Global Climate Change

On February 18^th, we discussed global climate change. All in attendance seemed to agree that global climate change was real, that it would have negative consequences (at least in some parts of the world), and that human activity was a major contributor to this problem. Most felt that relying on individuals to spontaneously make changes in their daily lives would not be adequate to address the problem, and that collective action would be necessary. One member expressed fears that this would mean giving up some of our freedoms, but others argued that laws addressing global climate change would be no different from laws preventing us from, say, murdering or defrauding one another, and that such laws can even grant greater freedom, in that they allow us to pursue our lives with a necessary degree of security.

Potential methods of addressing the problem varied. Some felt that we would have to simplify our lives and learn to consume less energy, but one member felt that technological advances might make this unnecessary. Methods of transit were central to the discussion - potential options mentioned included buses, light rail, making cities bicycle-friendly, and even a system of moving sidewalks. One present expressed great hope for the potential of nuclear fusion as a means of providing energy, but others had not yet been convinced that any method of harnessing nuclear energy could ever be truly safe, effective, and efficient.

As we discussed the promise (or lack of promise) of various technologies; where previous technological developments seemed to have gotten us; and whether massive, cultural change was necessary or possible, some began to wonder whether our traditional notion of "progress" was distorted. Join us next time as we delve further into this topic and attempt to answer the questions: What is progress? Are there alternatives to the traditional formulation, progress = growth?