Comments on: Growth and CO2 http://www.picobusiness.com/blog/2008/08/growth-and-co2/ In the future, everyone will be CEO for 15 minutes Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:50:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: jb http://www.picobusiness.com/blog/2008/08/growth-and-co2/#comment-252067 jb Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:21:52 +0000 http://www.picobusiness.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/06/growth-and-co2/#comment-252067 Of course there are ways to shrink emissions whilst growing the economy. But, unfortunately, a number of the people in charge of the 'green' movement do not want us to innovate our way out of this problem. Because innovation means corporations and humans get to stay rich and powerful, and, unfortunately, green politics and marxist politics have become intertwined. Let me be clear - not every advocate for green energy and more sustainable lifestyles is a marxist. I don't have a problem with people advocating for reductions in pollution, concern about toxic waste, etc. But at the end of the day, the asteroid that will eventually hit the Earth will not care how clean the air and water is. If we deliberately stifle our technological innovation, or if we were to eliminate ourselves from the planet, who will save all the bunnies and chipmunks? Until we have a highly reliable asteroid detection and diversion system, or (even better) multiple sustainable colonies on other planets (and ideally other solar systems), all life on Earth is at risk. We may do a piss-poor job of husbanding the Earth's creatures, and I'm sure we could do better, but at the end of the day, we are far more munificent than Lucifer's Hammer will ever be. Of course there are ways to shrink emissions whilst growing the economy. But, unfortunately, a number of the people in charge of the ‘green’ movement do not want us to innovate our way out of this problem. Because innovation means corporations and humans get to stay rich and powerful, and, unfortunately, green politics and marxist politics have become intertwined.

Let me be clear - not every advocate for green energy and more sustainable lifestyles is a marxist. I don’t have a problem with people advocating for reductions in pollution, concern about toxic waste, etc.

But at the end of the day, the asteroid that will eventually hit the Earth will not care how clean the air and water is. If we deliberately stifle our technological innovation, or if we were to eliminate ourselves from the planet, who will save all the bunnies and chipmunks?

Until we have a highly reliable asteroid detection and diversion system, or (even better) multiple sustainable colonies on other planets (and ideally other solar systems), all life on Earth is at risk.

We may do a piss-poor job of husbanding the Earth’s creatures, and I’m sure we could do better, but at the end of the day, we are far more munificent than Lucifer’s Hammer will ever be.

]]> By: Walter R. Moore http://www.picobusiness.com/blog/2008/08/growth-and-co2/#comment-251949 Walter R. Moore Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:04:21 +0000 http://www.picobusiness.com/blog/index.php/2008/08/06/growth-and-co2/#comment-251949 If shrinking emissions means shrinking the economy - if there really is no way to innovate - Jesus, is Paris Hilton smarter than the entire western political class? - If that's true we're doomed. My bet is we can find a way to provide technological civilization - greener energy, nuclear power, smaller better designed cars, and make money doing it. If shrinking emissions means shrinking the economy - if there really is no way to innovate - Jesus, is Paris Hilton smarter than the entire western political class? - If that’s true we’re doomed.

My bet is we can find a way to provide technological civilization - greener energy, nuclear power, smaller better designed cars, and make money doing it.

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