April 22, 2009

Want to save the Earth? Spend!

This is the type of analysis I've been trying to set aside time to do. From Scrivener, the de-bunking of Earth verus Consumerism as an absolute choice.
"The more advanced an economy grows, and the richer its population becomes, the less in physical resources it consumes."Tell your environmentalist friends: to Save the Earth, grow its economies! Especially its most backward ones (but ours too). As fast as you can!

...the 32 minerals with the highest levels of consumption in metric tons, all over 100,000 in 1965 (omitting a few like "crushed rock" and "salt" which even the most rabid of greens won't allege we are depleting), and then compared the amounts of them consumed in 1965 and 2005.
The key findings:

  • Per dollar of GDP, all 32 declined in consumption.
  • Per capita, 19 fell in consumption. Adding all 32 together, per capita consumption fell by 41% total (i.e. the net effect)
  • In absolute terms, 11 of the 32 declined outright in consumption, and the total consumption of all 32 declined in absolute terms by 9%.

More wealth, more spend - less consumption. Ergo less waste as well. Therefore spend green to save 'green'. Calls for a Capitalism Day are worth heeding.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Disagreement is always welcome. Please remain civil. Vulgar or disrespectful comments towards anyone will be removed.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Share This