WOW, "Beyond Growth": Jason Hickel on Capital, GDP, the Global North, EU's Green Deal, Economics+

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xszUWnSEJig&t=100s

[You may have to adjust it back to the beginning.]

Prof. Jason Hickel is a comprehensive, holistic thinker who grasps the value and complexity of the systems approach to problem-solving.  In this short talk (introductory remarks to a "Beyond Growth" Conference in Europe), he wows and inspires the audience with a concise no-holds-barred view of the human predicament and the best choices for moving forward.

As Hickel verbally unpacks multiple crucial issues in his rapid-fire delivery, I'm again reminded of how Europe (in general) is light-years ahead of the USA when it comes to sustainability considerations.  Here in my country (which I love & never would leave), it often seems as though the overwhelming majority of adults are mired in the dogma of infinite economic growth.  It's sacrosanct.  It's a given, never to be questioned.  It's a secular religion.  Such must change if our species is to survive and thrive.

On the bright side, I'm encouraged by the interest developing online in the ideas of not only Hickel, but also William E. Rees, Nate Hagens, Simon Michaux, Brian Czech, Vandana Shiva, Peter Kalmus, Joseph Tainter, Steve Keen, Giorgos Kallis, Dennis Meadows, Josh Farley, Patrick Ophuls, and many other natural and/or social scientists.  As more people become aware of planetary boundaries and biophysical issues, the better our chances of successfully navigating through the current, multi-pronged Crisis.

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

The ultimate refuting of...,

 "a rising tide lifts all boats" (once used to justify the high incomes and tax breaks for the Super-Rich)---

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GBR9GmmWMAALzyz?format=png&name=small

[Image is from Inequality.org, The Institute for Policy Studies.]

Looks like either some folks don't even have a "boat" to be lifted, or they're in a completely separate ocean, or both, eh?

I have nothing against anyone being Rich as long as they didn't shaft people to get there, and as long as they don't demonize or degrade poor folks, and as long as they act with integrity and compassion.  Not all Rich people are jerks or criminals; but some, based on their words & actions, certainly appear to be.  Trump immediately comes to mind.  :)

p.s.  For any new readers here, I'm not a Republican or a Democrat.  In my intemperate youth, was a Conservative Republican until both were hijacked; then a bit later, a Libertarian (a few good concepts there, but too much belief in Corporatism).  Now, and for awhile, strictly Independent, often even apolitical.  There's way too much dogma and corruption across the entire political spectrum, almost completely closed-minded.  It's no wonder they rarely get anything worthwhile done.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

"Old School, the Vikings, the Realists/Community Preppers, and the Arcadians"

 From the mining engineer, Dr. Simon Michaux and the ecologist, Dr. Nate Hagens, four metaphors for the people of the world (all of us) as we face the ongoing socio-eco-econ-ethical Crisis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb801wdRULM&list=WL&index=66&pp=gAQBiAQB 

The title of the video is "The Arcadian Blueprint".  In it, Michaux and Hagens offer specific details for a beginning of the transition to sustainability.  Basically, it's an introduction to Michaux's "resource based economy".  [I posted this link (but with different commentary) awhile ago, maybe a month or so.  The video is both entertaining and extremely informative.]

Which of the four metaphors (or what combination) applies to you?

Old School---

those who believe everything will soon get back to "normal"; it's okay, the Powers-That-Be are handling it; we'll muddle through; reductionist thinkers.

The Vikings---

those who take advantage of the disruption by "raiding" the economy and the ecosphere, grabbing whatever they can for themselves; little to no social conscience, or concern for future generations.

The Realists/Community Preppers---

those who see the Crisis, and are working toward fairly immediate, short-term solutions re energy, food, water, shelter, and economy for their family, often in concert with neighbors or the whole community.  [Note: this category does not include those few people who believe a bunker, rifles, hand grenades, claymore mines, and razor wire are needed for defense of the "compound".]

The Arcadians (as in ancient Greece)---

those with the wisdom to work for long-term sustainability, a thriving Earth for current and future generations; comprehensive, holistic, systems thinkers.

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Be Well

Israeli Leadership & Hamas are EQUALLY guilty of not only war crimes, but also stupidity

 Israel---

1)  Attacking facilities such as hospitals, residences, refugee shelters, schools, U.N. SHELTERS - where not only adult civilians but also CHILDREN are present - is totally inexcusable.  It's immoral, unethical, and unlawful.  It's criminal, no matter what the excuse for it.  [Have other countries (including the USA) done anything similar?  Yes, but such does not make it right or legal.]

2)  Telling refugees to evacuate to the south for safety, and then attacking the south, killing and maiming civilian adults AND CHILDREN, also is a war crime.

3)  The Leadership is stupid if they think the CRIMINAL acts of Hamas justify "collective punishment" in Gaza AND THE WEST BANK.  That doesn't fly in a civil society.  They're also stupid if they believe ethnic cleansing is justifiable, and if they think the world doesn't know they are trying to get all Palestinians to leave both Gaza and the West Bank.  Finally, they're stupid if they don't see that their actions are creating a whole new generation of militants.

