Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
How can Transition Towns and Common Security Clubs help us navigate a changing economy and environment?
(Common security clubs are typically founded by people concerned about their economic security. These small groups of 10-25 adults are consciously breaking down the isolation and fear triggered by the 2008 economic meltdown.)
Keynote talks by Nicole Foss (Stoneleigh of The Automatic Earth), Dr. Joe Tainter (author of “The Collapse of Complex Societies), Steve Keen (author of “Debunking Economics” and winner of the Revere Award), Richard Douthwaite (author of “The Ecology of Money”, David Korowicz (director for the Risk/Resilience Network), Chris Bedford (president of the Center for Economic Security), and Aaron Wissner (president of Local Future).
Let’s imagine for a moment that we’re at 2100, and the atmospheric CO2 level is slowly subsiding back toward 350, and the worst is over. Let’s try to figure out how we got there—reverse-engineer a century of halting but ultimately decisive progress.
Welcome to the premiere issue of Transition Voice, the new online magazine covering the predicaments of peak oil, climate change, economic crisis, and the the Transition movement’s response.
“Peak Shrink” psychologist Kathy McMahon makes a contribution to Honda’s “Racing Against Time” thought leadership series. Her blog was selected to provide a unique perspective on how we should approach the discussion of oil as a finite energy source.
As I watched snippets of President Obama’s town hall-style meetings around the country recently, I was struck by how often questioners demonstrated the mindset that solutions to their problems will come from some central authority, in this case, the federal government.
“The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls…”
They also emerge among refugees and Third Worlders arguing their visions in a scruffy Berlin café,
– “How to Boil a Frog” – new online interviews; showings in Santa Monica Oct 8-10
– Peak Shrink blogs on peak oil tonight for Honda (NOW ONLINE)
– Dispatches from The Earth Blog: free downloadable mini-book
– Guy McPherson presentiations available online (fossil fuel, bioenergy)
– Online seminars from Imperial College, Longdon: future energy options
Like everyone in the rich world, I carry bottles of water with me everywhere I go. In populated areas, folks 30 or 40 years ago, would have told a thirsty person – “wait until we get to the water fountain.”
Energy companies are rushing to develop unconventional sources of oil and gas trapped in carbon-rich shales and sands throughout the western United States and Canada. So far, government officials have shown little concern for the environmental consequences of this new fossil fuel development boom.
Recumbent bikes with bodywork evoke a curious effect. They look as fast as a racing car or a jet fighter, but of course, they’re not. Nevertheless, thanks to the recumbent position, the minimal weight and the outstanding aerodynamics, pedalling a “velomobile” requires three to four times less energy than pedalling a normal bicycle.
Articles that we thought were significant this month.
