Indeed, I am very pessimistic with the ongoing circumstances in regards to economic and environmental matters.
You see, in the last few years more and more people have gradually become aware of environmental issues and backed those combating environmental degradation, including the magnificent Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio, but on the other hand, most governments, if not most people, seem to still pledge their allegiance to efforts on preserving sustainable economic growth.
Now, the problem is, I don't think that that goal of economic growth will ever walk side by side with environmental protection efforts.
As it is always cheaper to have mass production, to allocate less or even no money for waste management, and to be irresponsible manufacturers (these are all principles of economy; gain maximum profit with minimum costs, aren't they?), why would ever a business choose to do the opposites?
And the results are, as we've seen, irreversible exploitations of large amount of natural resources; severe air, water and ground pollutions; and of course, the becoming ever popular global warming.
Have you ever heard a country aimed at reducing the amount of their car sales, or their oil & gas production, or their shoes' exports, or their paper and furniture productions?
I haven't. Even if such aims are indeed there, they are mostly prompted by certain situations like the lack of human resources or technology mastery, the lack of funding to maintain production, or by growing need of certain products domestically (in the case of exported products).
Never have I heard any country wants to reduce production of an item solely based on environmental considerations.
Nope, such things are not on their agendas.
So, with this ongoing situation where every country in the world -- either the rich, the developing or the poor ones-- are still eyeing growth in production, exports and finally economy, isn't it normal that I turn very pessimistic with the environmental protection efforts?
Prominent world leaders have frequently met to discuss about "the save the world" issues, but I think all they have done is using up the getting rare fossil fuel through frequent flights with airplanes and making the globe become even warmer.
What they've managed to secure is merely their plans to keep boosting their respective economic growth, if they don't want to be left behind in this era of globalization and global competitions.
Are there any of these people really serious about tackling with the climate and environmental issues? I don't think there are. You see, as we can't, they also can't see the impact of our efforts to protect the earth as immediate and as easy as seeing the impacts of economic growth to their people's, and especially their and their loyalists', lives.
I say all we can do is just waiting for the world to meet its end with its gradual yet sustainable destruction.
If the industries still set their eyes on boosting production of every goods, we will perhaps be lucky enough to see the end of the world before the end of our lives. Such thing won't be solely of our grandchildren's privileges.
