TransVision Wednesday Keynote Ed Begley, Jr.
Lincoln Cannon
25 July 2007 (updated 12 May 2024)
I’m in Chicago for TransVision 2007. Here are some notes and thoughts from Ed Begley’s keynote.
Ed Begley talked about the importance of the moment and planning for the future. He talked about environmental and other world problems facing us. He’s not depressed because of what we’ve done already. He became an environmentalist because of the smog in LA.
Since 1970, when he got involved in earth day, they have 4 times more cars and half the ozone. People say things like this cannot be done, but LA is evidence to the contrary. Pollution is anti-capitalist. The pollution becomes a cost for everyone.
The polluter gets something for free from everyone else. Saving trees has market value, providing shade, hiking, camping, fishing, erosion control, greenhouse control. Everything done for the environment has been good for his bottom line over the long term. Do what you can afford.
If you can’t afford solar panels or electric cars, can you afford a light bulb or a better thermostat? A bus pass or a bike, or a garden or community garden? Don’t talk about what you will do. Do it, and talk about what you’ve done.
We should improve urban planning instead of moving to suburbs. Bring new life to cities. You can find and live in sustainable neighborhoods in cities. Instead of sacrificing conveniences, we need to sacrifice old thinking and improve efficiencies of our conveniences.
Technology is not the problem. Technology can help us improve the situation. Developing countries can leapfrog old dirty techs to new clean techs, and this will help them avoid costs.
More Notes on TransVision 2007
If you enjoyed my notes on this session of TransVision 2007, you might also enjoy my notes on other sessions. Here's a list, in chronological order, of the TransVision 2007 sessions for which I've published notes:
- TransVision Tuesday Morning Session 1
- TransVision Tuesday Keynote Aubrey de Grey
- TransVision Tuesday Morning Session 2
- TransVision Tuesday Afternoon Session 2
- TransVision Wednesday Keynote Ed Begley, Jr.
- TransVision Wednesday Morning Session 2
- TransVision Thursday Morning Session 1
- TransVision Thursday Keynote Peter Diamandis
- TransVision Thursday Afternoon Session 1
- TransVision Thursday Afternoon Session 2
- TransVision Thursday Keynote William Shatner
- TransVision Thursday Keynote Ray Kurzweil