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Blue Planet in Green Shackles
The Competitive Enterprise Institute is proud to announce a provocative new book on environmental policy, Blue Planet in Green Shackles by Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic. President Klaus makes the case that policies being proposed to address global warming are not justified by current science and are, in fact, a dangerous threat to freedom and prosperity around the world. ---
Klaus argues that the environmental movement has transformed itself into an ideology that seeks to restrict human activities at any cost, while pursuing an impossible utopian dream of a perfectly "natural" world. The supposed threat of human civilization against a fragile Earth has become an article of faith, especially in the realm of global warming activism. ---
"The largest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy, and prosperity at the end of the 20th and at the beginning of the 21st century is no longer socialism," writes Klaus. "It is, instead, the ambitious, arrogant, unscrupulous ideology of environmentalism." ---
The publication of Blue Planet in Green Shackles - What is Endangered: Climate or Freedom? continues the Competitive Enterprise Institute's history of fighting alarmist climate policies. CEI has long argued that whatever challenges future climate changes might bring, the worst possible response is to restrict human freedom and slow economic growth and innovation. ---
"Today, the global warming debate raging in both the United States and Europe has become extremely contentious. On both sides of the Atlantic, the debate has metastasized into cultural warfare against economic liberty," writes CEI President Fred L. Smith, Jr. in the book's foreword. "For that reason, pro-freedom voices are needed to reframe the debate to show how a free people can better address the challenges facing Western civilization. To that end, we are proud to publish Blue Planet in Green Shackles."
Klaus argues that the environmental movement has transformed itself into an ideology that seeks to restrict human activities at any cost, while pursuing an impossible utopian dream of a perfectly "natural" world. The supposed threat of human civilization against a fragile Earth has become an article of faith, especially in the realm of global warming activism. ---
"The largest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy, and prosperity at the end of the 20th and at the beginning of the 21st century is no longer socialism," writes Klaus. "It is, instead, the ambitious, arrogant, unscrupulous ideology of environmentalism." ---
The publication of Blue Planet in Green Shackles - What is Endangered: Climate or Freedom? continues the Competitive Enterprise Institute's history of fighting alarmist climate policies. CEI has long argued that whatever challenges future climate changes might bring, the worst possible response is to restrict human freedom and slow economic growth and innovation. ---
"Today, the global warming debate raging in both the United States and Europe has become extremely contentious. On both sides of the Atlantic, the debate has metastasized into cultural warfare against economic liberty," writes CEI President Fred L. Smith, Jr. in the book's foreword. "For that reason, pro-freedom voices are needed to reframe the debate to show how a free people can better address the challenges facing Western civilization. To that end, we are proud to publish Blue Planet in Green Shackles."
100 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
7 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Václav Klaus
68 books13 followersVaclav Klaus was born in the Vinohrady district of Prague on June 19, 1941. He spent his childhood and youth in the neighbourhood of Tylovo namesti square.
He obtained his university education at the University of Economics, Prague (majoring in the Foreign Trade Economics and graduating in 1963), and economics thus became his specialist field for his entire life. He took advantage of the relative liberalisation in the then Czechoslovakia in order to study in Italy (1966) and the USA (1969). As a research worker at the Institute of Economics of the Czech Academy of Sciences he completed his postgraduate scientific studies and in 1968 was awarded the title of app. PhD. in Economics.
In 1970 he was forced to abandon his research career for political reasons, and left to work at the Czechoslovak State Bank for many years. In 1987 he returned from the bank to his academic work at the Prognostic Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences at the end of 1987.
Immediately after the events of November 17, 1989 he entered politics, but did not lose contact with the world of economic science. He continued to lecture and publish occasionally, and in 1991 he was engaged as a lecturer at Charles University in the field of economics. In 1995 he was appointed professor for the field of finances at the University of Economics, Prague.
He embarked on his political career in December 1989, when he became Federal Minister of Finance. Later, in October 1991 he was appointed vice chairman of the government of the Czechoslovak Federal Republic. At the end of 1990 he became the chairman of the then strongest political entity - the Civic Forum. Following its demise in April 1991 he co-founded the Civic Democratic Party, of which he was chairman from its inception until December 2002. He won a parliamentary election with this party in June 1992 and became Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. In this role he shared in the "Velvet Divorce" of the Czechoslovak Federation and the foundation of an independent Czech Republic. In 1996 he successfully defended his post as Prime Minister in election to the Chamber of Deputies. Following the collapse of the governing coalition he tendered his resignation in November 1997. Following a forced general election in 1998 he became chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech parliament for a four-year period.
