Shoveling Fuel For A Runaway Train

Shoveling Fuel For A Runaway Train
Originally uploaded by Earthworm.

Intelligent, smart analysis of our growth economy and how it will destroy us. Unbridled economic growth is one of my pet peeves, so this book gave me a lot of ammunition. The author has working class attitude, but has also found Marxism to be outdated in light of our consumer culture.

He makes a calm, rational case with a great deal of cross pollination between disciplines, ie. Maslow's hierarchy of needs, Darwin on mating practices, politics in academia, biological limits and social class. He offers language for the discussion - "neoclassical economics" vs "ecology economics", "economic bloating" to describe growth economics, "liquidators" to describe those participating in spending down our natural capital and "steady stateism" to describe the steady downsizing of our appetites. I like the term liquidators. It's much more succinct than glutonous or greed. His term for those on a sustainable path is a bit awkward, but "sustainable" is a word that is loosing its meaning from overuse.

He also discusses how to best persuade the population to develop a distaste for gross consumption, much as people once had to develop a distaste for slavery or child labor and those who used them. His solution is to go after the 1 percent that are the most conspicuous consumers while making sure to leave the middle alone for fear of alienating professionals who influence politics and could be well intentioned. A very convincing presentation plus comments on what it really means to be self-actualized.

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight

The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight
Originally uploaded by Earthworm.

Much better written than most impending ecological disaster books and this was one of the earlier ones published in 2000. A good overview of all the pertinent issues from deforestation, to water drying up, to climate change. The ancient sunlight refers to oil and other fossil fuels. Hartman has a nice anecdotal style.

Like the previous book I read on the subject, The Great Turning, he also sees that the solution lies in a cultural shift. He is not nearly as preachy and I like his solution to get in touch with the sacred, with every day ritual, tribal community, appropriate technology, personal reflection and steady consistent political work. He gives a special look at the pitfalls of the ":something-will-save" us outlook.

I do believe that this "what do we do in the shadow of planetary disaster question" is the metaphysical test of our time. If we do nothing, disaster will most definately befall us. And it may if we do, but the process of facing it squarely will enlighten us.