Yet at the same time, one is a pastime for an affluent lifestyle while the other is driving the global economy. Interestingly, or ironically, the former was probably put on the shelves by means of the latter.

If there is any positive progress to be made, the rethinking necessary must go much, much deeper than the superficial flesh of the problem, but there it’s bound to hit upon the sinews and bones of vested interests.

In all, as I’m growing older and see the world trudge along the same lines it did centuries ago, I’m more and more pessimistic about the possibility of people agreeing that the sacrifices necessary will be made.

Short-term stakeholder interests seem to trump any notions of longer-term greater good.