On February 28, 2003 he was elected President of the Czech Republic. On February 15, 2008 he was elected President of the Czech Republic.
Vaclav Klaus is married to the economist Livia Klausova and has two sons and five grandchildren. His son Vaclav is the headmaster of a private grammar school in Prague, and his son Jan works as a financial analyst.
For many years in his youth Vaclav Klaus was top sportsman, playing basketball and volleyball, and also enjoys skiing and playing tennis. In his free time he enjoys reading fictitious literature and listening to music, in particular jazz.
He has published over 20 books on general social, political and economic themes, and has been awarded a number of international prizes and honorary doctorates from universities all over the world.
He obtained his university education at the University of Economics, Prague (majoring in the Foreign Trade Economics and graduating in 1963), and economics thus became his specialist field for his entire life. He took advantage of the relative liberalisation in the then Czechoslovakia in order to study in Italy (1966) and the USA (1969). As a research worker at the Institute of Economics of the Czech Academy of Sciences he completed his postgraduate scientific studies and in 1968 was awarded the title of app. PhD. in Economics.
In 1970 he was forced to abandon his research career for political reasons, and left to work at the Czechoslovak State Bank for many years. In 1987 he returned from the bank to his academic work at the Prognostic Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences at the end of 1987.
Immediately after the events of November 17, 1989 he entered politics, but did not lose contact with the world of economic science. He continued to lecture and publish occasionally, and in 1991 he was engaged as a lecturer at Charles University in the field of economics. In 1995 he was appointed professor for the field of finances at the University of Economics, Prague.
He embarked on his political career in December 1989, when he became Federal Minister of Finance. Later, in October 1991 he was appointed vice chairman of the government of the Czechoslovak Federal Republic. At the end of 1990 he became the chairman of the then strongest political entity - the Civic Forum. Following its demise in April 1991 he co-founded the Civic Democratic Party, of which he was chairman from its inception until December 2002. He won a parliamentary election with this party in June 1992 and became Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. In this role he shared in the "Velvet Divorce" of the Czechoslovak Federation and the foundation of an independent Czech Republic. In 1996 he successfully defended his post as Prime Minister in election to the Chamber of Deputies. Following the collapse of the governing coalition he tendered his resignation in November 1997. Following a forced general election in 1998 he became chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech parliament for a four-year period.
On February 28, 2003 he was elected President of the Czech Republic. On February 15, 2008 he was elected President of the Czech Republic.
Vaclav Klaus is married to the economist Livia Klausova and has two sons and five grandchildren. His son Vaclav is the headmaster of a private grammar school in Prague, and his son Jan works as a financial analyst.
For many years in his youth Vaclav Klaus was top sportsman, playing basketball and volleyball, and also enjoys skiing and playing tennis. In his free time he enjoys reading fictitious literature and listening to music, in particular jazz.
He has published over 20 books on general social, political and economic themes, and has been awarded a number of international prizes and honorary doctorates from universities all over the world.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 26, 2017
I was somewhat surprised that the book was more of an economic analysis about the proposed policies and religion of the environmentalists. He agrees with small scale efforts to minimize our impact on the environment but finds, especially from an economic perspective, that the best we can do now to minimize the effects of the always-changing environment is to promote technology and prosperity worldwide. He highlights that the efforts of policies like the Kyoto Accords would probably only delay the anticipated warming by 5 years. The mere fact that we don’t know what life will be like in 100 years should itself be cause for caution and circumspection. A great corrective to the mostly one-sided “consensus” of climate change today.
April 1, 2018
أنا من هؤلاء الأشخاص الذين لو قرأوا فصلاً واحداً من كتاب و فهموا فكرته يتوقفون عن قرائته ليبحثوا عن كتاب جديد 😀😀
أنا من هؤلاء الأشخاص فعلت ذلك مراراً و تكراراً مع العديد من الكتب و كان هذا الكتاب أحد الضحايا
....................
قرأت فصله الأول منذ عدة أعوام و أتفقت مع رأي كاتبه
...................
فاتسلاف كلاوس مؤلف الكتاب
هو دكتور في الإقتصاد و رئيس جمهورية التشيك
و يشير في هذا الكتاب إلى كذبة كبرى أدمنا تصديقها و أدمنت أمريكا ترويجها ألا و هى( التغير المناخي و ثقب الأوزون)
......................
أنا من هؤلاء الأشخاص فعلت ذلك مراراً و تكراراً مع العديد من الكتب و كان هذا الكتاب أحد الضحايا
....................
