Review: The Ecological Rift: Capitalism’s War on the Earth

[marmar]

reviewed by Simon Butler


Climate change is often called the greatest environment threat facing humanity. The threat is very real. Unless we cut carbon pollution fast, runaway climate change will worsen existing environmental and social problems, and create new ones of its own.

But it’s no longer enough to simply refer to the climate crisis. Climate change is one part of a broader ecological disaster, brought about by an economic system that relies on constant growth, endless accumulation and ever-deepening human alienation.

A 2010 study published in Nature revealed some of the extent of this ecological crisis. The study, which was led by Sweden’s Johan Rockstrom and included US climate scientist James Hansen, identified nine “planetary boundaries” that are critical for human life on the planet.

Along with climate change, these boundaries are: global freshwater use, chemical pollution, ocean acidification, land use change, biodiversity (the extinction rate), ozone levels in the stratosphere, aerosol (or small particle) levels in the atmosphere and the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles that regulate soil fertility (and hence food production). ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://climateandcapitalism.com/?p=4353

[PDJane]

1. This is my fear;

Civilizations can vanish in the blink of an eye. When they do, they fade into barbarism or death. The far flung colonies of the roman empire faded into ignorance and want; it took Islam and the mathematics made possible by arabic numerals to start the resnaissance, and the Alhambra is still one of the most beautiful buildings ever erected.

We can, if we foster planned birth and education, especially for women, and reign in the greed and stupidity of financial pirates, move into another kind of society.

[Lorien]

4. Yes, we're at the tipping point right now and need to pay attention, because we could lose it all

_ALL life on earth-very quickly if we don't take action to end the rampant destruction and curb birth rates through education and the empowerment of women. Here on DU we'll take up mountains of bandwidth discussing who is to blame for the downgrade, but nary a peep about this life and death issue. I don't get it-especially when DUers WHO HAVE CHILDREN don't care about their child's horrific future if we stay on this path.

[demguy72340]

5. awesome post

[pscot]

2. Interesting link. Thanks

You're on a roll. :hi:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

3. Recced for sure. n/t

[Bigmack]

6. Thanks for this post....

Got the book from our library - I'm about a third of the way thru it, and it's a VERY GOOD READ - probably otta be REQUIRED reading for just about EVERYONE! Ms Bigmack