#1 should be alternative government
#2 should be alternative economy--ala Karl Polanyi's The Great Transformations
Untill the conditions are met for the institution of 1 and 2 none of the others can follow, in my opinion.
Where is canada going?
- Thread starter countryboy
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#1 should be alternative government
#2 should be alternative economy--ala Karl Polanyi's The Great Transformations
Untill the conditions are met for the institution of 1 and 2 none of the others can follow, in my opinion.
1. What do you mean by alternative government?
2. Can you give us a bit more info. on "alternative economy?"
Most green products or green initiatives are anything but. Long ago corporations greened-up to talk the walk. I can't think of any major impact any green initiative has had except to raise awareness but as I'v stated that awareness has been subverted with junk science like global warming and silly puffy productions like saving baby seals and driving the SUVs to the forest to hug trees. The bankers have not allowed anything to curtail over consumption nor to negatively affect profit margins. Green banking will never be realized.
1. An alternative to the corporate dictatorship would be a good start.
2. Get off the fiat currency that is at present sucking us into a black hole. The only real value system that I can see is barter.
The alternative government I'm thinking about would be quite the opposite of the present global model. The alternative economy would be regional and community based rather than the multi and transnational models. Both of which has cost us dearly in jobs and skills. Furniture is a very good example where Canadians could and should erect barriers, every house has a kitchen set but virtually none are Canadian made, same with clothing and footware. Imagine the employment we have allowed the bankers to transfer to the economic slave colonies. Start teaching home economics and shop again. If we just concentrated on the necessities in Canada we could do a great deal to create good jobs for our children.
Interesting topic, CB.
I think Canada could be a pretty damned good leader in green tech if we could get the idea stuffed into our fed pols' dense noggins. We can be extremely high tech if we want to. An example would be the advancements some Canadians have made in deep sea technology. There are countries like Germany, who's been using solar energy in a big way for years, and Portugal who is using ocean energy for a couple years that are ahead of us in practical application, though. But I think we could overtake these places if our companies get the support. Our pols seem to be a bunch of wet blankets. Indeed, in Canada's history, the federal attitude about development has been to lean heavily on raw resources and funnel manufacturing into central Canada.
I think green tech and business can be a wonderful partnership. Politics has not done much but retard responsible progress.
Geez DB - You're firing on all cylinders! You said a mouthful there...thanks.
For those 3 areas you mentioned - furniture, clothing, and footwear - how about considering a plan to out-produce and out-market non Canadian companies? Well, I guess that would apply to all the targets. I understand the trade barrier issue, but I'm thinking that - with so much direct government involvement - those changes might take decades, if not centuries. Agree?
Of course, the plan would have to start with targets, and here is the updated list:
Revision 02...
1. Green Industry (Pollution control)
2. Farming & Food (Non-industrial)
3. Furniture Manufacturing
4. Alternative Power
5. Alternative Medicine
6. Clothing
7. Footwear
8.
9.
10.
Those items would have to be flushed out a bit, but we've captured the basic directions up there (simple enough categories, for the moment). First, let's see if we can hit 10 targets and then come back to qualify, clarify, and whatever else might need to be done to come up with the right base for a plan.
AnnaG just added another one to the list, and here is the latest...
Revision 03:
1. Green Industry (Pollution control)
2. Farming & Food (Non-industrial)
3. Furniture Manufacturing
4. Alternative Power
5. Alternative Medicine
6. Clothing
7. Footwear
8. Deep Sea Technologies
9.
10.
Once again, we're just capturing basic "flavours" here and can add some details when we hit 10 targets. The list is gettin' might impressive...
Revision 03:
1. Green Industry (Pollution control)
2. Farming & Food (Non-industrial)
3. Furniture Manufacturing
4. Alternative Power
5. Alternative Medicine
6. Clothing
7. Footwear
8. Deep Sea Technologies
9.
10.
Once again, we're just capturing basic "flavours" here and can add some details when we hit 10 targets. The list is gettin' might impressive...
I agree with you big-time on everything, but especially on the green-business-policitician thing. I've always said that there is no intrinsic conflict between good business and green...at least, there doesn't have to be. I used to work for a company that built everything from spray guns to robots, and they did great business reducing emissions significantly in industrial painting applications, including car plants. Quite the opposite of a green-business conflict there. Those success stories unfortunately don't make the evening news too often, if ever.
And why shouldn't Canada be the "green leader?" Can't think of a reason...
I'll stress again the need to get away from the green corporate initiatives operative words which are purposefully empty of meaning outside of the present economic context. It would be a good beginning to correct the language, for instance, what exactly does labeling something as green actually mean? It is just a sound bite for the machine and it has got to be confusing to the young. I imagine the kids first think of green paint which isn't far off I guess. The green revolution offered by the above mentioned alternatives is nothing at all like the original green revolution which has been a dismal failure for humanity and a raging success for the bankers and that is the surest indication that they are not us.
swat I'm talkin aboot, green means not much, when we use better terminology we communicate when we use bites we leave many children behind I think
About to? It happened a long time ago.
Security and Prosperity Partnership.
Partnership sounds friendlier than union and they didn't even have to sell it. They just did it.
Democracy eh?
Yeah, it's definitely easier to say, "low environmental impact, especially negative impact" than it is to say, "green".
Yeah, a little long but I see the point. Green makes me think of my beloved John Deere tractor (which is nice, but not on the topic!)...Any ideas for some new terminology here?
Maybe "Positive environmental impact" would do it, although the acronym - which is bound to occur - would be PEI. Help...need positive suggestions to replace "green" to describe an industry that would be focused on pollution control/management/reduction/elimination...
lol How about LEI; low environmental impact. I was leid in Hawaii, though.
That's a good one! (I was de-leid in Hawaii...airplane problems)
Do you think "low" is strong enough? Or "no" might be better? I dunno...just thinkin'...
LIST UPDATE, Revision 04:
1. Environmental Management Industry (name being discussed)
2. Farming & Food (Non-industrial)
3. Furniture Manufacturing
4. Alternative Power
5. Alternative Medicine
6. Clothing
7. Footwear
8. Deep Sea Technologies
9.
10.
1. Environmental Management Industry (name being discussed)
2. Farming & Food (Non-industrial)
3. Furniture Manufacturing
4. Alternative Power
5. Alternative Medicine
6. Clothing
7. Footwear
8. Deep Sea Technologies
9.
10.
Furniture,footwear and clothing will allways be imported from China or elsewhere,no way we can compete with countrys that have no labour laws and exploit kids so folks can get a deal at the local wally world.