Contributed by APF 'futrchat'
Our next 'Futrchat' event will take place on Thursday May 24th NYC EDT 4:00 to 5:00pm / London BST 9.00 to 10.00 pm / Friday 25 May Sydney AEST 06.00 to 07.00 am
The Association of Professional Futurists (APF) is pleased to invite you to its ninth twitter chat on Thursday, 16 June 2011 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm ET. hashtag: #futrchat. Previous chats explored the future of education, money, work, transportation, big questions, disasters, relationships, and power.
June topic: The future of limited resources
What are limited resources? 
The economic definition for limited resource is:
Finite quantities of labor, capital, land, and entrepreneurship available to an economy for the production of goods and services. This is one half of the fundamental problem of scarcity that has plagued humanity since the beginning of time. The other half of the scarcity problem is unlimited wants and needs.
Others point to three types: renewable resources like solar and wind, non-renewable like fossil fuels, water, and REM’s, and then finite resources such as natural species with shorter maturation cycles which can be depleted, become extinct, or be managed, such as forests, fish, and land. Furthermore, pollution may ruin without destroying a resource. The variables complicate analysis and solutions. Not to mention, environmental issues such as global warming and natural resource protection are deeply split along political boundaries. What else should we consider? Does one variable affect another? Beyond limited resources?
The Malthusian perspective says population growth is the primary variable and therefore, population control should be a global issue. Others say it’s the eco-footprint of and over-use of limited resources in the developed world that is squelching opportunities for the emerging economies. Still others are limit deniers; we will always find a way. Among futurists and sustainability experts, many assume that we must consider life beyond continual growth. What is a life of equilibrium like? Does a global distribution of resources work? How do we move towards quality and balanced, away from a model of more and bigger. Are we beyond a scarcity mindset and into an abundance frame or vice versa?
Do limited resources mean an inevitable collapse for some? Many would say they already are experiencing collapse. Does it mean war and conflicts? Again, these are happening over oil and water right now. How will we view resources in 2020, 2040, or 2050? More competively or cooperatively? Balancing the Spaceship Earth; Please Join Us – an open tweet chat
You are welcome to join the APF #futrchat and voice your views about the Future of Limited Resources. These chats are fast and intense. Jennifer Jarratt and I will co-host, asking the formal questions and follow ups. Please ask questions that come to you, add links (if they pertain and are not promotional ads), and teach, inform, persuade, enlighten, or provoke us. Please use #futrchat in your tweets, and for each question, add your Answer as A1, A2, A3, etc.
Here’s some useful tools for connecting
First register at twitter. If you use these sites, you register/sign in again usually through your twitter account; if asked, allow them to access your twitter account which allows you to tweet using the tool. To read the conversation during or after #futrchat, go to twapperkeeper. I hear they keep chats archived continuously for at least two years; I started it a couple of months ago so you can read March/disasters, April/relationships, May/power. While I keep a hard copy of the chats, this site serves as our online archive. You cannot post from twapperkeepers; it’s monitoring only. Hope to see you at #futrchat Thursday!images minerals fossil fuels
Contributed by APF 'futrchat'
'Futrchat' is a monthly Twitter-based conversation organised by The Association of Professional Futurists; a thriving community of professional futurists committed to leadership and excellence in the futures field.
Each conversation is based on a particular theme and is open to both members & non-members alike with the event now attracting both a global & growing level of participation.
Simply, search for the #futrchat hashtag on Twitter or follow @profuturists for updates.
This is a pilot site designed to offer a wider range of background information in support of each event.
Association of Professional Futurists - www.profuturists.org
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