I want to talk about Mother Earth and ask you some just very fundamental
ask you some just very fundamental
ask you some just very fundamental questions about the earth that we live
questions about the earth that we live
questions about the earth that we live on that we enjoy and that we exploit and
on that we enjoy and that we exploit and
on that we enjoy and that we exploit and I’m going to ask you have you really
I’m going to ask you have you really
I’m going to ask you have you really thought much about the future of this
thought much about the future of this
thought much about the future of this planet and I want to start off by oops
planet and I want to start off by oops
planet and I want to start off by oops that won’t work asking the question do
that won’t work asking the question do
that won’t work asking the question do you recognize that we live on a
you recognize that we live on a
you recognize that we live on a spaceship I mean you get in an airplane
spaceship I mean you get in an airplane
spaceship I mean you get in an airplane you fly nine hours you’re still on this
you fly nine hours you’re still on this
you fly nine hours you’re still on this silly spaceship but we’re on a spaceship
silly spaceship but we’re on a spaceship
silly spaceship but we’re on a spaceship we’re not on something that is
we’re not on something that is
we’re not on something that is infinitely large we’re not a part of the
infinitely large we’re not a part of the
infinitely large we’re not a part of the infinity of the universe in the respect
infinity of the universe in the respect
infinity of the universe in the respect that our planet is the universe as we
that our planet is the universe as we
that our planet is the universe as we used to think we’re on a spaceship and
used to think we’re on a spaceship and
used to think we’re on a spaceship and what’s that mean means well this is all
what’s that mean means well this is all
what’s that mean means well this is all we’ve got now we can go and hop up to
we’ve got now we can go and hop up to
we’ve got now we can go and hop up to Mars and there are some people that want
Mars and there are some people that want
Mars and there are some people that want to do that i would think that they’re a
to do that i would think that they’re a
to do that i would think that they’re a little crazy Mars doesn’t look all that
little crazy Mars doesn’t look all that
little crazy Mars doesn’t look all that hospitable to me there’s not a lot of
hospitable to me there’s not a lot of
hospitable to me there’s not a lot of wonderful vegetation up there anything
wonderful vegetation up there anything
wonderful vegetation up there anything else and it might be exciting to be one
else and it might be exciting to be one
else and it might be exciting to be one of the first people to land on Mars just
of the first people to land on Mars just
of the first people to land on Mars just like it was to land on the moon but I
like it was to land on the moon but I
like it was to land on the moon but I didn’t see a huge you know tourist
didn’t see a huge you know tourist
didn’t see a huge you know tourist industry generated to go to the moon and
industry generated to go to the moon and
industry generated to go to the moon and I’m not necessarily looking forward to a
I’m not necessarily looking forward to a
I’m not necessarily looking forward to a tourist industry to go to Mars either so
tourist industry to go to Mars either so
tourist industry to go to Mars either so I think that that is a bit out there so
I think that that is a bit out there so
I think that that is a bit out there so we’ve just got our world and it is a
we’ve just got our world and it is a
we’ve just got our world and it is a finite world if you live on a spaceship
finite world if you live on a spaceship
finite world if you live on a spaceship you learn that you have to conserve
you learn that you have to conserve
you learn that you have to conserve things you cannot consume everything
things you cannot consume everything
things you cannot consume everything that you have your recycling your
that you have your recycling your
that you have your recycling your recycling your waists your bodily wastes
recycling your waists your bodily wastes
recycling your waists your bodily wastes did anybody watch the movie Mars yeah
did anybody watch the movie Mars yeah
did anybody watch the movie Mars yeah you see how they
you see how they
you see how they fertilized the potatoes that’s because
fertilized the potatoes that’s because
fertilized the potatoes that’s because they recycle everything when you’re in a
they recycle everything when you’re in a
they recycle everything when you’re in a spaceship because you don’t have enough
spaceship because you don’t have enough
spaceship because you don’t have enough room to carry all of the rest of the
room to carry all of the rest of the
room to carry all of the rest of the stuff that you need so you drink your
stuff that you need so you drink your
stuff that you need so you drink your urine Yuri breathe your co2 filled air
urine Yuri breathe your co2 filled air
urine Yuri breathe your co2 filled air you recycle those little droppings that
you recycle those little droppings that
you recycle those little droppings that we have you do all sorts of nice little
we have you do all sorts of nice little
we have you do all sorts of nice little ugly things that perhaps we would not
