There is some exciting news in the ongoing discussion of the conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation. In recent days, several highly respected scientists/environmentalists have signed the CASSE position on economic growth < http://www.steadystate.org/CASSEPositionOnEG.html>. The position highlights the conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation, and calls for a transition to a steady state economy as a desirable alternative.
These recent signers are: David Orr Contributing editor of Conservation Biology, professor of environmental studies at Oberlin College, and recipient of numerous awards, including a National Conservation Achievement Award from the National Wildlife Federation. Bill McKibben Author of The End of Nature and Deep Economy, leading global warming activist, and keynote speaker at the 2008 SCB annual meeting. Gus Speth Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, founder and president of the World Resources Institute, cofounder of the Natural Resources Defense Council, and author of Red Sky at Morning and The Bridge at the Edge of the World. Paul Erlich President of Stanford University's Center for Conservation Biology, fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, author of The Dominant Animal and numerous other books, recipient of many awards, including the Eminent Ecologist Award of the Ecological Society of America and an SCB Distinguished Service Award in the first year it was presented. These signatures add weight to the list of ecologists, conservation biologists, economists, and other citizens who have already signed < http://www.steadystate.org/CASSESignatories.html>. If you believe the scientific theory and evidence that demonstrate how continuous economic growth is undermining the Earth's life-support systems, then we encourage you to join the likes of Orr, McKibben, Speth, and Erlich in supporting the position.
