- We do not have a dream, we have nightmares and fear of future. Regular debates about natural resource depletion in particular and a terrible future in general paralyze us, and prevent us acting. (By the way, I do not recall a single movie over the last 15-20 years, which depict future in bright colors. Terminator, The Matrix, 2012, all of them are anti-utopia, about dark and terrible future).
- Our development indicators «measure everything except that it gives life meaning». We calculate the volume of production, GDP and other figures that have little to do with the desires of the people. Moreover, we (both the Government and the private sector) use these figures as a guide for the movement. No wonder we, as a society, get to a completely different point, from where we want to get.
- Good news — some can achieve a good life without destroying the planet. Example: Costa Rica. The average life expectancy is 78.5 years there. According to surveys of the Gallup Institute, residents of Costa Rica are the happiest people of the planet. They live on a quarter of the resources that are commonly used in the western world. 99% of their electricity comes from renewable energy sources.
- The effectiveness of achieving quality of life falls — in recent years the quality of life has improved slightly, but the resources we use to achieve it increased radically. If we want to improve well-being (or at least to maintain the level achieved), we have no other option but to increase the efficiency.
TED Talk, including full transcript.
Report «The Happy Planet Index: 2012 Report. A global index of sustainable well-being»
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