I’ve long felt that the current crisis of our planet should be framed in health terms. Civilization has developed many addictions that have placed our place on the planet in jeopardy, and it’s time to start analyzing our inputs to try and right the course.
The current recognized framing of addictions to alcohol and drugs puts the disease in the context of a “bio-psycho-social-spiritual disorder.” The framing of these diseases in this light emphasizes the complexity and interconnectedness of the problems.
Oil and energy consumption are primarily responsible for our planet’s illness. Lifestyle choices factor in significantly into the equation, with sprawl, inefficient vehicles and homes, and consumerism at the core. There’s also the manipulation of our food sources that place greater burdens on our planet, choking out the natural balance.
When framed in the psychology of addiction, you might say that society as a whole has an “eco-energy-economic-lifestyle disorder.” The issues are no less complex than an individual’s addictions, with consequences that are equally as dire.
Similar to how an individual builds up a tolerance for drugs that if kicked can require often painful withdrawal, our society’s addictions will not resolve themselves without a certain amount of individual and economic pain.
Geospatial technology is poised to provide the diagnostic tools to get a handle on the complex health problems of our planet. Concerted multidisciplinary work will be required. Enhanced visualization and analysis capabilities will also be needed from tool makers in order to adequately frame the symptoms in both large space and long time.
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Excellent analogy. It will be painful, but the good that will come from breaking these additions to oil, and to our inefficient lifestyles, is beyond measure.