What alternatives are there to the "more and more" society we have in UK?

Question

Seems to me we can't keep building everywhere like we do.

Knocking down in one area, building again in another.

Roads and cars are everywhere.

Extracting underground minerals.

Pushing chemicals and CO2 into the atmosphere. Dragging gravel out the ground.

Covering over old rubbish tips.

Replacing electrical appliances every few years.

Commuting miles every day. (I don't but so many do. And I used to).

Rolling out housing estates across the fields.

There have got be alternatives to this. But what are they?

Answer 1

This is modern consumerism.

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I disdain the "throw away" culture we seem to have.  That is why I subscribed to Yahoo! FreeCycle.  I don't know if there is a group where you live, but it is my small way of taking action.

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Ever have something you don't need?  You list it on Freecycle, and someone who needs it, takes it.  (You can also get cool stuff for free, too).  Re-use is a form of recycling, and it is very good for the planet.  It keeps stuff out of our landfills, too.  Search "FreeCycle" in the Yahoo! search to see the closest group to you.

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Small steps...!

Answer 2

This is what economists call sustained economic growth.

The obvious alternatives are a "less and less" society or a "stay the same" society, but in the past (before governments got the idea that they should control the economy) there used to be natural cycles of economic growth and shrinkage. Nice during the growth period but not so nice during economic shrinkage (deflation, depression).

Answer 3

the thinking that you need to work work work to buy buy buy should stop. It is a shame. The world has nice things but it's full of alot of people who don't really care. Hopefully we can sort Mars out and live on there.

Answer 4

As many people have said there is not just one answer.  This is a very complex society and one size does not fit all.

New energy technology is one component.  This also is not a single answer.  More efficient energy using equipment and more environmentally friendly energy production are both complex issues on their own.

Making the Internet ubiquitous is also a component.  If more business related interactions can be performed over the network as well as they can be performed in person then less travel will be required.  Commuting to work may become the exception rather than the rule.

Answer 5

The prime alternative is simply that people stop being so greedy and realise their actions have consequences.

Chances of that happening any time soon?