Year: 2011

Addiction and recovery as a partner for Transition

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One could argue that the principles common in addiction recovery hold much wisdom for a transition process. To truly “recover” from an addiction one must go through the transition of recognizing first that one’s way of life is not working—the compulsion with the behavior or substance is getting in the way of one’s relationships, health, future well-being, and growth. In other words, one recognizes their desire to consume is insatiable and destructive, and a change is needed.

6 energy experts address the economic impact of Middle East unrest

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With instability in the Middle East driving oil prices higher, huge cracks are widening in the global economy. In an effort to broaden the conversation about Middle East unrest and its impacts on oil prices and economies, the Post Carbon Institute offers six informed perspectives on what to expect in the days, weeks and months ahead. Individuals, businesses and policy makers are made aware of the speed with which seemingly incremental price gains can topple global dominoes.

Oil prices – March 10

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– Don’t sweat the oil speculators
– Saudi Arabia protests could be calamitous for oil market
– FT: Oil markets brace for Saudi ‘rage’ as global spare capacity wears thin
– The secret group setting the price of oil: Us (energy traders)
– Tverberg: If Oil Supply Declines Quickly, How do We Deal with It?
– Oil Roller Coaster Gets Wilder (PO with a local slant)

Food & agriculture – March 10

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– The unusual uses of urine
– NYT on Peak Coffee: Heat Damages Colombia Coffee, Raising Prices
– Decline of Honey Bees Now a Global Phenomenon, says UN
– US farmers fear the return of the Dust Bowl
– The world food crisis” the squeeze on purchasing power

Structural crisis in the world-system: where do we go from here?

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The world-system has been in a structural crisis since the 1970s. The primary characteristic of a structural crisis is chaos. This is not a situation of totally random happenings. It is a situation of rapid and constant fluctuations in all the parameters of the historical system. This includes not only the world-economy, the interstate system, and cultural-ideological currents, but also the availability of life resources, climatic conditions, and pandemics. The one encouraging feature about a systemic crisis is the degree to which it increases the viability of agency, of what we call “free will.” When the system is far from equilibrium, every little input has great effect.

Hitching farm implements to an older tractor

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As all of you know who have spent the better part of your working life hitching and unhitching stuff, when you are alone you must bring the tractor to a dead stop at the exact right place, get off, and because you never are in the exact right place, pull the implement forward or the tractor backward the inch or so necessary with brute, hernia-causing strength. No tractor yet made, even on perfectly level ground, will stay put exactly where you stop it for hitching.

Conserving the differences

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Information, Gregory Bateson used to say, is a difference that makes a difference. The ability of energy to do work, and the usefulness of material substances, also depend on difference. What do these seemingly abstract considerations have to do with the fine old art of insulating hot water lines and heating ducts? Plenty. With a roll of fiberglass insulation in one hand, the Archdruid explains.

Two wheels good – March 9

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– How one New York bike lane could affect the future of cycling worldwide
– New level of anti-bike mania in NYC (a classic takedown of a “New Yorker” screed)
– Bicycle master plan is expected to be approved by the L.A. City Council
– Bike spike expected as motoring costs increase
– Urban Bikeway Design Guide introduced (NEW)

Beyond food miles

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A local diet can reduce energy use somewhat, but there are even more effective ways to tackle the problem. Single-minded pursuit of local food, without consideration of the bigger picture, can actually make things worse from an energy perspective.