What’s the Point?
By Tom Murphy, originally published by Do the Math May 15, 2024
"...Once dropping the problematic cosmology that defines the point of life in terms of human “accomplishment” in the narrow context of modernity, a universe of other values systems becomes available to offer sustenance. To think otherwise is to arrogantly assume that thousands of generations of humans who came before were miserable because they had not found their “special purpose.” Modernists are nodding, because this sounds right according to their mythology. But that strikes me as delusional bull$#!+! Joy is part of the package of being human, and always has been! Likewise, all the other plants and animals of the world are not frikin’ miserable because they lack modernity! I could turn the tables and say that the modernity disease produces far more misery (for all life) than any other worldview that has ever existed on the planet..."
Spot on. I wasn't aware data centers were substituting water use for CO2 emissions as a form of greenwashing, but can't say I'm surprised.
The fact that reducing CO2 has become (incorrectly) synonymous with sustainability certainly disguises much of the damage we do and the root cause of the problem. At its core, it's not that we emit too much carbon, it's that we overconsume and the climate crisis is one symptom of it.
A Shareable explainer: What is the Solidarity Economy?
By Emily Kawano, originally published by Shareable May 9, 2024
"...Here are some key differences between the sharing economy and the solidarity economy:
Profit orientation: ...the solidarity economy actively seeks to downplay or redistribute profits to stakeholders and community members...
Community engagement: The solidarity economy is deeply rooted in community engagement and empowerment, aiming to improve local resilience and economic democracy...
Governance: Solidarity economy initiatives typically involve democratic or participatory governance, with stakeholders involved in decision-making...
Sustainability and equity goals: The solidarity economy explicitly aims for social and environmental sustainability and equity. While sharing economy platforms might contribute to resource efficiency, these outcomes are not always the primary goal..."
Digging into this paper by Sullivan and Hickel, and I am a bit distressed by the way authors misrepresent and distort their sources to fit their political narrative.
I’m a firm believer that #degrowth is necessary (though I hate the term). But I don’t know how it should be brought about. So I try to read, but I find a lot of the #degrowth lit I’ve come across frustratingly cherry-picking and wooly, including Hickel’s book. Particularly when it comes to practical ways to proceed. This makes it easy to deflect the general argument about necessity into one focusing on lack of rigor, which is a shame.
In the long term, #degrowth does not mean lower algorithmic quality. It means algorithmic diversity. Machine learning is much more than the one architecture that is currently being sold as ‘intelligence’. Machine learning is wonderful. But it can and should be small, energy-efficient and planet-friendly.
Is Degrowth an Academic Field or a Mass Movement? Taking Degrowth to the People!
By Phil Wilson, originally published by Resilience.org May 7, 2024
"...Tens of millions will either be mobilized to act, or not. The climate emergency cannot be mitigated...via private acts of conscience, nor...without a program of action and a massive base, expect to meaningfully oppose corporate reflexes. Intellectual virtuosity has limits – we would all do well to read Thoreau, but also, we must understand that his literary brilliance did not slow down the robber barons.
...degrowth, cannot be titrated in order to make it palatable to either profiteers or addicted consumers. It is inherently radical and based on the assumption that any alternative will be catastrophic...many...articles rather casually assumed that degrowth might be employed within the context of reform rather than revolution. There are no historical events that support such optimism..."
Can economic growth be decoupled from emissions? Yes, for sure, easily even.
Can economic growth be decoupled from environmental degradation in general? Absolutely not. The sheer throughput of materials through the economy, from extraction to waste disposal, must decrease. If we address GHG emissions in isolation from topsoil and biodiversity loss, we will fail to preserve the ecosystems on which we depend for life.