The Ecological Wealth Of The Earth And The Planetary Economic Implications Of The Environmental Health Of Our Planet
Created | Updated Aug 27, 2002
My Environmental Economics Theory, by 'Marcus Aurelius'. Suggestions for a better title are welcome!
TO SAY THIS ENTRY IS INCOMPLETE WOULD BE UNDERSTATING THE FACT THAT IT HAS NOT YET TRUELY BEGUN.
This article came into being because I am perplexed at the seeming short-sightedness of economic theory. I plan to open peoples minds.......eventually. I'm going to need time for this one!
Alright, look, economic theory states that labour is the source of wealth and that man is it's creator. Well yeah, in essence that's true, right, yet stupifyingly limited. When people talk about 'economics' and 'wealth' they think only of money - human wealth in comparison to other humans. What about the big stuff?
How rich is the world? Hey? In comparison to other worlds how rich is the Earth? Aha! Have I got your attention now?
Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to point out the Ultimate Truth Of Economics: Matter and Energy is the currency of life, and the Earth is our pocket. I suggest we seriously focus on increasing the wealth and efficiency of Our Planet for the benefit of all. Because after all, if the pie were bigger then so would be my slice. <biggrin>
Ok, yeah, I can hear all the economists going "but if we all had more then in fact we wouldn't have more in relation to each other" and what I'd like to say is "Sure, so we wouldn't be 'richer' in the normal sense but our planet would contain more resources. The more resources we have then the more we can do as a species, dumb-dumb. The more powerful we are in a galactic context."
Now, I'm not saying that aliens exist, right? Because how the hell would I know? I've only left Europe once and that was to go to the US and I'm not in communication with little green men, ok? I've never been abducted and nor do I believe in people who say they have. But even so I'm thinking maybe it's possible. I mean, the galaxy is huge. Eventually perhaps we may come across some other kind of sentient being. Your guess is as good as mine. But if we do then I'd prefer us humans to be the more wealthy/powerful, or at least for us to come close. You know, just in case they turn out to be nasty or (more optimistically) willing to TRADE!
So I say we should all think up ways to trap little energy particles here on earth in safe forms. Sunlight is probably THE prominent source of energy for the earth, and do you know the best way to harness sunlight? No, not solar panels. Apparently they may not even be effective energy producers (output is said by some to be lower than the energy it takes to make the panels in the first place) though I'm hardly satisfied by the arguements yet. No, the BEST way to harness sunlight is through plants. So far anyway.
Check the h2g2 entry A588198 for details on how plants capture energy from the Sun in the process known as Photosynthesis. Incidentally check the language used by the author. Terms such as 'energy currency' are used and the entry begins with this paragraph: "Photosynthesis is the process in which sunlight is converted into usable energy by organisms, such as green plants. As almost all of the food on the planet originates from plants, this means that almost everything originates from the Sun."
Are you getting the picture yet? The earth can be seen as one giant-scale business, harnessing it's wealth (in the form of energy) from outside forces and using this to profit and grow. We are intrinsically a part of this planet so we'd be dumb to continue to damage the planet and utterly stupid if we fail to see the potential of turning our little Earth into a profit-making planet. <biggrin> I know I'm writing in a rather unusual style but there [will be] an incredibly serious point to all this and it's just waiting for you to discover it. ;)
I'll be updating this constantly, and attempting to lighten the mood a little. I do not want this entry to sound like scripture(!) but at the same time I want it to be engaging and informative and most of all I want to make my point! :) Any helpful suggestions greatly anticipated and appreciated.
If you like the entry you might want to see the link below where I asked some researchers for their opinions:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F55607?thread=203462&latest=1
If the link doesn't work then please let me know.
The theory described in this entry has now been posted as a 360 entry and submitted there. To discuss the theory please go to entry A808102 and read what's going on there.
As far as this entry is concerned I've been told that the entry at present is advocating my view and is not suitable for h2g2, which I agree with. I'm hoping we can turn this entry into an OBSERVATION on the current situation. To be honest I'm not entirely sure of where this entry will go, but that's why it's in the collaborative writing workshop. <biggrin>
[Almost accidentally I realise my article is probably a contender for some kind of Longest Title award / Most Scarily Intimidating Title award / Crazy Word Usage For No Obvious Reason award. ;)]
TO SAY THIS ENTRY IS INCOMPLETE WOULD BE UNDERSTATING THE FACT THAT IT HAS NOT YET TRUELY BEGUN.
