Posted on 31-502004

Past The Future
by Alan Marston, 30 May 2004

Of all the products of human intelligence, predictions are the most unworthy.

Science, like most belief systems through which humanity has framed its
universe, offers knowledge to its disciples and knowledge is nothing but
prediction. Scientists have lots of credibility these days, yet a cursory
glance at history will tell you that credibility is no firm basis for
judgements as to truth value. A well known and credible scientist is at it
again, predicting and suggesting what would be `good for the world'. I
question his predictions, nevertheless I believe his good intentions and
his intuitive grasp of the coming of a day of reckoning with the long
shadow of the `Western way of life'.

Twenty-Five years ago, James Lovelock conceived the most radical way of
looking at life on Earth since Darwin, and became a hero to the emerging
environmental movement. Now, because he believes nuclear power is the only
answer to the growing threat of climate change, some Greens see him as the
enemy. But then, Greens is a term referring to people who, like all
politicians through history, believe they can see the future, that it is
bleak and that they have an answer which will shine light over a darkened
social and natural landscape.

Personally I identify with the Green view of the future, bleak indeed, but
I do not believe that Mr Lovelock nor any `Green' nor any liberal or right
winger nor science and its followers will reverse the spread of a
money-first economy/philosophy and its attendent ever-growing appetite for
energy and all other products of the universe. I believe that until some
of the things the `global economy' needs, first of all energy, are no
longer available people will not change.

Catastrophe theory? Indeed. I have history on my side, the scientists and
Greens have the future on their side. Your call.