupplyincludingrecommendedsolutions.

    Emergencyplansshouldbesetuptodealwithapossiblesuddencuttingoffofforeignoilsuppliestomajoroilconsumingcountries.

    C.ENVIRONMENT

    FACTS

    Globalwarmingisnowanacceptedfactwithitsimpactonsealevels,weather,desertificationandmeltingofglaciersandicecaps.4)

    Globalwarmingrequiresincreasingamountsofwaterforirrigation.

    Watertablesworld-widearedroppingyear-by-yearinthefaceofrisingpopulationandindustrydemands.Thismaywellbethecriticalresourceofthefuture.5)Industrialpollutionisincreasinglycontaminatingfreshwaterbodies,makingthemunpotableandkillingoffmarinelife.

    DestructionoftherainforestsandforestsingeneraliscausingrapidspeciesextinctionandhavinganegativeANewEthicforHumankind

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    impactonweatherpatterns.Transportationandmanufacturingarecreatingmajorlevelsofpollutionofbothairandwaterresources,andtheratewillrapidlyincreaseaslessdevelopedcountriesincreasetheiraspirations.Themajorbasesoffoodsupplyarerapidlydeterioratingincludinggrasslands,grazinglands,fisheries,anddemandsareincreasingonaperpersonbasisandasworldtotals.SeevariousresearchpapersoftheWorldwatchInstitute.6)

    ACTIONREQUIRED

    StricterregulationsandstandardsmustbeestablishedtowardsreducingtheescapeofCOintotheatmos2pheretoreduceglobalwarming.

    Waterconsumptionmustberationed(oralternativeproceduresdeveloped)topreservewatertablesinappropriateareaswithresponsiblestewardshipbeforetheybecomeexhausted.

    Cleanwaterlawsneedtobecreatedorre-inforcedwithappropriatepenaltiesfo

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    rnon-compliance.Deforestationmuststopandprogramsdevelopedbywealthiercountriesforthelessdevelopedcountrieswherethedeforestationistakingplace.Stewardshipofforestsiscalledfor.

    Governmentsandindustrymustsetnewandstricterstandardsofpollution,beyondthosealreadysetatKyotoandRiowithseverepenaltiesforinfraction.Longtermscenariosmustbedevelopedtorationalizethisprocedure.Governmentsmustimplementappropriatetaxationonremovalofnaturalresourcestoallowforreplacementordevelopmentofalternativelessdestructiveprocedures.ANewEthicforHumankind

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    D.ECONOMICS

    FACTS

    Economictheoryandpracticedoesnotadequatelyfactorinthecostofnon-renewableresourceconsumptionanddepletion.

    Bothgovernmentsandbusinessarededicatedtoacontinualincreaseineconomicgrowthandprofit,withalackofconcernforthecosttotheecosphere.Economicgrowthhasbeenandisnowthebasisofincreasingstandardoflivingbutisconsumingnaturescapitalandcreatingindustrialwasteandair,waterandsoilpo

    llution.

    Economicgrowthaspresentlyconceivedcannotcontinueespeciallyaslessdevelopedcountriesattempttoattainthehighconsumptionlevelsofthemoredevelopedcountries.Naturehaslimits.

    Currentindicesofgrossdomesticproduct(GDP)donotreflecttheecologicalcostoftheconsumptionofresourcesandconcernforthelongertermfutureoftheplanet.

    Economicsistakingpriorityovertheenvironmenttothedetrimentofthelongtermhumanlifeontheplanet.ACTIONREQUIRED

    EconomistsmustnowbandtogethertocreatenewapproachestoeconomictheoryandpracticestoincludelongertermimpactsofconsumptionoftheEarthscapitalresources.

    Newindicesofthetruestateoftheeconomymustbedevelopedtotakeintoaccounttheconsumptionofnaturescapitalandthelossofunrenewableresources.Businessmustre-examineitsroleinviewinggrowthastheonlywaytosucceed,andfindwaystosatisfyANewEthicforHumankind

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    shareholdersintheshorttermwithoutpollutingtheearthandunnecessarilyconsumingresources.E.VALUES

    FACTS

    Governments,andtheirleaders,aretoooftenwaitingforthepeopletodemandstricterstandardsforpopulation,energyandtheenvironmentandnotprovidingthevision,courageandleadershiprequiredtocopewiththelongertermtrendsthatthreatentheplanet.

