Global uprisings are all about the end of growth

I’ve been following the “Occupy Toronto” movement that’s powered by youth and hope in a world of corruption and decadence.  I hope that it will prove to be the catalyst for the new ideas we need to take us forward.

This movement is occurring in a context.  Though many of the participants may be unaware of it, there is a fairly obvious underlying reason for the rising levels of anger.

There is mounting frustration all over the world as economies take a nosedive and the poor in every country suffer through the consequences while the wealthy cling to their privileges.  We are facing another crisis very reminiscent of the 2008 recession, which we’ve never recovered from.  This pattern has been anticipated for decades by geologists looking at our resources, particularly our energy resources.  If they are right, and there is every reason to believe them, we can anticipate more of the same – periodic fuel price surges associated with economic declines, over and over again for decades to come.  We need a fundamental shift in the way we approach government, finance and economic outlook.  We need a vision that understands and embraces the new reality that doesn’t rely on cheap energy and constant growth.

There are a couple of good recent articles that link rising oil prices, concerns about food security, and uprisings around the world, and offer some ideas about a more hopeful path forward.

Richard Heinberg associates global uprisings with the end of growth.  Lloyd Alter associates civil unrest and food cost crises with rising oil prices

Here’s an easy way to show your support for the peaceful protesters in Toronto: make some soup following the suggestion of local powerhouse Kelly Carmichael.