قرأت فصله الأول منذ عدة أعوام و أتفقت مع رأي كاتبه
...................
فاتسلاف كلاوس مؤلف الكتاب
هو دكتور في الإقتصاد و رئيس جمهورية التشيك
و يشير في هذا الكتاب إلى كذبة كبرى أدمنا تصديقها و أدمنت أمريكا ترويجها ألا و هى( التغير المناخي و ثقب الأوزون)
......................
December 3, 2017
To książka głupia i przede wszystkim szkodliwa. Streszczając: według autora nie należy nic robić w kierunku poprawy klimatu na Ziemi, bo nasza planeta sama dysponuje odpowiednimi mechanizmami regulacyjnymi. Poza tym mocno wierzy on w inteligencję ludzi jako jednostek, więc zamiast oddawać te sprawy w ręce ekologów – lepiej zaufać, że pojedynczy Kowalski jest mądry i sam się ogarnie. Autor w dziwny sposób rozumie wolność i jej ograniczanie, nieustannie natomiast kpi z ludzi dbających o dobro planety. W tym wszystkim niepokojące jest to, że Klaus w przedmowie do wydania polskiego chwali się, że „wśród polskich polityków mam wielu przyjaciół, w ostatnim czasie zwłaszcza prezydenta Lecha Kaczyńskiego” (książka wydana w Polsce w 2008 roku). Dodajmy do tego toporne tłumaczenie i marną korektę, a mamy lekturę wręcz niestrawną. (Niech ktoś mi odda 5 zł wydane na tę pozycję).
February 6, 2010
Very thoughtful, reasoned out using economic principles and common sense.
September 6, 2011
Some good arguments about the philosophical flaws of the environmentalist movement.
January 1, 2017
The cover of the book features the question "What is Endangered: Climate or Freedom?" The book clearly argues that it is not Climate. This is a scientific argument which Klaus doesn't make himself, preferring instead to cite countless works by others, especially Fred Singer; it seems like every other chapter is about that guy. This book serves as an excellent introduction to the sources a climate change skeptic would need to make his or her case. It's the perfect source if you're a high school or college student looking to quote scientists and experts without actually reading their publications--you damn dirty ape.
As for the Freedom half of the question, I would have liked a better demonstration. There isn't really any evidence in the book that environmentalist efforts are impeding freedom, Klaus just makes a simple, principled argument that top-down and/or Communist approaches to social good are doomed to be suboptimal. He says we shouldn't do anything regarding climate change because “...the aggregate outcome of independent actions of millions of informed and rational individuals--unorganized by any genius or dictator-—is infinitely better than any deliberate attempt to design the development of human society” (p.83). Given that he is the president of a former Soviet Republic, his reticence is reasonable, but replacing the religious faith he criticizes environmentalists for having with his own faith in the free market seems unfair.
I would say, given the risks of climate change we should permit no-regret policy changes, but Klaus believes the stakes are too low, and the costs too high, to address climate change. As an economist he reminds us to consider the trade offs: "the rise of sea levels could be threatening for the inhabitants of that small island in the Pacific...however, the rise of temperature would make a vast part of Siberia--which is several thousand times larger--habitable" (p.81). Your reaction to that statement is probably indicative of your reaction to the book as a whole.
As for the Freedom half of the question, I would have liked a better demonstration. There isn't really any evidence in the book that environmentalist efforts are impeding freedom, Klaus just makes a simple, principled argument that top-down and/or Communist approaches to social good are doomed to be suboptimal. He says we shouldn't do anything regarding climate change because “...the aggregate outcome of independent actions of millions of informed and rational individuals--unorganized by any genius or dictator-—is infinitely better than any deliberate attempt to design the development of human society” (p.83). Given that he is the president of a former Soviet Republic, his reticence is reasonable, but replacing the religious faith he criticizes environmentalists for having with his own faith in the free market seems unfair.
I would say, given the risks of climate change we should permit no-regret policy changes, but Klaus believes the stakes are too low, and the costs too high, to address climate change. As an economist he reminds us to consider the trade offs: "the rise of sea levels could be threatening for the inhabitants of that small island in the Pacific...however, the rise of temperature would make a vast part of Siberia--which is several thousand times larger--habitable" (p.81). Your reaction to that statement is probably indicative of your reaction to the book as a whole.
January 2, 2019
Brief and straightforward discussion of the threat to human well-being currently posed by the environmental movement. Written by the President of the Czech Republic. Provides the unique perspective of an Austrian economist who lived through the disaster of Soviet communism, the fall of the USSR and the struggle of a country to build a free country and economy. One of the few voices from Europe who does not advocate socialism.
