Interesting proposition for sure. Just a question: I'm always wondering
why we all keep talking about climate change in the future tense. It
seems to me that as its happening right now, action should be right now, no?
Thanks
JP
Le 20-04-05 à 13 h 51, 'Ronnie Lipschutz' via gep-ed a écrit :
All,
I have been pondering--as I am sure many of you have, as well--what
the impacts of the pandemic might tell us about a broader social
strategy for moving toward a more sustainable civilization (I don't
want to seem too opportunistic in all of this, but see below).
What we have known in the abstract is now being revealed in its
materiality: the dependence of modern economies on consumer
consumption (65-70%+) is significantly a means of recirculating (not
redistributing) money from leisure-based activities from higher- to
lower-income members of society. For example, the vast numbers of
people employed in the food service industry (restaurants, cafes,
etc.) are paid only by virtue of those who purchase food and drink in
or from such establishments. Ultimately, as well, automation of both
service and white-collar work (including educators) might well
undermine this circle of (what?) compensation, as even higher-income
classes are made "redundant" (polite British term for being laid off).
This suggests it may be necessary to look more closely at basic income
programs in the future, especially if consumption does not return to
its pre-pandemic levels.
At the same time, we have also seen a considerable reduction in
various forms of pollution, auto traffic and other environmental
impacts (although not as much as the IPCC tells use is required),
which seems to confirm the hunch that responding to climate change
will require significant reductions in consumption and economies (and
"green growth" from a much lower baseline).
There has been a considerable amount of commentary on capitalism and
the coronavirus and, I imagine, a lot about sustainability and the
environment after the pandemic. But, like this email, most of it is
very much spur of the moment and not terribly analytical or deep.
Since most of us are at home--and teaching, caring for children,
etc.--this might also be an opportunity to collaborate on a book or
series of publications about "lessons for the future." I'd suggest
many articles of 2,500 words rather than fewer at 10,000.
Might there be interest (and time) among you to propose and prepare a
contribution to such a project?
I hope you and your families are all well.
Best,
Ronnie Lipschutz
--
Ronnie D. Lipschutz, Professor of Politics
UC Santa Cruz,1156 High St. Santa Cruz, CA 95064
e-mail:[email protected]; <mailto:[email protected]>phone: 831-459-3275;
web site: http://tinyurl.com/zeatctr
Codirector, Sustainable Systems Research Foundation
<http://sustainablesystemsfoundation.org>
Host, "Sustainability Now!" every other Sunday on KSQD 90.7FM & KSQD.org
(archived
at:https://sustainablesystemsfoundation.org/sustainability-now-broadcasts-on-ksqd-90-7-fm-ksqd-org/
/"I have to die. If it is now, well, then, I die now; if later, then
now I will take my lunch, since the hour for lunch has arrived — and
dying I will tend to later.” / --Epictetus--
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