Building Community

Contradictions in the Latin American Left

by

The leftist parties seek economic growth, arguing that only in this way will the standard of living of their citizens be enhanced and greater world equality achieved. The indigenista movements say their objective is not economic growth but coming to terms with PachaMama, or mother earth. They say they do not seek a larger use of the earth’s resources, but a saner one that respects ecological equilibrium. They seek buen vivir – to live well.

Agroinnovations #99: Ecological Imperialism

by

This episode focuses on the arguments in the book Ecological Imperialism, written by Alfred W. Crosby. Alfred Crosby joined me briefly to talk about this book. I have added to his comments by reading key passages from his book. Topics of discussion include the success of Europeans in the New World, the significance of Pangaea and the Neolithic Revolution, the definition and explanation of terms like Neo-Europe and portmanteau biota, the failure of the Norse explorers in North America, European Imperialism in the Canary Islands, the role of weeds, animals, and disease in European successes overseas, and a biogeographical explanation for European conquest.

Rethinking scale and growth for a more sustainable world

by

Both for households and firms, shifting to sustainability opens up new possibilities, and intersects with ongoing changes in the economy. In Plenitude, I lay out a number of principles that should inform our thinking about how to solve the climate and eco-crises. These include re-thinking the question of scale, knowledge transmission, the role of informal economies and social capital, new consumer patterns, and the relation among productivity growth, output and hours of work.

Human power on the river for locally grown grain

by

On August 19, 2010 a fleet of twenty human powered boats will leave Eugene, Oregon to pick up locally grown grain and beans in Harrisburg and carry them to Corvallis. This is a nod to the history of using the river as transportation and distribution for the products grown in the valley as well as a promotion of the rich variety of grain and beans raised today in the Willamette Valley.

Embodied energy: An alternative approach to understanding urban energy use

by

Everyone knows that it takes energy to produce anything. The energy used in mining, transport, processing, manufacturing, delivery, and disposal is “embodied” in every product we consume, from food to diapers to televisions and insurance policies. Our traditional way of looking at energy, however, highlights only current consumption, traditionally disaggregated into agricultural, industrial, transportation, commercial, and residential sectors.

Things fall apart – slowly

by

Actually, it isn’t all that slow, because a decade ago, all of this would have been largely unthinkable. The problem is that we don’t see the gradual decline and fall – we are only vaguely aware that some things aren’t quite what they used to be, and our progressive narrative tells us that they will soon be much better. But the problem is that’s not necessarily true – there’s little evidence for it. Even the most optimistic economists (and I don’t recommend the most optimistic economists ;-)) have to admit our long term economic problems are extremely pressing.

Starving Africa’s future?

by

In what may be President Obama’s most significant foray into changing U.S.-Africa policy since his election in 2008, the United States is embarking on a new initiative to boost agricultural production in the global south. Feed the Future (FTF) came out of the G8 summit in L’Aquila in 2009 where developed country leaders committed to acting to “achieve sustainable global food security.” Obama pledged $3.5 billion over three years toward this goal, in hopes that other rich nations would also make significant investments in agricultural development.

The story of Here begins

by

In a “powered down” future—the one almost certain to follow the end of the era of “Hydrocarbon Man”—the practical size of my collapsed world (and yours) could well be defined like this: How far can we walk away from home and back again in a single day?
My own answer? About ten miles. And that’s optimistic…This is the pivotal moment when the story of my life officially becomes the story of this place.