To: New York Times <letters@nytimes.com>

Re: Notions of New Economy Hinge on Pace of Productivity Growth, 03.09.2001 Re: Accelerating Decline in Japan Evokes Rust Belt Comparisons, 31.08.2001

Date: Monday, 3 September 2001

 

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Dear Sir/Madam,

 

How much longer will America refuse to face up to the non-sustainable philosophy, values and lifestyles on which its economy is based?

 

Your astronauts provided us with stunning photos of our planet, Spaceship Earth, suspended like a jewel in the inky blackness of space for all to see its limits and vulnerability.

 

Already the Earth is showing signs of the strains we are placing on it (disturbed climate and life-supporting ecosystems, dwindling resources).

 

Yet we continue to behave as though the Earth had infinite resources and an unlimited carrying capacity.

 

James Lovell’s immortal words “Houston, we have a problem” apply equally well to Spaceship Earth. Only, unlike the Apollo 13 astronauts, we have nowhere to get back to when our life-support systems become seriously damaged.

 

Either we solve the problems of achieving a sustainable economy and lifestyles for more than 6 billion people on board ship, or we, i.e. our children, will perish.