Time to leave the comfort zone

[Aurora]

BBC News - 20/05/08

There are precious few examples of cities that are attempting to reduce energy and resource consumption and improve the quality of life for their citizens, says Sir John Sorrell. But nothing is going to happen, he argues, until politicians accept that they have a mandate to make the tough choices needed.

Article continues ...

[21stCNoah]

Basically the capitalist society and 'freedom' (private and commercial) we enjoy is not compatible with the VERY hard choices that need to be made for the sake of the environment and the prosepct of oil supplies becoming less reliable NOW! The artical on Cuba changing its agriculture to small scale and local and being taught in schools, due to the USSR colapsing is something like what the developed countries should be doing. But of course in the developed world we have the attitude of throw money and energy sapping activities at something and it will be solved rather than hard co-ordinated team work which may be uncomfortable but necessary!

[peaky2]

Thanks for your certainty Sir Sorrell, but luckily those of us in Transition Cities have decided not to wait for the politicians

[Keela]

Basically the capitalist society and 'freedom' (private and commercial) we enjoy is not compatible with the VERY hard choices that need to be made for the sake of the environment and the prosepct of oil supplies becoming less reliable NOW! The artical on Cuba changing its agriculture to small scale and local and being taught in schools, due to the USSR colapsing is something like what the developed countries should be doing. But of course in the developed world we have the attitude of throw money and energy sapping activities at something and it will be solved rather than hard co-ordinated team work which may be uncomfortable but necessary!

Well said..... and the system of elections assures us that the politician that promises the rosiest immediate future (at whatever cost to our longterm futures) gets elected. MY OH reckons that a benevolent dictatorship might be the best government style for the changes we face.

Oh and welcome to the forum 21stCNoah - good name! ( I had to read it twice - the first time I saw 21st Century NOSH! - and wondered )

Sally

[kenneal - lagger]

.... MY OH reckons that a benevolent dictatorship might be the best government style for the changes we face.

Ken Livingstone or, perhaps, Boris?

[RenewableCandy]

.... MY OH reckons that a benevolent dictatorship might be the best government style for the changes we face.

Ken Livingstone or, perhaps, Boris?

Been to The Smoke a couple of times since Boris got in. The over-riding impression is that no-one (even the many who voted for him) actually expected him to get in and now they're all wondering what on earth they've let themselves in for...

[Keela]

.... MY OH reckons that a benevolent dictatorship might be the best government style for the changes we face.

Ken Livingstone or, perhaps, Boris?

I don't think he's actually thought that deeply! Perhaps if it could just be himself...