Dear Sir/Madam,

Two reports in today's Guardian once again - for those with eyes to see - show clearly that we are on the road to ruin: "Two-thirds of world's resources used up" and "Delhi suburb plans world's tallest building".

How often has this been pointed out? But it is like talking to an alcoholic: when on a high he will flatly deny that there is any problem at all. Occasionally, when feeling low, he will admit that there is a problem and that he is definitely going to get it sorted - tomorrow, or as soon as he is feeling better. But as soon as he does feel better, it's back to the booze and into denial. 

And thus we continue along the road to ruin (the Kyoto Protocol corresponds to the alcoholic resolving to reduce his consumption from 1000 to 950 ml a day).

It is now more than 30 years since The Limits to Growth was published by the Club of Rome. Some, of course, claim that the fact we are still carrying on is proof of how mistaken it was. In fact, all it means is that the alcoholic's liver is proving more resilient than his doctors predicted. The consequences of alcohol abuse may kick in later than predicted, but they will kick in, and so will the consequences of the reckless plundering of our planet. Unjustly, it won't be us (the over-50's) who have to bear them, but our children and grandchildren.

We are quite literally addicted to our growth-dependent economy and the criminally wasteful, grossly materialistic lifestyles it engenders.

Why? Because so many of the values, attitudes and aspirations which underlie them are rooted in man's "more animal than human " nature.

In view of what Darwin taught us about human origins, this should hardly surprise us. But it does - or would do, if we were to face up to it.

If we want our children and coming generations to survive (let alone have things as good, or better, than we have) we MUST face up to it and to the dire situation we are in on our finite and vulnerable planet, Spaceship Earth. We have to replace our present socio-economic order (which is utterly and fundamentally unsustainable) with one rooted, instead, in our more enlightened, human nature.

This is a very tall order, I know - but the alternative doesn't bear thinking about (which is another obstacle to coming out of denial). 

Creating it is the greatest challenge imaginable, the realisation of the age-old dream of a prosperous (and sustainable), truly just and humane society. 

The sooner we come out of denial and get started on it the better. Time is rapidly running out.