Doses of reality

[Denis Frith]

The stark reality of the materialistic operation of all the facets of civilization is summed up by four axioms.

1. natural forces always govern what happens in operations of all natural and technological materialistic systems. Technological systems do not create materials. They only use them even in innovative processes in manufactured systems.
2. technological systems irreversibly use natural material resources, including those supplying energy, and produce irrevocable wastes that pollute land, sea and air as well as disrupting natutal processes such as climate and marine operations
3. technological systems, like natural systems, continually age due to friction despite the use of materials and energy for their operation and maintenance 
4. the development and operation of technological systesms irreversibly degrades much of the environment, including leading to the extinction of many flora and fauna.

These axioms are fundamental scientific principles even though they are not yet recognised. However, some smart people have recognised consequences of these axioms and discussed them in a range of books and on the internet. Groups have discussed peak oil and related subjects for many years.There have been progressive movements, such as Transition Towns, that showing how communities can cope to a degree with how civilization will inevitably power down. But these positive moves have not had a widespread impact as the 'leaders' of society focus on economic growth without taking into account the ecological cost. And the masses go along with that delusion as they seek to have a satisfying material standard of living. Society blesses financial wealth while not taling into account the irreversible divestment of the natural wealth evolution has provided.

 

It is ironical that science and technology has provided the infrastrucure that society has become so dependent on without understanding the associated consequences. So the usage of fossil fuels has had the unintended consequence of climate change. This symptom of the malfeasance of industrialized civilization is serving as a wake up call but little mitigation is under way despite rhetoric at government level.

 

It is inevitable that society will have to cope with a range of doses of reality as the axioms inevitably hit harder. Installation of wind and solar systems will temporarily ease the electricity supply predicament for a small proportion of the global popultion. EV cars will enable a small proportion of the popultion to get around on land as the unavalability of liquid fuels encures the rapid decline in land, sea and air transportation. The consequential loss of globalised goods and tourist trade will hit many societies really hard. The rampant urbanisation of recent decades will transform as the towers and other facilities (including sewerage systesm) in cities crumble through lack of material resources for operation and maintenance. These are predicaments that societies around the globe will have to cope with to varying degrees depending on their development. Howver, it is likely that the hardest predicament will be the loss of the communication and information capabilities currently provided by the range of electonic devices. The young will be particularly hard hit as they will not have acquired the skills that the elderly had used before the unsustainable information revolution.

 

In recognition of this problem, several years ago I suuggested that the smart young should embrace a movement which I called ELAM (Earth's Laborers' Activity Movement). This proposal is attached. I offered a scholarship at my old school in Tasmania for student responses to the ELAM proposal but this was not accepted even though I believe it is a useful wake up call for the young. I will not see much of the growth of the many predicaments as I am very aged but I will continue to try an leave a legacy of understanding.

 

Denis Frith, M.Sc.Eng., B.E.