Evo Morales: Nature, Forests and Indigenous Peoples Are Not for Sale

Excerpt: ‘Forests and rainforests are the Earth’s largest source of biodiversity. If deforestation continues, thousands of species of animals and plants will be lost forever. More than three quarters of accessible fresh water has its source in forested areas, hence the worsening of water quality when forests deteriorate. Forests provide protection from flooding, erosion and natural disasters. They provide timber and other materials. Forests are a source of natural medicines and many curative substances that have yet to be discovered. Forests are the atmosphere’s lungs. Of the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions occurring throughout the world, 18% are caused by deforestation. (full letter here)

Simon Butler: The limits to energy efficiency

From Green Left Weekly:

‘A recent study into the impact of energy-efficient light bulbs gave fresh weight to this conclusion. A team of five US-based scientists, led by Sandia National Laboratories’ Jeff Tsao, conducted the study. It was published in the August Journal of Physics.

‘The team looked at historical evidence to show that as lighting has become more energy efficient, it has also become cheaper. In turn, the cheaper lighting has led to higher overall energy use…

‘This sparks the energy rebound effect. The lower costs of production spur economic growth to new highs. The higher energy use that results tends to outstrip the original efficiency gains.

‘The 19th century British economist William Jevons is credited with being the first to recognise this trend, often called the “Jevons Paradox”, as a law of capitalist economics.’ (full article)