from Deep Green Philly
Regarding some of the contradictions of being anti-civ or critical of industrial society (or, how to negotiate certain “facts on the ground”):
There’s an Upworthy video making the rounds on facebook entitled ‘5 Years’ Worth Of Photos Show How Testosterone Affected One Person’s Life’. This heartwarming video shows a FTM trans person’s journey of self-realization. Of course a medical marvel like this would not have been possible 40 years ago, and yet here’s the thing – it’s not clear if it will be possible 40 years into the future if climate disruption, global warming, and resource wars take the huge toll that many are predicting.
It’s hard to argue with the fact that our fossil fuel powered industrial society has produced some wonderful (and necessary) innovations; things like eye glasses, heart surgeries, insulin, and chemotherapy have improved and saved many lives. So those who are anti-civ or critical of civ are often accused of wanting to take these things away, or accused of able-ism. Well, here’s the catch-22 situation we face. If the climate, pollution, and resource crises are not adequately addressed very soon, we’ll be lucky to have 19th century levels of technology in 40 – 50 years. Of course, many parts of the world are already living in 19th century conditions, so we need to take a moment to acknowledge the fact that different types of privilege play a big role in who currently gets access to the life saving and life enhancing marvels of the modern world and who does not.
Industrial society has given and yet it is now poised to take it all away like some malicious and maniacal genie from the proverbial bottle. The task the realists are presented with is how to reduce the damage of industry to our environment, allowing us enough clean air, water, and soil to live while still maintaining some industrial base capable of churning out these life enhancing and life saving things we’ve all gotten used to. Some say it’s not possible, that we need to find alternatives to the solutions of industrial society. Others point to the billions of (mostly poor and black and brown) people who are not benefiting from industry yet who are poised to become the first victims of the fossil fuel industry and western greed.
Can we replace fossil fuels and industrial chemicals with equally or more efficient clean, renewable energy?
Is there any clean energy that can sustain the life enhancing and life saving benefits we’ve become accustomed to – for all people and not just for a lucky and privileged few?
Is it possible to save the best of our industrial society while jettisoning what’s harmful, or is it an “all or nothing” situation?
