SOLUTION SUMMARY

The heart of our problem is the excessive consumption that our society promotes, and on which it thrives. The solution to the problem is very simple. We must reduce our consumption to a level which the Earth can sustain.

IS IT TOO LATE?

It is dreadfully late to attempt to stop the destruction of the Earth and of our human society. The scientific experts predict that we have probably left it too late to be able to prevent Global Heating running away out of control. These experts are clever people who have spent years collecting evidence and analysing how the climate system works, their conclusions should be listened to in preference to:- the bloke in the pub, conspiracy theorists on the internet, or politicians who do not want it to be true.

So can anything be done? Well, there is a shred of hope. Scientific predictions are never absolute, rather they take the form of probabilities. Even for predictions of disaster which carry a 90% probability, have remaining a 10% chance that they may be wrong. There is always the possibility that something we do not yet understand may come to our rescue. Despite the dire predictions there remains some chance however slim that disaster may not occur.

SO WE SHOULD DO ALL WE CAN TO PREVENT DISASTER.

HOW WE GOT HERE

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

In the past, the teachings of the church and of other religions set the standards for morality in society. There was a concept of sin (things that are wrong) and there were seven recognised deadly sins.

However this is no longer the case; we do not talk about sins, even churches barely talk about them. We have become a society where anything goes. In the absence of moral leadership from religion, such leadership has largely been taken over by politics.

GREED

Greed is one of the seven deadly sins and is the one that lies at the heart of the present crisis. The idea that things were wrong provided some constraint on excessive behaviors. But society has got to the point where greed is no longer seen as wrong. This can fairly be laid at the door of politicians. Margaret Thatcher introduced the idea that “Greed was Good”, which was later endorsed by Tony Blair and New Labour.

The “Greed is Good” idea gives the green light to personal consumption. “I” should be allowed to do what “I” like with “My” money has become the prevailing attitude and the mantra of Right Wing Politicians. This is also, the driving force of capitalism, which needs ever growing consumption of goods. It is OK to get for oneself whatever is desired, as this enables the wheels of industry to keep turning, jobs will be created, and the economy will keep growing and the rich and the capitalists will get richer.

We have become a Greedy society.

We want more and more for ourselves.

We resent paying taxes needed to support and civilise our society.

We care less and less for the poor and marginalised.

We want big houses.

We want big cars.

We want to drive our cars anywhere all the time; we don't care about pollution.

We want to drive our cars too fast – to save our time; we don't care about damage to others.