If everyone in the world consumed the same amount of resources and produced as much waste as the average person in Western Europe, we’d need three planets. If we all lived like the North Americans, we’d need five. On the global scale, we’re using just over one and a half Earths worth of resources and … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Genetic Monofication
Originally posted on Ecology is not a dirty word:
Genetic modification (GM) has been on the radar for quite a few years – another really important issue that has been misrepresented and misinterpreted for too long to maintain any sort of clarity in the general public’s consciousness. The problems with GM (of crops or animals)…
Planetary Education
I often find myself confused as to why on earth more people aren’t freaking out about the contemporary environmental crisis. I assumed it was because most people just don’t care, and I couldn’t get my head around that. Recently, I’ve been coming to the conclusion that actually, it’s more likely to be because most people … Continue reading
Enough Is Enough – Book Review
Enough Is Enough (2013) is an astounding book by Rob Dietz and Dan O’Neill, subtitled “Building a sustainable economy in a world of finite resources”. I read it in three days, tossing my novel away with my exam revision. It’s possibly the best book I’ve ever read in my life; it’s only real competition is … Continue reading
On Journalism, Blogging and Aspirations
Okay, now I’m going to sentence you to my musings, thoughts and half-baked plans. As you may know already, I’m studying a degree in Environment and Media Studies. I’ve just finished my first year, and I can’t believe how fast it’s gone. This September I’ll need to organise my placement year, a 12 month optional … Continue reading
The Environmentalist/Energy Tycoon Alliance?
I personally really don’t like the big energy companies. I’d quite like to see them crash and burn. Individual satisfaction aside, it turns out that’s not particularly likely nor as good as it sounds. This is because: They will fight tooth and claw against carbon regulations, and are in fact already doing this. And they … Continue reading
Solar Aeroplane!
I have good news today! Yesterday I read about Solar Impulse, the American-owned solar aeroplane that can fly all the way through day and night powered purely by the sun’s rays. It flew from one side of the USA to the other yesterday, and the next big challenge is to fly all around the world … Continue reading
Population: The Elephant In The Room
“The elephant in the room” is a funny phrase because if there was an elephant in your room, you’d definitely talk about it. Pretty loudly, I’m willing to guess. If there were two elephants, there’s absolutely no chance the issue would be ignored. And yet many people continue to ignore population growth and consumption growth. Population growth … Continue reading
A Post-Growth Economy FAQ
Originally posted on The Earthbound Report:
Behind the problems of climate change, resource depletion and biodiversity loss, not to mention a fair degree of injustice, is our pursuit of economic growth. It is the driver behind ever increasing consumption, and we will never achieve a sustainable society without addressing the issue of growth. There is…
Climate Talks – Climate Action?
Although not all of them are publicised very well, the UN have been holding climate change talks pretty much every year for a while now. The question is, are they getting anywhere? Copenhagen 2009 was a flop, the Earth Summit last year didn’t seem to do anything, and I didn’t even know COP18 took place … Continue reading
Theatre, Art and Social Justice
Do any of you live in or near London? Failing that, do you fancy heading over to the Big Smoke for a brilliant slice of theatre on the 29th May? My best friend is the producer of Black Messiah; a brand new play about the black civil rights movement in America during the Seventies. Focusing on … Continue reading