The Environment, the Capital Gains Tax and the Burden of Proof
By Donella Meadows
–September 21, 1989–
Whenever a large profit-making enterprise in this great nation is told that its activities might not be good for the environment, it calls for proof.
Whenever the government doesn’t want to deal with a problem, environmental or otherwise, it can delay almost indefinitely by demanding proof.
The Reagan administration held up action on acid rain for eight years, [...]
Environment and Freedom in Eastern Europe
By Donella Meadows
–September 14, 1989–
In East Europe the environment is a hot topic these days, because, like nearly everything else there, it is a political topic. To be an environmentalist, as to be a trade unionist or an artist or an ethnic separatist, is to be against Government. No matter whether that government is Polish or Hungarian or Soviet, finally, [...]
Do We Need Another Drought?
By Donella Meadows
–September 7, 1989–
On the first day of summer this year the Washington Post made a bid for the 1989 Cynicism in Media Award by running a story that began: “With summer officially debuting today, environmentalists and their allies are praying for a sizzler. A little drought wouldn’t hurt either.”
“A real cooker … will increase pressure on Congress and [...]
The Sportscar of Showerheads
By Donella Meadows
–August 31, 1989–
The best antidote to the greenhouse effect, to acid rain, to urban air pollution, nuclear wastes, and high energy bills is energy conservation. If we stopped throwing away most of the energy we use, we could get a lot more bang and a lot less blight for the buck.
Rocky Mountain Institute (known to its friends as [...]
The Planet Is Not in Danger, Our Ideas Are
By Donella Meadows
–August 24, 1989–
“Last Chance for the Planet!”
“Can the Earth Be Saved?”
“Requiem for Planet Earth.”
The language with which we describe our environmental situation throbs with the drama of lurking mega-disaster.
The threat is GLOBAL! The whole PLANET is in crisis! For the FIRST TIME IN HUMAN HISTORY we have it in our power to DESTROY THE EARTH!
Or, as Woody Allen [...]
