[DEBATE] : Re: DEBATE Digest, Vol 222, Issue 17

[Russell Grinker]

Well unless progressives consciously oppose it and mobilise, I suppose yes,
the South will be made to pay disproportionately for the developed world's
climate change obsessions. It seems that Mandi regards human arrogance (the
notion that we can have big ideas and act in terms of them to change the
world) and the unhealthy consumption habits of the greedy masses, as the
cause of problems which actually have social roots. I'm, on the contrary,
arrogant enough to believe that human beings still have the capability to
deal with difficult situations, including climate change, without demanding
mass sacrifices. 

-----Original Message-----
bounces at lists.kabissa.org] On Behalf Of Mandi Smallhorne

Oh well. Seems Russell Grinker thinks we have a choice in the matter.
Austerity will come, willy nilly. The question is whether we take charge and
make it happen in a way which is not too destructive, or do we just leave it
up to inevitable processes. What's happening to our planet is not
susceptible to your preferred political ideology (although political and
econoic ideology has a lot to do with how we got there). So you may mock my
'moralistic scorn'; when the fynbos virtually disappears along with the last
of our underground water, and the mielie fields dry up and blow away, I'll
have the last, sad little laugh.
M