ugly things that perhaps we would not
ugly things that perhaps we would not want to do here on earth but wait a
want to do here on earth but wait a
want to do here on earth but wait a minute why not do that here on earth
minute why not do that here on earth
minute why not do that here on earth just because we have nice big fields
just because we have nice big fields
just because we have nice big fields beautiful blue oceans doesn’t mean that
beautiful blue oceans doesn’t mean that
beautiful blue oceans doesn’t mean that we can dump everything wherever we wish
we can dump everything wherever we wish
we can dump everything wherever we wish yet we do we don’t think very much about
yet we do we don’t think very much about
yet we do we don’t think very much about that we say oh we’ve got wastewater
that we say oh we’ve got wastewater
that we say oh we’ve got wastewater treatment we’ve got recycling of glass
treatment we’ve got recycling of glass
treatment we’ve got recycling of glass recycling of paper have any of you ever
recycling of paper have any of you ever
recycling of paper have any of you ever looked at the efficiencies of any of
looked at the efficiencies of any of
looked at the efficiencies of any of these things they’re not very good but
these things they’re not very good but
these things they’re not very good but we need to think about even more than
we need to think about even more than
we need to think about even more than that we need to think about the other
that we need to think about the other
that we need to think about the other resources that we have the right now we
resources that we have the right now we
resources that we have the right now we think are in over abundance and yet at
think are in over abundance and yet at
think are in over abundance and yet at the same time we’re using them up
the same time we’re using them up
the same time we’re using them up concern about all of these things have
concern about all of these things have
concern about all of these things have led to the idea of sustainability how
led to the idea of sustainability how
led to the idea of sustainability how many of you have heard the term
many of you have heard the term
many of you have heard the term sustainability come on everybody right
sustainability come on everybody right
sustainability come on everybody right oh yeah oh yeah sustainability while it
oh yeah oh yeah sustainability while it
oh yeah oh yeah sustainability while it first came out as a very very
first came out as a very very
first came out as a very very interesting idea has become so passe
interesting idea has become so passe
interesting idea has become so passe that it means anything to anyone we have
that it means anything to anyone we have
that it means anything to anyone we have industry who has redefined
industry who has redefined
industry who has redefined sustainability as the triple bottom line
sustainability as the triple bottom line
sustainability as the triple bottom line have you heard of that term where you’re
have you heard of that term where you’re
have you heard of that term where you’re looking at people the planet and profit
looking at people the planet and profit
looking at people the planet and profit now
now
now we’re in sustainability does profit come
we’re in sustainability does profit come
we’re in sustainability does profit come in I mean certainly businesses wish to
in I mean certainly businesses wish to
in I mean certainly businesses wish to sustain their business and therefore to
sustain their business and therefore to
sustain their business and therefore to profit because that’s the only way you
profit because that’s the only way you
profit because that’s the only way you can sustain your ability your business
can sustain your ability your business
can sustain your ability your business but where does that come in when we’re
but where does that come in when we’re
but where does that come in when we’re talking about sustainability for the
talking about sustainability for the
talking about sustainability for the planet the original term for
planet the original term for
planet the original term for sustainability came about through the
sustainability came about through the
sustainability came about through the brundtland report and that was released
brundtland report and that was released
brundtland report and that was released it’s a UN report that was released after
it’s a UN report that was released after
it’s a UN report that was released after a study in 1987 and it said humanity has
a study in 1987 and it said humanity has
a study in 1987 and it said humanity has the ability to make development
the ability to make development
the ability to make development sustainable to ensure that it meets the
sustainable to ensure that it meets the
sustainable to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without
needs of the present without
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
compromising the ability of future
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs it’s
generations to meet their own needs it’s
generations to meet their own needs it’s a future-oriented concept has nothing to
a future-oriented concept has nothing to
a future-oriented concept has nothing to do with profit I don’t see profit in
do with profit I don’t see profit in
do with profit I don’t see profit in here it has a lot to do it doesn’t
here it has a lot to do it doesn’t
