What do we really want? or, as we become richer, do we become less content
    with ourselves

    Already, in the rich nations, the beneficiaries of development spend much
    of their money on escaping from it: it costs a fortune to live in a place
    that does not assault your eyes and ears with ugliness. To absorb our
    increasing wealth we must keep building. Our new cars need new roads, our
    new goods and services must come from new shops and warehouses and offices.
    One day there may be nowhere left in which we can shut the noise out of
    our heads. 

    We know that the world is already rich enough to meet all real human needs,
    but that this wealth is not trickling down from rich to poor. We know that
    while there is a desperate need for redistribution, further growth in the
    rich world is likely to make everyone more miserable. We know that wealth
    has been romanticised. Yet we are afraid to ask for what we really want.
    Unless we are brave enough to confront the notion that growth is good, the
    world will shop until it drops. 

    The Prospect of Cornutopia can be obtained by emailing
    chapter7@tlio.demon.co.uk

    George Monbiot's website can be viewed at www.monbiot.com

http://www.guardian.co.uk/globalwarming/story/0,7369,781128,00.html

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 "Perceptions" note:

 maybe check
 http://www.perceptions.couk.com/self.html

 see what you really feel about it.

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file-ID www.perceptions.couk.com/selfish.txt