Mother Gaia Reflects on the Global Climate Conference
By Donella Meadows
–December 4, 1997–
I may have made a mistake when I evolved that two-legged, large-brained life-form.
They have a wonderful intelligence, those creatures, my first full-fledged experiment with Reason and Moral Intuition. It’s been fun to watch them learn and develop. But I can see some problems in the design. They confuse the inventions of their minds with the realities [...]
The Last Lament of the Macintosh User
By Donella Meadows
–November 27, 1997–
I’d laugh at the Bill Gates jokes circulating around the Internet, but as one of the last embattled Macintosh users, I find Mr. Gates and his empire increasingly unfunny.
The jokes take the form of fake press releases announcing Microsoft’s latest acquisition — of the U.S. Government, for example. “Microsoft representatives held a briefing at the Oval [...]
Dear Folks: November 22, 1997
Dear Folks, It’s early Saturday morning. Heavy snow is falling, sticking to the branches, outlining them beautifully, bending them dangerously. It’s the sort of day that takes down power lines. (Note to myself, typing on the computer: SAVE FREQUENTLY!)
Kerry is in the Springfield hospital, an hour’s drive away in normal weather. Yesterday she had a second operation, to rebreak and pin [...]
Why do These Irresponsible People Blame Society for Their Problems?
By Donella Meadows
–November 20, 1997–
A few weeks ago I wrote a column about population growth and poverty. In response came a letter that took my breath away. It says, in part:
“I was born into a very poor family. I’m the oldest of seven, and my mother also had five miscarriages. Since she was ill most of the time and my [...]
Trade on the Fast Track — What’s the Hurry?
By Donella Meadows
–November 13, 1997–
There were plenty of bad reasons why Congress turned down President Clinton’s “fast track” trade bill — the normal “do anything to humiliate Clinton” stuff, payoffs from protectionists and labor, isolationists who fear trade because they fear the world.
But there were good reasons, too, strengthened by the fact that NAFTA, the free trade agreement with Mexico, [...]
