Solutions & sustainability – Mar 4

Japan: The slow life – Tune in, drop out, grow rice /
18 months in a retro-Amish-Mennonite community (Eric Brende interview) /
Oops, we helped ruin the planet:
Guide owners join to discourage ‘casual flying’ /
All the organic broccoli in the world won’t be enough to save the planet /
I’m lovin’ it: Falling sales force closure of 25 UK McDonald’s branches

Other energy – Mar 4

Renewable energies to transform farmers into ‘energy moguls’ /
Russia challenged by nuclear woes /
U.S. eyes Alberta oilsands as key part of supply /
ExxonMobil drilled dry North Sea well off Norway /
Tough talk about oil (“Children of the Sun” book review)

Scientific American: Facing the facts on oil

On the Op-Ed page of today’s New York Times is a large ad-ed placed by ExxonMobil. Titled “Peak Oil? Contrary to the theory, oil production shows no sign of a peak,” the piece blows smoke at the growing consensus among serious petroleum geologists that production of the cheap oil on which all modern economies are based is fast approaching the day when it stops growing to match demand, levels off for a while, and then inexorably falls….The facts suggest otherwise [than Exxon’s ad].

Politics & economics – Mar 3

Venezuela cautions U.S. it may curtail oil exports /
Americans are cautiously open to gas tax rise, poll shows /
Abqaiq’s warning: attack on Saudi Arabia’s largest oil facility is ominous /
There are good reasons Venezuelans like Chavez /
Putin: the big three for the G8 /
Nigerian oil crisis spreads from Shell to Chevron

Peak oil – Mar 3

Why peak oil is probably about now /
Exxon ad is skeptical: “Peak oil?” /
The Oil Drum meets Philly regional planning /
OilCrash: a 90-minute PO documentary from Switzerland /
Challenger for Maine governer runs on energy platform /
PowerSwitch: Game over for fossil fuel addiction /
Preparing NYC for the coming energy crisis

NY Times: The end of oil

When President Bush declared in his 2006 State of the Union address that America must cure its “addiction to oil,” he framed his case largely in terms of national security… He failed to mention two other good reasons to sober up. One is global warming… The second reason is just as unsettling, and is only starting to get the attention it deserves. The Age of Oil — 100-plus years of astonishing economic growth made possible by cheap, abundant oil — could be ending without our really being aware of it.

Solutions & sustainability – Mar 2

The revolution in building materials /
Making our cities fuel-efficient /
Wind, wave, wood: energy-independent Humboldt Country /
Sustainable town of Willits to star in sequel to “End of Suburbia”

Environment – Mar 2

Climate change forecast getting worse (NZ round-up)/
Ice cubes & bad news about global warming /
‘Rapid warming’ spreads havoc in Canada’s forests – tiny beetles destroying pines /
Consensus grows on climate change (new IPCC report)

Help yourselves

We’re all in the same global boat – racing the rapids of capitalism, low on fuel and overheating. Colin Tudge assesses the doomsayers, Ecological Ethics, Half Gone, The Revenge of Gaia and State of the World 2006.