The ‘values
system’ is declining in the contemporary world, as the greatest happiness of the
strongest is pursued and fulfilled. This is because of lack of three senses: the sense of
responsibility, the sense of justice, and the sense of ethics. The increasing disparity
between the rich and the poor at the national and international levels; the destruction of
the environment; the abuse of natural resources; and the dumping of quasi-permanently
dangerous waste materials are some symptoms of this sickness. Indeed, the present economic
system is out of sync with the earth’s ecosystem.
Economic growth fuelled by natural resources will bring about destruction of the
environment. Therefore, there is a need to introduce a more humane
‘eco-economics’ or ‘economics of contentment’ that considers natural
resources not as an income but as a capital, which requires conservation measures. The
first step in this direction should be to shift the growth measurement from GDP (gross
domestic product) to GPI (genuine progress index), which takes into account ecological and
social costs.
The session took up the sensitive issue of global denuclearization, urging that there be
strict checks on the fabrication of nuclear installations in the absence of thorough
know-how of disposal methods and mishap prevention.
The address ended with a thought-provoking quote: ‘Socialism collapsed because it did
not allow prices to tell the economic truth. Capitalism may collapse because it does not
allow prices to tell the ecological truth.’ (Øystein Dahle)
|
