These questions are meant to be suggestions for discussion in community groups, classes, etc.  You may think of many more while watching the film.  Happy viewing!!

1. Economic growth is our secular global religion. We’ve been true believers for nearly a century.  What examples are you seeing of our focus on economic growth in the news
   Do you see any counter examples in the media?

2. But what if human beings aren’t so rational? What does behavioral psychology say about people’s economic choices?  

3. Including the laws of Thermodynamics.  What is the connection between the laws of thermodynamics and our economy?   Why do the laws matter.

4. LSU is in Baton Rouge, in a region called “Cancer Alley, Are there any cancer clusters near where you live?  Are they  connected to industrial production?

5. His early days at LSU were a tumultuous time in America.  How are citizens in your community responding today to the same issues?

6. Unless major changes were made, the world was headed for ecological and economic collapse within a century. What are the signs of environmental collapse that we see today?

7. The dominant economic and political doctrine of our era, neoliberalism, pays little attention to either the environment or inequality.  What are the characteristics of neoliberalism?  How do they play out in our current economic debates?  How are they being challenged—give some examples.

8. Is what Daly called “throughput,” sustainable over the long run? What does Daly mean by the term throughput?

9. For more than 30 years, some scientists have been measuring the “ecological footprint” of human activity.  Go to the Global Fooprint Network and calculate your footprint.  How can you reduce your footprint to be one or less?  Is it possible?

10. Were every country to match the American level of consumption, we would need five Earths to sustain our standard of living. What is the footprint of your country?  What are the key aspects of it?

11. Continually rising annual temperatures…Do you see evidence of climate change in your region?  What are the signs of it.  How you reduce your carbon footprint?

12. A crisis in Istanbul offers stark evidence of the difference.Is there a “full world” story like Gezi Park near where you live?  How are people responding to it?

13. A crisis in Istanbul offers stark evidence of the difference.What policies might you support to alleviate the negative aspects of economic growth?  How would people respond to higher gas taxes and how could they be promoted when people are so attached to automobiles?

14. To stay within Earth’s boundaries and reduce consumption, Daly argued for a maximum income as well as a minimum wage.What is the distribution of wealth in your country (GINI coefficient) and how might the inequality be reduced?

15. Daly went further. He argued that belief in continuous growth allowed wealthy elites to ignore and oppose anti-poverty measures. How do you feel about foreign economic aid?  How can we best help poorer countries?

16. Americans and Australians buy even more.  How many clothes do you think you buy each year?  How might you reduce the number?

17. With colleagues, he developed an alternative to GDP, the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare. If you were creating an Index of Sustainable Welfare what would you include as benefits and what as costs?  Why?

18. The problem is that the new technologies all come with new costs, including the mining of many rare minerals.  What new technologies do you think are most helpful and what most dangerous?

19. Are data centers planned for your region?  How are people responding?

20. Ecological economists often refer to such benefits as “Natural Capital” or “ecosystem services”  What other examples of ecosystem services can you think of?  Do you like the term or prefer “nature’s gifts”?  Why?

21. … and even some religious leaders. How are faith communities in your region responding to economic priorities and environmental impact?  Do you think they are doing enough for sustainability?

22. Kate Raworth’s understanding of them led her to a concept she calls Doughnut Economics, Does the idea of Doughnut economics appeal to you.  Are there DE groups in your community?  Should there be?

23. Many younger economists, especially in Europe, now advocate De-Growth in rich countries…  How do you respond to the term de-growth?  Are there other terms you would prefer?  Are there positive ways to express the concept?

24. It's a tradeoff worth considering.  What can be done where you live to share work and reduce working hours?  Should it be done?  Why or why not?

25. Daly’s heirs also advocate place-based ecological transformation… How is your community responding to environmental issues like climate change?

26. Do you think protest demonstrations are effective or not.  Why?  Give examples?

27. Do you take part in demonstrations?  For what issues?

28. The end of slavery is one of many examples.  It began as a moral imperative.  Should animals and nature have rights like humans do?  Which ones?  What kind of rights?

29. Are you optimistic or pessimistic?  Why?