Island nations face economic realities sooner than nations that share continents with other nations. Easter Island, Great Britain and Japan provide cases for study. Because Earth is an island in the Universe, the study of island economies should be of interest.
Easter Island, which is now inhabited largely by rodents, was briefly a thriving nation that modified its climate to toe extent that the ecosystem collapsed. Deforestation, overpopulation and grandiose public works in the form of an army of stone idols resulted in death of the island nation. For the gory details read Jared Diamond`s "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fall or Survive."
Great Britain became a wealthy nation by ruling the sea (trade routes) and collecting tribute from a world-wide and comparatively benign empire. (Spin blew it by focusing on gold and converting natives to Christianity.) Britain is still a nice place to visit, Tower of London and all that.
Japan, strapped for resources, overpopulated etc., attacked China and the United States. Two mistakes. Then Japan gambled on the allegedly unlimited resource, nuclear energy. They overlooked the 1945 experiences with nuclear power at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The 2011 explosions and radiation storms at the Fukushima nuclear plants were unexpected, unless earthquakes, tsunamis, government laxity and corporate greed are rare events. Three hundred thousand people were driven from their homes. An area the size of Connecticut may not be safe for human habitation for decades or more. Billions (hundreds of billions) have been lost forever in property value, Tokyo Electric stock value and government efforts to reclaim the land. Beyond that, the fabric of Japanese culture has been irreparably damaged.
But thes are small island nations. Today continental nations are focused on saving the Euro and digital social networks. Limiting population growth, global warming and old-fashioned conservation are passe`. ZPG, Al Gore and Ducks unlimited, will they be the salvation of the human race? Will band-aides cure cancer? People-voters, must look beyond the nose of their vehicles and recognize that sustainability is a concept that cannot be ignored. | 