I seldom see broad global scale discussions and data about environmental progress that has been made throughout history. The reduced environmental and human impact of innovative technologies is not often reported. It provides a hopeful perspective, not often seen today and greatly needed.
A very good article. When you write about limiting growth one further point should be added. Preventing any further economic growth freezes permanently the poor of the world into permanent poverty. Obviously they won't agree to that which means either peaceful economic growth or violent warfare against those who seek to impose constraints.
The history of human civilization has been one of greater access to energy equals greater economic prosperity particularly for the poorest in society. In opposing greater access to energy, the activists are seeking to impose a new and very real serfdom. Friedrich Hayek had a lot of very relevant things to say about modern serfdom.
Activist thoughtlessness is just one aspect of "activistism", but it is its core and it's spreading through the zeitgeist like a cancer. I fear reasoned arguments can only penetrate so deep, when the animating drives well from somewhere more sinister.... Have a peek at this out recently at the TransAtlantic. I textures some of what is in Zion's article…
Well done. I have argued the same –
Prosperity follows energy – more energy more prosperity
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/energy-use-per-capita-vs-gdp-per-capita?yScale=log
1. First people want more energy
2. Initially, dirty energy (wood, coal) is cheap and does promote prosperity
3. Then prosperity allows transition to clean energy: Nuclear, Hydro, Geothermal
Thank you for this detailed article. It's very frustrating having to explain to people things like "poverty is bad" and "people are good"
I seldom see broad global scale discussions and data about environmental progress that has been made throughout history. The reduced environmental and human impact of innovative technologies is not often reported. It provides a hopeful perspective, not often seen today and greatly needed.
A very good article. When you write about limiting growth one further point should be added. Preventing any further economic growth freezes permanently the poor of the world into permanent poverty. Obviously they won't agree to that which means either peaceful economic growth or violent warfare against those who seek to impose constraints.
The history of human civilization has been one of greater access to energy equals greater economic prosperity particularly for the poorest in society. In opposing greater access to energy, the activists are seeking to impose a new and very real serfdom. Friedrich Hayek had a lot of very relevant things to say about modern serfdom.
Activist thoughtlessness is just one aspect of "activistism", but it is its core and it's spreading through the zeitgeist like a cancer. I fear reasoned arguments can only penetrate so deep, when the animating drives well from somewhere more sinister.... Have a peek at this out recently at the TransAtlantic. I textures some of what is in Zion's article…
https://thetransatlantic.substack.com/p/activistism