I would suggest that the fundamental conflict is between TRADITIONAL economic growth and environmental protection. If the concept of economic growth was redefined/revised to incorporate rational, sustainable use of resources, there would be less need to try to "resolve" any "conflict". I always cringe when I hear the "jobs vs the environment" argument, because I truly believe we can have just as many jobs producing energy-efficient, sustainable goods and services. Steve
Stephen P. Kunz Senior Ecologist Schmid & Company, Inc. 1201 Cedar Grove Road Media, PA 19063-1044 phone: 610-356-1416 fax: 610-356-3629 [email protected] _www.schmidco.com_ (http://www.schmidco.com/) A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise. - Aldo Leopold In a message dated 7/23/2009 8:15:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: The Winding Waters Group of the Sierra Club (Indiana) has endorsed the CASSE position on economic growth, concluding with CASSE that there is a "fundamental conflict between economic growth and environmental protection" based on principles of ecology. As the first Sierra Club unit to endorse the CASSE position, the Winding Waters Group has set a promising precedent for widespread Sierra Club engagement on the issue of economic growth. The Winding Waters Group has also joined a highly diverse group of organizations endorsing the CASSE position, including organizations steeped in the ecological sciences such as the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, National Center for Conservation Science and Policy, Conservation Planning Institute, La Fundacion Neotropica, The Land Institute, and others listed at: http://www.steadystate.org/CASSEPositionOnEG.html#anchor_90 <http://www.steadystate.org/CASSEPositionOnEG.html#anchor_90> This is also a promising precedent with the ESA Governing Board poised to adopt a position on economic growth for the 2009 annual meeting. It provides yet more evidence that the old political rhetoric - "there is no conflict between growing the economy and protecting the environment" - is losing its dangerous grasp on the polity. Scientific, professional ecological societies can stick to sound science and eschew the fallacious and destructive rhetoric. ESA members who interact with Sierra Club (or other NGO) units are encouraged to spread the news of this precedent and encourage additional units to endorse the CASSE position, which calls for stabilized population and per capita consumption for the sake of environmental protection (as well as economic sustainability, national security, and international stability). The position is found at: http://www.steadystate.org/CASSEPositionOnEG.html <http://www.steadystate.org/CASSEPositionOnEG.html> Brian Czech, Visiting Professor Natural Resources Program Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University National Capital Region, Northern Virginia Center 7054 Haycock Road, Room 411 Falls Church, Virginia 22043 **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377105x1201454426/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=Jul yExcfooterNO62)
