Back

commented on Slow Down by Brian Bergstrom

Brian Bergstrom, Kohei Saito: Slow Down (Astra House) No rating

Why, in our affluent society, do so many people live in poverty, without access to …

"The countries of the Global North must not continue to use enormous amounts of energy to foster even more economic growth. As we have seen, increasing economic growth past the current level is hardly guaranteed to improve the level of happiness and well-being of the people living in those countries.

But if the same resources and energy were used in the Global South instead, the happiness and well-being of the people there would increase exponentially. And if this is true, doesn't it follow that we should set aside a part of the worldwide “carbon budget” (the amount of carbon dioxide emissions the world can still safely allow) for them?"

@yuribravos Yes! Although the author poses it as a rhetorical question: he goes on to discuss how "the global south" and "developing nations" were never meant to be anything other than resource and labor exploitation. So, under the colonial/capitalist regime we leave on, the answer is a imoral and resounding (with an evil background laugh): No! All progress to whom can pay for it. :(