I study collective behavior in a bunch of different areas so normally at
of different areas so normally at
of different areas so normally at beginning up here to tell you about
beginning up here to tell you about
beginning up here to tell you about robots were about social insects or
robots were about social insects or
robots were about social insects or designing molecules but this is the
designing molecules but this is the
designing molecules but this is the thing I think is really important to
thing I think is really important to
thing I think is really important to talk to you about 10 years ago my sister
talk to you about 10 years ago my sister
talk to you about 10 years ago my sister decided she wasn’t sure anymore that she
decided she wasn’t sure anymore that she
decided she wasn’t sure anymore that she still wanted to have kids because she’d
still wanted to have kids because she’d
still wanted to have kids because she’d become worried that the world they’d
become worried that the world they’d
become worried that the world they’d grow up in was going to be a
grow up in was going to be a
grow up in was going to be a post-apocalyptic disaster movie and
post-apocalyptic disaster movie and
post-apocalyptic disaster movie and that’s my fault
that’s my fault
that’s my fault I’ve been doing some research in
I’ve been doing some research in
I’ve been doing some research in evolutionary theory which sounds like a
evolutionary theory which sounds like a
evolutionary theory which sounds like a very academic topic right you know I’m
very academic topic right you know I’m
very academic topic right you know I’m very much focused on the past really not
very much focused on the past really not
very much focused on the past really not relevant to our actual lives today but
relevant to our actual lives today but
relevant to our actual lives today but some of the implications of what I was
some of the implications of what I was
some of the implications of what I was studying together with things going on
studying together with things going on
studying together with things going on in the world got me really worried about
in the world got me really worried about
in the world got me really worried about conclusions that I couldn’t avoid
conclusions that I couldn’t avoid
conclusions that I couldn’t avoid drawing it started with looking at the
drawing it started with looking at the
drawing it started with looking at the evolution of cooperation which is kind
evolution of cooperation which is kind
evolution of cooperation which is kind of a surprising thing if you think about
of a surprising thing if you think about
of a surprising thing if you think about it if evolution is driven by competition
it if evolution is driven by competition
it if evolution is driven by competition right and in organisms main competitors
right and in organisms main competitors
right and in organisms main competitors or others of its own species then why
or others of its own species then why
or others of its own species then why should cooperation be as successful is
should cooperation be as successful is
should cooperation be as successful is it apparently is the accepted
it apparently is the accepted
it apparently is the accepted explanation is about shared genes so I
explanation is about shared genes so I
explanation is about shared genes so I may do something that looks like I’m
may do something that looks like I’m
may do something that looks like I’m being helpful but actually I’m helping
being helpful but actually I’m helping
being helpful but actually I’m helping you only because and only as much as we
you only because and only as much as we
you only because and only as much as we have genes in common
have genes in common
have genes in common so I’m actually acting in my own
so I’m actually acting in my own
so I’m actually acting in my own self-interest even if it doesn’t look
self-interest even if it doesn’t look
self-interest even if it doesn’t look like it because I’m acting in my genes
like it because I’m acting in my genes
like it because I’m acting in my genes interest and the standard theory says
interest and the standard theory says
interest and the standard theory says that organisms doing things not in their
that organisms doing things not in their
that organisms doing things not in their own interest is impossible if you’ve got
own interest is impossible if you’ve got
own interest is impossible if you’ve got two versions of an organism one that’s
two versions of an organism one that’s
two versions of an organism one that’s self-sacrificing and one that’s selfish
self-sacrificing and one that’s selfish
self-sacrificing and one that’s selfish the standard theory says the selfish
the standard theory says the selfish
the standard theory says the selfish kind should win right it should out of
kind should win right it should out of
kind should win right it should out of all the other and it should survive
all the other and it should survive
all the other and it should survive while the self-sacrificing type dies
while the self-sacrificing type dies
while the self-sacrificing type dies the thing is that established theory is
the thing is that established theory is
the thing is that established theory is based on a hidden assumption which is
based on a hidden assumption which is
based on a hidden assumption which is that everything is mixed together
that everything is mixed together
that everything is mixed together essentially everything is happening in
essentially everything is happening in
essentially everything is happening in the same place anything that happens
the same place anything that happens
the same place anything that happens anywhere affects everyone equally but if
anywhere affects everyone equally but if
anywhere affects everyone equally but if instead things are spread out in space
instead things are spread out in space
instead things are spread out in space as we call that a spatial system so that
as we call that a spatial system so that
as we call that a spatial system so that things can be different in different
things can be different in different
things can be different in different different locations then everything
different locations then everything
different locations then everything changes so let’s look at a very simple
changes so let’s look at a very simple
changes so let’s look at a very simple model suppose you’ve got some organism
model suppose you’ve got some organism
model suppose you’ve got some organism of interest and it consumes some
of interest and it consumes some
of interest and it consumes some resource and this is a general model
resource and this is a general model
resource and this is a general model it’s very abstract this could apply to
it’s very abstract this could apply to
it’s very abstract this could apply to predators and prey could describe
predators and prey could describe
predators and prey could describe herbivores and plants could be bacteria
herbivores and plants could be bacteria
herbivores and plants could be bacteria the only important thing here is that
the only important thing here is that
the only important thing here is that you’ve got these two interacting types
you’ve got these two interacting types
you’ve got these two interacting types one of which lives at the expense of the
one of which lives at the expense of the
one of which lives at the expense of the other so both these organisms and these
other so both these organisms and these
other so both these organisms and these resources can reproduce themselves and
resources can reproduce themselves and
resources can reproduce themselves and the organisms consume the resources and
the organisms consume the resources and
the organisms consume the resources and the evolution comes into this model by
the evolution comes into this model by
the evolution comes into this model by letting the organisms change how fast
letting the organisms change how fast
letting the organisms change how fast they’re reproducing so any particular
they’re reproducing so any particular
they’re reproducing so any particular organism has a fixed reproduction rate
organism has a fixed reproduction rate
organism has a fixed reproduction rate so that’s set by its genes but when it
so that’s set by its genes but when it
so that’s set by its genes but when it reproduces there can be some mutation
reproduces there can be some mutation
reproduces there can be some mutation and the offspring can have a value
and the offspring can have a value
and the offspring can have a value that’s a little bit higher or a little
that’s a little bit higher or a little
that’s a little bit higher or a little bit lower than the parent and then you
bit lower than the parent and then you
bit lower than the parent and then you can ask how does this reproduction rate
can ask how does this reproduction rate
can ask how does this reproduction rate evolve in the population over time well
evolve in the population over time well
evolve in the population over time well if everything is mixed together
if everything is mixed together
if everything is mixed together if all of the resources are in one pool
if all of the resources are in one pool
if all of the resources are in one pool supply and everyone has access to it
supply and everyone has access to it
supply and everyone has access to it then what you see is this rate increases
then what you see is this rate increases
then what you see is this rate increases over time it just keeps on increasing
over time it just keeps on increasing
over time it just keeps on increasing which makes sense if you’re reproducing
which makes sense if you’re reproducing
which makes sense if you’re reproducing faster you’ll tend to have more
faster you’ll tend to have more
faster you’ll tend to have more offspring they will tend to inherit your
offspring they will tend to inherit your
offspring they will tend to inherit your higher reproduction rate and so there’s
higher reproduction rate and so there’s
higher reproduction rate and so there’s always this advantage to reproducing
always this advantage to reproducing
always this advantage to reproducing more and using more resources but if
more and using more resources but if
more and using more resources but if instead things are spatial if
instead things are spatial if
instead things are spatial if reproduction and consumption are
reproduction and consumption are
reproduction and consumption are happening only locally and what happens
happening only locally and what happens
happening only locally and what happens in one place affects only the nearby
in one place affects only the nearby
in one place affects only the nearby area at first it doesn’t immediately
area at first it doesn’t immediately
area at first it doesn’t immediately affect everyone everywhere then what you
affect everyone everywhere then what you
affect everyone everywhere then what you see is very different the reproduction
see is very different the reproduction
see is very different the reproduction rate increase
rate increase
rate increase at first but then it stops it reaches an
at first but then it stops it reaches an
at first but then it stops it reaches an equilibrium and it doesn’t keep going
equilibrium and it doesn’t keep going
equilibrium and it doesn’t keep going higher in fact if you start off the
higher in fact if you start off the
higher in fact if you start off the population reproducing faster it’ll
population reproducing faster it’ll
population reproducing faster it’ll actually evolve to fall to that
actually evolve to fall to that
actually evolve to fall to that equilibrium level so this is a
equilibrium level so this is a
equilibrium level so this is a completely different result in the mixed
completely different result in the mixed
completely different result in the mixed case more consumption always wins in the
case more consumption always wins in the
case more consumption always wins in the spatial case restraint always wins okay
spatial case restraint always wins okay
spatial case restraint always wins okay so what’s going on here why is there
so what’s going on here why is there
so what’s going on here why is there this difference if you look at the
this difference if you look at the
this difference if you look at the spatial model running in a simulation
spatial model running in a simulation
spatial model running in a simulation you can see that the population
you can see that the population
you can see that the population organizes itself to have this sort of
organizes itself to have this sort of
organizes itself to have this sort of patchy structure and in particular
patchy structure and in particular
patchy structure and in particular there’s a limit to how far and how fast
there’s a limit to how far and how fast
there’s a limit to how far and how fast the organisms can spread before they run
the organisms can spread before they run
the organisms can spread before they run out of resources so suppose you’ve got
out of resources so suppose you’ve got
out of resources so suppose you’ve got two types of these organisms one that’s
two types of these organisms one that’s
two types of these organisms one that’s reproducing fast and one that’s
reproducing fast and one that’s
reproducing fast and one that’s reproducing slow well in a head-to-head
reproducing slow well in a head-to-head
reproducing slow well in a head-to-head competition for a single patch of
competition for a single patch of
competition for a single patch of resources the fast type is going to have
resources the fast type is going to have
resources the fast type is going to have an advantage right it’s going to be able
an advantage right it’s going to be able
an advantage right it’s going to be able to grab more of those resources for
to grab more of those resources for
to grab more of those resources for itself but if more resources aren’t
itself but if more resources aren’t
itself but if more resources aren’t becoming available as fast as they’re
becoming available as fast as they’re
becoming available as fast as they’re getting used up then at some point that
getting used up then at some point that
getting used up then at some point that fast type is going to run out of
fast type is going to run out of
fast type is going to run out of resources and it’s going to die out and
resources and it’s going to die out and
resources and it’s going to die out and then surviving slower ones from
then surviving slower ones from
then surviving slower ones from somewhere else can come in and
somewhere else can come in and
somewhere else can come in and repopulate that area and you can see
repopulate that area and you can see
repopulate that area and you can see that happening in this graph over time
that happening in this graph over time
that happening in this graph over time if you look not just at the average
if you look not just at the average
if you look not just at the average reproduction in the population but if
reproduction in the population but if
reproduction in the population but if you look at the maximum you can see
you look at the maximum you can see
you look at the maximum you can see places where a faster reproducing type
places where a faster reproducing type
places where a faster reproducing type shows up and it does well for a while
shows up and it does well for a while
shows up and it does well for a while this fastest rate in the population
this fastest rate in the population
this fastest rate in the population keeps increasing and it keeps increasing
keeps increasing and it keeps increasing
keeps increasing and it keeps increasing and then it suddenly Falls and that’s
and then it suddenly Falls and that’s
and then it suddenly Falls and that’s where that type ran out of resources and
where that type ran out of resources and
where that type ran out of resources and died out and that happens over and over
died out and that happens over and over
died out and that happens over and over again and it’s those local separated
again and it’s those local separated
again and it’s those local separated extinctions that make it possible for
extinctions that make it possible for
extinctions that make it possible for the population overall to have this
the population overall to have this
the population overall to have this limitation as equilibrium and if you go
limitation as equilibrium and if you go
limitation as equilibrium and if you go back to the mixed case you can’t have a
back to the mixed case you can’t have a
back to the mixed case you can’t have a local extinction here there’s no such
local extinction here there’s no such
local extinction here there’s no such thing as local and if you watch what
thing as local and if you watch what
thing as local and if you watch what happens as this runs for longer what you
happens as this runs for longer what you
happens as this runs for longer what you see actually at some point is global
see actually at some point is global
see actually at some point is global extinction everyone dies everywhere it’s
extinction everyone dies everywhere it’s
extinction everyone dies everywhere it’s the same thing that was happening little
the same thing that was happening little
the same thing that was happening little subpopulations in the spacial case but
subpopulations in the spacial case but
subpopulations in the spacial case but here it has to happen to the whole
here it has to happen to the whole
here it has to happen to the whole population
population
population if everybody’s eating out of the same
if everybody’s eating out of the same
if everybody’s eating out of the same pot everyone has to pay the penalty of
pot everyone has to pay the penalty of
pot everyone has to pay the penalty of using too much so what this model is
using too much so what this model is
using too much so what this model is telling us then is why is their
telling us then is why is their
telling us then is why is their cooperation and restraint in nature
cooperation and restraint in nature
cooperation and restraint in nature because nature is spatial things are
because nature is spatial things are
because nature is spatial things are spread out and there is always an
spread out and there is always an
spread out and there is always an advantage in the short-term to consuming
advantage in the short-term to consuming
advantage in the short-term to consuming more and you keep getting types showing
more and you keep getting types showing
more and you keep getting types showing up that do consume more and then they
up that do consume more and then they
up that do consume more and then they push things too far and they kill
push things too far and they kill
push things too far and they kill themselves off now it turns out that
themselves off now it turns out that
themselves off now it turns out that that’s true also of human beings
that’s true also of human beings
that’s true also of human beings repeatedly throughout human history
repeatedly throughout human history
repeatedly throughout human history local societies have arisen and then
local societies have arisen and then
local societies have arisen and then vanished we’re a major contributing
vanished we’re a major contributing
vanished we’re a major contributing factor has been over exploiting their
factor has been over exploiting their
factor has been over exploiting their resources it’s happened multiple times
resources it’s happened multiple times
resources it’s happened multiple times in Polynesia it happened to the Maya and
in Polynesia it happened to the Maya and
in Polynesia it happened to the Maya and Central America to the North’s in
Central America to the North’s in
Central America to the North’s in Greenland to the ancestral Puebloans in
Greenland to the ancestral Puebloans in
Greenland to the ancestral Puebloans in the southwestern US the list goes on and
the southwestern US the list goes on and
the southwestern US the list goes on and there are a number of recurring elements
there are a number of recurring elements
there are a number of recurring elements in what happened in each of these
in what happened in each of these
in what happened in each of these historical examples wide scale
historical examples wide scale
historical examples wide scale deforestation soil erosion extinctions
deforestation soil erosion extinctions
deforestation soil erosion extinctions of species this list goes on – and of
of species this list goes on – and of
of species this list goes on – and of course these are all things that are
course these are all things that are
course these are all things that are happening right now in a major way along
happening right now in a major way along
happening right now in a major way along with plenty of other examples of
with plenty of other examples of
with plenty of other examples of resources that were in the process of
resources that were in the process of
resources that were in the process of depleting and the timescale and
depleting and the timescale and
depleting and the timescale and depleting them is not centuries it’s not
depleting them is not centuries it’s not
depleting them is not centuries it’s not millennia it’s decades and the
millennia it’s decades and the
millennia it’s decades and the difference now is all of these are
difference now is all of these are
difference now is all of these are global resource issues we’re now
global resource issues we’re now
global resource issues we’re now operating at the scale of the entire
operating at the scale of the entire
operating at the scale of the entire world and the world is now connected
world and the world is now connected
world and the world is now connected things that happen in one place do
things that happen in one place do
things that happen in one place do affect people everywhere for the first
affect people everywhere for the first
affect people everywhere for the first time in history we’ve essentially made
time in history we’ve essentially made
time in history we’ve essentially made our world a mixed system and again the
our world a mixed system and again the
our world a mixed system and again the thing you can expect to happen in a
thing you can expect to happen in a
thing you can expect to happen in a mixed system is for consumption to keep
mixed system is for consumption to keep
mixed system is for consumption to keep on increasing to keep using up more and
on increasing to keep using up more and
on increasing to keep using up more and more resources until eventually there’s
more resources until eventually there’s
more resources until eventually there’s resource exhaustion and death everywhere
resource exhaustion and death everywhere
resource exhaustion and death everywhere you remember that post apocalyptic
you remember that post apocalyptic
you remember that post apocalyptic disaster movie I promised you okay but
disaster movie I promised you okay but
disaster movie I promised you okay but wait wait hang on because look wait this
wait wait hang on because look wait this
wait wait hang on because look wait this doesn’t apply to us right I mean the the
doesn’t apply to us right I mean the the
doesn’t apply to us right I mean the the creatures in this model are
creatures in this model are
creatures in this model are mindless automata they’re just blindly
mindless automata they’re just blindly
mindless automata they’re just blindly doing whatever it is that they’re
doing whatever it is that they’re
doing whatever it is that they’re programmed to do but we’re more capable
programmed to do but we’re more capable
programmed to do but we’re more capable than that right I mean we have brains we
than that right I mean we have brains we
than that right I mean we have brains we can see trouble coming and take steps to
can see trouble coming and take steps to
can see trouble coming and take steps to avoid it but that’s true only if we use
avoid it but that’s true only if we use
avoid it but that’s true only if we use that ability because another thing that
that ability because another thing that
that ability because another thing that people are really good at is doing
people are really good at is doing
people are really good at is doing things backwards first deciding on
things backwards first deciding on
things backwards first deciding on something we want to do and then finding
something we want to do and then finding
something we want to do and then finding ways to justify it only paying attention
ways to justify it only paying attention
ways to justify it only paying attention to evidence that supports the thing we
to evidence that supports the thing we
to evidence that supports the thing we want and ignoring or denying facts we
want and ignoring or denying facts we
want and ignoring or denying facts we don’t like that’s a very human thing to
don’t like that’s a very human thing to
don’t like that’s a very human thing to do it’s very easy but it’s dangerous if
do it’s very easy but it’s dangerous if
do it’s very easy but it’s dangerous if we act like the mindless automata if we
we act like the mindless automata if we
we act like the mindless automata if we keep doing the thing that seems like a
keep doing the thing that seems like a
keep doing the thing that seems like a good idea in the short term and ignore
good idea in the short term and ignore
good idea in the short term and ignore what we can anticipate or the long term
what we can anticipate or the long term
what we can anticipate or the long term consequences we know where that ends up
consequences we know where that ends up
consequences we know where that ends up so how do we avoid the extinction that
so how do we avoid the extinction that
so how do we avoid the extinction that we see in the model is the answer to
we see in the model is the answer to
we see in the model is the answer to disconnect the world to split everything
disconnect the world to split everything
disconnect the world to split everything back up into its own little enclaves no
back up into its own little enclaves no
back up into its own little enclaves no now that just makes it a local problem
now that just makes it a local problem
now that just makes it a local problem each separate area still has to deal
each separate area still has to deal
each separate area still has to deal with the same basic issue remember even
with the same basic issue remember even
with the same basic issue remember even in the spatial system there’s still
in the spatial system there’s still
in the spatial system there’s still local catastrophes if your little region
local catastrophes if your little region
local catastrophes if your little region gives in to the short-term incentives
gives in to the short-term incentives
gives in to the short-term incentives for over exploiting it still dies and
for over exploiting it still dies and
for over exploiting it still dies and yes it may be some cold intellectual
yes it may be some cold intellectual
yes it may be some cold intellectual comfort to know that other societies
comfort to know that other societies
comfort to know that other societies survive somewhere else but if your
survive somewhere else but if your
survive somewhere else but if your society dies you know that’s a problem
society dies you know that’s a problem
society dies you know that’s a problem for you so okay so maybe the answer then
for you so okay so maybe the answer then
for you so okay so maybe the answer then is technology right this is something
is technology right this is something
is technology right this is something something you sometimes hear people say
something you sometimes hear people say
something you sometimes hear people say in this context it’s okay
in this context it’s okay
in this context it’s okay technology will save us there’s always
technology will save us there’s always
technology will save us there’s always going to be some new advance so that as
going to be some new advance so that as
going to be some new advance so that as we run out of one resource another one
we run out of one resource another one
we run out of one resource another one will become available and there has been
will become available and there has been
will become available and there has been some truth to that in our current
some truth to that in our current
some truth to that in our current society and its recent history but there
society and its recent history but there
society and its recent history but there are a few things we’re thinking about
are a few things we’re thinking about
are a few things we’re thinking about there first that has sometimes been true
there first that has sometimes been true
there first that has sometimes been true it hasn’t always been true there are
it hasn’t always been true there are
it hasn’t always been true there are plenty of historical examples of
plenty of historical examples of
plenty of historical examples of societies that did not find another
societies that did not find another
societies that did not find another resource and they disappeared do we
resource and they disappeared do we
resource and they disappeared do we really want to bet ever
really want to bet ever
really want to bet ever thing that we’re always going to find a
thing that we’re always going to find a
thing that we’re always going to find a solution just when we need it to step
solution just when we need it to step
solution just when we need it to step off that cliff and say oh it’s okay
off that cliff and say oh it’s okay
off that cliff and say oh it’s okay we’ll invent a parachute on the way down
we’ll invent a parachute on the way down
we’ll invent a parachute on the way down the second point is there’s a difference
the second point is there’s a difference
the second point is there’s a difference between more resources and unlimited
between more resources and unlimited
between more resources and unlimited resources so let’s go back to the
resources so let’s go back to the
resources so let’s go back to the spatial model and suppose that at some
spatial model and suppose that at some
spatial model and suppose that at some point technological advance occurs and
point technological advance occurs and
point technological advance occurs and makes more resources available okay
makes more resources available okay
makes more resources available okay great then the equilibrium level
great then the equilibrium level
great then the equilibrium level increases but there’s still an
increases but there’s still an
increases but there’s still an equilibrium it’s still limited if you
equilibrium it’s still limited if you
equilibrium it’s still limited if you consume without limit
consume without limit
consume without limit you still die a third point is this is a
you still die a third point is this is a
you still die a third point is this is a long-term effect let’s suppose that
long-term effect let’s suppose that
long-term effect let’s suppose that you’ve got a population at equilibrium
you’ve got a population at equilibrium
you’ve got a population at equilibrium so it’s consuming resources of the same
so it’s consuming resources of the same
so it’s consuming resources of the same rate they become available and the
rate they become available and the
rate they become available and the population size is staying about the
population size is staying about the
population size is staying about the same and now you add to this population
same and now you add to this population
same and now you add to this population one more organism that’s consuming
one more organism that’s consuming
one more organism that’s consuming faster so that introduced one and its
faster so that introduced one and its
faster so that introduced one and its offspring can have an advantage of the
offspring can have an advantage of the
offspring can have an advantage of the original kind and that can be a very
original kind and that can be a very
original kind and that can be a very major advantage that can persist for a
major advantage that can persist for a
major advantage that can persist for a long time but eventually the
long time but eventually the
long time but eventually the consequences of its over exploitation
consequences of its over exploitation
consequences of its over exploitation come back to bite it and it dies out
come back to bite it and it dies out
come back to bite it and it dies out meanwhile the equilibrium type survives
meanwhile the equilibrium type survives
meanwhile the equilibrium type survives indefinitely and it’s not obvious to one
indefinitely and it’s not obvious to one
indefinitely and it’s not obvious to one of these organisms just looking around
of these organisms just looking around
of these organisms just looking around which of these paths it’s on at this
which of these paths it’s on at this
which of these paths it’s on at this point right things look like they’re
point right things look like they’re
point right things look like they’re going great but it’s important to know
going great but it’s important to know
going great but it’s important to know whether that’s the real situation or a
whether that’s the real situation or a
whether that’s the real situation or a temporary state of affairs so what is
temporary state of affairs so what is
temporary state of affairs so what is the solution how can we avoid the
the solution how can we avoid the
the solution how can we avoid the extinction that we see in the model well
extinction that we see in the model well
extinction that we see in the model well we are more capable than the brainless
