Environment & Energy

agent46

(1,262 posts) Fri Mar 9, 2012, 10:16 PM Mar 2012

Richard Heinberg - Living at the End of Growth

Richard Heinberg- whose latest book describes The End of Growth- isn't looking for when the recession will end and we'll get back to "normal". He believes our decades-long era of growth was based on aberrant set of conditions- namely cheap oil, but also cheap minerals, cheap food, etc- and that looking ahead, we need to prepare for a "new normal".

The problem, according to Heinberg, is our natural resources just aren't so cheap and plentiful anymore, and he's not just talking about Peak Oil, Heinberg believes in Peak Everything (also the title of one of his books).

Heinberg thinks for many, adjusting to a life where everything costs a bit more, could be very hard, but he also thinks the transition to a new normal might actually make life better.

&feature=share

This is well worth a look.

5 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Richard Heinberg - Living at the End of Growth (Original Post) agent46 Mar 2012 OP

He honestly thinks txlibdem Mar 2012 #1

I suppose it depends on your world view agent46 Mar 2012 #2

The right new technologies Shankapotomus Mar 2012 #3

It's already happening txlibdem Mar 2012 #5

Very inspiring! silverweb Mar 2012 #4

txlibdem

(6,183 posts)

1. He honestly thinks

Reply to agent46 (Original post)

Fri Mar 9, 2012, 10:32 PM

Mar 2012

He honestly thinks that there will be Capitalism 30 years from now? I wouldn't count on it.

agent46

(1,262 posts)

2. I suppose it depends on your world view

Reply to txlibdem (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 10, 2012, 08:55 PM

Mar 2012

Some people are placing high expectations on coming revolutions in technology.

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)

3. The right new technologies

Reply to agent46 (Reply #2)

Sun Mar 11, 2012, 02:24 PM

Mar 2012

will help kill Capitalism.

If you can produce electricity at home you don't need to buy it.

If you can clone food at home you don't need to buy it.

If robots can do everything for us, a monetary system becomes obsolete.

txlibdem

(6,183 posts)

5. It's already happening

Reply to Shankapotomus (Reply #3)

Sun Mar 11, 2012, 09:32 PM

Mar 2012

Early versions of 3D Printers coming from the open source community can already print out any plastic item you want. Expensive commercial 3D printers can print plastic, metal, and several other materials simultaneously.

One day there will be no factories, just a machine capable of printing your cell phone layer by layer, with all the circuits and controls, so no transportation need happen. Your corner store could print out everything from a fork to any electronic device. Perhaps one day they'll be able to print out your new car.

That will be a fantastic day.

silverweb

(16,402 posts)

4. Very inspiring!

Reply to agent46 (Original post)

Sun Mar 11, 2012, 03:09 PM

Mar 2012

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I hope we see more and more of these permaculture yards and homes.

I've been trying to do what I can with my little fenced-in concrete space, but could do a lot more. This makes me want to get outside right now!

Reply to this discussion