Charles on… anything that comes along

A fascinating letter in New Scientist of 10 March. Don’t think it’s online.

From Adrian Pollock, in Brisbane:

There are many C-words relating to the problem of climate change and its possible solutions: carbon trading, carbon sequestration, and now corn-based biofuels, according to George Bush (NS 3 February). The C-word missing from everyone’s lips is the one that matters: capitalism.

By its nature, capitalism needs continually to expand - to find new markets, new resources and new ways to accumulate to maintain profit for its investments. It cannot, therefore, offer a sustainable future.

The only country that has achieved a sustainable economy is Cuba (see the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2006, p19 - based on data Cuba supplies to the United Nations). Cuba would be perceived, at least in western nations, as having a relatively low standard of living; it is clear that an extraordinarily large change in our way o life is necessary to achieve a sustainable future.

Maybe that is why another C-word is missing: communism. Capitalism will have to be replaced with a system that does not depend on expansion but is based on the real needs of people and the planet. Call this what you will, but it is not capitalism or anything resembling it.

He’s absolutely right, I think. Oil runs out… can’t build nuclear power plants fast enough… can’t generate enough power.. can’t run cars and have to go on buses and trains..

It’s interesting, though: if it were to happen, do you think the US could keep up with Cuba’s low rate of child mortality? Assuming, that is, that we can trust the Cuban stats - which isn’t certain. (It’s quite hard to find any data from Cuba at Gapminder.)

Still, the music should be good. Buena Vista!

Actually, reading the letter reminded me of John Brunner’s The Sheep Look Up - his book about a polluted planet. Very like the forerunner of Children Of Men, seems to me; they could have read that and used it for the screenplay. God, I miss his writing.

These posts might be related (the database thinks..):
• A slightly different Apple tale: of Fiona, and her unreleased third album (11 April 2005; score: 20.61%)
• The Jennifer Aniston neuron (and the Russell Brand one): never let it be said news must be "new" (29 October 2008; score: 19.96%)
• At the Guardian: nuclear power!, Phorm's bad publicity, tiny speakers and another podcast (7 March 2008; score: 19.69%)