Archive for August, 2006
The Great Divergence
In: Uncategorized
31 Aug 2006Interesting figures on the “great divergence” – the huge widening in global inequality following the Industrial Revolution – from the annual economics symposium at Jackson Hole held by America’s Federal Reserve. According to a paper by Anthony Venables (PDF), a professor of economics at the London School of Economics: “the ratio of per capita incomes […]
- Tags: economics, growth, inequality, progress
Monbiot attacks geo-engineering
In: Uncategorized
30 Aug 2006It is unusual for environmentalists to want to discuss the viability of geoengineering – large scale projects designed to modify the climate – as a solution to global warming. Normally they emphasise that curbing emissions of greenhouse cases must be central to any strategy of dealing with global warming. Greens are loath to give credibility […]
- Tags: climate, consumption, economics, environment, geo-engineering
Sin Tracker: tap water
In: Uncategorized
29 Aug 2006Monitoring the alleged sins of modern life Tap water is sinful according to CityAM, a free daily newspaper for those who work in the City of London, especially if it is hot. An article in today’s issue warns: “It appears that some carcinogenic industrial solvents such as benzene and methylene chloride can be present in […]
- Tags: sin tracker, technology, water
Campaign against Coke spreads to Britain
In: Uncategorized
28 Aug 2006I discover today that the campaign against Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola has spread to Britain and America. A report in the Independent on 19 August said Sussex University was the first campus in the country to ban all Coca-Cola products from its students’ union: “The decision to withdraw Coca-Cola from the university comes at a time […]
- Tags: consumption, corporations, india
Growth scepticism in India
In: Uncategorized
26 Aug 2006It seems to me that growth scepticism is a central part of Indian nationalism. Most obviously there is the symbolism of the flag – which I will not go into now – and the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. Contemporary India also has prominent environmental campaigners including Medha Patkar, Arundhati Roy and Vandana Shiva. One of […]
- Tags: Asia, environment, india
Sin Tracker: shopping at superstores
In: Uncategorized
25 Aug 2006Monitoring the alleged sins of modern life An excellent piece by Sean Collins on Spiked on the “sin” of shopping at Wal-Mart. Evidently America’s Democratic Party, divided on many issues, is united on hatred of the giant superstore. Two union-backed campaigning groups are spearheading the campaigning against the shopping giant (branded as Asda in Britain). […]
- Tags: America, consumption, corporations, sin tracker, spiked
Sin Tracker: air conditioning
In: Uncategorized
24 Aug 2006Monitoring the alleged sins of modern life This is the first of my Sin Tracker columns in which I discuss specific targets for attacks on modern living by environmentalists. There are plenty of candidates for future columns including eating cheap food, using too much water, buying cheap goods, driving cars and going on holiday abroad. […]
- Tags: climate, environment, sin tracker, spiked, technology
World Water Week
In: Uncategorized
22 Aug 2006The idea of a global water shortage seems particularly odd. There is so much of it in the world and it is the ultimate recyclable commodity – once it is used it can often easily be reused. Yet much of the reporting of the World Water Week in Stockholm suggests there is a global water […]
- Tags: economics, environment, technology, water
Malaria reminder
In: Uncategorized
22 Aug 2006A useful reminder in today’s Wall Street Journal Europe (subscription required) about the scourge of malaria and how it can be solved by economic development. Evidently malaria afflicts half a billion people a year and kills a million of them. One way to deal with the disease it to spray DDT, a pesticide, but such […]
- Tags: Asia, development, health, progress, technology
Crunchy cops
In: Uncategorized
21 Aug 2006Not long after discovering “crunchy cons” (green conservatives) it seems we now have crunchy cops. Or as an article in today’s London Evening Standard puts it: “Now the boys in blue are going green”. Evidently the Metropolitan Police: ”has ordered its first hydrogen powered patrol cars which emit no exhaust and run almost silently. Meanwhile […]
- Tags: environment, ethics
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