Sending Air Conditioners to Texas, and Other Vicious Cycles
By Donella Meadows
–August 13, 1998–
When President Clinton announced that he was sending $100 million so Texans suffering from the heat could buy air conditioners, one of my Dartmouth colleagues turned the news into a classroom quiz. What’s wrong with this policy?
It was an environmental studies class, so I hope the students got it right. A good answer would have been [...]
Lewinsky, Schmewinsky, Could We Have Some Real News?
By Donella Meadows
–August 6, 1998–
Reporters and photographers camp outside Monica Lewinsky’s apartment, umbrellas shading them from the summer sun, waiting to bring us — what? A glimpse of her being escorted to the grand jury? A first-hand description of her expression as rude questions are shouted out to her, none of which she answers? Is this stuff worth the attention [...]
The Greenhouse Problem as Seen by Europe and the U.S.
By Donella Meadows
–October 23, 1997–
Listening to climate change talk in the U.S. and in Europe, I have to wonder whether we’re all living on the same planet.
Several European governments have detailed plans for cutting their economies’ 1990 fossil fuel use (hence emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide) by 15 or 20 percent by the year 2005.
Meanwhile the U.S. president [...]
Breaking The Ice
By Donella Meadows
–Summer 1995–
Stunning news from Antarctica arrived last month just before the world’s nations gathered in Berlin to discuss global climate change. It was as if the South Pole had reared its hoary head again, as it did 10 years ago, to galvanize an international agreement.
What happened 10 years ago was the discovery of the enormous ozone hole. That [...]
Ice Cracks in Antarctica, Delegates Dither in Berlin
By Donella Meadows
–April 13, 1995–
Stunning news from Antarctica arrived last month just before the world’s nations gathered in Berlin to discuss global climate change. It was as if the South Pole had reared its hoary head again, as it did ten years ago, to galvanize an international agreement.
What happened ten years ago was the discovery of the enormous ozone hole. [...]
