The end of the world as we know it?
Jun. 20th, 2005 07:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chelidonThis is very well-written, if pretty in-your-face stuff: How to Survive the Crash and Save the Earth
I can't say that I agree with all the material in this essay, but there's a number of parts in it that grab me, too. Do I hope he's dead wrong? Absolutely. And despite the fact that many aspects of modern western society drive me crazy, I really really value things like (some aspects of ) modern medical care, toothpaste, the Internet, free libraries, and being able to afford to fly across the country or the Atlantic pond on occasion to visit friends and make trouble.
But you know, it does seem extremely plausible to me that we're running into overtime on this whole exploit the natural resources of the planet at an ever-increasing rate game, and it makes sense to me that we don't have 100 years, or even 50, to change our ways. Too many things are running out too quickly for that to happen, the signs are getting increasingly ominous, and the clue-taps of the planet are rapidly turning to clue-shoves and the occasional sudden rain of clue bricks. That means that Clue-by-fours and the Clue Bus probably aren't too far behind. And we're still, in general, not paying much attention. I have a 5-year-old, so I have a very personal reason to worry about what things are going to look like in 50 years, even if I'm not here myself, as is statistically quite likely. My gut instinct tells me that whatever else happens in the world, my son will likely have a very different world than we do.
The two things Prieur says that resonate most strongly for me are Learn Skills and Find your Tribe. No matter what happens in the coming years, I think those two things will serve us all very well indeed.
I can't say that I agree with all the material in this essay, but there's a number of parts in it that grab me, too. Do I hope he's dead wrong? Absolutely. And despite the fact that many aspects of modern western society drive me crazy, I really really value things like (some aspects of ) modern medical care, toothpaste, the Internet, free libraries, and being able to afford to fly across the country or the Atlantic pond on occasion to visit friends and make trouble.
But you know, it does seem extremely plausible to me that we're running into overtime on this whole exploit the natural resources of the planet at an ever-increasing rate game, and it makes sense to me that we don't have 100 years, or even 50, to change our ways. Too many things are running out too quickly for that to happen, the signs are getting increasingly ominous, and the clue-taps of the planet are rapidly turning to clue-shoves and the occasional sudden rain of clue bricks. That means that Clue-by-fours and the Clue Bus probably aren't too far behind. And we're still, in general, not paying much attention. I have a 5-year-old, so I have a very personal reason to worry about what things are going to look like in 50 years, even if I'm not here myself, as is statistically quite likely. My gut instinct tells me that whatever else happens in the world, my son will likely have a very different world than we do.
The two things Prieur says that resonate most strongly for me are Learn Skills and Find your Tribe. No matter what happens in the coming years, I think those two things will serve us all very well indeed.
