Paywalled, but link is a gift article from me

  • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I think the best way to achieve sustainability is probably through simplification, rather than relying on technology of ever increasing complexity. … but simplify where possible

    Well I mean, that’s what we’re doing right now, but it clearly isn’t enough. “Simplify where possible” is a good thought, but all too often people decide, no, it’s not possible right now. Given a choice, people tend to take the easier path, not the more responsible path. That’s the benefit of living in space, it takes that choice away

    And if you want people to significantly simplify, well that’s a real uphill battle, especially if it’s more economical in the short term to do something else. I’m not saying that it’s wrong, but it’s an approach we’ve been trying since the 80s, and individuals, companies and governments all naturally push back against it.

    Besides, even before we had all the tech we do now, we still couldn’t live sustainably. We hunted the mammoth and the giant ground sloths to extinction. We’ve been over fishing and over logging since we can remember. New need to figure out how to live sustainably, it never came naturally.

    • TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      And if you want people to significantly simplify, well that’s a real uphill battle

      Well, I can’t disagree with you there. Few people will simplify or reduce their consumption or their use of resources willingly. You’re right, they’re going to have to be forced, somehow. But, I don’t think space is going to be the thing that forces them, I think it will be some kind of major collapse. Regardless, I don’t think anything is going to stop people from continuing to do profound, irreparable damage to the environment anytime soon. I expect that to continue for the foreseeable future.

      • Cocodapuf@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        But, I don’t think space is going to be the thing that forces them, I think it will be some kind of major collapse.

        Yeah, well I can’t predict the future, so of course I can’t say for sure. But I sure hope that we get to living in space before there’s some major collapse. I would like to see society not fall apart spectacularly. I guess that’s why I’m so hyped for reusable rockets, it’s a possible path to sustainability that doesn’t require a collapse, and that’s the future I want.