Staff

Climate – April 28

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Arctic CO2 levels growing at an ‘unprecedented rate’, say scientists
Alex Steffen: Geoengineering and the new climate denialism
As climate warms, species may need to migrate or perish

Thomas Berry: Living in harmony with nature

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At 94 years, cultural historian and Catholic priest Thomas Berry is a leading ecological thinker in America who has been called a global prophet, a visionary and a spokesman for the Earth. He has worked for decades to develop and promote his vision of an Ecozoic Era, a future historical period defined by humanity’s move away from exploitation of the natural world to a harmonious relationship with other living beings.

You’ve bought your last car

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Actually, you’ve probably bought the last of a lot of things, but I remember being struck when I first heard James Howard Kunstler say, “Most Americans have bought their last car.” So I’m going to use the example of cars to demonstrate why that is and why we won’t get off of fossil fuel in time.

Changing times – April 27

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A workers’ paradise found off Japan’s coast
Elizabeth Kolbert: “Earth Day has lost its edge” – we need millions in the street … and some stinky fish
At the polls, Icelanders punish conservatives
For China’s New Left, old values

Is food the last thing to worry about?

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Our food system is woefully dependent on petroleum.Yet in the developed world, the food system may be one of the last to fail during energy descent. This isn’t to say that industrial, oil-based agriculture is invulnerable, let alone sustainable. But there are many reasons why our fears of a food collapse—particularly when they lead us to a go-it-alone, grow-your-own response—may be distracting us from focusing on more immediate and likely risks.

Some Economic Implications of Peak Oil

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World oil production probably peaked in 2008. Liquid fuel production, including oil, is indicated by the OPEC data to have reached a peak in July 2008 at about 86 million barrels per day, with its price peaking at about the same time. ASPO International agrees, as indicated on the chart page of their recent newsletters.

Italian magazine interviews Richard Heinberg

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“The most likely scenario [is] a partial economic recovery that would be cut short by rising energy prices. The economic crisis will “help” only if we take this brief opportunity to implement drastic energy conservation measures and invest substantial sums in new renewable energy infrastructure.” (Good summary of Heinberg’s current thinking)