Consumption, Not Population Is Our Main Environmental Threat

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Are you prepared to move back to Europe to allow the native American populations a claim to their just inheritance?

You're making an erroneous assumption that in order for the Third World Nations to have their substandard of living improve to where such basic things such as drinkable water are accessible means you and I have to start living in grass huts. That's utterly ridiculous.

Edited April 14, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[Peikko 1,575]

No, I am not making that assumption at all.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Are you prepared to move back to Europe to allow the native American populations a claim to their just inheritance?

You're making an erroneous assumption that in order for the Third World Nations to have their substandard of living improve to where such basic things such as drinkable water means you and I have to start living in grass huts. That's utterly ridiculous.

But it isn't though - if we consume the majority of the world's energy resources to facilitate a standard of living that we've become used to over several generations, we have to reduce that standard of living in order to redistribute the resources to the rest of the world.

This line of argument isn't some veiled pretext to a rant about green living is it?

[Peikko 1,575]

It's like asking you, are you prepared to move back to Europe to allow the native American populations have their just inheritance. Are you?

I'm sure Steven would love to move to Europe - a socialist liberal heaven where everyone

(except those on welfare) works for the government and everything is shared equally.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A good case in point might be to ask some of the German VJers from the former West Germany what happened (and is happening) to their country's economy and overall standard of living after the Berlin wall fell and reunification.

You don't rebuild half a country and provide for its citizens without taking away something from the ones you're already providing for.

Edited April 14, 2009 by Private Pike

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's like asking you, are you prepared to move back to Europe to allow the native American populations have their just inheritance. Are you?

I'm sure Steven would love to move to Europe - a socialist liberal heaven where everyone

(except those on welfare) works for the government and everything is shared equally.

The gallows are waiting for you, Red Coat.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

No, I am not making that assumption at all.

Ok, my British Colonist friend - do you have an educated guess as to the kinds of sacrifices or changes in your standard of living in order for the Third World Nations to have their substandard living improve to having things such as clean drinking water, sanitary waist, adequate nutrition and education for all?

Edited April 14, 2009 by Mister Fancypants

[GaryC 7]

No, I don't think so, I think it's called avoiding the problem because there is no realistic solution.

That is not to say that we should all ignore our consumption. It would be a great thing if world religions put WASTE in big capital letters at the top of the SIN tree, in my opinion

Actually one of the big sins is waste. We call it gluttony.(sp?) Its one of the 7 deadly sins as a matter of fact.

It is an issue of population. Large populations are not sustainable without massive energy consumption and, perhaps more importantly, a large consumption rate is indicative of a comfortable lifestyle. What does this guy want? Massive populations that live barely live at subsistence levels? What a crock of ###### that is.

Damn MC, we agree again. I wonder what the weather is like in Hadies.

[Peikko 1,575]

Greed is not waste Gary. They are of course related.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well Steve - we don't have many Hummers or SUVs in Britain

Most UK passenger cars have engines below 2 liters.

What do you drive?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A good case in point might be to ask some of the German VJers from the former West Germany what happened (and is happening) to their country's economy and overall standard of living after the Berlin wall fell and reunification.

You don't rebuild half a country and provide for its citizens without taking away something from the ones you're already providing for.

Good example. You don't see Germans living in grass huts now, do you MC?

[GaryC 7]

Greed is not waste Gary. They are of course related.

Gluttony is over indulging, as in taking more than you need.

glut·ton (gltn)

n.

1. A person who eats or consumes immoderate amounts of food and drink.

But greed is also one of the 7 sins.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Well Steve - we don't have many Hummers or SUVs in Britain

Most UK passenger cars have engines below 2 liters.

What do you drive?

That's because your country and your cities were built long before the invention of the automobile.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A good case in point might be to ask some of the German VJers from the former West Germany what happened (and is happening) to their country's economy and overall standard of living after the Berlin wall fell and reunification.

You don't rebuild half a country and provide for its citizens without taking away something from the ones you're already providing for.

Good example. You don't see Germans living in grass huts now, do you MC?

Perhaps you should cut to the chase and give us an idea of exactly what sacrifices we could easily make that would make a huge difference to the quality of life in the developing world.

Well Steve - we don't have many Hummers or SUVs in Britain

Most UK passenger cars have engines below 2 liters.

What do you drive?

That's because your country and your cities were built long before the invention of the automobile.

Mainland Europe rebuilt their transport infrastructure almost entirely after WW2.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

A good case in point might be to ask some of the German VJers from the former West Germany what happened (and is happening) to their country's economy and overall standard of living after the Berlin wall fell and reunification.

You don't rebuild half a country and provide for its citizens without taking away something from the ones you're already providing for.

Good example. You don't see Germans living in grass huts now, do you MC?

Perhaps you should cut to the chase and give us an idea of exactly what sacrifices we could easily make that would make a huge difference to the quality of life in the developing world.

That's just it. I don't know, but my conscience tells me that we should all be concerned about our fellow men and women, regardless of what country they're from.