Reimagine, Don’t Seize, the Means of Production

One of the most difficult systems to reimagine is global manufacturing. If we are producing offshore and at scale, ravaging the planet for short-term profits, what are the available alternatives? A movement combining digital and physical production points toward a new possibility: Produce within our communities, democratically and with respect for nature and its carrying capacity.

Stereotypes

Even though many stereotypes have blurred, some parents today continue to hold narrow views of what it means to be a girl or boy.  We may be shocked and disgusted by stories from the #Metoo movement but perhaps such actions are the result of stereotypes that encourage boys to be dominant and girls to be submissive. 

The Value of Values in Talking Climate (and not mathematical ones)

The lessons I’ve learned along this journey seem to have come from stumbling into every possible pitfall.   Want to talk climate change? Best scrub up my science, I thought. Entirely the wrong direction to head in in my quest to become an effective climate communicator! In this post, I explore the necessity of re-welcoming emotions and values into our conversations.

Oregon-based Opportunity Village Eugene Addresses Homelessness with Tiny Houses

Opportunity Village Eugene (OVE) is a “tiny house” community in Eugene, Oregon, that provides secure accommodation for around 35 people who were previously homeless. OVE provides residents with more than just affordable shelter — being part of the village offers the dignity of having a private space…

Urban Agriculture and Forced Displacement in Iraq: “This Garden is my Kingdom”

The Lemon Tree Trust is a United Kingdom-based nonprofit organization which facilitates greening innovation and urban agriculture in refugee camps in Iraq, Uganda, and Jordan. “People are arriving with almost nothing and are literally making home, so the garden becomes representative of a space that people have control over, some ability to be creative, and a space to just be in after they’ve undergone this process of forced migration,” says co-founder Mikey Tomkins.

Post-Fire Mudslide Problems aren’t New and Likely to Get Worse

In the popular press these flows were termed “mudslides,” but with some rocks as large as cars these are more accurately described as hyperconcentrated flows or debris flows, depending on the amount of sediment mixed with the water. Why did these deadly flows happen?

Fearless Cities

Fear and uncertainty seem to have settled into our societies, not only among citizens, but also political leaders and transnational corporations who see their capitals and centres of power stagger in the face of the combined effects of slowing global economic growth, imminent energy decline and increasing climate chaos. In this context, we are  witnessing a multitude of responses, with three approaches that stand out.

New NASA Study Solves Climate Mystery, Confirms Methane Spike Tied to Oil and Gas

A team led by scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed that the oil and gas industry is responsible for the largest share of the world’s rising methane emissions, which are a major factor in climate change — and in the process the researchers resolved one of the mysteries that has plagued climate scientists over the past several years.