The New York Times had a great piece comparing to pieces of environmental futurism last week. Ernest Calllenbach’s Ecotopia, a story where the Pacific Northwest secedes to creates a new country is contrasted with the new James Howard Kunstler novel, World Made By Hand. Peak oil guru Kunstler’s book raises an interesting question; is it impossible to motivate people to change through hope and optimism? Or must we be scared into to doing right by the planet? Kudos to the New York Times for outing Kunstler as Y2K enthusiast. According to the Times, “Kunstler went long on Y2K, predicting ‘loss of comfort and modern convenience,’ possibly escalating into disease and chaos.” Credibility gap? You decide. You can read the piece here.
