Scumbria,
Using that train of thought, one day it will be necessary to cut down the last tree, destroy the last ozone molecule, use up all the groundwater, kill all the fish in the oceans, etc. I hope that you are not really that pessimistic.
That's a different train of though than mine. The oil can be extracted with limited environmental damage, and if it happens later, the technology will be so much more advanced.
My idea would be to just keep the oil as a reserve, and buy foreign oil while they sell it cheaply.
As far as cutting down the last tree, at least in the US, the old trees get replaced with new trees. Trees and wood are a renewable resource. I would be more concerned about suburbia or farm land expanding and reducing the total forest acreage, than about cutting old growth forrest and replacing it with new trees.
Telecommuting is mostly limited by bandwidth, tools, and people's attitudes. Most people would be far more productive if they weren't wasting 4 hours a day driving and sitting in meetings called only to keep managers entertained.
You are right in general, and there is a lot of room to expand telecommuting. But some people need to be supervised, and there is some need for instant communication of people who are sitting in the same room.
I don't know how long have you been telecommuting, but it definitely has a down side. Human is a social animal, and suffers under prolonged isolation.
Joe |