here it has a lot to do it doesn’t exclude profit don’t don’t get me wrong
exclude profit don’t don’t get me wrong
exclude profit don’t don’t get me wrong on that I’m I work in the world of
on that I’m I work in the world of
on that I’m I work in the world of business I’m not trying to say you know
business I’m not trying to say you know
business I’m not trying to say you know don’t make a profit or anything but it’s
don’t make a profit or anything but it’s
don’t make a profit or anything but it’s not part of the factor that’s called
not part of the factor that’s called
not part of the factor that’s called sustainability profit by the way is not
sustainability profit by the way is not
sustainability profit by the way is not part of any businesses factor it’s an
part of any businesses factor it’s an
part of any businesses factor it’s an accounting outcome I actually like what
accounting outcome I actually like what
accounting outcome I actually like what Robert Solow a eminent economist and
Robert Solow a eminent economist and
Robert Solow a eminent economist and Nobel Prize winner you sezon describes
Nobel Prize winner you sezon describes
Nobel Prize winner you sezon describes as sustainability it’s an obligation to
as sustainability it’s an obligation to
as sustainability it’s an obligation to conduct ourselves so that we leave to
conduct ourselves so that we leave to
conduct ourselves so that we leave to the future the option or the capacity to
the future the option or the capacity to
the future the option or the capacity to be as well off as we are sustainability
be as well off as we are sustainability
be as well off as we are sustainability is an injunction not to satisfy
is an injunction not to satisfy
is an injunction not to satisfy ourselves by impoverishing our
ourselves by impoverishing our
ourselves by impoverishing our successors we kicked off this TEDx
successors we kicked off this TEDx
successors we kicked off this TEDx discussion today with a wonderful
discussion today with a wonderful
discussion today with a wonderful presentation about building a life wall
presentation about building a life wall
presentation about building a life wall of pictures so that not you
of pictures so that not you
of pictures so that not you who could enjoy those life walls or
who could enjoy those life walls or
who could enjoy those life walls or those pictures in the future but your
those pictures in the future but your
those pictures in the future but your children and this is what sustainability
children and this is what sustainability
children and this is what sustainability is all about sustainability is not about
is all about sustainability is not about
is all about sustainability is not about us it’s about them when we start to talk
us it’s about them when we start to talk
us it’s about them when we start to talk about us then we get into a whole
about us then we get into a whole
about us then we get into a whole different set of discussions humanity’s
different set of discussions humanity’s
different set of discussions humanity’s future depends on our ability to leave
future depends on our ability to leave
future depends on our ability to leave our children a world that allows them to
our children a world that allows them to
our children a world that allows them to meet their needs okay and we are very
meet their needs okay and we are very
meet their needs okay and we are very good we being humanity at popping out
good we being humanity at popping out
good we being humanity at popping out children we have approximately seven
children we have approximately seven
children we have approximately seven point six billion people living on this
point six billion people living on this
point six billion people living on this earth right now it is projected that by
earth right now it is projected that by
earth right now it is projected that by 2050 we will have nine point seven
2050 we will have nine point seven
2050 we will have nine point seven billion people these are both estimates
billion people these are both estimates
billion people these are both estimates from the United Nations and they have
from the United Nations and they have
from the United Nations and they have increased actually in the last five
increased actually in the last five
increased actually in the last five years it’s increased in 2050 by about
years it’s increased in 2050 by about
years it’s increased in 2050 by about 700 million people and it’s increased
700 million people and it’s increased
700 million people and it’s increased our current population has overshot
our current population has overshot
our current population has overshot estimates by about 250 million people so
estimates by about 250 million people so
estimates by about 250 million people so we are being very productive the UN is
we are being very productive the UN is
we are being very productive the UN is also saying that by 2100 will probably
also saying that by 2100 will probably
also saying that by 2100 will probably reach stasis at eleven point two billion
reach stasis at eleven point two billion
reach stasis at eleven point two billion people on earth okay so that’s quite a
people on earth okay so that’s quite a
people on earth okay so that’s quite a few people particularly when you when
few people particularly when you when
few people particularly when you when you reflect on the fact that in nineteen
you reflect on the fact that in nineteen
