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Greens: ‘Economic growth is killing the planet’
Steven Milloy
Junk Science
Friday, Oct 24, 2008
If you need more evidence that the Greens intend to destroy our standard of living, you need not look further than the Oct. 18 issue of New Scientist magazine — the cover of which reads, “The Folly of Growth: How to stop the economy killing the planet.”
The issue features eight articles that New Scientist editors believe justify their editorial entitled, “Why economic growth is killing the planet and what we can do about it.” Presented below the editorial is an ominously drawn graph purporting to show how global temperatures, population, carbon dioxide concentrations, GDP, and loss of tropical rainforest and woodland have dramatically spiked upward since 1750, and how species extinctions, water use, motor vehicle use, paper consumption, fisheries exploitation, ozone depletion, and foreign investment spiked during the 20th century. The editorial concludes that “the science tells us that if we are serious about saving the Earth,” economic growth must be limited.
In the first essay, University of Surrey (UK) sustainable development professor Tim Jackson doubts renewable energy technologies will work without reduced consumption. Rather than buying an energy efficient TV, you ought to consider not buying a TV at all, he says.
Next, prominent Canadian Green David Suzuki says that nothing is more important than the environment and that we need to lower our standard of living. You need to judge your standard of living by “quality of life, your relationships with other people and your community,” Suzuki says. Stores filled with food, record longevity and wealth is an “illusion,” he asserts, because we’re using up our children’s and grandchildren’s inheritance.
(Article continues below)
University of Maryland ecological economist Herman Daly claims that we’ve passed the point where economic growth provides benefits and that we need to “transform our economy from a forward-moving aeroplane to a hovering helicopter,” but that such a “steady-state” economy “doesn’t have to mean freezing in the dark under a communist tyranny.” In trying to explain his latter comment, he says that “Most of the changes could be applied gradually, in mid-air,” by which he apparently means replacing the income tax with a tax on goods to “encourage people to use them sparingly.” Although he acknowledges that this regressive policy would hurt the poor, he says taxes could be used to provide welfare.
James Gustave Speth — Yale University dean, co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council and former adviser to President Jimmy Carter — says that green values stand no chance against market capitalism. Economic growth “creates barriers to dealing with real problems,” he says. While we need to spend more money on social services and environmental protection, he is “not advocating state socialism, he claims, but rather a “non-socialist alternative to today’s capitalism” whatever that means.
Andrew Simms of London’s New Economics Foundation describes as “disingenuous” the argument that global economic growth is needed to eradicate poverty. He says that “we have to overcome knee-jerk rejection of the ‘R’ word — redistribution” and that we need a “Green New Deal” that controls capital and raises taxes to create environmental jobs.
Susan George of the Amsterdam-based Transnational Institute advocates developing a World War II-type mentality toward life including rationing, “victory” or home gardens and the government run by wealthy elites who would work for a salary of $1 per year.
London Metropolitan University “environmental philosopher” Kate Soper says that the tourist industry, food service industry, dating services and gyms are evidence that we need to shift to a less work-intensive economy. “Of course, we would have to “sacrifice some conveniences and pleasures: creature comforts such as regular steaks, hot tubs, luxury cosmetics and easy foreign travel,” she says, but “human ingenuity will surely contrive a range of more eco-friendly excitements.”
What’s missing from the New Scientist compilation of Green-think, of course, are essays from Thomas Malthus, Karl Marx, and, perhaps, Al Gore. Malthus, a prominent nineteenth century economist, famously predicted that a geometrically expanding human population would outpace the arithmetically expanding food supply. Unable to foresee the improvements in agricultural technology, he turned out to be entirely wrong.
Karl Marx could have chimed in with his communist slogan, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need” — where the government gets to determine what your needs are. As implemented in the Soviet Union and Communist China, Marxism resulted in the starvation and murder of perhaps more than one hundred million of people and the political and social repression of the survivors.
Al Gore could have contributed an essay reassuring Green elites that none of this wealth redistribution and standard of living contraction would affect those who, like him, can already afford home indoor heated pools or those who can could afford to spend $65,000 and three weeks jetting around the world with the World Wildlife Fund.
The New Scientist essays reveal how the Greens aim to eviscerate life as we know it. They want to take us from 200 years of “more-bigger-better” to a future of “less-smaller-worse.” Won’t happen, you say?
With Barack Obama leading in the polls, one of his advisors recently issued an ultimatum to Congress regulate carbon dioxide emissions in 18 months or an Obama EPA will do it unilaterally. And then there’s Obama’s famous colloquy with “Joe the Plumber,” where he said he was for redistributing the wealth. And let’s not forget Obama’s comment in May that, “We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times…”
Obama has said he’s for economic growth, yet he’s willing to force-feed us Green policies that would crush it. And as it turns out, that’s what the Greens are really after in the first place.
