Dealing With Addiction, and What Comes After, July 20, 2003

Dear Sir/Madam,

Not just many of its individuals, but Western society as a whole is addicted to substance abuse, the main "substance" being oil (and other non-renewable resources)

We are addicted to materialistic lifestyles and to a growth-dependent economy which are non-sustainable and must therefore lead to catastrophe.

Just like the human liver, there is also a limit to the amount of abuse that our planet's vital organs (its climate and life-supporting ecosystems) can tolerate.

But like many addicts, we have yet to face up to the fact that we have a PROBLEM and are very adept at rationalising our addictive behaviour.

The commander of Apollo 13, James Lovell's immortal words apply equally well to Spaceship Earth . . .