you reflect on the fact that in nineteen sixty there were less than 5 billion
sixty there were less than 5 billion
sixty there were less than 5 billion people here now 1960 may seem a long way
people here now 1960 may seem a long way
people here now 1960 may seem a long way for you for me i was around back then i
for you for me i was around back then i
for you for me i was around back then i remember 1960 so i take a look at quite
remember 1960 so i take a look at quite
remember 1960 so i take a look at quite a dramatic change in the population so
a dramatic change in the population so
a dramatic change in the population so our future depends on this but
our future depends on this but
our future depends on this but population growth while it’s going to
population growth while it’s going to
population growth while it’s going to severely challenged us in the
severely challenged us in the
severely challenged us in the next generation is not all that we have
next generation is not all that we have
next generation is not all that we have to worry about in 1971 Paul Eric and a
to worry about in 1971 Paul Eric and a
to worry about in 1971 Paul Eric and a couple of other guys came up with an
couple of other guys came up with an
couple of other guys came up with an idea called the ipad in other words
idea called the ipad in other words
idea called the ipad in other words environmental impact was a function of
environmental impact was a function of
environmental impact was a function of population technology and our affluence
population technology and our affluence
population technology and our affluence or wealth affluence is how well be
or wealth affluence is how well be
or wealth affluence is how well be wealthy we are how we’re doing if you
wealthy we are how we’re doing if you
wealthy we are how we’re doing if you will okay and that issue of creating
will okay and that issue of creating
will okay and that issue of creating wealth is the big elephant in the room
wealth is the big elephant in the room
wealth is the big elephant in the room that no one talks about we know we’re
that no one talks about we know we’re
that no one talks about we know we’re going to grow our populations but
going to grow our populations but
going to grow our populations but everybody wants the affluence of the
everybody wants the affluence of the
everybody wants the affluence of the West you don’t want to be as in the sam
West you don’t want to be as in the sam
West you don’t want to be as in the sam Harris of little video to be that poor
Harris of little video to be that poor
Harris of little video to be that poor African child sitting on the savanna
African child sitting on the savanna
African child sitting on the savanna with no food you want the wonderful
with no food you want the wonderful
with no food you want the wonderful positive things that Western
positive things that Western
positive things that Western civilization has brought to you you want
civilization has brought to you you want
civilization has brought to you you want those things that technology that
those things that technology that
those things that technology that technology that sam Harris is so afraid
technology that sam Harris is so afraid
technology that sam Harris is so afraid of has brought to you you want all of
of has brought to you you want all of
of has brought to you you want all of that you don’t want to give it up yet if
that you don’t want to give it up yet if
that you don’t want to give it up yet if we take a look at the big picture here
we take a look at the big picture here
we take a look at the big picture here how many people in the world can have
how many people in the world can have
how many people in the world can have the western lifestyle if you run an
the western lifestyle if you run an
the western lifestyle if you run an estimate I mean this was estimated on
estimate I mean this was estimated on
estimate I mean this was estimated on the on my country on the United States
the on my country on the United States
the on my country on the United States if everyone in the world or if if there
if everyone in the world or if if there
if everyone in the world or if if there was a population in the world that could
was a population in the world that could
was a population in the world that could be supported at the lifestyle of
be supported at the lifestyle of
be supported at the lifestyle of resource consumption that goes on in the
resource consumption that goes on in the
resource consumption that goes on in the United States today we could support
United States today we could support
United States today we could support approximately two and a half billion
approximately two and a half billion
approximately two and a half billion people
people
people how many people did I say we have here
how many people did I say we have here
how many people did I say we have here today seven point six billion the world
today seven point six billion the world
today seven point six billion the world cannot survive if it is looking at a
cannot survive if it is looking at a
cannot survive if it is looking at a world built on our Western consumption
world built on our Western consumption
world built on our Western consumption values and this is a good time to talk
values and this is a good time to talk
values and this is a good time to talk about that yesterday I counted the
about that yesterday I counted the
