In this book I concentrate on the physical nature of society: the machinery of production and technology, the built environment, land use and transportation. Each one forms a broad and complete totality on its own. But physical change is not enough, it requires a major change in attitudes and the passing of the necessary legislation.
The importance of the non-material

The first industrial revolution did not only change the structure of production, but also the government of society, interest groups, the nature of work, the variety of skills, education, culture, politics and legislation. All adapted to the change or accelerated it. Physical change and social change are also interwoven in the second industrial revolution. Thus in this chapter I would like to touch on the social changes concomitant to the industrial transformations. A fundamental analysis of their effect would require another book, perhaps many others.
The content of politics
Politics and the subjects of political dialogue are generally followed after a few decades delay by profound ideological insights. The works I mentioned at the beginning of this book, The Limits of Growth and Beyond the Limits, are both important and rather concrete contributions. There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of others that, though similar in content, have not attracted the same attention. The idea itself came long before the books. In the years to come the message they contain must become far more apparent in everyday politics and life.

The message is still not sufficiently apparent. In this respect, European politics is depressingly lethargic. It consists of a multitude of trivialities dressed up as EU directives concerning the weight of long-distance lorries, the width of toilet paper, forms of agriculture support, shop opening hours and other mundane matters. The interminable discussions and exaggerated importance of such things aptly reflects the total complacency with the present state of our continent and the main lines of political discussion. According to this attitude, all we need to do is tinker with things, but this is totally wrong and prevents people focussing on the main issues.

In place of futile and superficial discussion we should consider the role of Europe as the saviour of our planet and start laying down the principles for pointing our continent on a sustainable course. Understandably these questions may provoke serious political conflicts, but the subjects they concern are far more important than those being argued over today. I suggest the following subjects for political discussion.

1. Europe’s strategies for developing countries, especially Africa. It is obvious that if Africa’s population explosion, violence and environmental destruction continues, vast numbers of people will try to cross the Mediterranean into Europe. Unless effective measures for dealing with the causes of this catastrophe are taken in good time, will shall be faced with a much more serious one in the future. Either we heartlessly turn these people back or place an undue strain on natural resources feeding them on European soil. Therefore we should start taking humane and decisive measures now to prevent such a possibility. Development aid must be tied to family planning measures in the target country. The choice is between long-term realistic and short-term liberal-humanistic ideas of how events will evolve and the necessary measures to be taken.

2. The preservation of Europe’s nature. If material growth continues at its present rate, an ever greater part of Europe’s nature will be destroyed: one species after another will become endangered and irreplaceable landscapes ravaged. The general impoverishment of the natural environment proceeds alongside the diminishing of nature areas. One the most urgent measures required is the expansion, enrichment, unification and absolute protection of Europe’s nature conservation areas through international agreements. Ultimately the economic problems which are our concern today pale alongside this question. Facing each other are the supporters and opponents of an infinitely diverse nature, and concerns one of the basic aspects of bioethics.

3. The uniqueness of European culture. Even this question transcends economic goals and the problems related to creature comforts. How to preserve the diversity of Europe’s languages and dialects? And what about the mixing of different local traditions into an characterless pulp culture? How can the cultural diversity of Europe be protected so that it does not become another United States of America? How to protect the self-esteem and identity of the peoples of Europe? This is not only Europe’s problem, but concerns the cultural heritage of the whole world. Opposed to each other here are the sensitive cultural workers and the cold-blooded economists, the rednecks.
4. A new direction for Europe’s economic life. This problem is closer to present day discussion than any other, but it is still too remote. Today’s strategies are mainly quantitative, material and unrestricted growth oriented. A discussion concerning principles should be initiated concerning the long-term structure of production in Europe that aims at a balanced and sustainable state. Options should be considered for its attainment and only afterwards analyse their advantages and disadvantages. Let the burden of proof rest with those who support the unrestricted growth of production and consumption of today. If they believe criticism of growth based on sound common sense is groundless, let them prove it. Facing each other here are the exponents of the broader and narrower views.

This book only deals with the last of these questions.
Decision-making

Legislation that affects production has to be changed radically.

It is sensible to follow market mechanisms and the laws of competition in all secondary issues, but not in solving large-scale and long-term problems. This is because such external factors as concern for nature and future generations are not included in traditional cost accounting. They must be included in the analyses of the real values of solutions concerning the innumerable supracontinental production processes, division of labour, transportation, land use and construction projects.

The basis for this is an environment statistic for the whole continent, in which the state of the environment, together with all its variables, is calculated annually. A real analysis is not just an income statement, but an income statement and balance sheet, like the financial statements of a company. This should reveal the nature of land use, the stocks, endangered status and life quality of different species, and the condition of the air, surface and ground waters, and soil. This statistic should also reveal the life cycle of materials from natural resources to waste, similarly the conversion of energy from its expensive original form into something base. The whole of production would be elucidated through product lifespan analyses and input-output process monitoring, primarily in relation to materials, land use and energy.

