Intellectuals against the establishment
The "Limits to Growth" series of papers was produced by the Club of Rome, an informal association of public intellectuals from around the world. The club's goal is to bring together intelligent and caring people from different fields and open a space for discussion and research on global issues.
It all began in 1965, when Alexander King, head of the scientific italy phone number material department of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), heard a speech by the great Italian industrialist Aurelio Peccei. He criticized the uncontrolled economic and industrial growth of modern market economies. King found these ideas very relatable.
Pecci and King met and agreed that economic growth and technological progress could negatively affect the future of humanity. Both were convinced that we should not blindly rely on the earth's inexhaustible resources.
King and Pecci decided to create an informal organization to urge governments and corporations to adopt more responsible and long-term planning. In 1968, they held the club's first meeting. The meetings were held in a villa in Rome, hence the name of the association.
One of the club meetings, in the foreground is Aurelio Peccei.
The club was made up of scientists, public figures, and business leaders who shared Peccei and King's views. The club was also co-founded by Austrian astrophysicist Erich Jansch and Hugo Thiemann, the latter of whom researched large companies.
The main form of activity of the Club of Rome is the study of global problems. Among them are overpopulation of the planet, weapons of mass destruction, and others. All these problems concern the whole world, and therefore, solutions will require cooperation between states, companies, and international organizations.
