Category Archives: Environment, society, politics and economics
Unemployment and food (again)
More worrying than last week’s falls in stock markets was the news that the Chinese manufacturer Foxconn which employs one million people, is planning to increase the number of robots it uses from 10,000 to one million by 2013. If … Continue reading
Laughing and crying – addendum
You might say: Well this proves that we can cut demand by pricing carbon. Check the numbers. Before the recent increase Brent Crude was around $80 a barrel. Now it’s $120 a barrel. An increase of $40 a barrel. Say … Continue reading
Laughing and crying
The high price of oil is beginning to effect [sic] demand for energy, according to the International Energy Agency (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13047854). Horraay!!!!! Good news finally!!!! But hold on!! Is it good news? The IEA says it is concerned about supply shortages. … Continue reading
Optimisation
Economics can be said to be about optimization under conditions of scarcity. Optimization means achieving the best outcome. And “best” means “most good”. And “good” is a moral thing. So economics is built on a moral foundation. So the first … Continue reading
Beauty as the enemy of sustainability
Why is beauty often the enemy of sustainability? How come two good things are in such opposition? This concerns me greatly as there are many examples of aesthetics being in conflict with sustainability – a leather armchair, a cotton shirt, … Continue reading