Should we be geoengineering the planet to survive? Our first speaker, Gwynne Dyer, thinks so. As a career commentator on the military, he begins his speech on "Climate Wars" by explaining how he got interested in the topic - studying war game scenarios centred around climate change and food shortages. (Had you noticed, the price of wheat is up about 90% since June?). He explains why academics are worried, why their papers consistently underestimate what is really happening, and the three major feedback loops which exist that could create runaway global warming. His dire conclusion is that the political leaders of the world will not agree in time on measures to cut carbon emissions, and so will start geoengineering within 5-10 years.
Our second hour is a vintage (1970's?) talk from
Murray Bookchin (slightly edited from
episode 319) which begins by linking two apparently unrelated topics. His first point is that our ideas of the natural world are largely a reflection of our own social structure, the second that our science has a largely unrecognised numerical, quantitative bias. He draws these together by claiming that the Western technological project is one of unnatural domination that simplifies and reduces life in an effort to master it. He advocates instead an embrace of qualitative judgements, use of a "7th sense" and an abdication of our assumed role as master of nature, suggesting instead that we pursue a harmonious society and one in tune with the world around us.
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