André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

[Rajiv]

André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: Metal minerals scarcity and the Elements of Hope,

In an excellent presentation, André Diederen presents an argument that all of the world's important industrial metals are dwindling, and that despite increasing explortation budgets, our sources of them are becoming rare and more concentrated.

24 slides in the above pdf

12 of them below



The roadmap towards Sustainability (pdf) 18 slides

[Southernguy]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

this way of consumption aconomic growth is unsustainable.
Capitalist expansion is unsustainable.
Tendency to lower rate of profit (constant capital is growing faster than variable capital=workforce).
End of capitalism.
Socialism, frugal socialism is the only alternative.
Interesting times ahead

[due_indigence]

Agreed Southernguy...except capitalism has no intention of submitting a letter of resignation. As Lincoln said 'Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.'

Bubbles are advanced late capitalism's attempt to 'simulate' capitalist growth with Greater Fool credit and shifting production to ever-cheaper third-world labor pools. The Ponzi apparatus of the former is broken and the first-world debtors appear headed for a third-world fate. As for the latter, the world is awash in productive capacity with no one to sell the production to (classic Marxist overproduction.) As if credit collapse wasn't enough, peak resources only deepen the cul de sac for capitalism. Capitalism will instigate a massive war in order to save itself and 'reset the ponzi' (the more demand destruction and blown-up factories and infrastructure, the better).

My thought again: The Zionists will focus the US Military Industrial Complex on Iran, a large enough quarry to furnish the scale of war required for capitalism's resurrection. China will acquiesce to this war, realizing the need (who better Marxists than the Chinese?) Together, the US and China will spearhead a Marshall Plan II in the aftermath.

You could argue that the Marshall Plan was a sort of time zero for capitalism's impressive half-century run, Pax Americana, etc. Of course the crowning irony is that the Marshall Plan was only possible after a huge ruinous war. No small point, dispiriting though it may be. War is a critical component of the capitalist arsenal. Granted, this reset mechanism is a facet of reflexive capitalism. It does little to address this newer wrinkle, finite resources. Thus the challenge for capitalism will be to annihilate a whole lot of people without a massive outlay of resources. The goal of capitalism must be to achieve a 'smaller world' --economies of scale better suited to re-set ponzi dynamics and resource limitations.

[raja]

Mr

Capitalism will instigate a massive war in order to save itself and 'reset the ponzi' (the more demand destruction and blown-up factories and infrastructure, the better).

Do you think The People will go for a war when they realize its sole purpose is to enrich the Financial Elite? I don't think so . . . .

In contrast to times past, with the existence of the internet it will be a lot harder for TPTB to fool The People.

[raja]

Mr

In an excellent presentation, André Diederen presents an argument that all of the world's important industrial metals are dwindling, and that despite increasing explortation budgets, our sources of them are becoming rare and more concentrated.

Nothing a Global Depression can't cure . . . . :eek:

[Kadriana]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

I'm thinking there will have to be a drastic change with how Americans live. We can't keep this disposable lifestyle up indefinately. I've been trying to change how I live over the last couple of years and it's pretty sad how much stuff I've sold, donated or thrown out. I still could cut back on the amount of things that I buy even though I live conservatively compared to your average American. My Mom and I were discussing with how much she grew up versus myself versus my kids. The amount of toys, clothes, etc, is ridiculous.

[due_indigence]

Re: Mr

Do you think The People will go for a war when they realize its sole purpose is to enrich the Financial Elite? I don't think so . . . .

In contrast to times past, with the existence of the internet it will be a lot harder for TPTB to fool The People.

I don't know raja. The opinion shapers settled on a Stepford Wife from Alaska. Now people camp outside to hear her speak and read her book. I bump into people who speak about her with an eerie reverence. This reverence cannot be authentically derived.

Of course, thank God for the Internet (without which, it should be noted, we would not be having this conversation.) But it must contend against a huge malleable well of ignorance. They mishandled the Iraq War and burned valuable Middle American goodwill. But if the only career path available to a young American is the military, then what's he or she to do?

[Verrocchio]

Re: Mr

Do you think The People will go for a war when they realize its sole purpose is to enrich the Financial Elite? I don't think so . . . .

In contrast to times past, with the existence of the internet it will be a lot harder for TPTB to fool The People.

The Internet existed in 2002. Consider the recent example of public support of the invasion of Iraq, then tell us if it is possible for The People to realize the (real) purpose of such a war if TPTB state a different purpose?

[Verrocchio]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

I'm thinking there will have to be a drastic change with how Americans live. We can't keep this disposable lifestyle up indefinately. I've been trying to change how I live over the last couple of years and it's pretty sad how much stuff I've sold, donated or thrown out. I still could cut back on the amount of things that I buy even though I live conservatively compared to your average American. My Mom and I were discussing with how much she grew up versus myself versus my kids. The amount of toys, clothes, etc, is ridiculous.

...and grandma's lifestyle would likely be yet another step change from your mother's.

We are traveling through Orlando presently and had dinner at a popular chain restaurant last evening. Two adult couples and their five pre-adolescent children sat near us. The oldest was a boy of eight or nine, who carried (and used) a mobile phone -- a remarkable display of ostentation!

