DEEP ECONOMY BY BILL McKIBBEN

As I begin to read through the first pages of this book, I am captivated by the narration of the history of energy exploitation. I become aware of the 1712 invention of the first practical steam engine by a British man, Thomas Newcomen, which used steam from burning coal. This must be when the human race began its exploitation of some of the earth's most important resources, page 6: "..Men and women could exploit the earth's storehouse of fossilized energy...coal, oil,...and natural gas...". I agree with the writer's thoughts on how efficiency is the ultimate tool for exploiting the earth's resources in order to advance material wealth and progress. Environment overuse is brought about by our quest for a bigger and better economy,  faster cars, faster and easier ways to cook our foods, easier ways to clean our houses and more.

It is noted that even though productivity was growing faster than it did in the past years, earnings across the globe fell considerably between 2000 and 2004. It is argued that increased minimum wages and corporate taxes stifle the economic growth. However this will only be effective in an environment of zero corruption so that the taxes are used for the purposes intended for them.  I read about two rich individuals that have so much money that they have become spendthrifts buying anything that money can buy, from huge houses to boats and expensive cars. It is so sad that while the rich were investing in these things, one poor Mexican farmer could not sell his produce to some leading global supermarkets like Wal-Mart. Reason being he could not afford greenhouses or the cost of treating his crops with pesticides! This just shows how the environment had been totally ignored while a few rich people just focused on 'efficiency' and making quick money. the inequality is saddening. 

I am fascinated by how far back we have come yet coal, oil and natural gases are still the core of most of our activities.When for example one spends 100 BTU of fossil energy to produce 134BTU of ethanol, this is not an acceptable ratio as it shows that we're spending too much on producing so little. With economic growth, there has been increased stress on the environment and resources. Considering that the world has only been modernized a few hundred years, I fear that earth's natural capital will be depleted in no time unless this growth and the use of these energy sources are regulated. The author here is worried that we are headed for doom as far sustainability is concerned. Considering that the energy we use from coal is only useful for a short while, it is therefore not worth all the carbon dioxide it emits into the atmosphere thus causing global warming. It is hardly possible that earth will be able to sustain our children, our children's children.