Never-ending growth plundering the earth

[quinton]

Canada's economy, like every other nation's economy on planet earth, is geared towards growth.

With more people and more production of goods, where will this leave the planet's fragile ecosystems?

When does the growth stop? When is enough enough?

Who is looking at the big picture?

 

[CamTheCat]

Canada's economy, like every other nation's economy on planet earth, is geared towards growth.

With more people and more production of goods, where will this leave the planet's fragile ecosystems?

When does the growth stop? When is enough enough?

Who is looking at the big picture?

Where will this leave the planet's fragile ecosystems? I think the answer is obvious, and the next question is to ask how much time we have to go on like this before we come to an abrupt halt with no other choice.

This level of growth served us well in the early 1900's, but these days it's just not realistic. We've reached the point where we're running out of space, resources, energy, etc. If we don't stop it willingly (and it doesn't have to hurt the average person, only the big businesses will take a big cut in profits) then we will stop this level of growth when growth becomes impossible. The scientific and political thinkers, of all political persuasion, are largely in agreement that our current course is not sustainable.

Instead of asking who is looking at the big picture, I ask why isn't our gov't looking at the big picture? One answer might be that they stand to make far too much money in the here and now (and to ruisk unpopularity) to willingly disrupt business as usual.

 

[FiveParadox]

Growth Issues

I think that the Government of Canada, and its successors in the future, should make efforts to direct Canada toward renewable sources of energy (in order to decrease, and perhaps one day eliminate, finite sources, such as fossil fuels). Too many Governments in the past have, in my opinion, possessed a sort of underlying attitude of apathy toward the environment and Earth, thinking that it isn't their responsibility.

Well, we should get with the program.

 

[quinton]

But what about the "cinderella of all environmental problems" -- population growth?

Should Canada keep accepting immigrants to burgeon more economic growth at the expense of the environment?

 

[FiveParadox]

No, I don't think that population growth is the issue here — whether or not these immigrants choose to come to Canada or not, and whether or not Canada chooses to accept them, these immigrants aren't going to disappear from the face of the Earth is rejected by Immigration Canada. They remain citizens of Earth, and therefore the issue remains. I see no reason to decrease immigration into Canada for the purpose of stopping population growth.

 

[quinton]

Do you think that allowing immigrants to easily move from countries of high population density to countries of low population density helps facilitate population growth?

 

[Toro]

RE: Never-ending growth p

How are you going to pay for your pensions? How are you going to pay for your healthcare?

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

I don't think we are doomed. I know, I know, this from a guy who has an artillery piece as an avatar. I think change will come with the next generation and it will be positve.

Don't laugh, I'm serious.
M

 

[darkbeaver]

Re: RE: Never-ending growth p

How are you going to pay for your pensions? How are you going to pay for your healthcare?

By nationalizing both and fighting to keep it that way or die trying.

 

[darkbeaver]

Re: RE: Never-ending growth plundering the earth

Do you think that allowing immigrants to easily move from countries of high population density to countries of low population density helps facilitate population growth?

No, because it's far to expensive to have children in the western first world economys, the per unit cost of production which includes time and money is prohibitive.

 

[Toro]

Re: RE: Never-ending growth p

How are you going to pay for your pensions? How are you going to pay for your healthcare?

By nationalizing both and fighting to keep it that way or die trying.

My bet is "die trying" will be your outcome.

 

[Toro]

I don't think we are doomed. I know, I know, this from a guy who has an artillery piece as an avatar. I think change will come with the next generation and it will be positve.

Don't laugh, I'm serious.
M

Of course we're not doomed.

 

[Alberta'sfinest]

RE: Never-ending growth p

The thing that is unsustainable is the worlds population. Things are going to get real ugly when the unsustainable resources being used to sustain our unsustainble population start to run out. The largest Human die-off in history will be the result of this event. This will happen in the next 50 years, and is unavoidable. Our governments do have plan to deal with this situation, and it's already being undertaken.

 

[Said1]

What is it?

Will I still be able to keep my Christmas lights on my front poarch all year long?

 

[darkbeaver]

Re: RE: Never-ending growth p

How are you going to pay for your pensions? How are you going to pay for your healthcare?

By nationalizing both and fighting to keep it that way or die trying.

My bet is "die trying" will be your outcome.

You spend all day placing bets Toro, you can't win all the time.

 

[Toro]

Re: RE: Never-ending growth p

You spend all day placing bets Toro, you can't win all the time.

This is true.