Hamas---

a)  Because of its scale and immoral brutality, their initial attack was not only criminal, but also a WAR CRIME.  Period.

b)  Hamas is stupid because they had to know how egregious the Israeli response would be.  They had to know civilian "shields" wouldn't mean a damned thing to the Israeli Leadership.  Why?  Because the current Leadership has been strangling Gaza for quite awhile, and bulldozing Palestinian homes in the West Bank as well.  They don't care one whit about the lives of Palestinians.  [I'm referring only to Israel's current Leaders, not all Israelis.]

SIDE NOTE---  Most of the Fed Gov't here in the USA should be completely ashamed of their involvement in this whole scenario, and of their weak, tepid criticism of the KILLING OF OVER 5,000 CHILDREN.  The greatest amount of shame on you.  Such will not be forgotten for a long time.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

OIL, Plus the Target Date for the Global Financial [& thus Economic] RESET: 2030

A few years ago, the IMF launched a ten-year Plan to reshuffle the world's reserve currency system.  It became known popularly as The Global Currency Reset.  There are options other than the IMF version, as seen here:  https://globalresidenceindex.com/the-global-currency-reset/  [NOTE:  don't confuse this Reset with the World Economic Forum's "Great Reset".]

Many, many factors are responsible for bringing about the need for a Reset, but here we are focusing on only one:  OIL.

https://www.simonmichaux.com/copy-of-gtk-reports

The Establishment loves fossil energy because it has been relatively cheap, abundant, and convenient; plus, it has made possible the seemingly never-ending GROWTH of the economy.  For about 150 years, we've had a glut of such energy.  That's why we think such a situation is the norm.  It's not.

The low-hanging fruit (so to speak) is almost gone.  Most remaining fossil energy is locked up in shale, limestone, and tar sands.  It's abundant, but not cheap or convenient to obtain.

We also need tons and tons of minerals (which includes metals), and they are no longer low-hanging fruit.  We especially need them for the transition to Green energy, which currently is proceeding at a snail's pace.

Examine all of Dr. Michaux's MAPS (not just the first one) at the link above.  They contain a wealth of information (especially for planners and policy-makers) relative to economies, currencies, wars, geopolitics, and more.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well

U. S. Government's Lip Service to Climate Mitigation, and Planet Wreckers Report REDUX

 https://www.democracynow.org/2023/12/1/headlines/biden_to_eschew_cop28_as_us_opens_another_oil_and_gas_leasing_auction

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, the Biden Administration's actions re a new round of oil and gas leasing auctions could potentially "erase" any climate gains in the Inflation Reduction Act.  The USA is now the world's largest oil producer, and in 2022 66% of our oil came from the fracking of shale.  Often called shale oil, it's also referred to as "tight oil".  As you may know, drilling for it often has resulted in big problems (all of which usually are denied by the industry).

At the global level, we now have twenty countries (including the USA) planning to expand oil production for twenty-six more years. 

https://priceofoil.org/2023/09/12/planet-wreckers-how-20-countries-oil-and-gas-extraction-plans-risk-locking-in-climate-chaos/

In addition, COP 28 (which started today) is being run by the CEO of one of the largest oil producers in the world.  Do you think there's any conflict of interest in such a scenario?  Seems likely, eh?

As pointed out previously on this Blog, we do need to use fossil fuels in the immediate future in order to construct and distribute massive numbers of Green energy gizmos and new electrical power lines.  I don't know for how long, but surely not twenty-six more years.

Is it not yet clear that the Establishment is on the wrong path?  And not yet clear that voters keep electing politicians to high office who favor consumerism over ecological principles?  If this whole business weren't so tragic, it would be laughable.

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Not only my opinion.  Take Care

"Unseen Costs of Net Zero", Simon Michaux

To be clear:  YES, we do need to GO GREEN.  The Establishment and much of Main Street, however, apparently are not aware of exactly what it will take to do so.  They also seem to be unaware of the scale needed for such a transformation, and of the entire mining-minerals-metals situation.

The current thinking of most people who support a transition to Green energy appears to be as follows.  Here's what we'll do:

a)  get off petroleum and all its products;

b)  build a large number of Green energy gizmos;

c)  electrify all transport vehicles (personal and commercial);

d)  scale up nuclear energy, if necessary;

e)  recycle and reuse materials;

f)   increase energy efficiency;

g)  use carbon offsets and cap & trade to balance things out; and

h)  with all the above in place, we can continue the pursuit of infinite economic and population growth on our finite planet.

Sounds great, eh?!

But there's a massive problem (which The Establishment doesn't want to acknowledge), and here it is---

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGvTbB38bwA&list=WL&index=68

Infinite growth is not necessary for humans to thrive, and for the sake of all life on Earth, it must cease.  Do a Search for "CASSE top 10 policies for a steady state economy".  Read anything by Herman Daly.  Neoliberal/neoclassical economics is not sacrosanct.

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Not only my opinion.  Be Well