How It Happened That We Don’t Regulate Biotech
by Donella Meadows
— August 17, 2000 —
Back in the 1970s scientists got their first inkling that they might actually be able to redesign genes. That awesome possibility started an ethical and regulatory flurry. Distinguished panels of scientists met to ask imponderable questions. Could some human-created form of life get loose and carry self-multiplying havoc into the world? How could we [...]
Getting Beyond the Choice Between Tweedledum and Tweedledee
by Donella Meadows
— August 3, 2000 —
The complaints continue to pour in:
“Why are you writing columns supporting Ralph Nader? How can you actively aid and abet the election of that dolt Bush? You can think better than that.”
And so does the applause:
“I believe that you will never regret voting on the basis of your conscience, and neither will I.”
On the [...]
Forget Camp David, Forget Survivor, Watch Capitol Hill
by Donella Meadows
— July 20, 2000 —
I don’t get it. Why are the 24-hour news media, always desperate for gripping stories, reporting every hour on the Camp David summit, where, as I write this column, they have no access to what’s really going on? Why don’t some of those eager reporters move over to Capitol Hill to cover the constantly [...]
The Good is the Enemy of the Perfect
by Donella Meadows
— June 15, 2000 —
Wow! Did I ever infuriate my liberal friends when I said I would vote for Ralph Nader!
They’ve been hammering me with earnest lectures about how every vote for Nader will help get Bush elected, and how an elected Bush will devastate the environment, enrich the rich, hand the country to the oil companies, appoint [...]
What To Do With Your Single, Precious Presidential Vote?
by Donella Meadows
— May 25, 2000 —
Russell Peterson, former governor of Delaware, ardent environmentalist, lifelong Republican until a few years ago when he switched to being a Democrat, was appalled when I told him I couldn’t bring myself to vote for Al Gore.
He gave me the undeniably rational argument. George W. shows no sign of either knowing or caring about [...]
