Question

1. Gordon Brown, The Government- sponsored Sustainable Development Commission has just released a report, "Prosperity Without Growth" which elegantly sums up the problem at the root of the current economic and ecological crisis: "Every society clings to a myth by which it lives. Ours is the myth of economic growth". This report carefully sets out how our societies have become addicted to growth and how they are ecological limits to growth for the planet as a whole. Don't you think that this crisis should act as a wake-up call for the global community and offer the opportunity to change course? Why design a stimulus package to trigger growth whilst ultimately, the unrelentless pursuit of growth is what is going to throw us into the wall. It is time to focus on prosperity, improve our social and infrastructure services and properly account for such achievements (in Britain and abroad, particularly in developing countries), and accept that there may be zero or negative growth. We need a complete rethink about sources of employment and the means to maintain an adequate but not lavish way of life. Will you have the political courage to say just that?
   Asked by sophietremol on Apr 01 2009 10:12:26 PM and supported by 2 members
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