Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Dave Cohen I want to bring up some urgent concerns about the direction the Obama administration is taking regarding America’s oil dependence. We need to ask What’s the plan? Once we understand the strategy, we can then ask Is the plan good, is it realistic?
Many discussions of preserving information for the deindustrial future focus on the internet and other high-tech options. A step or two down the technological ladder offers options that are much more likely to find their way from discussion into reality.
Over the next 20 years we are almost certain to witness major changes in the functions performed by various levels of government and whether we like it or not, the share of our resources going to pay for these functions is going to increase – i.e. higher taxes. Although it is not yet generally recognized, this great transition has already begun.
Exxon vs. Obama
Shell dumps wind, solar and hydro power in favour of biofuels
Crude truth behind numbers that govern our lives
Free download of tar sands book
Religious communities are going to have a large and powerful role in the future – one that ideally, we’d begin shaping and preparing for today. This is one of the reasons I’m never so delighted as when I’m asked to talk to religious communities – because in many ways, I think that they provide an existing infrastructure that is potentially powerfully adaptable to the life we will be living.
$8 billion could help revive travel by train
Start-ups are racing to get electric motorbikes to market
New book: “Pedaling Revolution”
Electric Cars and Peak Lithium
Powerdown Toolkit # 5: Getting Around- Transport and Mobility
Heathrow’s third runway: planning for aviation boom times is no way to deal with economic bust
Global forum seeks to avert water crisis
Preparing for Water Quarrels, if not Wars
Chilean Town Withers in Free Market for Water
The Age of Stupid Premiere at the Eden Project
Maldives first to go carbon neutral
Monbiot: If we behave as if it’s too late, then our prophecy is bound to come true
Wall Street set for another big dive
Slow movement picks up speed in the Bay Area
New documentary Heather and Goliath (woman takes on the Corps of Engineers over Los Angeles River)
You, Me, and the Bourgeoisie
The Economist on victory gardens
Jellyfish sushi: Seafood’s slimy future
Astyk: Eric, farmer
Recession spurs millions of new gardeners
Small farm renaissance
As far back into childhood as I can remember, every morning and every evening I went to the barn to “do chores.” “Chores” on the farm then (and now) meant feeding the chickens and livestock, gathering the eggs, and milking the cows. This work must be done every day come hell or high water—- especially come hell or high water. I did chores even in seminary college— I much preferred being in the barn than in chapel. That’s how it finally dawned on me that the priestly life was not for me, so I can say with all honesty that doing chores guided me to my true place in life.
In any debate there are particular key arguments that are used to undermine the opponent. A debate as heated as that over the importance, or not, of population growth is sure to feature these. It should be clear to readers of my essay published last week that I regard population growth as the core issue in any discussion on sustainability. Many of the arguments used by those who wish to dismiss or lessen the importance of population growth are false, misleading or simply mental tricks allowing their advocates the comfort of self-deception.
