Introduction to ASAP’s Corona Commentaries. During the the coronavirus pandemic, ASAP produced a series of commentaries that examined the condition of the planet and humanity. The goal of the series was to use unusual times to recognize causes of our current multi-crisis condition and investigate paths to a better future. We encourage you to have a look at this introduction and subsequent entries in the series. Read more …
ASAP Corona Commentary One: Experimental Us. In this first essay in the Corona Commentary series, Tom Olivier argues that humanity is best viewed as a dangerous experiment of nature, an experiment whose outcome is not yet fully determined. You can view the commentary here.
ASAP Corona Commentary Two: Making Our Bed. Humanity’s escape from the bindings of genetic evolution led to an expansion of our presence on the planet and an even greater expansion of our impacts on the planet. In this second Corona Commentary, we take a look at the broad strokes of these expansions, the consequences and choices now before us. You can view this commentary here.
ASAP Corona Commentary Three: No Growth Economics. Champions of growth as a cure for economic and political woes still abound. But, seventy years into a burst of economic and population growth, many realize that an end to these expansions is arriving. To begin making lemonade from what many will see as a lemon, in this commentary, we will touch on economic paradigms that recognize limits to growth and then investigate how finite-sized economies might be integrated into sustainable societies. We will see that economic history is peppered with economists and related movements that in different ways recognized limits to growth or limits to the value of growth. And, we will see that a shift to stable sized economies raises many questions while possibly opening a door or two. You can view this commentary here.
ASAP Corona Commentary Four: The Economic Theory of No-Growth Prosperity. In this fourth commentary, economic historian Dave Shreve debunks the belief that growth is necessary for economic prosperity. Dave argues that ideas of John Maynard Keynes and redistribution of income and wealth provide a basis for prosperity in no-growth economies. You can view this commentary here.
ASAP Corona Commentary Five: The Circular Economy: How Redesigning Our Use of Resources Can Move Us Toward Sustainability. The “Circular Economy” is a term that has come into more common usage as we consider solutions to the multiple and related predicaments we face in the 21st Century. In this commentary Peggy Gilges points out that our present day use of resources is unsustainable, but we have the power to rethink and reshape our system of materials use from beginning to end. You can view this commentary here.
ASAP Corona Commentary Six: Numbers Games. Tom Olivier examines the complex state of human population trends, why population numbers still matter and the challenges these present to us. You can view this commentary here.
ASAP Corona Commentary Seven: Climate Models, Socioeconomic Choices and Sustainability. This commentary by Tom Olivier reviews social and environmental impacts of socioeconomic choices that we make, as revealed in influential climate models. Pursuing sustainability turns out to be a big winner. You can view this commentary here.