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|
ations around the
world are rushing to “ink” trading arrangements claiming those deals are the
balm needed for many of the world’s troubles.
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| Countries rush to sign-up trade deals looking for growth, seemingly oblivious that growth is something we need to stop if catastrophic climate change is to be avoided. |
Interestingly the intention of the arrangements, greater
profits, are contrary to what is really needed in a world that should be
stepping away from growth, rather than doing all it can to encourage it.
Climate change can be attributed to many things, but chief
among them is our excessive use of fossil fuels and it has been the cheap
energy from those fossil fuels that has allowed the exponential growth post the
Industrial Revolution about 200 years ago.
Addicted to the benefits of growth, and unable to see or
understand the implications for the world’s climate arising from unbridled
growth, many countries, including Australia, rush to the table, pen in hand, to
sign up to another deal in which they believe is embedded is a panacea for the
world’s ills.
Many fear these so-called “free-trade” arrangements benefit
a few and change little on the landscape of life for most and, worst of all,
worsen the circumstances that are manifesting as climate change.
Today’s Melbourne Age, tells about unrest over such deals in
the story - “Hundreds of thousands protest in Berlin against EU-US trade deal.”
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