Ideas
Economy
Albert A Bartlett:Dr. Bartlett has been curing thousands of people of their belief that everlasting economic ‘growth’ is possible; it is not he says, at even a modest rate: “The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.” Using nothing more than this simple secondary school arithmetic, he demolishes the idea of sustained growth, in a thrilling, scary and entertaining 8-part video series. It is not to be missed though it will shake you out of your cozy zone and change you for ever! Do undertake the cure.»
J C Kumarappa: Dr.Kumarappa [1892-1960]» is a pioneer economic thinker who showcased what sort of economy can succeed forever. Dipping into traditional Indian values and practices, he said living close to nature, focusing on local solutions and markets, practicing frugality and living in step with the rhythm of seasons, small communities may attain ‘an economy of permanence’. pointReturn is influenced by many of his ideas. Download this small booklet from here:»
Energy
James Lovelock:When Dr Lovelock propounded the Gaia Hypothesis in 1972 he became a hero of the New Age environmentalists. Gaia is a metaphor for earth, deemed a living organism with intelligence and a self-regulatory skill. »
In 2006 declaring that Gaia has ‘a morbid fever’, Lovelock advocated nuclear energy, for a time, to cool down the earth, because, “Civilisation is energy-intensive and we cannot turn it off without crashing, so we need the security of a powered descent.” He has shocked many fans but still, his arguments deserve to be understood.»
Space solar power:If endless energy that may enable us to live happily, wastefully ever after without degrading our environment is what we want, Space Based Solar Power may be it. It has many advantages but also problems- which are however not insuperable. Is this the Holy Grail we must go for, after swallowing Lovelock’s nuclear pIll? [see above]
The idea is to harvest the nearly endless energy from the sun with solar panels deployed in outer space and then beam the energy to earth using microwaves. Technologically it is doable but the concept bristles with issues like cost, maintainability, efficiency etc. Read an overview here:»
Technology
Conviviality:The redoubtable Ivan Illich turned his attention to technology and stated a position that we can all apply when we -as we inevitably must- choose a technology for our use. His book ‘Tools for conviviality’ is difficult to read but here it is if you want to wade through it:».
From an article that presents the idea of conviviality in an easy way: “Conviviality, as commonly used, means joviality, especially in company. But the deeper meaning of the word is simply “living together”. Illich’s measure of the success of a technology is the extent to which it reinforces community. By contrast, a failed technology is one which brings alienation and disempowerment.”».
Education
Nai Talim:Sriram flagged Margaret Sykes’s experience with Nai Talim, which embodies Gandhi’s views on education. I love this quote from that article: “J.B. Kripalani was quick to point out… that the real “medium of instruction” in Basic Education is work, not language; the mother tongue is a medium of communication, not of instruction.”
Separation of work from education is what deadens the student and enslaves him.