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19 Responses to “Greens: ‘Economic growth is killing the planet’”
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October 24th, 2008 at 7:10 am
This society peaked out as far as quality of life in the 50’s.
Worrying about the environment is nothing new. We knew that pollution and cutting down forests was bad for the planet back in the 60’s.
Economic “growth” is not responsible for the environmental problems, human greed is. Someplace in the late 50’s, we took a wrong turn on the road forward. Our priorities have moved farther and farther from what they should be over time. Priorities used to be food, clothing, and shelter. Now they are sirloin steak, Sachs 5th Avenue, and Million dollar homes, PLUS fancy cars, expensive electronics, and all the luxuries attributed to “indoor plumbing”. We have developed into a society of spoiled rich kids. SELFISHNESS is what needs to be eliminated. Everyone getting something for nothing (credit) needs to stop. We are nothing but a nation of high class trailer trash.
Oh, horrors, that someone should think we need to stop buying TVs!!!
We live the life of a high classed slave so we can have all the STUFF we want, and this is the end result. Was it worth it? Not in my book.
October 24th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Milloy writes kinda like Nimmo, I like it.
The modern catastrophic ecological theories are often predicated on computer models which are fudged to fit an agenda. This is the case with the IPCC and with the ‘research’ reports to the Club of Rome. The World2 and World3 computer models were used for the ‘Limits to Growth’ study.
I have worked in the computer modeling industry for over 15 years, and I can tell you that it is VERY easy to create unlikely or impossible scenarios in a computer simulation. In the private industry it happens by accident and we call it an ‘unworkable’ model – as in, it defies the laws of physics or thermodynamics. The computer doesn’t know any better, it only knows what the operator tells it.
Also note that the WTC Bldg 7 collapse was ‘modelled’.
It is not often touched upon, but if you discover a ‘movement’ or methodology that utilizes computer models, you should be very skeptical.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Once again blaming the poor people and they wasteful habits for the issues and waste they through onto to them. When is the last time I said that you need to cut down trees to make paper. In fact, we all could be using hemp paper right now if it wasn’t denied by the government.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Everyone should look at the article on hypnosis posted on infowars.com and study this research thoroughly. This is exactly what I have been dealing with on a daily basis. A few things popped out at me like mob hypnosis and war hypnosis turning civilized men into criminals. Being conditioned to verbal or other symbols with mental triggers creating a mental slave.This is also used in psychological warfare and black ops to create and control mind control victims and cults.These techniques are very dangerous in the wrong hands and the public should be aware they are being used on them. I have been aware of these techniques for several years. They have been used to covertly control and manipulate my behaviour. They have been used to try and coerce and force false confessions. They have been used to try and make me act violent or crazy. This is done openly and is easily deniable making it hard for victims to come forth. The article was right to recongnize this type of behaviour as illegal and giving specific court case examples stating “Hypnosis-type mental pressure has been held by the Supreme Court of the United States to be so unduly influential as to deprive someone of their fundamental rights.” I think the bigger story is that someone has attempted to frame myself and is now engaged in a massive coverup attempt. I am followed and harrassed everywhere I go. They are using psychological torture and recreating trauma to control and fragment my mind. This is well known by many and anyone who will not participate or tries to help me is also targeted. I was told by one man that he had to or “they would get me”. I have travelled to canada because they offer refuge protection to peoples who fear persecution or whose removal from Canada would subject them to a danger of torture, a risk to their life or a risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. I was refused and told I needed to contact my local police. How do you contact the police and report corruption? These same people were openly taunting me in canada! I am an employee with the American Red Cross and they recently declared the United States as criminal and guilty of war crimes. The Red Cross is well known for being an advocate and defending human rights worldwide. I am now having the same problems by people who have been recruited or infiltrated positions that would get them close to me so that they might try and get me fired. If this type of illegal persecution and oppression can openly go unchecked and unchallenged it will only grow like a parasite on society and none of us will be safe until it is. Please don’t ignore or disregard this information. There is a covert war against the citizens who have become aware of corruption in the dallas ftworth area. Many people including churches are being persecuted.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Okay, I’ll admit it. I have a Victory Garden….victory from the horrible crap in the store, that is.
We may think of steak as a luxury today, but honestly…yesterday’s hamburger was superior to today’s filet mignon.
Growing your own food in this day and age is a revolutionary act.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Tumor: an abnormal benign or malignant new growth of tissue that possesses no physiological function and arises from uncontrolled usually rapid cellular proliferation —called also neoplasm.
