RCC-100.07
J. V. Siry, Ph.D.

The Imperiled Planet

The Dominant Animal: Chapter 11, Consumption and its Costs.

an on line guide


Jared Diamond, Collapse

Weeks

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Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Summary

 

Case Study

 

We are at a diversion in the road.

Spain

Ecological problems can are made worse by consuming more than we have or can invest in nature, technology, and healthy populations.

 

Consumption and its Costs:

Relevant quotes in the book's summation

1.    Overview { 207

2.    Calculating consumption { 210

            6.5 fold population increase, vs. 20-fold > in energy use globally since 1850

 

3.    Natural capital { 212 “Earth’s ecosystems“  (211) are worth $33 trillion / year

4.    Patterns of consumption { 216

5.    How others pay the price for us { 221

6. The connected facets of affluence, agriculture, and illness { 229-233

 

"Clearly, physical growth of the economies of the globe must soon be constrained if essential ecosystem serviceshumanities life support systems–are to be maintained."

"...however, the sizes of homes and the extent of suburban sprawl are constrained by the already high densities of populations...."

Britain five to Japan ten times more densely populated than USA

p. 219.

"Both Europe and Japan also have fast, efficient, and convenient public transportation systems both within and between cities."

 

"But the usual downside of neglected social costs (those captured by the the market plus those borne by society as a whole)–climate disruption, resource wars over petroleum, and pollution and its health effects associated with automobile use–will need to be dealt with."

pp. 219-220.

Clearly "The most important activity of humanity is growing and distributing food for ourselves, and that certainly is the eneterprise most critical to human health and happiness."

p. 227.

The irony of American arable land:

We are the best fed yet least well-nourished people.

JVS. 2011

 

Jared Diamond, Collapse

Natural productivity

handle with care

Economy

Optimum

Trees in a forest.

Summary

 

Mayr | Thomas | Wilson | Hardin | Darwin | Margulis | Steingraber | Carr | Keller | Watson

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