I think that TED talks have become more full of fantasy of late. What I mean by that is most talks bang on about how technology will solve this issue or that, hailing techno triumphalism as the solution of our growing list of problems. The only problem is that it has been our use of technology that has created this complexity, and helped us to grow beyond our planets carrying capacity, and our greedy use of its finite resources. Additionally, the ever efficient ‘market’ will not provide the solution in time either.
One bloke that says all of this much better than I can is Paul Gilding, author of “The Great Disruption“. I wrote a book review in this post titled “Shop Less, Live More” if you want to read about my views of this good book.
Anyway, Paul did gave a talk at TED earlier this year, which was unlike any other that I have seen before. It was raw, real, and just the opposite of the normal magical thinking that goes hand in hand with these sorts of events. He just told it how it is. It surprised and delighted me with its honesty.
So, this TED talk has only added fuel to my fire, and has made me think harder about what can be done. I know that I have no silver bullets, and don’t claim to be a guru regarding solutions to the big issues that Paul talks about.
However, that said, I have been writing about excessive consumption (which I was guilty of once), and the limits of growth and peak everything since I first started this blog. The signs are so very clear for those who choose to look hard enough. Just read a few of my posts on Affluenza and Peak Everything to get the general gist of what I am on about.
By the way, I have come to terms with what Paul talks about, and realised this some time ago. Growth will not continue, although many billions of us expect our economies to grow. We do need to grow up, stop with the temper tantrums of denialism and get past these teenage years we are stuck in.
We need to uncover our blinkers, get over the fear, and start to act. I know we can do this, with existing technology, building simpler and happier lives in the process.
What is stopping us? Penny for your thoughts.
Have you ever noticed or considered how much time you spend researching, shopping around for a good price, learning to use it, configuring it, getting it repaired vs the amount of time this new wizbang piece of time saving technology as actually saved you?
I agree Jason. Good example is the food processor. I can grate a carrot faster with a hand grater, and without the mountain of washing up the food processor leaves you with. I am sure that there are better examples, but that one comes to mind as it is one of my biggest bug bears!
I am with you on this, one day everyone else will notice too.
It is a bit like the Titanic…some people were still spruiking that it was unsinkable…even as it was listing and the lights were flickering. Technology is like the life-boats…there weren’t enough! Some of the rich passengers (developed nations) may think they will have a better chance – after all they have the life boats/technology, but when this baby goes down, we all go down!
As an aside from this, I just want to give you a big hug and a pat on the back. You really have made a difference in your own life, you are influencing others, and you are sticking at it. You deserve a medal! Thanks!
nice analogy!
Hazel, I agree with Liz. Nice analogy.
And thanks, I actually have three medals from my military service, but I know that is not what you are talking about!
😉
I saw this clip a while back and have read both The Great Disruption and Affluenza. I agree with you and my hubby and I have been taking steps to simplify our lives and become less dependent. My issue is that I am a worrier. I have to make a effort to stay positive and not stress about what might happen. Any suggestions?
Great question Fiona. I too am not immune from the worry of what may or may not happen, in fact I think about it quite a lot. However, I take solace in the fact that I am doing something productive, preparing the best I know how, and trying to educate people via this blog and within my community. If that doesn’t work, you could try and go shove your bare hands in the dirt in your veggie patch. It certainly has a brilliant calming effect on me! x
I’m beginning to see signs that the “dam of denial” (as you put it in the book review) is beginning to crack here in the US, mostly as a result of the ever increasing weather-related disasters and fires we’re now seeing on an annual basis. I think more people are waking up to the idea that climate change is real after all and this is what it looks like. Ironically, one hopeful sign is that even the deniers are beginning to admit it might really be happening but they’re still claiming that human activity has nothing to do with it. I equate them with flat-earthers.
Another interesting development is the concept of early retirement; folks who make good money at jobs they don’t exactly love, who save between 40 and 90% of their income toward an extremely early retirement (often in their 30’s). They’re not necessarily doing it to save the planet as their first priority, but it’s clear to me that most of them are very environmentally aware. Of course, the only way to save that much that rapidly is to drastically decrease consumption which they do with glee. The interesting thing is that you couldn’t pick these people out of a crowd; they don’t live like paupers. But they have figured out their priorities; they’re great DIYers and anything they do need is bought used for a fraction of the new price.
I sometimes think that those of us with a more environmental focus get a bit down because we don’t see that same level of environmental concern in everyone else. But a family that’s learned to live well on less than $25,000 per year in early retirement is just as “green” in the pursuit of that goal as you and I might be in trying to “save the planet”. (Hope that makes sense.)
Good point Kathy. I have been reading a lot of stuff out of the US about the record heat wave and temperature records being smashed all over the continent. I think the dam is going to burst soon, and I suppose that the tanking economy is also helping people see through the fog.
Very interesting observation about the early retirement folk. I would love to say that I am almost in the same position with only a few years to go with the mortgage (which I am), but at 48 I am a bit of a late starter.
My first thoughts when I watched that yesterday were ones of distress, worry, and much hand wringing. Not that any of it was new, it had just been awhile since I had heard anyone speak so bluntly. I had my 4 month old asleep in my arms, and it really is terribly hard not to despair for her future (and her brothers).
Like you though Gavin it also encourages me, adding more fuel to the fire.
Brydie, it will be that fire in the belly that gets us through the next few decades, intact, and with strong communities.
Take heart, it will not all be bad, and we are certainly in for some interesting times. x
What can be done? I guess a good start is to live like you Gavin! Seriously, probably most of us reading your blog have taken at least some steps in that direction, so to go past that – I might suggest that those of us with children at home need to really focus on raising them to live with less. To keep this going strong throughout their teen years – somehow despite the power of peer pressure. Because the goal ultimately is to launch our kids into the world to live simply without our nudging and guidance, because it makes sense to them, not just to us. Affluenza is all about keeping up with the Joneses which is peer pressure by another name. We really have to get our society over this barrier. And the best way to do that is at home.
Nice opening joke Dawn, but I wouldn’t force the end of suburbia on anyone. There are better places to adapt, however, being the stubborn bloke I am, this is where I choose to be. 🙂
I agree about the teenagers and peer group pressure. My daughter Megan said to us only the other day, “What is the point Dad, I am going to keep partying until I need to learn stuff from you.” I told her that it may be too late, and she better be a quick learner and take orders well from me when I boss her around the urban farm! All this from a girl in her 20’s who can’t stand to be around the chickens. At least the other three kids understand the need for the old skills. x
I think a major barrier is people waiting for someone else to fix it, or tell them what to do. People expect the government or someone smarter than them to come up with a solution, but there isn’t one solution, we need to change our entire lifestyle and economy. The problems just seem too big and difficult to comprehend, so people don’t know what they can do. That’s where your blog is a great help, at least people can see what can be achieved in a small yard, with not too much money. We just need to keep spreading the word I suppose….
Liz, I reckon you hit the nail on the head. We just have to keep spreading the word, and educating the masses as best we can. People are only just beginning to awaken from their slumber, and all we can do is lead by example. x
I see fear and a lack of recognition that things need to change. The affulent lifestyle is still the norm and expected. I am truly concerned at present, the Queensland economy is completely pear shaped and job security even within the government is not certain. Without job and money, I won’t be able to achieve all the things I want to do to make my life more sustainable and the community isn’t supportive enough to assist others in regards to shelter provision, etc, etc.
My fear for the unknown is great at the moment, but it doesn’t mean that I still am not trying to make small steps in this uncertain time.
Hi Susan. Firstly great blog you have. I agree with you that most western economies are in recession or heading for a tumble. It is plainly obvious to me, but not to our politicians. We can’t live off of royalties from digging minerals out of the ground for the next twenty years, because all it takes if for China’s economy to slow (like it is beginning to), and Australia heads for troubled times as well. I would be in the same boat as you if I lost my job, but I am sure that we are both clever enough to make ends meet.
Paying down debt is our #1 priority.
Hello Gavin
I must start by saying how much I respect your opinion and your commitment to the principles of sustainability. You are ‘preaching to the converted’ in my case (I am a Green Star Associate) but that does not in any way diminish the value of the work you are doing. I am writing to you for the first time, however, as I found myself, surprisingly, disagreeing with you for the first time, on one point; the TED talks. You are correct in identifying the ‘ blue sky’ approach that many of the speakers take, and you have every right to define and voice your own position as a public figure of the green movement. I was disappointed to read that you dismiss these speakers for focusing on complex technological solutions. I would always encourage a multiplicity of views and approaches when trying to solve a very complex, and intractable problem, from the small scale, local principles lived by you and your family (and the greening of gavin community) through to the macro, innovation based solutions proposed by the leading thinkers of our day. Humans are complex creatures, and we vary enormously across cultural divides. To propose that only one approach is right is romantic, and possibly naive. If the world is indeed to somehow come together to overcome this challenge, and adapt to this new paradigm, then we must engage as many people as possible, and in as many different ways as possible, and this means employing a wide range of proposed solutions – your approach will work for some, but not for others, and if others are more likely to have their own Road to Damascus moment watching a TED talk, rather than reading your blog, then that should be encouraged, rather than derided by you. As a public figure, you owe it to the green movement at large to not criticise those trying to do their bit, in their own way, to try to inspire people and find solutions. In the end, there is no silver bullet, change will come from many incremental achievements, and I would like to hope that as many people as possible are inspired to devote themselves to making change, whatever their philosophy or methodology.
Best regards
B Ereaut
PS I fully expect a torrent of disagreement from your readership at large, so in the interests of having a good frank discussion about the above opinion, I welcome your thoughts, Gavin!
Hi B. Thanks for your view regarding the TED talks. You are entitled to your opinion as we all are.
Gav
I think this presentation sums it up beautifully. We humans really are an incredible species and technology will have its place to play in the forthcoming crisis, but pulling back and reigning in and monitoring what we do, along with changing over whilst we can may actually even avert some of the larger disasters.
Keep up the great work Gavin. You’re an inspiration, and when thing go pear shaped, you will be a guide to help people survive.
Thanks Jessie. Happy to have helped, now and into the future.