Living without any Principles is surest way to sink

TWO things happened recently that perfectly illustrate the compromises we’re making as a result of this recession. They showed how our desperation for jobs is clouding our ability to understand their true cost.

Firstly, An Bord Pleanala approved the first phase of the development of the massive Chinese trade hub in Athlone. This multi- million euro project will create hundreds of jobs initially and give the region a vital economic injection. It could lead to thousands of job opportunities in the future.

Politicians and business people hailed the planning approval as a great boost for the country. But while the Champagne corks were popping in Athlone, back in China the mood was more subdued. That brings us to the second event.

Last week US- Chinese relations were under considerable strain because of China’s treatment of the blind human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng. He has campaigned courageously against forced abortions and sterilisations of women under China’s one- child policy. But his diligence has earned the wrath of the Chinese authorities and they’ve treated him appallingly over the years. He’s been unjustly imprisoned, beaten up, and put under house arrest.

Last month Mr Chen fled his house and sought refuge in the US Embassy in Beijing. His escape sparked a diplomatic row between the Americans and the Chinese.

Mr Chen is one of thousands of human rights activists who have suffered horrendously at the hands of the Chinese authorities. We don’t see that nasty side when their leaders and officials come here to do business with us. And the Taoiseach was evasive about China’s dark side when he led a trade mission there in March.

Now many of you will say that’s the right attitude to take and that we don’t have the luxury of pointing the finger during these recessionary times. But just how much are we prepared to compromise our principles for jobs and money?

This dilemma goes way beyond China and its treatment of courageous activists. In fact, the way we live generally in the West is jeopardising the planet and we’ll all have to become more responsible if we want it to survive into the next century.

Recently the British Royal Society published the findings of a 21- month investigation into the impact of the global population explosion and the unsustainable levels of consumption by wealthy countries. By the way, it might cheer you to know that Ireland still counts as a wealthy country.

In its ‘ People and the Planet’ report, the Royal Society grimly stated that the 21st Century “is a critical period for people and the planet”. And it said we will face environmental and economic catastrophes unless we control our population growth and consumption of goods.

The report predicted that the global population, currently at seven billion, will mushroom to between eight and 11 billion by 2050. That’s the equivalent of adding another China and India to the planet.

According to the Royal Society we’re growing at a staggering rate of 80 million per year and developing countries will build “the equivalent of a city of a million people every five days from now to 2050”. The problems are two- fold. The population in the developing world is growing at an untenable rate and wealthy countries are consuming goods at unsustainable levels.

Meanwhile, more than 1.3 billion people are living on less than $ 1.25 a day

THE lack of family planning and access to contraception is aiding the dangerous population explosion in poor countries while over- consumption in wealthy states is pitching the planet towards catastrophe.

In a nutshell, the report suggested that, in developed countries, we’re travelling too much. We’re eating too much. We’re buying too much ‘ stuff ’. We’re not recycling enough. We’re not environmentally responsible enough. We feel we have an entitlement to lifestyles that are simply not viable in the long term.

Now, of course, the recession has lessened many of the excesses we indulged in during boom times. We’re buying a lot less stuff and many would say our current economic woes have knocked the materialistic stuffing out of us. Hopefully, the bit of belt- tightening has made us nicer and kinder people who’re more appreciative of the simpler things in life.

But how long will these gentler values last? We’re all hoping this awful recession will end soon and that we’ll be able to spend a bit more money and enjoy the luxuries we’ve been unable to afford for the past few years.

But a return to the boom- time levels of consumption could be detrimental to the planet. .

We could look at this a different way and turn the recession into an opportunity and exploit these years of austerity to develop more sustainable lifestyles and learn to enjoy ourselves without damaging the planet. That would mean a permanent change to how we live with more recycling, less travel and less consumption of unnecessary stuff.

And that brings us back to China and that hub in Athlone. Our actions have consequences. By quietly acquiescing to the Chinese and staying silent on their human rights abuses, we get this massive development with its promise of thousands of jobs. But we do nothing to protect brave activists like Mr Chen.

The same goes for taking care of our planet.

If developing countries continue to ignore family planning and contraception initiatives the global population will explode to unsustainable levels. And if wealthy states consume without a conscience then our planet is in serious trouble.