To: letters@nytimes.com
Re: Global warning
Date: Sat, 17 May 2003 

 
 
Dear Sir/Madam,

So, Martin Rees, Britain's Astronomer Royal, gives civilization as we know it only a 50-50 chance of surviving the 21st century ('Our Final Hour': Global Warning, NYT, May 17, 2003). That suggests to me that he is not quite as bright as he is made out to be.

Just a little “uncommon sense” has convinced me that the chances of civilization “as we know it” surviving the 21st century are zero. What is uncertain is whether the mind-boggling changes which will most certainly occur, facilitate our survival and prosperity or our demise.

Civilisation, i.e. its materialistic, growth-dependent economy (based, as it is, more on our animal than our human nature) is quite unsustainable. The question is whether we have it in us to achieve sustainability ourselves in the coming decades, or whether nature does it for us. Either way, civilisation “as we know it” is not an option.

The 22nd Century will be a very different world to the one we live in today. It is up to us whether or not our descendents will be round to experience and enjoy it.