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MMC
03-31-2012, 01:17 AM
Leading scientists on Thursday called on the upcoming Rio Summit to grapple with environmental ills that they said pointed to "a humanitarian emergency on a global scale."

"The continuing function of the Earth system as it has supported the wellbeing of human civilisation in recent centuries is at risk," said the statement issued at the "Planet Under Pressure" conference.

"These threats risk intensifying economic, ecological and social crises, creating the potential for a humanitarian emergency on a global scale."
The conference gathered nearly 3,000 environment scientists, economists, business executives and policymakers in the runup to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio.

In a recorded message, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he welcomed the declaration, saying "its timing... could not be better."Ban added that he was considering appointing a scientific board or a chief scientific advisor to advise him and other UN organs.

The conference declaration said humanity's impact on Earth was now so great that a new era -- "the Anthropocene," a term derived from the Greek word for human -- had emerged.....snip~

http://thepoliticalforums.com/newthread.php?do=newthread&f=14

They want to scrap what they call obsessions with GDP as the only benchmark for progress. That governments should consider envirnomental, health, and social factors. Calling it a "Polycentric Approach" for planetary stewardship. Meaning that a diverse partnership between local, national and regional governments that includes buisness and grassroots groups.

Do they need economists at a Scientists Convention?

MMC
03-31-2012, 07:06 AM
Of course, they went right back to that environmental issue again. Ban said this recommendation could not have com at a better time.

Peter1469
03-31-2012, 09:34 AM
I don't believe that this has any scientific basis, rather it is political. But I am surprised that they are attacking the Keynesian GDP formula. I imagine that their suggested changes to it are political nonsense, but I have posted here my modifications to the GDP formula to turn it into a valid measurement of economic performance. Without taking the time to type out the entire formula, basically my only change is to subtract out government debt spending- because you have to pay that back.

Anyone familiar with GDP will understand this. I would like to hear people argue that my change is not valid.

Conley
03-31-2012, 09:36 AM
Yeah, it's great that they're trying to move us away from GDP but as far as measuring using a polycentric approach, there's nothing stopping them. Could the environment be in better shape? Absolutely. Is the governing convention going to change polluting habits from the U.S., China, and India? Doubtful.

MMC
03-31-2012, 10:28 AM
I don't believe that this has any scientific basis, rather it is political. But I am surprised that they are attacking the Keynesian GDP formula. I imagine that their suggested changes to it are political nonsense, but I have posted here my modifications to the GDP formula to turn it into a valid measurement of economic performance. Without taking the time to type out the entire formula, basically my only change is to subtract out government debt spending- because you have to pay that back.

Anyone familiar with GDP will understand this. I would like to hear people argue that my change is not valid.

Yes, I am not thouroughly familiar with it. But I was reading all that you said. Especially when Chris was in on it. I thought Wingrider agreed with you too. I don't see any valid argument against what you propose.

What do you think of this classification of the Anthropocene Human they are talking about?

Peter1469
03-31-2012, 10:43 AM
I think that it is B.S.

Conley
03-31-2012, 10:47 AM
This is the age of homo sapiens, there's no getting around it. As far as being a significant epoch in the history of the planet, I'd say it absolutely is. Thus I have no problem with the name.

Peter1469
03-31-2012, 11:45 AM
The climate changes without regard to our presence.

Now we do cause a lot of pollution damage such as to our water supplies with our big factory farm operations.

Mister D
03-31-2012, 12:42 PM
I don't think we can extend our standard of living to 7 billion people. The world of liberal modernity is likely in its death throes. Their urgent calls for greater and greater centralization are partly out of fear that the globalist system is going to break down. I say good riddance to the ideology of consumption, materialism, universalism, and ever bigger markets.

MMC
03-31-2012, 12:54 PM
This is the age of homo sapiens, there's no getting around it. As far as being a significant epoch in the history of the planet, I'd say it absolutely is. Thus I have no problem with the name.

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=4770875945517672&id=29583842a78169e023cc478bf3641110&url=http%3a%2f%2fthepwnzone.files.wordpress.com%2f 2011%2f09%2fwhy-is-water-clear-aliens-are-color-blind.jpg :tongue:

spunkloaf
03-31-2012, 02:39 PM
There's not a person on this planet who's allowed to be concerned about the environment without being a socialist.

It's considered cool to reject all environmentalism as a liberal conspiracy to scare us all into accepting a bigger government.

MMC
03-31-2012, 03:20 PM
There's not a person on this planet who's allowed to be concerned about the environment without being a socialist.

It's considered cool to reject all environmentalism as a liberal conspiracy to scare us all into accepting a bigger government.

Thats Bullshit I'll have you know.....I always clean up my environment I live in. It's my yard and I got to do al the work myself. If I was being a socialist. I would find a bunch of other people to come over and do the work for free. :tongue: :grin: