“Finding a sustainable course for our economic ship.”
Continuous growth in material standard of living has long been the primary goal of world economies and government policy.
It is the key driver that fuels the free enterprise market-based system.
However, the earth is a finite planet with limits to its physical resources. It also has a surface environment which has evolved over millions of years and depends on the balance of many natural processes for its stability. The by-products of our growing industries disrupt that balance.
This discussion starts with the assumption that growth of material consumption cannot continue without serious destructive consequences. So the question is how can we curb that growth? What type of economy would this require?
What would motivate people to be innovative and hardworking in such a system? How would the existing gap between the rich and poor play out?
Don Myers is a retired mechanical engineer with a long career in the oil and gas industry. Since retiring to Comox, he has been involved in various activities including surface water management on the family farmland back in Saskatchewan.
He has also developed a strong interest in the environmental and social impacts of the global economy. Though not an expert, he will share some of his findings and concerns to start our discussion on this complex issue.
Join us as Myers leads a discussion on how the fundamentals of our current economy could be changed to a more sustainable model.
As with each café, Myers will have just 10 minutes to introduce the topic, and then the floor is open for 50 minutes of moderated discussion.
This month’s Philosophers’ Café takes place Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 7-8 p.m. in the community room at Berwick Comox Valley at 1700 Comox Ave. in Comox.