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Many Creation Stories, None of them Plausible
By Donella Meadows
–November 7, 1990–
“We are in trouble just now because we do not have a good story,” says cultural historian Thomas Berry. “The old story, the account of how the world came to be and how we fit into it is no longer effective.
“Our traditional story … shaped our emotional attitudes, provided us with life purposes, and energized action. [...]
What We don’t Know About the Budget isn’t Easy to Find Out
By Donella Meadows
–November 1, 1990–
“I never knew that, about rich people not paying Social Security tax on all their income,” an outraged friend told me last week.
Said another equally angry friend a few days later, “That income tax bubble, I didn’t know about that. How could they DO it?”
They could do it because intelligent, busy people like my friends didn’t [...]
Basic Facts About Energy and the Middle East
By Donella Meadows
–October 26, 1990–
In the Great White Capital City the leaders of the nation are making plans to go to war. They are also making a national energy policy. The war and energy plans are being designed in different parts of the government, but of course the events that drive them are closely related.
The citizens of this democracy will [...]
Out of the Frying Pan
By Donella Meadows
–October 18, 1990–
Dear Stanislav,
I’m sorry to hear how bad things are in Moscow. I can imagine how frustrated you are. You’ve won freedom at last, but still there’s no meat and no soap, and the potatoes are rotting in the fields.
Over here we’re pulling for you. We hope you find the patience to weather these hard times and [...]
A Scientific Consensus on Global Warming
By Donella Meadows
–October 11, 1990–
Is there a greenhouse effect or isn’t there? In the United States that question has become political. Some people think global warming is an enormous threat; therefore we should change our polluting ways. Some think that is pernicious poppycock. Several of each persuasion whisper into the ear of the President.
The discussion should not be political, of [...]
