Envisioning a Sustainable Society: Learning Our Way OutThe evidence is increasingly persuasive. We are changing the way our planet's physical systems work—irrevocably. These changes are global and interconnected and unavoidable. They are upon us already, making it virtually impossible for any modern society to continue its present trajectory of growth. This book provides a penetrating analysis of how we have come to this point, of why science and technology will fail to solve these problems, and of how we as a society must change in order to avoid ecological catastrophe. The scope is broad, the urgency of the message is impossible to ignore. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 48
Page 1
... the planet for only about 2.5 million years . Civilizations developed about 10,000 years ago and written histories only cover about 5,000 years . In the last 200 years , a mere .00000044 percent of earth 1 Chapter Introduction.
... the planet for only about 2.5 million years . Civilizations developed about 10,000 years ago and written histories only cover about 5,000 years . In the last 200 years , a mere .00000044 percent of earth 1 Chapter Introduction.
Page 2
... percent of earth time , our species has wrought more change on the planet than has taken place in the past billion years . How can we gain perspective on these time spans ? Imagine a movie that runs a full year representing all the time ...
... percent of earth time , our species has wrought more change on the planet than has taken place in the past billion years . How can we gain perspective on these time spans ? Imagine a movie that runs a full year representing all the time ...
Page 4
... percent of investment decisions are premised on continuity . If climate change forecloses continuity over large proportions of the globe , and sci- entists are now reasonably confident it will , the socioeconomic disruption will be ...
... percent of investment decisions are premised on continuity . If climate change forecloses continuity over large proportions of the globe , and sci- entists are now reasonably confident it will , the socioeconomic disruption will be ...
Page 10
... the pond . The speed of doublings can be roughly calculated by the " law of sevens " : The percentage rate of growth per year is divided into seventy to give the doubling time . For example , a species increasing in 10 Part I.
... the pond . The speed of doublings can be roughly calculated by the " law of sevens " : The percentage rate of growth per year is divided into seventy to give the doubling time . For example , a species increasing in 10 Part I.
Page 11
... percent per year , it will double in ten years . At 10 percent per year , it will double in seven years . At the rate of 10 percent per year , ten doublings would take only seventy years ; that would mean more than a thousandfold ...
... percent per year , it will double in ten years . At 10 percent per year , it will double in seven years . At the rate of 10 percent per year , ten doublings would take only seventy years ; that would mean more than a thousandfold ...
Contents
Chapter 11 | 218 |
Chapter 12 | 232 |
Chapter 13 | 255 |
Chapter 14 | 274 |
Chapter 15 | 304 |
Chapter 16 | 319 |
Part III | 337 |
Chapter 18 | 352 |
Other editions - View all
Envisioning a Sustainable Society: Learning Our Way Out Lester W. Milbrath No preview available - 1989 |
Common terms and phrases
action agriculture basic become beliefs and values better billion biocommunity bioregional biosphere carrying capacity Chapter chemical citizens civilization climate change competition consume cooperation core values council countries creatures culture discussion dominator earth ecological economic growth ecosphere ecosys ecosystem effect emphasize environment environmental protection environmentalists example experience fossil energy fossil fuels future gross world product human impact important individuals industrial institutions integrity land leaders lifestyles limits to growth live long-range maximize MDCs ment modern society nanotechnologies nature never do merely nomic nuclear organisms ownwork paradigm participation perceive percent planning plants political pollution population possible problems production proposed science and technology scientific scientists sense social learning soil species sustainable society theory thinking tion U. S. Congress United value structure Voluntary Simplicity waste wealth