Beauty And Wonder? Who Cares?

With polar ice disappearing rapidly, the Amazon jungle being destroyed by mining and logging we now have a new planet-destroying development of capitalism. 'Many of the Caribbean's coral reefs could vanish in the next 20 years, according to a report published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Data from more than 35,000 surveys suggests that habitats have declined by more than 50% since the 1970s. The report's authors believe that over-fishing and disease is mainly to blame.' (BBC News, 2 July) Carl Gustaf Lundin, director of IUCN's Global Marine and Polar Programme, said the findings were alarming. "Tourism is one of the biggest industries, and the health of the reef is essential to the well-being of many of the people living there. And of course they are immensely beautiful and wonderful places as well." What Mr Lundin does not seem to realise is that beauty and wonder mean nothing when it comes to the profit motive of capitalism. RD