[due_indigence]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

I'm not a big New World Order conspiracy nut. However I would expect that, if I were the scion of a top-twelve family in the world, I'd be chatting with my fellow scions (I mean, we'd socialize together and have alligning interest, yes?) Now, as to whether they accomplish this communication in an secluded mountain fortress around an oblong table is beyond me. But it would be IRRESPONSIBLE for me not to be having furtive conversations about this inflection point in human history, wouldn't it? A lot of the Alex Jones stuff strikes me as envy-laden. Most of us are peons. Get over it. We are, by virtue of sheer dumb numbers, bound to be led, abused and manipulated.

Armies of useful idiots holding up hotel desks in the service sector are an anachronism. They were the facilitators of a credit-driven society, the mortgagors and VISA card holders necessary to propel the ponzi scheme forward. Their forebears manned the factories of the industrial revolution. Okay, so for one brief shining moment, they got to trade coal mines for service desks. I hope they enjoyed their busman's holiday.

The question is, in a world of shattered ponzi's and abandoned credit facilities, what need do they have for these acres of useful idiots? I think they will march them into the furnace of war. War acccomplishes too many salutary objectives. it is simply too irresistible to pass up.

[Southernguy]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

Hope you´re dead wrong

Agreed Southernguy...except capitalism has no intention of submitting a letter of resignation. As Lincoln said 'Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.'

Bubbles are advanced late capitalism's attempt to 'simulate' capitalist growth with Greater Fool credit and shifting production to ever-cheaper third-world labor pools. The Ponzi apparatus of the former is broken and the first-world debtors appear headed for a third-world fate. As for the latter, the world is awash in productive capacity with no one to sell the production to (classic Marxist overproduction.) As if credit collapse wasn't enough, peak resources only deepen the cul de sac for capitalism. Capitalism will instigate a massive war in order to save itself and 'reset the ponzi' (the more demand destruction and blown-up factories and infrastructure, the better).

My thought again: The Zionists will focus the US Military Industrial Complex on Iran, a large enough quarry to furnish the scale of war required for capitalism's resurrection. China will acquiesce to this war, realizing the need (who better Marxists than the Chinese?) Together, the US and China will spearhead a Marshall Plan II in the aftermath.

You could argue that the Marshall Plan was a sort of time zero for capitalism's impressive half-century run, Pax Americana, etc. Of course the crowning irony is that the Marshall Plan was only possible after a huge ruinous war. No small point, dispiriting though it may be. War is a critical component of the capitalist arsenal. Granted, this reset mechanism is a facet of reflexive capitalism. It does little to address this newer wrinkle, finite resources. Thus the challenge for capitalism will be to annihilate a whole lot of people without a massive outlay of resources. The goal of capitalism must be to achieve a 'smaller world' --economies of scale better suited to re-set ponzi dynamics and resource limitations.

[SamAdams]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

How about free markets where you actually pay the value for resources you use? How about ending the government propped up oil/automobile/agricultural industry? No socialist government has ever efficiently used resources and been innovative to avoid resource depletion. Free markets, price signals and removing government supports for dying ideas and technologies is the only solution. Socialism in an age of resource depletion is the sure fire way to poverty. But maybe what you really mean to say is enforced poverty is the only solution?

this way of consumption aconomic growth is unsustainable.
Capitalist expansion is unsustainable.
Tendency to lower rate of profit (constant capital is growing faster than variable capital=workforce).
End of capitalism.
Socialism, frugal socialism is the only alternative.
Interesting times ahead

[due_indigence]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

How about free markets where you actually pay the value for resources you use? How about ending the government propped up oil/automobile/agricultural industry? No socialist government has ever efficiently used resources and been innovative to avoid resource depletion. Free markets, price signals and removing government supports for dying ideas and technologies is the only solution. Socialism in an age of resource depletion is the sure fire way to poverty. But maybe what you really mean to say is enforced poverty is the only solution?

Free markets? When in the history of the world has freedom ever marched along without ultimately getting euthanized by power and control? That's Jeffersonian-Ron Paulian powdered-wig fantasy stuff. Why not throw in peace and goodwill to all men while you're at it? Do you really believe in a world of increasingly scarce resources that power and control will diminish rather than intensify? It's hard for me to imagine.

[c1ue]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

In contrast to times past, with the existence of the internet it will be a lot harder for TPTB to fool The People.

I fear this is an idealistic desire, not reality.

EJ has noted that the internet seems mostly to group those of like minds together.

From my own part I note that the entire self-publication 'benefit' of the internet reduces the overhead necessary to splinter the populace.

After all, if you are a nasty politician with a strong but minority supporting demographic, the best thing you can do (Karl Rove channeling Mao) is to splinter the remaining share such that your minority is the largest bloc.

Stage 2 is then the polarization of the issues such that you can split off bits of each splinter faction into your solid bloc. This is where people like nakedcapitalism come in...

[SamAdams]

Re: André Diederen, Global Resource Depletion: A roadmap towards sustainability?

Free markets? When in the history of the world has freedom ever marched along without ultimately getting euthanized by power and control? That's Jeffersonian-Ron Paulian powdered-wig fantasy stuff. Why not throw in peace and goodwill to all men while you're at it? Do you really believe in a world of increasingly scarce resources that power and control will diminish rather than intensify? It's hard for me to imagine.

When in the history of the world has socialism ever marched along without ultimately been euthanized by power and control? I agree power and control will intensify - that is why we must fight it. A smart socialism fairly delegating resources is every bit the fantasy as is a world of peace and goodwill. Socialism is a religion. The question is do you want to assert your freedom or give in to the coercion of socialist masters? If you are worried about your neighbors stealing from you don't think the the thieves who sit in halls of governance will save you.