Saturday, November 21, 2009

Thinking About Systems, Again.

In Chapter 8, Friedman does some "systems thinking," much like we've done a bit in class. Comment on what systemic shift Friedman proposes. You can take this on from any perspective you want....you can compare the current system to the one proposed by Friedman, you can discuss what America's role in creating this new system should be, etc. Just be sure to somehow make it clear what Friedman is talking about when he refers to systemic change.

7 comments:

  1. Friedman proposes that we need "to develop clean power and energy-efficient technologies" to boost our economies and reduce poverty, which would in turn revolutionize how we utilize and value our natural resources and Mother Earth. By developing "a new Clean Energy System", the environmental, financial, social, and geopolitical impacts would/could only be positive. By accepting that we can continue to grow and develop as a human population and not hurt Mother Earth, we can continue to develop our society. We live in this complex matrix, a system of systems, by changing the way we treat our surroundings and the way we live our lives in the smallest ways, we can better our future. I very much like the example of training for the Olympic triathlon, the current climate change and repercussions of that change we face are going to be a huge test on our society and our lives. We need to find a better way to prepare ourselves to live fruitful lives in a more responsible way in which we can give our future generations an opportunity. Even if we over prepare, as Friedman points out we can only be stronger and healthier as a society from our preparation.

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  2. Friedman discusses how we need to make the shift from the Dirty Fuels System of buying and using what we perceive to be inexhaustible resources (the system we’ve used since the industrial revolution) to a Clean Energy System – what he says will “enable ordinary people to do extraordinary things.” In his discussion of systems, Friedman argues that we’ve been trying to fix our system by trying to solve problems once at a time, which can tend to exacerbate problems or even create new ones (for example, the U.S. invading Iraq to promote democracy, yet having a transport system heavily depend on the gas that is sold by the very people who undermine the democracy we support). He says that instead, we need to adopt a system of government policies, research funding, and tax incentives that would generate support for green innovation and better energy efficiency. Just reading this makes me realize how OVERWHELMING a task this is. Gawsh. And while we may not be ready, Friedman, along with several European leaders, argues that Americans must lead the charge to a greener America. Sigmar Gabriel, the federal environment minister of Germany, makes it as clear as can be: “If the Americans are going green, the whole rest of the world is going green.” He argues that the diversity and size of our economy, and the power of our markets and innovation are essential to the global movement to more sustainable living.

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  3. The systemic change Friedman talks about is of the move from the "Dirty Fuels Systems" to a "Clean Energy Systems". The guiding principles of this move towards a new system should be more of self-sufficiency. Americans should use more of what they have than take for granted of the items and goods that come from all over the world. Therefore, Americans can realize the importance of preserving the environment through for example preserving and relying on local ecosystem services and building a mutualistic relationship with the environment
    New morals can be introduced so people do not become too interested in themselves or become ignorant of the problems that surround them. Through instilling these virtues in the American people and gradually shifting towards a new efficient, self-sustaining system can people then give the attention and respect to the environment it deserves

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  4. Friedman argues that in order to defeat the threats of climate change we must switch from the Dirty Fuels System, which we have been using since the Industrial Revolution, to the Clean Energy System. The Dirty Fuel System is based on "dirty, cheap, and abundant" fossil fuels, wasteful use of said fossil fuels, and unlimited exploitation of our most precious and non-infinite natural resources (air, water , etc).

    Friedman claims that this system works with a fair amount of efficiency, but it cannot and will not work forever. And that is where the Clean Energy System has to come in. The continuous use of the Dirty Fuels System will inevitably cause "the energy implications, the climate implications, the biodiversity implications, the geopolitical implications, and the energy poverty implications" to undermine everyone's quality of life to a point where life on earth may cease to exist.

    In this system all humans will have to learn to deal with what they have. As the head of the pack (or so Friedman implies), Americans need to set an example for the rest of the world both in this sense of avoiding maximized material spending as well as in political advancement. In order to attempt to undo what we have already done to the atmosphere, the US government needs to take the first step in improving our laws and policies on climate control. Hopefully the meeting in Copenhagen next month will put a dent in this process.

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  5. Freidman describes the status quo us "system" in the US, as one focused on production and consumption, without stopping to think into the future, about the resources necessary to fuel these activities. Friedman calls this a dirty fuel system. Almost everything we make, do and buy is powered by non-renewable and problematic fossil fuels, and other non-renewable resources. This system is not only not sustainable but also extremely detrimental for the environment. Friedman says that we need to shift to a clean energy system. One centered around renewable and non-harmful resources. Friedman acknowledges that some progress has been made in this direction, but it has come in the form of piecemeal band-aid solutions, that have more often than not exacerbated the problems, or simply made superficial changes that fail to solve the root cause of our problems.

    This shift to a clean energy system would not only change America, it would undoubtedly have international effects. The US is the biggest consumer in the world, and if we make a shift the rest of the world has no choice but to follow. Thus, it is important that we realize the global clout that we carry, and take the plunge and change our energy policy and make a comprehensive shift to a sustainable and environmentally appropriate system. Such a switch on the part of the US is the only way we reverse the current course of our global dirty fuel system.

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  6. As we have been discussing in class, systems are very complex because every separate portion is interconnected. Every action toward a piece of the system, no matter how small it appears at the time, has an effect on something else within that system. These rules are no different for earth. This is why in chapter 8 Friedman discusses the importance of switching to a “clean energy system.” As a system, earth is interconnected and it is important that we become much more conscious of our effect on the rest of the planet. By switching to more sustainable energy, we can make an effort to help keep the earth as a more stable and self-sustaining system. As an already developed country with the privilege to consider our energy options, Freidman discusses how we as Americans are responsible for encouraging a change in the way humans, especially politicians, treat our resources. There is a pressing need to begin to utilize our resources in a more sustainable fashion so that we can hope to leave an intact earth for future generations.

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  7. Friedman proposes a systematic change in the way we consume. As he points out, individual efforts to increase efficiency and sustainability can end up causing more harm to the environment than they help -- for example, when the EU decided to replace fossil fuels with biofuels in order to increase sustainability, which instead caused forests to be cut down for agriculture, releasing more CO2 than was saved. However, biofuels make sense in some areas, and so Friedman argues we must make one combined, systematic effort to create a more sustainable way of life. Instead of each region separately attempting to use renewable energy in ways that might harm other regions, we must look at the world as a whole and systematically address climate change and create efforts to live and consume more efficiently.

    Friedman believes that systematic research and experimentation will lead to systematic innovation and constantly increased improvement in the clean energies we currently have, and also that spontaneous breakthroughs will create new sources of clean energy. Therefore, he argues, we must focus our money and energy on both. Frieman believes that American universities are the greatest powerhouse for such experimentation and innovation, and therefore that the fastest and easiest way for such a system of innovation to happen is for the United States to take the lead in encouraging research and experimentation.

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