An open world is the solution to many of the problems humanity has created for itself, from economic instability to ecological instability, from hunger to pollution, from torture to poverty. On the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, JP Lehmann reflects on the many challenges we must all face up to today: The …
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Category:1 Perspective
Our future. You choose.
This photo is not a scare tactic. It is a picture of the biosphere in human form … today. That big head is the rich world, the body is everyone else. We can change our future. The girl in the picture can not. It is up to you to change. To recognise your fears, breathe …
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Do you want to live without trees?
An article in today’s news suggests that we can turn back the tide of carbon by installing thousands of artificial carbon capture trees. OK, it might help. But it’s just the wrong kind of thinking and a tremendous waste of materials. It is real trees that we need. Building steel structures with solar panels and …
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Why don’t we change our behaviour?
Even people who know things are bad for them, like too many sweets, find it hard to change their behaviour. It is easier to change if the result of changing behaviour is immediate, tangible and measureable – that’s evidenced by the labour market – somebody will do anything at a price. But it is more …
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Terry Pratchett on death.
From the UK’s Mail on Sunday. Assisted suicide has been in the headlines because the law incriminating those who assist suicide is under review. Sir Terry has alzheimer’s and has written about death for over three decades. I’ll die before the endgame, says Terry Pratchett in call for law to allow assisted suicides in UK …
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A sober perspective of the ecological crisis
In Bound to Burn, an article copied here, Peter Huber lays out a realistic perspective of the challenge of redirecting our energy consumption patterns. It is very sobering. He outlines the seemingly intractable and growing demand for carbon based fuels, comparing them with an insignificant impact of alternative fuels, concluding that carbon sequestration is the …
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Nationalisation, deglobalisation … Communism?
Not yet. But the hasty reaction to economic problems may become more self-destructive than necessary. Certainly moves to nationalise banks have been necessary to hold the global financial system “together”. And there has been a fall in trade as consumption has faltered. But the increasing popular call for government involvement and deglobalisation is dangerous and …
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Optimistic? Pestimistic? No. Realistic
You’re right to try to be optimistic. Or at least positive. A positive outlook helps keep spirits up, helps avoid despondency. despondency can be the worst because then you just stop doing anything and sink in to a mire of desperation. But optimism about the outlook could be even more dangerous. It could result in …
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Financial Crisis 2008 – what you can do
Here is a slide show to aid your analysis and reaction to the financial crisis. Financial Crisis 2008 – what you can do (pdf 336 kb). It outlines the situation and possible scenarios, then summarises action for consumer, investor and business manager.
Financial crisis 2008 – update
The slide show summarising thoughts on the Financial Crisis (pdf 129 kb)has been updated – a bit more detail but the news is still discomforting. Contents: Historical Precedent Background Situation Outlook Action