People, Planet, Profits by B W Pledge

Author:B W Pledge [Pledge, B W]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781524517243
Publisher: XlibrisAU
Published: 2016-09-26T04:00:00+00:00

WHAT IS RIGHT?

Is it right, that we may be left to fend for ourselves?

As most countries have already surpassed their ability to sustainably support their population, they have inadvertently become increasingly dependent on sourcing imports from the remaining agriculture and resource rich countries. Countries like China have already started to fend for themselves. Over the last decade, China has been on the hunt for new food sources (agricultural lands) to feed its 1.5 billion people. Since that time, it has spent over $3 trillion in securing and acquiring arable farmland from other countries.

What is equally alarming is that the Chinese government has since relaxed its one child policy, which will undoubtedly increase the number of mouths to be fed in China. This is problematic as the Chinese agriculture industry is comparatively small in relation to its population. Whilst, the resource rich countries like Australia, having over 50 million hectares of agricultural lands, have allowed the majority of these lands to be owned by foreign investors.

And as local food is sold overseas, foreign investors are able to make ever-larger profits, considering the price of beef in Australia is $2.50 a kilogram, whilst in China it sells for $30 to $40 a kilogram.32

With ever-larger profits earned by foreign investors, it is likely that the purchase and exploitation of these lands will continue. And it is also likely, that food produced will end up where profits can be maximised. And without a comprehensive register of foreign investments, no one knows how much of each country’s agricultural lands has been sold off and exploited.

And as we proceed along our present path, without change, inevitably, we will soon start to reach certain limits that will begin to impact us all. As our population grows and as we extract and consume ever more Natural Capital, we will irreparably damage the Earth, reducing its carrying capacity and ability to sustain us. And as we maintain present business practices without recourse, the exploitation of lands and poor will continue, as well as the many unconscionable practices that transform resources into unassimilatable waste and result in ever more pollution and environmental damage.

What is the right thing to do?

We have two seemingly irresolvable dilemmas that presently exist between humanity and nature and between society and ecology that somehow we must reconcile. These dilemmas have arisen from how we have composed and configured society and our lives, where now, each decision we make, causes some harm; either to humanity or nature, or to society or ecology. These are also dilemmas that cannot simply be resolved by doing ‘less bad’ things, such as reducing, avoiding, minimising or limiting harm. Resolving these requires a different approach, one that is holistic in nature, and one that possibly changes how we are to live.

Should we be changing what we do, or applying mitigation strategies that can reduce our possible impact, or should we learn to cope with changed circumstances?

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