"The other way" of economic Francesco Gesualdi
There are many different proposals for an economy more sustainable. The New Model Development Center in the booklet "The other way" by Francesco Gesualdi, provides clear analysis of the current situation and a proposal for a cohesive society to work towards. It is proposed here a summary of the proposal, which can be expanded in the publication, free download from the site www.cnms.it.
According to recent estimates by the World Wildlife Fund (1), the ecological balance of planet Earth is in the red by about 30%, or more than is consumed every year As the global ecosystem can not produce. Leaving aside for future problems, such as global warming, we see easily than we already are: air and water begin to be a bit 'too polluted, with consequent damage to health and food production, energy resources begin to be considered scarce, and therefore more expensive, the huge amount of waste becomes a burden more and more uncomfortable.
Big problems, which are only made worse from year to year because of the way in which our society generates wealth: economic growth. "More products" means "more jobs and more wages," this is the reasoning that you do. This mechanism of increasing production of wealth does nothing but aggravate the already heavy environmental problems. Even with the excellent account of technological progress, which makes more efficient actions and products, where there is economic growth every year, creating more products and more waste and consumes more energy than its predecessor (3).
If the problem already seems so great, we must remember that most of humanity has another kind of trouble is no less urgent, such as being able to put the body in the necessary calories to live. In the world today something like two and a half billion people live on $ 2 a day at the (4). Even though these people have the right to drinking water, adequate food, healthcare, education, a home. They are people who will try to get the same chance to live with that now has the Western world, and this process can become explosive if it is hindered.
There was a time when it was thought that in a just world the entire world population would enjoyed living standards of the West, today such a thought makes no sense, given the already large problems despite the small population can create rich, if the current 6 billion people should live in the style of American life, 5 planet Earths would be needed to support consumption.
what to do?
A response immediately applicable to rich countries is the reduction of consumption: a rebellion against the system that sees people as mere consumers. Reduce consumption to a sustainable level, which the whole global population can live without draining the planet. Incidentally, less consumption means less need to work, and then more time for relationships and for society to live.
course, a reduction in fuel consumption also means recession, a word that makes the newspapers and economists worry, and darkens the day of people who fear for their jobs.
The solution proposed by the Centre for Developing New Models (2) is the 'economy of the three houses, "or principles: DIY, collective solidarity, the marketplace, the cornerstones of the economy in the broadest sense of term.
The first "home" suggests to expand the possible interventions in autonomy, in contrast with the current trend to leave to those in the expertise in all types of works: the idea is that, for many things is really necessary expertise (eg, a computer repair), many others can be managed independently (eg painting the house, cooking). DIY saves, and typically promotes simplicity, environmental friendliness, and freedom.
The second house is the public space, attached: Francesco Gesualdi need to revise the conception of national service, so you can guarantee all the satisfaction of basic needs such as water, health, education, housing, regardless of ability economic individual. To this should be able to distinguish between basic needs and desires: while the second could be managed by the market, the third house, the former should be paid by the state. Of course, this strong social pressure should be adequately supported financially - already shaky public finances - the nationality: a hypothesis is to increase the participation for the maintenance of the public good, such as through volunteering, community service, time donated to the community.
It should be noted that the proposals can be implemented by the Centre for Developing New Models require that there is a strong policy intervention and a change in the individualistic mentality is prevalent today: it should be completely revise our relationship with the community, users to switch service to active participants in society (5).
The solution proposed by the Centre for Developing New Models (2) is the 'economy of the three houses, "or principles: DIY, collective solidarity, the marketplace, the cornerstones of the economy in the broadest sense of term.
The first "home" suggests to expand the possible interventions in autonomy, in contrast with the current trend to leave to those in the expertise in all types of works: the idea is that, for many things is really necessary expertise (eg, a computer repair), many others can be managed independently (eg painting the house, cooking). DIY saves, and typically promotes simplicity, environmental friendliness, and freedom.
The second house is the public space, attached: Francesco Gesualdi need to revise the conception of national service, so you can guarantee all the satisfaction of basic needs such as water, health, education, housing, regardless of ability economic individual. To this should be able to distinguish between basic needs and desires: while the second could be managed by the market, the third house, the former should be paid by the state. Of course, this strong social pressure should be adequately supported financially - already shaky public finances - the nationality: a hypothesis is to increase the participation for the maintenance of the public good, such as through volunteering, community service, time donated to the community.
It should be noted that the proposals can be implemented by the Centre for Developing New Models require that there is a strong policy intervention and a change in the individualistic mentality is prevalent today: it should be completely revise our relationship with the community, users to switch service to active participants in society (5).
that these proposals be implemented or not, we still have to realize that the status quo will be difficult to maintain, and that continuing on the current track of growth at all costs, the outlook for the western countries are not rosy: in global village governed by the market that matters is profit, it is assumed that such firms move production activities in the poorest countries, where labor costs are low - at which point they will move their employment opportunities in poor areas , or will the energy crisis and environmental deliver a blow to indebted western economies.
Francesco Grossi
(1) Living Planet Report , 2008.
(2) See for example the National Economic Report of Italy in the last 10 years.
(3) At www.cnms.it you can download "The other way" by Francesco Gesualdi, for a discussion on the subject.
(4) Source: World Bank, www.worldbank.org (5) A good example of this is Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, which is created and edited by users.
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