The Priest and the Prophet is about two men who essentially agree civilization in the same place headed in the same direction. Where they differ is on where civilization will and should wind up. One man, William McDonough, is an optimistic doer accomplished in the ways of sustainability who believes civilization can be saved. The other, Derrick Jensen, is a pessimistic (realistic?) thinker who is resigned to forecasting the demise of civilization as we know it. Both points of view are very interesting and illicit a variety of thoughts and emotions, not only because each presents convincing evidence but because each also ponders a more basic question: is civilization worth saving? William McDonough imagines,
“a building, enmeshed in the landscape, that harvests the energy of the sun, sequesters carbon and makes oxygen. Imagine on-site wetlands and botanical gardens recovering nutrients from circulating water. Fresh air, flowering plants, and daylight everywhere. Beauty and comfort for every inhabitant. A roof covered in soil and sedum to absorb the falling rain. Birds nesting and feeding in the building’s verdant footprint. In short, a life-support system in harmony with energy flows, human souls, and other living things.”
Isn’t that special? The image reminds me of the ubiquitous scene in many science fiction movies in which the protagonists visit the most peaceful planet in the galaxy for guidance or to forewarn them of disaster. You know what I’m talking about . . . everyone’s really attractive and usually Caucasian. There are gardens and fountains everywhere and no one has a freakin’ job.
Derrick Jensen believes the current “civilization” — a system of sprawl, consumerism, monoculture, industry, war, empire, and a near-total disregard for non-human life that relies on finite resources and is predicated on unlimited growth — is, in a word, insane. [...] But whereas McDonough believes all we need is faith in technology to persevere, Jensen believes civilization should be brought down as soon as possible in order to save the planet. So much damage has been done, he says, that it’s not a matter of if, but when. The only question becomes, what are you doing to prepare yourself?
Yaaaah. Prepare yourself for what? The screaming masses of people bludgeoning each other to death in hopes of finding the invaluable, eternal stash of non-perishable Twinkies? Jensen is a buzz kill but as the article author, Charles Shaw, points out, “Jensen’s analysis might be closer to the truth of our situation than the understandably alluring optimism of McDonough”. Jensen also says,
civilization, especially industrial civilization, is not and can never be sustainable; and civilization is not redeemable. He believes we will not undergo any sort of voluntary transformation to a sane and sustainable way of living. If we can’t get people to stop buying McMansions and SUVs, how on earth are we going to teach them to survive when there is no more food?
He’s got a point. We’re so hell-bent on consuming we may not have the ability to change our ways before it’s too late. Then what? Civilization crumbles and the people who are left start over. Another reason to get florescent light bulbs.
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