Sustainable means forever
Denial can be a cold comfort
From the Salmon Arm Observer
Published: October 27, 2009 6:00 PM
Denial allows people to think that more growth is somehow “smart” or sustainable as long as we stack people on top of each other. All the while, we can ignore the failures of this practice everywhere it has been tried.
Denial allows us to believe that we can create “compact, walkable cities,” when in reality rental and real estate prices in these cities invariably become so expensive that those who do the work cannot afford to live there, and must commute from some, and often great, distances away.
Denial allows local politicians to believe that all points of view are represented in their appointed committees to examine growth, when the point of view that enough is enough is completely ignored. Denial allows us to believe that the consumerist excesses of the past century are somehow sustainable, and that all that really matters is turning cities into vibrant strip malls.
Denial allows us to believe that we can continue to cover natural areas with concrete and asphalt, yet still somehow enjoy nature.
Denial allows us to read articles stating that fish consumption is increasing globally, while ignoring the fact that ocean fish stocks are collapsing, or have already collapsed.
Denial allows us to believe that our economy can continue to grow; and ignore resource depletion, peak soil, peak phosphorus, and water scarcity throughout much of the planet. In particular, denial allows us to ignore the economic extinction- level event soon to follow Peak Oil.
Denial allows us to ignore the fact that about one billion people on this planet live with chronic malnutrition, and the fact that tens of millions die every year from starvation and from water-borne illness.
Denial allows us to believe that those who present facts like these, and hope that we will actually think about them, are really just doom and gloom naysayers.
Yes, denial is a wonderful comfort. Hopefully it will comfort us when reality comes calling.
Rick Shea
Published: October 27, 2009 6:00 PM
Denial allows people to think that more growth is somehow “smart” or sustainable as long as we stack people on top of each other. All the while, we can ignore the failures of this practice everywhere it has been tried.
Denial allows us to believe that we can create “compact, walkable cities,” when in reality rental and real estate prices in these cities invariably become so expensive that those who do the work cannot afford to live there, and must commute from some, and often great, distances away.
Denial allows local politicians to believe that all points of view are represented in their appointed committees to examine growth, when the point of view that enough is enough is completely ignored. Denial allows us to believe that the consumerist excesses of the past century are somehow sustainable, and that all that really matters is turning cities into vibrant strip malls.
Denial allows us to believe that we can continue to cover natural areas with concrete and asphalt, yet still somehow enjoy nature.
Denial allows us to read articles stating that fish consumption is increasing globally, while ignoring the fact that ocean fish stocks are collapsing, or have already collapsed.
Denial allows us to believe that our economy can continue to grow; and ignore resource depletion, peak soil, peak phosphorus, and water scarcity throughout much of the planet. In particular, denial allows us to ignore the economic extinction- level event soon to follow Peak Oil.
Denial allows us to ignore the fact that about one billion people on this planet live with chronic malnutrition, and the fact that tens of millions die every year from starvation and from water-borne illness.
Denial allows us to believe that those who present facts like these, and hope that we will actually think about them, are really just doom and gloom naysayers.
Yes, denial is a wonderful comfort. Hopefully it will comfort us when reality comes calling.
Rick Shea
Tags: peak denial, peak oil, resource depletion, smart growth, sustainability, vibrant, walkable city, water shortage
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