we are more capable than the brainless
we are more capable than the brainless creatures in the model we can anticipate
creatures in the model we can anticipate
creatures in the model we can anticipate the future and we can choose to change
the future and we can choose to change
the future and we can choose to change it science is our ability to understand
it science is our ability to understand
it science is our ability to understand the world and what’s going to happen in
the world and what’s going to happen in
the world and what’s going to happen in it we have to use that ability paying
it we have to use that ability paying
it we have to use that ability paying attention to reality matters it has to
attention to reality matters it has to
attention to reality matters it has to be important to us and it has to be
be important to us and it has to be
be important to us and it has to be important to our decision-makers and
important to our decision-makers and
important to our decision-makers and sustainability matters sustainability is
sustainability matters sustainability is
sustainability matters sustainability is just another word for that equilibrium
just another word for that equilibrium
just another word for that equilibrium between the resources that are becoming
between the resources that are becoming
between the resources that are becoming available and the resources you’re
available and the resources you’re
available and the resources you’re consuming if you keep spending more than
consuming if you keep spending more than
consuming if you keep spending more than you’re in
you’re in
you’re in and eating into your savings at some
and eating into your savings at some
and eating into your savings at some point you’re gonna be in trouble in the
point you’re gonna be in trouble in the
point you’re gonna be in trouble in the same way if you really want a society
same way if you really want a society
same way if you really want a society and what is achieved to last really into
and what is achieved to last really into
and what is achieved to last really into the long term then being aware of that
the long term then being aware of that
the long term then being aware of that balance is important and it’s important
balance is important and it’s important
balance is important and it’s important to make it a priority to maintain it I
to make it a priority to maintain it I
to make it a priority to maintain it I mentioned that ten years ago my sister
mentioned that ten years ago my sister
mentioned that ten years ago my sister decided she wasn’t sure anymore or she
decided she wasn’t sure anymore or she
decided she wasn’t sure anymore or she still wanted to have kids
still wanted to have kids
still wanted to have kids well people do things that are important
well people do things that are important
well people do things that are important to him seven months ago she welcome to
to him seven months ago she welcome to
to him seven months ago she welcome to mica people do care about the future
mica people do care about the future
mica people do care about the future what we’ve achieved is important to us
what we’ve achieved is important to us
what we’ve achieved is important to us we want this world to last through our
we want this world to last through our
we want this world to last through our lives and to the next generation and
lives and to the next generation and
lives and to the next generation and beyond and so that balance between
beyond and so that balance between
beyond and so that balance between resources and consumption is critical
resources and consumption is critical
resources and consumption is critical and we have to be aware of that balance
and we have to be aware of that balance
and we have to be aware of that balance and it has to be important to us to be
and it has to be important to us to be
and it has to be important to us to be aware when something is important enough
aware when something is important enough
aware when something is important enough to enough people we find ways of making
to enough people we find ways of making
to enough people we find ways of making it happen we have to choose to be the
it happen we have to choose to be the
it happen we have to choose to be the capable planners instead of the mindless
capable planners instead of the mindless
capable planners instead of the mindless automaton because if we don’t mindfully
automaton because if we don’t mindfully
automaton because if we don’t mindfully maintain that equilibrium the world is
maintain that equilibrium the world is
maintain that equilibrium the world is not going to maintain it for us the
not going to maintain it for us the
not going to maintain it for us the incentives favor short term over long
incentives favor short term over long
incentives favor short term over long term and the theory and the history both
term and the theory and the history both
term and the theory and the history both tell us if we let things take their
tell us if we let things take their
tell us if we let things take their course we can absolutely expect
course we can absolutely expect
course we can absolutely expect overconsumption and collapse to be the
overconsumption and collapse to be the
overconsumption and collapse to be the end of the story and one way or the
end of the story and one way or the
end of the story and one way or the other
other
other we’re going to make a choice
we’re going to make a choice
we’re going to make a choice [Applause]
”
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