Down to the wire : confronting climate collapse / David - Index of
Down to the wire : confronting climate collapse / David - Index of
Down to the wire : confronting climate collapse / David - Index of
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160 S far<strong>the</strong>r horizons<br />
<strong>the</strong> center <strong>of</strong> American politics nei<strong>the</strong>r left nor right but from<br />
<strong>the</strong> status quo <strong>to</strong>ward a livable and decent future. We must also<br />
contend with <strong>the</strong> defects in culture, politics, science, and society<br />
that caused <strong>the</strong> problem in <strong>the</strong> fi rst place. The modern project—<br />
Prome<strong>the</strong>an in its ambitions and Cartesian in its methods—has,<br />
on balance, turned out badly: a reality inadequately described by<br />
<strong>the</strong> vague and sterile word “unsustainable.” For whatever shortterm<br />
good it brought in <strong>the</strong> end, it is a kind <strong>of</strong> protection racket,<br />
in <strong>the</strong> poet Gary Snyder’s words:<br />
economically dependent on a fantastic system <strong>of</strong> stimulation <strong>of</strong><br />
greed which cannot be fulfi lled, sexual desire which cannot be<br />
satiated and hatred which has no outlet except against oneself<br />
[or] <strong>the</strong> persons one is supposed <strong>to</strong> love. . . . All modern societies<br />
[are] vicious dis<strong>to</strong>rters <strong>of</strong> man’s true potential. They create<br />
populations <strong>of</strong> “preta”—hungry ghosts, with giant appetites and<br />
throats no bigger than needles. The soil, <strong>the</strong> forests and all animal<br />
life are being consumed by <strong>the</strong>se cancerous collectivities. (Snyder,<br />
1969, p. 91)<br />
Climate destabilization, in o<strong>the</strong>r words, is only a symp<strong>to</strong>m <strong>of</strong> a<br />
much deeper problem.<br />
A great deal now depends on what we do <strong>to</strong> develop <strong>the</strong><br />
stamina, vision, and institutional resources necessary <strong>to</strong> carry <strong>the</strong><br />
best <strong>of</strong> civilization through <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r side. Immediate action <strong>to</strong><br />
reduce carbon emissions and preserve ecosystems will reduce <strong>the</strong><br />
scale and duration <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> traumas <strong>the</strong>y will o<strong>the</strong>rwise experience.<br />
Every effort <strong>to</strong> build local resilience and sustainable communities<br />
that meet many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own needs for food, energy, water, and<br />
livelihood will minimize many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> risks people and all creatures<br />
will face. Changes in education <strong>to</strong> equip children and young<br />
adults with an understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> skills <strong>of</strong> self-reliance and ecological<br />
design will enable millions <strong>to</strong> participate directly in <strong>the</strong><br />
making <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> post-fossil-fuel world. Efforts <strong>to</strong> res<strong>to</strong>re democracy,<br />
restrain corporate power, reinstate public control over common