Plenitude: The Emerging New Economy
Ecological decline is staring us in the face. With ever finite resources and an ever voracious appetite for them, the stress on this “pale blue dot” as Carl Sagan called earth is simply too much. Something has to give. The business as usual model is a prescription for widespread misery and destruction. The U.S. with much of its population pursuing what is called the good life of endless consumption is probably the biggest culprit but other countries are not that far behind. To begin with the attitude toward nature has to radically change. The pattern of plundering and extraction is a dead end. Humankind should be in partnership with nature not in an adversarial relationship. People are figuring this out. There are many initiatives to turn things around and create a new economy rooted in common sense and environmental sustainability.
Speaker
Juliet Schor
Juliet Schor is an award-winning economist and sociologist at Boston College. She is the author of many books including The Overworked American, True Wealth and After the Gig: How the Sharing Economy Got Hijacked and How to Win It Back.
Pablo –
I dont thrust a perfect world. nor i try to fantasies in reality. but i understand the need for an economy that is more actively aware of our relationship with earth. I think Professor Schor ideas are refreshing and openminded; but only for those who understand change has to be vital and immediate. I will purchase the book “Plenitud” and gladly i will. The good future of humanity relies on people with positively active minds and i choose to be a part of this. not because i belive in human race as a whole but becasue change has to be an individual effort.
james chambers –
While I’m sure Ms Schor is brilliant and indeed concerned, her point is lost in the utterly irritating manner in which she delivers her speech. Constant misreading her prepared script was annoying to the point of distraction. Plus, as with so many speakers on the program, I think she misses that any successful change has to get everybody – or a good percent – on the same page. Not sure in this “dumbed down” society that would be possible. Give me C. Hedges anytime.
Betsy –
I enjoyed this intelligent and broad sweeping talk and can’t wait to purchase one of her books.