From: ehrbar (ehrbar@LISTS.ECON.UTAH.EDU)
Date: Tue Dec 05 2006 - 09:56:29 EST
Jerry, if I said it must be done in the next 10 years then I meant by this: if it is not done in the next 10 years then there will be irreversible changes to the environment which will make survival a struggle and may lead to the extinction of the human race. Some people say we don't have 10 years and the point of no return has already passed. The next ten years is a historic window of opportunity which may not even exist. To those who predict that the changes won't happen fast enough my answer is: we truly do not know whether humankind will save itself from extinction. Never in history has there been such a challenge before us. This is an entirely new situation, therefore it is not possible to know how things will evolve. The science and the economic resources to do it are available, and with the internet things may change very quickly on a world wide scale, therefore it is not entirely hopeless. But my guess is that the chances that we will be able to meet this challenge is perhaps 5 percent. I am hoping that Paul's party will come out with a well thought-out platform which is exemplary for other parties, so that similar initiatives spring up over the whole world. And I am hoping that despite the unpopularity of some of the measures the voters will say: this is the only way to do it, and vote for it. You have to confront the voters with unpopular measures in order to drive home the urgency of the situation. Yes I am thinking of an electoral route: this is an issue which can decide elections. To Paul: I am not against rationing, I just think that higher petrol prices have to be phased in as well, along with rationing. Users of carbon fuel have to pay for the damage they do to the environment and all of us, so that economic resources can be channeled in the right direction. Yes I think we have to use the market as much as possible. We do not have the time for the fundamental changes in behavior and consciousness which would be necessary for a non-market truly socialist solution. We need a crash program which needs the quick assent of the majority of the population. This does not mean that the class struggle is stopping. Rather it takes different forms. Monbiot's web site http://www.turnuptheheat.org/ which collects information how to distinguish greenwashers from corporations which do things that are truly beneficial for the environment is a good example of the direction we have to go. Here is one last detail about this platform I forgot to say earlier: It should be part of the platform that nuclear power is not an option. Hans.
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