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Quote by James Gustave Speth

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The Bridge at the Edge of the World: Capitalism, the Environment, and Crossing from Crisis to Sustainability

This book delves into the complex relationship between economic systems and environmental stewardship, analyzing the current state of capitalism and its impact on the environment. It examines the crises facing both and proposes strategies for transitioning to a more sustainable model of capitalism. more

Author

James Gustave Speth
James Gustave Speth

James Gustave Speth is an American lawyer, scholar, and environmental activist. Born on March 4, 1942, he graduated from Yale Law School and served as a professor there. Speth has had a significant impact on the field of environmental protection, serving as the first administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and holding leadership positions in various environmental organizations and think tanks. more

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“We have been getting rich by depleting all our natural stocks - water, hydrocarbons, forests, rivers, fish and arable land - and not by generating renewable flows.”

“Our early 21st century civilization is in trouble. We need not go beyond the world food economy to see this. Over the last few decades we have created a food production bubble-one based on environmental trends that cannot be sustained, including overpumping aquifers, overplowing land, and overloading the atmosphere with carbon dioxide.”

“All I am asking is that we follow the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This is fundamentally a moral issue, not an economic issue. Given what we know now, it is simply unethical to impose risk of grave damage on future generations just so that we can have a few more consumer products today.”