Immigration Policy That’s Practical As Well As Noble
By Donella Meadows
–January 19, 1995–
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Emma Lazarus wrote those inspiring words on the occasion of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886. They sank deep [...]
Who Causes Environmental Problems?
By Donella Meadows
–January 12, 1995–
To a small but influential bunch of global thinkers the abbreviation “IPAT” (pronounced “eye-pat”) says volumes. It summarizes all the causes of our environmental problems.
IPAT comes from a formula originally put forth by ecologist Paul Ehrlich and physicist John Holdren:
Impact equals Population times Affluence times Technology.
Which is to say, the damage we do to the earth [...]
The Most Expensive Health Care System in the World
By Donella Meadows
–January 5, 1995–
America has the best health care system in the world, said Bob Dole and the other executioners of health care reform. Once upon a time that claim was true. Now what America has is the most expensive health care system in the world, in spite of the fact that it leaves one-third of its citizens un- [...]
Peace on Earth, Good Will to Sheep and Men
By Donella Meadows
–December 22, 1994–
As rams go, Wally was a real gentleman.
Rams defend their territory by backing up to get a good run going, putting their thick necks down, and charging at anything they regard as a threat. Once, before we had Wally, I was walking heedlessly across the pasture and suddenly found myself flying through the air, both sneakers [...]
Newt Has Some Right Ideas for the Wrong Reasons
By Donella Meadows
–December 15, 1994–
I hate to admit that Newt Gingrich is right about anything, but I think it’s a great idea to have moments of silence in school.
There should be moments of silence at work too, and before meals and in shopping malls and at baseball games. I’m especially in favor of moments or even hours of silence on [...]