December 29, 2008
A nice reality check to the green religion promoted by Gore, et. al.
March 10, 2014
" عدن كل مرة يلقى أحد مواطنى "بنجلاديش" حتفه بسبب الفيضانات يجب ان يسحب أحد مسئولى شركات الطيران من مكتبه و إغراقه هو الآخر "
جورج مونبيوت - معلق جردية الجارديان
جورج مونبيوت - معلق جردية الجارديان
February 3, 2019
A very thin book like other anti-climate change believers. This book is trying to debunk what climate change stressed on: CO2, global warming, the rise of sea level and the global temperature.
I appreciate different voices can be brought out, also it tells a point that the climate changes should not just focus on CO2 increasing, there are many factors of environmental damages.
Still i think we need to understand the facts:
1. First world countries are the first to reach industrial revolution, and first to enjoy the fruit of advance technologies. While the 3rd world finally catch up, they are restrict to fully develop and let alone to enjoy the prosperity.
2. We should not just focus on economic prosperity and forget about the fact the global population is truly the big cause of the abusing the natural resources. We are finding the alternative resources and evolve with the changes, but some how the truth can not be denied that we created a big continent of trash full of plastic waste in our oceans, which choke the marina animals and damage their habitations.
3. Of all the cheap price products, we forget the biggest price has been paid invisibly: environmental
price. of course the environmental topic is always taken as political issue, the fact is we humans are not sustainable enough to preserve the nature for our offspring. Our development and evolution to adapt the change is not fast enough to catch up the speed we are exhausting this poor planet, yet we are unable to fly our to outer space and live there.
This book is focus on the wrong angle to argue on other side, still didn't see the real whole picture.
Consumerism has no limit, human greed is endless. We can not live simple because we believe that we need to take the upmost advantage of the environment. That is just not right!
I appreciate different voices can be brought out, also it tells a point that the climate changes should not just focus on CO2 increasing, there are many factors of environmental damages.
Still i think we need to understand the facts:
1. First world countries are the first to reach industrial revolution, and first to enjoy the fruit of advance technologies. While the 3rd world finally catch up, they are restrict to fully develop and let alone to enjoy the prosperity.
2. We should not just focus on economic prosperity and forget about the fact the global population is truly the big cause of the abusing the natural resources. We are finding the alternative resources and evolve with the changes, but some how the truth can not be denied that we created a big continent of trash full of plastic waste in our oceans, which choke the marina animals and damage their habitations.
3. Of all the cheap price products, we forget the biggest price has been paid invisibly: environmental
price. of course the environmental topic is always taken as political issue, the fact is we humans are not sustainable enough to preserve the nature for our offspring. Our development and evolution to adapt the change is not fast enough to catch up the speed we are exhausting this poor planet, yet we are unable to fly our to outer space and live there.
This book is focus on the wrong angle to argue on other side, still didn't see the real whole picture.
Consumerism has no limit, human greed is endless. We can not live simple because we believe that we need to take the upmost advantage of the environment. That is just not right!
October 6, 2019
Kolejna pożyczona książka, co mnie nawet nieco zdziwiło - że ta jest jednak inna. Tutaj jest bibliografia, są odniesienia i przede wszystkim jest napisana obiektywnym/neutralnym tonem. I dosyć mogę się zidentyfikować z poglądami autora, który twierdzi, że co można robić w kwestii ochrony środowiska, to należy robić, ale nie szukać rozwiązań na problemy, których jeszcze nie ma i rozwiązań, które dziś są ponad nasze siły ale za ileś lat może powstaną na nie zupełnie proste recepty, albo problemy znikną niejako same ("Być może kiedyś w przyszłości ropa naftowa zostanie wyczerpana, ale jeśli do tego dojdzie, to będzie to nic nie znacząca chwila w historii, podobnie jak stało się to w przypadku, kiedy doszło do wyczerpania rybiego tranu." - I.M. Goklany, amerykański klimatolog) - to tak w skrócie.
