Thomas L Friedman has this wonderful ability to ask meaningful questions, ones that relate to our shared existence on this planet. In an Opinion article published in the New York Times, he asks the question: "What if the crisis of 2008 represents something much more fundamental than a deep recession? What if it’s telling us that the whole growth model we created over the last 50 years is simply unsustainable economically and ecologically and that 2008 was when we hit the wall — when Mother Nature and the market both said: “No more.”
So what are we doing about this? In the same article, he calls himself an optimist, and comments: "People are already using this economic slowdown to retool and reorient economies." By "people", he means the countries that are making huge investments in clean power. It's beginning to happen - but some "people" are lagging behind, and some investments are being used to try to kick start the same system that led us to this problem.
Australia has often been called "the lucky country" - in this next decade we need more than luck, we need to retool and reorient our economy. We have the wealth and the expertise, so what are we waiting for?
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2 comments:
Seems ironic we both posted on Thomas L. Friedman on the same day. As an American living in a coal state I can see the whole political process bogging the U.S. down. This book should be required reading for all American high school students. I wish you much success in your work.
Hi Valerie, Thomas' book "Hot Flat and Crowded" really defines the world in which we live - it confronts us with the "big picture" reality but also offers hope for the future. Let's extend your suggestion of required reading to our political and business leaders! Thanks :)
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