Every year at the Edge Foundation World Question Center they ask a single question of a huge collection of diverse thinkers. The results are always fascinating — intellectual crack, as BBC radio has it.

(I wrote a bit about last year’s question.)

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This year’s question is: What are you optimistic about, and why?

As you’d expect, out of the 160 responses, many touch on green issues. I was going to wade through and pick out the best, greenest excerpts, but thank the almighty, Big Gav did it for me. Go check out his highlights (scroll down a bit). And if you’re in the mood for a serious intellectual workout, go check out the original.

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Incidentally, if I had to answer the question, I’d say I’m optimistic about the ability of American capitalism to make a great deal of money out of doing better by the environment. Go corporate America! [high kick]