The End of Growth – how Economics has failed us. Richard Heinberg is very understating when he offers titles to introduce him. He is much more than the author of ten books, the most recent being “the End of Growth”. Heinberg is also one of the leading Fellows, for the Post Carbon Institute, an organization dedicated to providing individuals, communities, businesses, and governments with the resources needed, to understand and respond to the interrelated economic, energy, environmental, and equity, crises that define the 21st century. The goal of the institute is to help communities to re-localize into thriveable ecological bounds. Heinberg tries to demonstrate the how to's in his new book, as well as including all the stats any government organization may need to consider their future survivable Urban planning. The future of cites will rest on their ability to change economic thinking patterns that since the Great Depression, have only benefited the top 2% of Corporation Executives. This pattern of putting Wall St. first, has seen Corporations becoming bigger than Governments and Cities themselves. Unlike Social societies, Corporate societies do not concern themselves with the well being of every citizen. Since the late 1970's, it has been big Business that has dictated to Government, and decided how policies should be set when it comes to Trade deals and mining natural resources. Heinberg uncovers each of the theories that policy makers have used over the past fifty years, and clearly explains that it is the mantra of Constant Growth that has depleted the very life base that humans need to continue survival on Earth. Depleting Natural resources no matter where they are to be found on the planet, has led to more poverty, starvation, and the loss a livable Environment. Constant growth has seen the abuse of clean water and clean Air along with whatever mineral, or fossil fuels, that was the source of wealth for Corporations. Big business has run it's course. We can see the results in our local cities, with particulate matter choking the air, while waste treatment plants are hard put to truly clean the water. These changes in air quality are a big part of climate change. The more Green house gas, that has trapped our air, has lead to hotter temperatures quickly melting fresh water sources. Much of fossil fuel discovery and processing has added more and more pollution to drinkable water sources. We are a Planet out of control, as witnessed by the many crowds taking to the streets in Cities and Countries all over the world. Job losses, wage freezes, and increased food prices are the new norm. The only possible future must be one where communities can feed and house it's people. The best start in that direction is laid out in Heinbergs' book. Smaller livable communities, with less attention given to transportation, and more attention given back to farmers and food growers, just may be the only way for people to get over the tremendous hump of change that is coming faster than we think. We are a World that has allowed “Growth” to be the only economic indicator, inciting people to seek more and more wealth based upon monetary increases, rather than a World that realizes that true wealth is in abilities of it's people to enjoy natural comforts and have more time socializing. A lifestyle based upon the limits of our surroundings is a full life. Stripping those resources and allowing the benefits to go only to a few world Moguls, has caused a great imbalance of resources and the basic needs of life. No surprise that masses are taking to the streets around the world. For them there is no future. We have long lost the Middle-class in North America, while our Governments seem to know of only one way to fund projects; pulling more taxes from the working class. Maggie Hughes