Sustainable energy just placebo

By Wan Lixin | May 1, 2009, Friday |

Print Edition

IN the article above Vaclav Klaus points to an important fact that politicians and economists around the globe have been trying hard to ignore: the essence of growth.

By comparison, his intention and proposal are less important.

In a very ingenious manner, capitalism has reduced human existence to economic parameters, and is quickly spreading the gospel of prosperity to every corner of the globe.

A classic explanation for this missionary fervor is that excessive capitalist manufacturing capacity calls for new markets.

A new, emerging consensus is that it also needs to move dirty manufacturing facilities to areas that have easy access to cheap labor and resources.

To achieve this purpose, all human existence that cannot be profitably exploited by the capital is portrayed as backward, uncivilized, undeveloped, poor, miserable.

Any values that cannot be precisely denominated in dollars are being diligently extirpated.

As economic growth is fueled by consumption, which ultimately hinges on energy, hectic economic growth and expansion forces on our consciousness the devastating environmental impacts of energy consumption.

The shadow of fast-diminishing energy reserves also looms large.

Against such a background, new sustainable energy sources are proffered as a placebo to mitigate temporarily our unease about tomorrow's uncertainty.

The underlying belief is that the new energies will continue to fuel capitalist lifestyle even after the fossil fuels are exhausted.

The cap-and-trade regime is another trick designed to help capitalists continue to make money without having to feel any guilt about their sins.

Klaus is right in exploding this myth, and by explicating the strong correlation between growth and energy, it is hoped he can pave the way for more meaningful discussions - even though he has different priorities.

Opinion Columns

About Us
|
Terms of Use
|
RSS
|
Privacy Policy
|
Contact Us
|
Shanghai Call Center: 962288
|
Tip-off hotline: 52920043

沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
|
互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
|
网络视听许可证：0909346
|
广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
|
增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012

Sustainable energy just placebo

Email this to your friend