Seven Proposals to Counter Global Destruction


1. Human beings in rich countries over-consume and entice those in the poorer countries to do the same. Advertising does not inform; it convinces, hence radically distorting the "free" market
Eliminate advertising for all consumer goods.

2. People will buy almost anything if the price is right but at a price that does not take into account environmental and climate effects of production and consumption.
Hold manufacturers responsible for all environmental and climate effects of their products in the same way that the pharmaceutical industry is responsible for medical effects.

3. Petrol-based plastics never disappear but disintegrate with the tiny particles then climbing back up the food chain.
Forbid plastic for single-use products such as non-reusable packaging and all discardable goods, the manufacturer and distributor being socially responsible for any such items found discarded.

4. Unnecessary transportation is a major source of environmental destruction and climate change.
Stop importation of any item that can be produced within a country.

5. Duplication due to competition produces enormous wastes.
Eliminate all competition involving "natural" monopolies: natural resources, public transportation and communication, energy distribution networks, and so on.

6. The very rich can each produce more greenhouse gases in 10 minutes than does a poor person in a poor country in a lifetime.
Set non-negotiable, non-tradable quotas for consumption of natural resources and for pollution by each individual and by each organisation, identical for everyone, first within each country, later globally.

7. Rich countries over-produce whereas millions in poorer countries starve or die of curable diseases.
Transfer the result of all growth in production in rich countries to the poorer countries.


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