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Sharing as a Solution to Global Crisis

The social, environmental and economic crises that continue to reap havoc across the globe provide a critical opportunity for ordinary people to demand economic reform and political transformation says STWR's director, Rajesh Makwana, in an interview with John Habets & Henk Gloudemans.

Streetfacts #4: Children Have Lost the Freedom to Roam   

The percentage of children walking and bicycling to school has plummeted from almost 50 percent in 1969 to about 13 percent today.

Supply Shock: Ecological Economics Comes of Age, Part 1

Of all the critiques of mainstream economics, Third World, feminist, Austrian, radical, Georgist, Marxist and others, the one our grandkids would have us heed most is the ecological critique.

Two notions of liberty revisited - or how to disentangle Liberty and Slavery

"Freedom is the natural faculty to do whatever one wishes that is not prevented by force or law. Slavery is an institution according to the law of nations whereby one person becomes private property (dominium) of another, contrary to nature."'

Urbanites help sustain Japan’s historic rice paddy terraces

If flocks of city-dwellers will trek to steep hillside paddies to work in the damp spring weather, then nothing seems impossible.

Peak oil notes - May 23

A mid-week update. Oil prices have fallen $2-3 a barrel this week on weaker demand, increased US production, rising product stockpiles, and a stronger dollar. At the close on Wednesday, NY oil settled at $94.28 and London at $102.60 with the WTI-Brent spread climbing to $8.32. The weekly …

Bike revolutions - May23

•Bike Sharing Prepares to Get its World Rocked •Social Bicycles Brings Sharing to Two Wheels •The two-wheel entrepreneurs: bike culture spawns businesses nationwide •The Pedestrian–Cyclist Armistice

Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Energy Is Putting Power Back in the Hands of the People

The sun is waiting to be tapped for clean, cheap energy if we can get our heads out of the sand.

Who Will Control the Climate of the World?  

For all who love a conspiracy, geoengineering has it all. The oil companies, far-right think-tanks, nuclear weapons scientists, and even Bill Gates.

Difficult Truths about 'Difficult Oil'

As we work down the hydrocarbon pyramid, energy gets messier and much more costly. Latest in a series.

Thinking of starting a Transition Initiative?

Are you thinking about starting a new Transition initiative in your town, village or city? I was among those who initiated Transition Dartmouth Park, in North London, around a year and a half ago.

The Politics of Time's Shape

To begin with, it’s important to recognize that no fixed rule sets apart those changes that get called “progress” from the ones that don’t.

We plant trees, but why?  

An interview with Joseph Redwood-Martinez about the documentary 'One day, everything will be free' which explores a reforestation initiative in Haiti, namely Sadhana Forest.

Energy Return on Investment

EROI studies for most energy resources show a decline, indicating that depletion has been more important than technological improvements over time.

For Africa’s Solar Sisters, Off-Grid Electricity Is Power

U.S. businesswoman Katherine Lucey is working with a network of women entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa to sell inexpensive, household solar energy systems. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, Lucey explains how solar electricity can transform lives, particularly those of rural women …

The Seed Underground

A delightful and thoroughly enjoyable read: in my many years of reading environmental books there aren't many I could say that about. I found The Seed Undergound on a table at the home of a member of Transition Mar Vista/Venice, at an open house (open garden) as part of last month's 100+ home …

Tornadoes, Extreme Weather And Climate Change, Revisited

The big tornado outbreak, including a monster Oklahoma twister, have people asking again about a possible link to climate change. I’ll review the science in this post.

Spring Time?

I have ruminated enough times on this blog about climate change that it should no longer pop up its ugly head, and yet it never ceases to amaze me as to how well it lends itself to a quick article. As homesteaders, so many of our daily activities lead to the out-of-doors, and therefore keeps us …

Earth Trek: The Journey Home

Lurking behind the cover story of terrorism and modern unease is an even more troubling development: the endgame of fossil-fueled civilization, and hence, the end of space travel.

Why Austerity Kills: From Greece to U.S., Crippling Economic Policies Causing Global Health Crisis

"Had austerity been organized like a clinical trial, it would’ve been discontinued given evidence of its deadly side effects," Stuckler says.

Shale gas, tight oil, and fracking - May 21

•At margins of shale oil boom, a tempered euphoria •Fracking envy •Radioactive fracking debris triggers worries at dump sites •Poland’s shale gas hopes suffer blow •Poland Shale Boom Falters as State Targets Higher Taxes •The fight for North Dakota's …

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