Economic growth is cancerous growth and a fallacy. In a limited system exponential growth is a logical impossibility. It is sheer stupidity to believe that the economy can grow ad infinitum. Resource are not infinite only human stupidity and greed are, or at least seem to be.
To quote Albert Einstein:
The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.
October 25th, 2008 at 6:03 am
there is no dought that we are destroying the planet-we live in a throw away world-we do not fix things anymore-you thow it away and get another-they are spraying chem trails all over the planet-trying to blow holes in the atmosphere-spreading microscopic depleated uranium-they have been poisioning our water supply-our medications-our food-delibertly spreading desiese-starving populations to death-all this by the rich,elite,and insane-starting a carbon tax so we have to pay another human for the right to breathe-we out number these people maybe a thousand to one-if we take them out-do the next flock with the power do the same things?i believe that humans buy nature are preditorial-i dont think humans will ever live in peace-they will always want for more and the only way to get more is to take from another-we are doomed as a society-tribes-groups of peoples with the same values and needs-we need to keep it simple and leave our neighbors be-these are my thoughts-in closing-i will not pay another for the right to breathe-never
October 25th, 2008 at 7:01 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxH_ULntdNQ
October 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Did these arrogant mindless life hating creeps who claim to know not just more than people but God himself ever consider that during their time frame more people especially children were murdered and starved to death than at any time in human history. Worry about unborn children and future generations while more than half the world living today can go fuck themselves is the David Suzuki theology. These fake environmentalists can go suck a green cock.
October 25th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
ever notice that when the chemtrail planes are not up in the sky and running and we have a clear blue sky its alot cooler HMMMMMMM
something to think about
Maybe it just might be the opposite like GLOBAL COOLING
that is really happeneing
I have really taken notice of this
try it next time and see
it should be warmer when there are clouds its actually cooler
October 25th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
sorry last sentance i meant
it should be warmer when there are NO clouds ,its actually cooler
October 25th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
You are absolutely right Kat I have always thought Chemtrails have made it much warmer.I also think they are what is making these weather patterns of hurricanes come in more often.
October 26th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Yo Genius. Its warmer when clouds are above because they act as a insulator traping in the planets heat. when there are no clouds the heat goes straight up..
October 26th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
This article is just inane and insane. And irresponsible.
October 26th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
What a bunch of mumbo-jumbo nonsense. Look to chemtrails and poisoned food for deliberate genocide of people and ‘greenery’. Don’t forget the percholate (rocket fuel) deliberately injected in water. ALL COLD-BLOODED MURDER! MENGELE MANIACS FORCING POISONOUS VACCINATIONS ON CHILDREN WHILE DISPOSING HOG WASTE IN RIVERS DELIBERATELY TO CONTAMINATE THE SYSTEMS!!! Who’s fooling who??? YOU ATTEMPT TO FOOL GOD TOO?
SATAN’S AGENDA SIMPLY FOR DEATH! Nonsense like what’s in this article is to get you to shake hands with the devil himself!
CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM GOD! He makes no mistakes when it comes to life! No individual is a mistake! People are starving by force.
If these dogs were so concerned about the ‘green’ why in God’s name would they spray regions with barium/aluminum? Chemicals that are even making bees run out of their hives? Why? TO DEPLETE POLLINATION WHICH AIDS IN THE FOOD PROCESS!!!
Seeds are deliberately being withheld from farmers and poorer countries so the people will die of starvation. All for the elite to play in Dubai as a reward. The only reward they’ll get is a ticket to hell in their billfold if they don’t repent of the horrible atrocities.
GLOBAL GENOCIDE – GLOBAL HOLOCAUST – GLOBAL POVERTY – GLOBAL MURDER – GLOBAL DESTRUCTION – GLOBAL DECEPTION IS WHAT IT IS!
All those who put their trust in military might rather than God are severely punished. Look it up in the Old Testament. Who are these God-haters??? A vicious people who would attempt to destroy the world before a population has a chance to commit to God? You make the Almighty laugh!
Yes, Revelations must come to pass, but this agenda to kill everyone except for six million elite is no where in scripture whatsoever! They’re going too far. A HOLOCAUST BY THOSE WHO ORCHESTRATED IT BEFORE – The last one was a dress rehearsal, but they won’t get away with it this time! They are the ones who are hindering and frustrating even the central banks. God would deal with their enemies as He’s done so in the past, but now they attempt to fight God Himself because they’ve grown weary of Him too! They’re tired of Him and tired of His discipline that was only meant for their good.
