Society's mistakes

[Denis Frith]

Commentators have provided insight into the mistakes by societies over the ages that contributed to the demise of their civilizations. The deleterious impact of aspects of the current industrialized civilization are now being subject to scrutiny as the consequences unfold. It is a conjural matter as to which issue is doing the most irreparable harm. The possibility of a nuclear war is high on the agenda while the impact of fossil fuel usage on the climate and operations in the oceans is causing appreciable realistic concern. Global over population due to progress in food production, education and human health care is another issue being subject to consideration as it is clearly not a sustainable process. Of course, political and mainstream discussion follows the line of economic growth fostered by financial market forces even though neither capitalism or social democracies take into account the ecological cost. The development of the infrastructure from cities down to electronic devices is lauded  for the services they provide even though they all have limited lives are use up irreplaceable natural resources.

Ironically, these mistakes are recognised in some knowledgeable circles but the most fundamental one receives very little attention. Physical science is blessed for advancing the frontieres of knowledge when all that it has really done is provide some understanding of how natural forces always have and always will govern what happens. As the result of this lack of understanding amongst those who should be providing guidance, industrialized civilization will have only a short time line in the operaation of Earth.

Denis Frith