“One major consequence of this human-centered cultural bias is already implicit in the above. If industry pollutes our favourite stream, poor logging practices destroy vital salmon habitat, or CFCs deplete the ozone layer, we say we have environmental problems. We “externalize the issue (to use the economists’ unconsciously revealing term). There is little real appreciation that the problem – and ultimately the solution – resides within us. Indeed, when we do act to improve matters, the frequent response is a technical fix aimed at enabling society to carry on pretty much as before. Stream contaminated? Build a swimming pool and chlorinate the drinking water (or import it in bottles from France). Fishery in trouble? “Fix” nature by building a hatchery."
Fatal Consumption: Rethinking Sustainable Development by Robert F. Wollard, Aleck S. Ostry, UBC Press, 2000 p22
No comments:
Post a Comment