“Man can make his plans all day long, but its God who determines the outcome.”
“He watches over His word to perform it.”
“Heaven and hell shall pass away but My Word shall never pass away.”
GOD WANTS HIS PEOPLE FED! HE SHOULD SMITE YOU SHOULD YOU CONTINUE TO FEED THEM POISONED FOOD AND WATER! FEED HIS PEOPLE! HE WANTS HIS PEOPLE FED!
October 26th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
LACK of production and technological investment is what is “killing the planet”.
MILLIONS starve every year, yet Greens are more concerned with the HANDFUL of people killed in nuclear power accidents.
October 26th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
The Control System does not inculcate belief by lying – at least not all the time. The lies, the subtle twists on the truth, are generally buried deeply in a soft cushion of warm and tender concern for their “chosen ones.” The Control System proceeds by the method of IMITATION. It APES the expression of the positive, and all the more carefully when it wishes to be Mistaken altogether for truly benevolent intentions.
the idea that GOD, Science, and Environment building are all opposed is ludicris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4cxS4hT8lA
October 26th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I agree, the planet is getting trashed but laws won’t change the human behavior behind these problems. It will always be “my survival” and then “the world’s survival.”
October 26th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
The basic premise of this series of articles is correct. The uncontrolled growth that has been in existence for the past fifty years is not sustainable in its current form. To create something then throw it away in a short period of time simply because a newer model is available is wasteful nonsense.
The truth is that we do not know what the size population this planet can sustain and still live in harmony with nature. We, as a global population must look to nature for a very survival. Nature does not waste anything.
In a forest even the leaves that have fallen are converted back into nutrients for the next season’s growth. But what does mankind (in its wisdom) do. We simply collect all of the waste from our lives and toss it into a great hole in the ground. This hole has to be so deep that nothing will ever able to be returned to nature.
We try to grow food crops using artificial fertilizers that in fact kill the beneficial microbes and with the aid of the herbicides and other pesticides poured onto the ground sterilize the ground eventually growing nothing.
Given that about 80% of all garbage produced by society is compostable why are we using oil based fertilizers?
One gas that is essential to plant growth is carbon dioxide. We do in fact need more of it, not less as is currently being touted. The most prolific period of plant growth know to the planet was during the Jurassic period when the Carbon dioxide concentrations were around 1000 ppm as opposed to today’s levels of about 400 ppm.
We cut down whole forests to produce paper which in turn usually ends up in that same hole in the ground. Computers were supposed to end the use of paper but in fact it has caused a proliferation of paper usage. Once you had a copy of a given document now with the push of a button you can produce a thousand copies of that same document.
Even our method of harvesting the wood for that paper is unsustainable. Clear felling may be the cheapest method but the real cost is the lost biodiversity. A much better way of harvesting forests is by what is called selective felling. That is where only a proportion of mature trees are harvested each season within a given area. Next season another region is harvested in the same manner. Eventually you return to the original area and take out the next round of mature trees. Meanwhile the forest continues to grow as nature intended it. Added to this is a fire regime whereby all the deadfall and other ground litter are converted to ash to be absorbed into the soil. This also reduces the risk of wild fires. Mature forests can survive a low intensity fire but if there is several years leaf litter as fuel that fire (when it does occur) will be a lot more intense and possibly kill the forest.
There is urgent need to clean up the planet and rid it of all forms of pollution but it can be done in a sustainable manner without to much impact on the quality of live. In fact if done properly it can be beneficial to the entire planet.
More research into other forms of sustainable energy is needed. Maybe those who looked at free energy were on the right path. Maybe the funding that is currently being wasted on ridiculous projects to control climate (like the one to place mirrors in space to reflect the sun) could be better utilized.
On another angle what happens to growth if you reduce the consumer base for that growth. Currently the global economy relies very heavily on consumers buying he products produced. It matters not if that is a new wide screen television, a new car or a hamburger. To make money the product must be sold to a consumer and if the consumers are not there it is an exercise in futility.
The current downturn in the world economies has been engineered. Apart from the fact that the economic growth of the past 15 to 20 years has all been on paper only and no real growth has happened, there has been a decline in the developed world’s consumer base. The last real increase in population in this part of the economy was the so called baby boomers and these are starting to think about retirement. That is if they haven’t already retired. Just think what would happen to all those pension funds if the baby boomers retired on mass, and claimed their pensions. It does not matter if these pensions are self-funded or government funded, the effect will be the same.
The spending power of a retired pensioner is considerably less that that of a person working. Especially if you consider that at the time of retiring they have most of the things they wish for in life and only have to pay for their food and entertainment.