This article came into being because I am perplexed at the seeming short-sightedness of economic theory. I plan to open peoples minds.......eventually. I'm going to need time for this one!
Alright, look, economic theory states that labour is the source of wealth and that man is it's creator. Well yeah, in essence that's true, right, yet stupifyingly limited. When people talk about 'economics' and 'wealth' they think only of money - human wealth in comparison to other humans. What about the big stuff?
How rich is the world? Hey? In comparison to other worlds how rich is the Earth? Aha! Have I got your attention now?
Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to point out the Ultimate Truth Of Economics: Matter and Energy is the currency of life, and the Earth is our pocket. I suggest we seriously focus on increasing the wealth and efficiency of Our Planet for the benefit of all. Because after all, if the pie were bigger then so would be my slice. <biggrin>
Ok, yeah, I can hear all the economists going "but if we all had more then in fact we wouldn't have more in relation to each other" and what I'd like to say is "Sure, so we wouldn't be 'richer' in the normal sense but our planet would contain more resources. The more resources we have then the more we can do as a species, dumb-dumb. The more powerful we are in a galactic context."
Now, I'm not saying that aliens exist, right? Because how the hell would I know? I've only left Europe once and that was to go to the US and I'm not in communication with little green men, ok? I've never been abducted and nor do I believe in people who say they have. But even so I'm thinking maybe it's possible. I mean, the galaxy is huge. Eventually perhaps we may come across some other kind of sentient being. Your guess is as good as mine. But if we do then I'd prefer us humans to be the more wealthy/powerful, or at least for us to come close. You know, just in case they turn out to be nasty or (more optimistically) willing to TRADE!
So I say we should all think up ways to trap little energy particles here on earth in safe forms. Sunlight is probably THE prominent source of energy for the earth, and do you know the best way to harness sunlight? No, not solar panels. Apparently they may not even be effective energy producers (output is said by some to be lower than the energy it takes to make the panels in the first place) though I'm hardly satisfied by the arguements yet. No, the BEST way to harness sunlight is through plants. So far anyway.
Check the h2g2 entry A588198 for details on how plants capture energy from the Sun in the process known as Photosynthesis. Incidentally check the language used by the author. Terms such as 'energy currency' are used and the entry begins with this paragraph: "Photosynthesis is the process in which sunlight is converted into usable energy by organisms, such as green plants. As almost all of the food on the planet originates from plants, this means that almost everything originates from the Sun."
Are you getting the picture yet? The earth can be seen as one giant-scale business, harnessing it's wealth (in the form of energy) from outside forces and using this to profit and grow. We are intrinsically a part of this planet so we'd be dumb to continue to damage the planet and utterly stupid if we fail to see the potential of turning our little Earth into a profit-making planet. <biggrin> I know I'm writing in a rather unusual style but there [will be] an incredibly serious point to all this and it's just waiting for you to discover it. ;)
I'll be updating this constantly, and attempting to lighten the mood a little. I do not want this entry to sound like scripture(!) but at the same time I want it to be engaging and informative and most of all I want to make my point! :) Any helpful suggestions greatly anticipated and appreciated.
If you like the entry you might want to see the link below where I asked some researchers for their opinions:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/F55607?thread=203462&latest=1
If the link doesn't work then please let me know.
The theory described in this entry has now been posted as a 360 entry and submitted there. To discuss the theory please go to entry A808102 and read what's going on there.
As far as this entry is concerned I've been told that the entry at present is advocating my view and is not suitable for h2g2, which I agree with. I'm hoping we can turn this entry into an OBSERVATION on the current situation. To be honest I'm not entirely sure of where this entry will go, but that's why it's in the collaborative writing workshop. <biggrin>
[Almost accidentally I realise my article is probably a contender for some kind of Longest Title award / Most Scarily Intimidating Title award / Crazy Word Usage For No Obvious Reason award. ;)]