    Lobbyingbyprivateandcommercialgroups,oftenassociatedwithlargesumsofmoney,hastoomuchinfluenceongovernmentdecisionsandlegislationtothepoin

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    twherepublicinterestisbypassed.ACTIONREQUIRED

    Governmentsmusttakealeadershiproleintheprotectionoftheenvironmentforthelongrangegoodofthepeopletheygovern,andnotbedelayedordivertedbylargefinancialinputsfromprivateinterests.Politiciansandthoseresponsibleforgovernmentdecisionsmustberesponsibletothepeopleandthepracticeoflobbyingbycommercialinterestsconstrainedormadeanopenbookavailabletoallcitizens.Governmentsshouldimplementaseniordepartmentontheenvironment,asinsomecountries,thatwillhaveseniorityoverotherdepartmentsandtherightofadviceandvetoinproposedlegislation

    F.OTHEROBSERVATIONS

    Enoughstudieshavebeendoneontheaboveproblemsandconcerns;nowisthetimeforactiontobeANewEthicforHumankind

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    responsiblestewardsoftheEarthtoavoidpolitical,social,economicandenvironmentaldifficulties.Wearepushingnatureslimits,andstrongercorrectiveactioncanbeputoffnolonger.

    ThisGlobalManifestofocusesonissuesofpopulation,economicsandtheenvironment,toprotectthefiniteplanetweliveon.Itdoesnotcoverotherconcerns

    suchaspoverty,humanrightsorarmedconflict..WecanlearnalotfromthestoryofEasterIslandinthePacificOcean:

    http://www.eco-action.org/dt/eisland.htmlAndthatistheGlobalManifestowhichisfreelyavailableforcopyingandredistributionwithcredittoFredG.ThompsonandFuturescanConsulting.REFERENCES

    1)www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/worldpop.html2)USGSwebsite:http://www.usgs.gov/3)http://www.oilcrisis.com/

    4)http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/default.asp5)http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/paper/128/6)http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/paper/ANewEthicforHumankind

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    ChapterEight

    SocialInventions

    StuartConger,whenhewasExecutiveDirectorofaCanadiangovernmentprogramNewStart,conductedastudySocialInventionsandpublishedanin-housedocumentonitin1970.

    IknewStuartasaninnovativethinkerwhenIwasinthefederalgovernmentsoIpaidattentiontothisstudyofhis.Hepointedoutinthestudythattherehavebeenmanytechnicalandscientificinventionsovertheyearsbutthedevelopme

    ntofsocialinventionshasnotkeptpace.AfterCongerfirstpublishedhispaperonSocialInventions,itwaspublishedasanarticlein"TheFuturist"magazine1)ofAugust1973andattractedtheinterestofpeopleinEuropeactiveinthisfield.RobertJungk,aprominentEuropeanfuturist,andcreatoroftheprojectMankind2000,noticed"TheFuturist"articleonsocialinventionsandpassedthewordalongtothenewlyformedParisgroupInternationalFoundationforSocialInnovation.Theysentarepresentative,JeannineGueron,overtoNorthAmericatolearnofsocialinnovationsandintheprocesslookedupStuartCongerinOttawa.OnApril16,1975,sheconvenedameetingofinterestedpeopleintheOttawaareaandincludedmeinthatevent.

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    GuerontalkedabouttheworkoftheFoundationandlearnedaboutsomeofthesocialinnovationswehadinCanada.ShealsoinvitedustoattendtheproposedconferenceonSocialInnovationtobeheldinParisonSeptember25,26,1975.

    Iwasabletoattendtheevent2)andnotedthatshortlyafter,theorganizerssetuptheInstituteforSocialInventionsinEngland.ThiswasfollowedbytheircreatingtheANewEthicforHum