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A traveler’s perspective on Kinsale

By December 5, 2011
Transition Towns

One of my inspirations to travel is to explore the sustainability projects around the world. Simply put, sustainable living is the concept of human society living in balance with the resources of the world. For many modern critical thinkers, such as Richard Heinberg of Post Carbon Institute, this has become an increasingly important idea.  Even more than an idea, it's a prescription for much of what ails our modern societies today across the world. As the science and ideas about peak oiland … [Read more...]

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Towards ecological literacy: A Permaculture approach for junior secondary science

By December 1, 2011
Permaculture

The profound lack of sustainable systems on our planet is of great concern to environmentalists, some of who are educators and some of who are permaculturists. Many of the problems facing Earth and its inhabitants are caused by a lack of ecological literacy among much of the human population. Ecological literacy includes an understanding of the scientific principles of ecology, including the recognition of limits and possibilities. It also includes an attitude of care toward the environment … [Read more...]

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Unplugging from The Man

By November 28, 2011
The Man

Glen W. Bowersock hit the nail on the head when he observed that From the eighteenth century onward, we have been obsessed with the fall (of the Roman Empire): it has been valued as an archetype for every perceived decline, and, hence, as a symbol for our own fears. I agree. A striking similarity The parallels between the collapsing US Empire and Ancient Rome are staggering. The Roman Empire was brought to its knees through a confluence of factors, notably a decline in moral values, … [Read more...]

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Wake up call: Review of Apocalypse of the Barbarians

By November 25, 2011
Book cover

Amid a cacophony of strident polemics, sensationalist tracts and shiny trivia that regularly passes for intellectual discussion, an author emerges who joins reason and passion, current events and deep history to create a very accessible, quietly powerful book that invites us to enter a timely and vital conversation. Sandy Krolick's Apocalypse of the Barbarians is a collection of short chapters that explore current world events and global conditions from a unique perspective. He's an American … [Read more...]

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Transition plans and meetings a waste of time, says Greer

By November 21, 2011
hippies meeting

After he spoke on the panel about local solutions at the ASPO-USA Truth in Energy Conference held in Washington, DC earlier this month, I asked John Michael Greer to give us some of his thoughts about the Transition Movement. He obliged us and so we offer his comments in full below. Greer is the author of numerous books on peak oil and other subjects including The Wealth of Nature: Economics as if Survival Mattered. Q. What do you think of the Transition movement’s decision to focus on … [Read more...]

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From Totnes with love

By November 17, 2011
Transition Companion

“What would it look like if the best responses to peak oil and climate change came not from committees and Acts of Parliament, but from you and me and the people around us?" asks Rob Hopkins at the outset of his new book, The Transition Companion: Making Your Community More Resilient in Uncertain Times. This opener encapsulates both the massive ambition and the humility of the book, a revision of the Transition Handbook put out in 2008. At the same time, the book's firm roots in Hopkins's … [Read more...]

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Transitioners debate how to engage Occupy movement

By November 14, 2011
Berlin OWS event with Guy Fawkes mask

"The Transition Towns movement teaches us that peak oil and climate change are a threat to democracy and economic justice all by themselves," writes a blogger for the Organic Consumers Association. "No amount of democratic reforms or economic regulations will save us, if we don't also transition from fossil fuels to more resilient, lower carbon systems." Yet, the post continues, the Occupy movement reminds Transitioners that we can't adequately address peak oil and climate change without … [Read more...]

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Food hubs: restoring historical practice

By November 11, 2011
Farmers Market

During the 20th century, centralized forces made a long-lasting impact on the US food system. An economic and social structure of common markets supplying food produced by local farmers was slowly and steadily dismantled as food production, processing, and distribution consolidated into corporate agri-business. These changes, on a national scale, created fundamental market barriers for small and midsize farms. A return to roots Today, Detroit’s Eastern Market, first established in 1891, … [Read more...]

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Day 3 live blogging from ASPO

By November 5, 2011

This is our live blog from the third day of the ASPO-USA Truth in Energy Conference. Coverage sponsored by Transition US. … [Read more...]

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Occupy Main Street

By November 4, 2011
mural on main street

I have made only one foray to the OWS nearest me: Occupy Seattle. Living on South Whidbey Island, where 25,000 people occupy a few scattered towns and much rural farmland and forests, the only possible 1%-ers own vacation estates. Protest there and we’d only be shouting down long driveways at the gardeners – who are our friends. We could occupy Wells Fargo (the only national bank with a tainted reputation) but they are just an outpost – and the tellers are our friends. So I made 3 … [Read more...]

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