[The starry background is to remind us that this spaceship Earth has no emergency exit.]
back last   ecostory 34/2011   next E home
Second letter to Klaus Schwab, founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum [WEF Davos]
Oil is the lifeblood of modern times Everybody knows. But the people In Power (PIP) are turning a blind eye on Peak Oil and the Post-Peak-Oil (PPO) times.

Worse, most PIP continue pushing for growth, as if the earth were flat and resources limitless.

Klaus Schwab represents the interests of a number of the world's biggest corporations.

The sheep may ask the question whether their interests and those of the shepherd really coincide.

Do these animals believe that they can produce more from the same resources?

SwissCleanTech is good for marketing but ecologically it supports the idea we could continue business as usual and save the world with Hope Optimism and Technology.

The World Economic Forum wants to make this world a better place. Excellent idea! But the flag doesn't cover the cargo. On the contrary. The growth agenda is factually increasing the disparities between people and peoples and states. And it increases the speed towards total resource depletion.

Klaus Schwab and his staff members appear being unimpressed by facts and figures that demonstrate how close we are to the brink of chaos, because of overshoot and increased depletion rates.

One problem is that they have the microphone and only listen to people who espouse the same growth ideology.

We tried again and wrote another letter.
Second letter sent to Mr Klaus Schwab: []       [First letter]
ecology discovery foundation - ecoglobe
Helmut E. Lubbers
BE MsocSc DipEcol
14 Boulevard Carl-Vogt
CH-1205 Genève / Genf
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera

helmutecoglobe.ch
www.ecoglobe.org
www.ecoglobe.ch

 
Genève/Genf, 11 July 2011

Lu/rs/schw1711
ecoglobe, 14 bd. Carl-Vogt, CH-1205 Genève
Mr Klaus Schwab
Executive Chairman of the
World Economic Forum
Route de la Capite 91
1223 Cologny


"New Realities" from a different vantage point, my letter dated 25 January 2011
Dear Mr Schwab,

I’m not sure whether you did personally receive and read my letter of 25 January 2011. You may have had preciously little time during the Davos Forum and in the following you may have forgotten. Attached you find a copy for easy reference.

It needs to be reiterated that humanity is cruising with increasing speed towards dramatic resource scarcities, i.e. food, water, fuel, a clean environment, and loss of biodiversity. Collapse is on the horizon, within the next few decades, because of resource wars and environmental depletion.

Scientists know that economic growth increases the rates of resource use and depletion, as well as the destruction of nature, including greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, the leaders in society, including the World Economic Forum, are still pushing for economic growth. Simultaneously population growth lacks attention.

Most leaders seem to think that the world can be saved by Hope, Optimism, and Technology. The harsh reality is that we cannot revive lost species, recreate depleted resources, nor repair a spoiled climate by technology. Hope and Optimism reflect our belief that we could find the solutions in the future. They prevent us from working with the knowledge that we have today.

The policies of the World Economic Forum stand in flagrant contradiction to your stated goal of being "committed to improving the state of the world." Factually and in reality, your policies contribute to the depletion and destruction of this planet. Your organization is promoting the superficial interests of business, i.e. your membership, which are all intent on further growth.

Yet these same businesses are lead by people like you and me, who have families and want to do the best for our so-called "loved ones". Sadly the promotion of growth is endangering the immediate future of our loved ones.

I think you are really concerned about the present threats to our world. But dealing with worries requires a realistic an honest approach to the ways in which we can deal with the problems. Business As Usual, disregarding criticism, may ease your mind. But at the end of the day you will still have doubts, because you cannot shut off your eyes and mind from the realities that you have seen during the day.

Would you accept ab invitation to a personal discussion on this subject of growth, Mr Schwab, which is of basic importance?

Thanking in advance for your reaction

    Yours faithfully,

[signature H E Lubbers]

References

  • WEF Scenarios 2009 - A Reference Scenario
  • Das WEF Davos Open Forum und die FEK - eine Analyse
  • ecostory 5-2008 - The Davos Open Forum on Sustainability and Economic Growth
  • ecostory 3-2004 - Ein Forum für eine bessere Welt (A form for a better world)
  • home | sitemap | ecostory | change | motivation | energy | scenarios | feedback E
    ecoglobe ecoglobe.org & ecoglobe.org.nz for realistic answers
    1603