Not until these analyses and studies have been made can the real cost to the environment be estimated. The ‘polluter pays principle’ must be introduced throughout Europe and the rules of the game made clear and universal. They must apply to individuals and companies, regions and countries alike. The rigid observation of this principle would perhaps be enough to protect the environment. It is obvious that the ultimate limit of financial compensation is either that some activity is totally forbidden or an order given for it to be observed. It is equally as clear that the rarer some species becomes, the scarcer some natural resource becomes, or the more irreplaceable a landscape is the higher the price of its destruction. For just this reason the charges can vary from time to time and societies may in his way regulate how their citizens behave. In the same way the international community regulates the behaviour of individual states.
Supranational legislation
In the future national states or regions will no longer have sovereignty over environmental questions. Individual states may no longer release harmful emissions into their atmospheres or waters, pollute their soils, reduce the conservation areas within their jurisdiction, allow any plant or animal species to become endangered, or exhaust their ore deposits without other states having the right to intervene. The population question in Europe must also be brought under supranational control.

All this will require strict and severe action. These measures will demand a sacrifice on the part of people today, but this will be to the benefit of tomorrow’s generations. The core idea is a sense of justice between the generations. The temptation in individual states towards short-sighted solutions can be repulsed through international legislation.
Law enforcement

Laws remain hollow proclamations unless sanctions are imposed on those who break them. Sanctions covering the continent will apply to all individual states and regions. The normal way in which national legislation functions is that the first sanctions are economic, that is taxes, fines and charges, visits from the bailiffs and written demands. After these come the physical measures such as being imprisoned or institutionalised. Physical force is used as a last resort, but the threat is always present. The culprit is apprehended and taken by force to a designated place or his property is confiscated by forcible means.

International courts established under these supranational agreements will seldom need to resort to such extreme measures, as in most cases economic sanctions will suffice. These are based on agreements and the ‘polluter pays principle’. Although sanctions of this nature have not been imposed, they will have to be if mutually accepted agreements are not observed.
The administrative role of national states in the use of power weakens as Europe becomes more integrated, which is to be encouraged. On the other hand, the unique character of peoples and cultures should be regarded as a source of wealth and singular merit. National sub-cultures and dialects should be protected by legislation as an integral part of Europe’s heritage. Cultural originality is not endangered when supranational administration tightens up its control over environmental questions.
Upbringing and education

A child who starts school in 1995 is of working age between 2015-2055. The new industrial revolution will take about 50 years and will be well underway by the time the child has finished studying and started work. Even though the new production system will only start functioning in about a generation’s time, we should start preparing for it now.

Freedom of speech and movement, the basic myths of Western civilisation which have been drummed into people before their own sense of judgement has developed, will no longer be considered basic rights. Unfortunately, we shall have to forego these ideals.
As in the past, children will be brought up in both the home and the school, either consciously or subconsciously. Upbringing is always influenced by some ideal or principle. In the growth-oriented societies of the West, children have been encouraged to be honest and diligent. But whose interest and what principle do these values serve? Honesty hardly serves the individual at all, as cunning and dishonest people are normally far more successful than the gullible and honest ones. “Crime doesn’t pay” is a lie designed to give moral stamina. That dishonesty pays is shown by the huge economic crimes and frauds committed. Among some of the richest people on earth are drug barons and unscrupulous dictators. Honesty is essential for society to function, but not for individual success. A community teeming with industrious pickpockets would be a nightmare.

Diligence, on the other hand, is essential for both society and the individuals living in it. In Scandinavia, efforts have been made to develop a society in which diligence is not rewarded but considered a peculiar form of honesty. The results are frightening. The truth is that although a society of honest, lazy people can maintain order, it degenerates. It is no basis for a revolutionary society, although it is for the aftermath.

More important than diligence, and an essential virtue for the aftermath, is thrift. It is hoped that via a society based on diligence and honesty we progress to one based on thrift and honesty. Actually, the process is the same as for an individual who works hard and amasses wealth during his prime so he can slow down and take it easy when older. Teaching thrift to children before they go to school is no more arbitrary in attitude forming than teaching them diligence. Both belong to different phases of the process under discussion. Both during and after the change, alongside the virtue of thrift are those of friendliness and joie de vivre. There is nothing so radical in this.

As diligence is replaced by thrift, so quality is appreciated more than quantity. This new aspect should also be emphasised from the beginning in education and upbringing. Both of them will influence attitudes when studying, as well as the subjects chosen and the emphasis in them. However, I do not intend to go into any greater detail on the nature of education in the future.