Hot, Flat and Crowded

Having just finished reading Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas Friedman, I'm looking forward to sharing some sections with my students. In particular, chapter 8 summarizes the interconnectedness of the planet's energy system and the global economy in a less fatalistic style than most of the book. My favorite quote is "Emulation is always more effective than compulsion." I agree with Friedman's proposition that Americans must harness every creative impulse to tackle the tremendous challenges that confront us in the 21st century. Although the political environment must support the endeavors of the innovators, the bottom line is the collective groundswell of consumer demand. Two summers ago, I was discussing climate change with a friend from England, who seemed to think that people around the world were eager to work together to confront the global warming challenge. I reluctantly told her that most of the Americans I know were not concerned at all about the ramifications of rampant energy usage. For a brief moment this summer, I thought I was mistaken because "green" seemed to be the watchword of 2008. As gas prices at the pump have dropped, we hear less and less about energy management. I'm hoping that we do the right thing even without the impetus of high prices. It's time to enlist the tremendous enthusiasm of our young people in solving this most basic resource problem.