about that yesterday I counted the number of Amazon emails to me in my
number of Amazon emails to me in my
number of Amazon emails to me in my inbox for black friday I got 16 of them
inbox for black friday I got 16 of them
inbox for black friday I got 16 of them okay now i know we have black friday now
okay now i know we have black friday now
okay now i know we have black friday now in germany and i’m sure that it is going
in germany and i’m sure that it is going
in germany and i’m sure that it is going across all of Europe right now there’s
across all of Europe right now there’s
across all of Europe right now there’s black friday probably in France there’s
black friday probably in France there’s
black friday probably in France there’s black friday probably in Poland who
black friday probably in Poland who
black friday probably in Poland who cares you know it’s going to have black
cares you know it’s going to have black
cares you know it’s going to have black friday and monday is coming up so you’re
friday and monday is coming up so you’re
friday and monday is coming up so you’re all going to run down for cyber monday
all going to run down for cyber monday
all going to run down for cyber monday deals right i saw it at the media mode
deals right i saw it at the media mode
deals right i saw it at the media mode today they have the signs up in the
today they have the signs up in the
today they have the signs up in the window cyber monday how many iphones can
window cyber monday how many iphones can
window cyber monday how many iphones can you possibly by i mean come on but it’s
you possibly by i mean come on but it’s
you possibly by i mean come on but it’s not just iphones you ladies how many
not just iphones you ladies how many
not just iphones you ladies how many pairs of shoes do you have in your
pairs of shoes do you have in your
pairs of shoes do you have in your closet you guys how many toys do you
closet you guys how many toys do you
closet you guys how many toys do you have how many cars do you want to have I
have how many cars do you want to have I
have how many cars do you want to have I mean we all are have bought into this
mean we all are have bought into this
mean we all are have bought into this concept of consumption and if what we’re
concept of consumption and if what we’re
concept of consumption and if what we’re thinking about is leaving our children a
thinking about is leaving our children a
thinking about is leaving our children a world where that’s the legacy I’m sorry
world where that’s the legacy I’m sorry
world where that’s the legacy I’m sorry that’s a pretty sad legacy we do it
that’s a pretty sad legacy we do it
that’s a pretty sad legacy we do it every day we try to put this image out I
every day we try to put this image out I
every day we try to put this image out I think that in the United States there is
think that in the United States there is
think that in the United States there is a concept called a bumper sticker where
a concept called a bumper sticker where
a concept called a bumper sticker where we put stickers on bumpers with some
we put stickers on bumpers with some
we put stickers on bumpers with some sort of saying on them and there is a
sort of saying on them and there is a
sort of saying on them and there is a wonderful
wonderful
wonderful famous bumper sticker that says he who
famous bumper sticker that says he who
famous bumper sticker that says he who dies with the most toys wins now that’s
dies with the most toys wins now that’s
dies with the most toys wins now that’s not a legacy that we should give our
not a legacy that we should give our
not a legacy that we should give our children when we take a look at living
children when we take a look at living
children when we take a look at living well having a great quality of life
well having a great quality of life
well having a great quality of life doesn’t mean a chicken in every pot or
doesn’t mean a chicken in every pot or
doesn’t mean a chicken in every pot or does it mean two cars in every garage
does it mean two cars in every garage
does it mean two cars in every garage does it mean to mobile phones for
does it mean to mobile phones for
does it mean to mobile phones for everyone maybe a steak every evening how
everyone maybe a steak every evening how
everyone maybe a steak every evening how about the latest fashion designs whether
about the latest fashion designs whether
about the latest fashion designs whether or not our clothes are worn out a trip
or not our clothes are worn out a trip
or not our clothes are worn out a trip to Majorca maybe a Rolex watch what is
to Majorca maybe a Rolex watch what is
to Majorca maybe a Rolex watch what is it that we’re looking for I look back to
it that we’re looking for I look back to
it that we’re looking for I look back to the 1840s to a naturalist who was a
the 1840s to a naturalist who was a
the 1840s to a naturalist who was a friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson the
friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson the
friend of Ralph Waldo Emerson the American poet and writer Henry David
American poet and writer Henry David
American poet and writer Henry David Thoreau and I love this statement I make
Thoreau and I love this statement I make
Thoreau and I love this statement I make myself rich by making my wants few you
myself rich by making my wants few you