Wspomniany był tu Klub Rzymski i jego "absurdalne limity wzrostu", jak wpisałem w google żeby poczytać o co chodzi, to mi oczywiście wyskoczyło NWO i te sprawy ;) i tak sobie myślę jaki trzeba mieć umysł żeby jednocześnie być przekonanym, że jacyś "oni" niszczą środowisko, wymuszają stosowanie pestycydów na rolnikach żeby ogłupić ludzi i zmanipulować (ad. poprzednio przeczytana książka), a nawet wykończyć, a jednocześnie, że ci sami "oni" wprowadzają regulacje, żeby zanadto nie zniszczyć środowiska i... wymuszają na rolnikach nie używanie zbyt wielu pestycydów (o tym będzie zaraz)... Konspiracja level hard ;)
Książkę czyta się szybko, bo duży druk i małe strony ;)
(czytana: 2-06.10.2019)
4-/5
Wspomniany był tu Klub Rzymski i jego "absurdalne limity wzrostu", jak wpisałem w google żeby poczytać o co chodzi, to mi oczywiście wyskoczyło NWO i te sprawy ;) i tak sobie myślę jaki trzeba mieć umysł żeby jednocześnie być przekonanym, że jacyś "oni" niszczą środowisko, wymuszają stosowanie pestycydów na rolnikach żeby ogłupić ludzi i zmanipulować (ad. poprzednio przeczytana książka), a nawet wykończyć, a jednocześnie, że ci sami "oni" wprowadzają regulacje, żeby zanadto nie zniszczyć środowiska i... wymuszają na rolnikach nie używanie zbyt wielu pestycydów (o tym będzie zaraz)... Konspiracja level hard ;)
"W rozmowie dla "ICIS Chemical Business" (Lomborg, 2007) B. Lomborg przytacza kilka dobrych przykładów "czegoś za coś". Szacuje się, że nawet mimo regulacji używania pestycydów, w USA dochodzi rocznie do około 20 zgonów na raka z powodów pozostałości owych związków chemicznych w artykułach spożywczych. Zwiększenie kosztów uprawy owoców i warzyw (bez pestycydów) podniesie ich cenę i obniży ich spożycie minimalnie o 10-15%, co - jak się szacuje - spowoduje wzrost zgonów na raka o 26000 rocznie. Stosunek 20 do 26000 jest bardzo wymowny. Gdzie jest więc owa zasada ostrożności?"
(s.94)
Książkę czyta się szybko, bo duży druk i małe strony ;)
(czytana: 2-06.10.2019)
4-/5
October 24, 2019
Je zajímavé číst tuto knihu v době, kdy už řada institutů, kterých se Václav Klaus děsil, existuje v našem právním řádu a je tu nastavené nějaké myšlení. Myslím si, že Václav Klaus zde ten spor environmentalisté vs. neenvironmentalisté vede v rovině víry v člověka. Věří lidem a pokroku a věří, že tím se vyřeší problémy, které se zveličují a uvádějí zkresleně. Zatímco environmentalisté podle něj vidí člověka jako původce problémů, on jej vidí jako řešitele těchto problémů, navíc věří v přirozené síly, které stejně jako na trhu vyrovnají situaci i v oblasti klimatu. Je to spíše kompilát nejrůznějších myšlenek, které jej zaujaly, ale myslím, že pro zamyšlení je to zajímavě utříděno.
September 5, 2019
A good book about climate change. And I can't understand why it receives a such bad rating. The essence of this book is that even there being too many problems, government should do Nothing. Because govermment's intervention can't solve anything, but giving rise to more problems.
April 4, 2021
Absolute garbage from cynical economist who thinks he can understand climate and science.
February 11, 2022
Druhý nejcitovanější autor a zdroj je *román* Michaela Crichtona.
(první nejcitovanější autor knihy je autor knihy)
(první nejcitovanější autor knihy je autor knihy)
May 19, 2012
Early in the book Klaus made a lot of assertions about the character of those who promote global warming theories without backing them up with explanations and proof. That really really bugged me. However, I liked what he had to say about the IPCC and I thought he made several good points.
I keep promising myself that I will find the time to really delve into the whole global climate change thing. Unfortunately, that day has not arrived yet. But, when it does, I'll be sure to pick up many of the papers and books attributed in this short read.
I keep promising myself that I will find the time to really delve into the whole global climate change thing. Unfortunately, that day has not arrived yet. But, when it does, I'll be sure to pick up many of the papers and books attributed in this short read.
February 17, 2019
Effe concentreren als je zoals ik totaal niets van economie kent. Wel interessant. Een andere kijk op de klimaat"problematiek". Steeds positief denkend, geen doemscenario maar een realistisch alternatieve aanpak.
January 30, 2010
Some good points, but turgid writing (poorly translated?), and decidedly not for a popular audience.
August 2, 2011
Knihu jsem četl hlavně abych si ověřil, že to co si většina lidí myslí že si Klaus myslí, si vůbec nemyslí. A taky že jo. Je to klasický Klaus, konzistentní, promyšlený, ale nijak význačně objevný.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews