ABSTRACT
What follows is a very simplified model of the conflicting interests that exist in society, which may help our discussion, in that they may influence interaction between humanity and the environment. Put very simply, there would seem to be three main human ‘domains’ that interact on this planet with each other and with the rest of the natural environment. First, there are the producers – those engaged in using technology to make things or provide services. Second, there are the consumers – those who use the products or services. Third, there are those who own, control, and make money from the process of production and consumption, chiefly these days, shareowners. In addition you might add a fourth, meta-group, that is governments, nationally and supra-nationally, who, to some extent, ‘hold the ring’, i.e. they seek to control the activities of the other human groups, for example by developing rules, regulations and legislation.
