I was particularly struck by Stewart Brand's talk
on environmental heresies. He brought up controversial issues like the
legitimate use of nuclear power, he talks about the kinds of wars we
will have in the future (over resources like water) and he makes a case
for geo-engineering. He looks the issues squarely in the face and he
challenges people to go beyond political correctness and just address
whatever is urgent. The urban poor and where
they will take the world in a few decades was a really interesting topic
for me. It occurs to me that the urban poor question is hopeless. It's
too big, too overwhelming and I don't know how in the world there will
ever be a solution for it. And yet, it it is this sector that is shaping
the future of our climate. It is the developing countries and the needs
of the urban poor (who form the majority in the cities) that will shape
where we will go with renewable energy.
I take this realization with the case made by Rob Hopkins on resilience.
It reminds me of a conversation I had with my husband about "The
Invisible Hand" and how everything will turn out all right in the end
because people will adjust. While I disagreed with him that we should
leave things to chance (or to whatever circumstances come our way), I do
see the wisdom of going back to smaller and smaller circles to address
the requirements of future generations.
If cities will be the habitat of future developing populations...we
need to see this landscape in a different light. I see the following
scenarios: working close to home to remove the need for frequent
transport (and emission of carbon dioxide), creating more means of
public transport (rather than providing more vehicles) to the
population, creating urban gardens (for planting our own food), buying
entirely fresh and local (instead of relying on faraway and
large-carbon-footprint imports), organizing around local requirements,
education about the commons, using less energy when we can use natural
light and natural means of cooling (or heating), re-using plastic,
removing disposables. These are all factors that are entirely possible
with enough support from the ground up.
Only action will get us will get to where we need to go. No matter
how much we are aware or no matter how much we discuss...it is still
action that will spell the difference. Small actions...like ones made in
resilient communities are steps we can all take. We can start there.
The video above is from TED talks, it's the video of Stewart Brand talking about environmental heresies.
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