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Venture Capital for Public Entrepreneurs
By Donella Meadows
–December 18, 1997–
The idea Bill Drayton began working on sixteen years ago seemed far-out then and seems farther out now. The talents required for entrepreneurship, he realized, need not be applied only to business. Entrepreneurship for public gain is even more admirable than for private gain and even more necessary.
“Public entrepreneurs,” says Drayton, “are rare men and women [...]
And You Thought You Liked Shrimp
By Donella Meadows
–December 11, 1997–
What’s worse? Hearing that something you really like is harmful to your health, socially shameful and environmentally unsupportable? Or NOT hearing that something you really like is harmful to your health, socially shameful and environmentally unsupportable?
If you picked the first, stop reading now.
The world shrimp catch has tripled since 1970. It’s now 50% beyond what the [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