myself rich by making my wants few you don’t need all of that affluence to be
don’t need all of that affluence to be
don’t need all of that affluence to be wealthy we heard earlier today how do
wealthy we heard earlier today how do
wealthy we heard earlier today how do you make yourself happy you look inside
you make yourself happy you look inside
you make yourself happy you look inside yourself you identify the future that
yourself you identify the future that
yourself you identify the future that you wish to have and then you seek that
you wish to have and then you seek that
you wish to have and then you seek that future you integrate a pathway to that
future you integrate a pathway to that
future you integrate a pathway to that future is that future filled with bling
future is that future filled with bling
future is that future filled with bling where’s that future a different future
where’s that future a different future
where’s that future a different future you should ask yourself that you should
you should ask yourself that you should
you should ask yourself that you should ask yourself at this time of the year
ask yourself at this time of the year
ask yourself at this time of the year because what we have is a wonderful
because what we have is a wonderful
because what we have is a wonderful world here it’s a fantastic place and
world here it’s a fantastic place and
world here it’s a fantastic place and where we’re going to end up maybe a
where we’re going to end up maybe a
where we’re going to end up maybe a dystopian future a future that sam
dystopian future a future that sam
dystopian future a future that sam Harris looks at potentially occurring in
Harris looks at potentially occurring in
Harris looks at potentially occurring in which I don’t think we
which I don’t think we
which I don’t think we need to have in our future plans but
need to have in our future plans but
need to have in our future plans but we’ll be there if we don’t think about
we’ll be there if we don’t think about
we’ll be there if we don’t think about it if we continue along the pathways of
it if we continue along the pathways of
it if we continue along the pathways of our acquisitive nature without thinking
our acquisitive nature without thinking
our acquisitive nature without thinking about why we are buying these things a
about why we are buying these things a
about why we are buying these things a current way of thinking about earth I
current way of thinking about earth I
current way of thinking about earth I don’t think it’s going to be good enough
don’t think it’s going to be good enough
don’t think it’s going to be good enough this is where bianca is correct I have a
this is where bianca is correct I have a
this is where bianca is correct I have a rather negative view and my view is
rather negative view and my view is
rather negative view and my view is built on all of those wonderful
built on all of those wonderful
built on all of those wonderful statements of countries that have signed
statements of countries that have signed
statements of countries that have signed various Accords not to pollute the
various Accords not to pollute the
various Accords not to pollute the atmosphere not to do blah blah blah and
atmosphere not to do blah blah blah and
atmosphere not to do blah blah blah and the first time that there’s difficulty
the first time that there’s difficulty
the first time that there’s difficulty economically they backtrack on all of
economically they backtrack on all of
economically they backtrack on all of those we’re not going to achieve what
those we’re not going to achieve what
those we’re not going to achieve what we’re trying to achieve if we continue
we’re trying to achieve if we continue
we’re trying to achieve if we continue to try and put economics in front of the
to try and put economics in front of the
to try and put economics in front of the earth and we only put economics in front
earth and we only put economics in front
earth and we only put economics in front of the earth because all of us want our
of the earth because all of us want our
of the earth because all of us want our bling I don’t think that’s a good idea
bling I don’t think that’s a good idea
bling I don’t think that’s a good idea we need to think out of the box we need
we need to think out of the box we need
we need to think out of the box we need to think about a future we need to
to think about a future we need to
to think about a future we need to envision a future that we want our
envision a future that we want our
envision a future that we want our children to live in and then work in an
children to live in and then work in an
children to live in and then work in an integrated fashion to get to that future
integrated fashion to get to that future
integrated fashion to get to that future so with that I’ll close off this evening
so with that I’ll close off this evening
so with that I’ll close off this evening and we can all go out and have our
and we can all go out and have our
and we can all go out and have our festivities I think there’s gluhwein out
festivities I think there’s gluhwein out
festivities I think there’s gluhwein out there and i can tell you gluhwein
there and i can tell you gluhwein
there and i can tell you gluhwein gluhwein will make the future feel a lot
gluhwein will make the future feel a lot
gluhwein will make the future feel a lot better
”
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