Category Archives: Consumerism

Wealth is a state of mind

I recommend that all watch the video just broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 News this evening. http://bcove.me/bhlp9f4f The video is one of a report, by Jamal Osmond, from Somaliland. Never heard of it? Me too. Somaliland is not … Continue reading

Posted in Consumerism, Ethics, Philosophy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Humanity will not be able to say it was not warned

This post is to mark the impending publication of the latest book from Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, entitled The Collapse of Western Civilisation: A View From the Future. The authors have already published a summary of this book’s thesis … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Science, Collapse, Consumerism, Environment, Growthmania, Money Fetishism | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Give Greenpeace some credit

Here’s a great idea for UK residents (one I would definitely pursue if I met the criteria): By opening a Greenpeace credit card account and using it for your everyday shopping, instead of your current credit card, you can help … Continue reading

Posted in Arctic, Climate Science, Consumerism, Environment, Greenpeace | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The population consumption environment nexus

Today’s post is that which was intended for last Monday. However, thanks to the happy coincidence of incoming information, Monday’s post was taken up with summarising an 11-year old presentation by Dr Albert A. Bartlett, entitled ‘Arithmetic, Population and Energy’, … Continue reading

Posted in Betrayal of Science and Reason, Climate Science, Consumerism, Economics, Environment, Intergenerational Injustice, Limits to Growth, Optimum Population, Politics, Sustainable development | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Arithmetic, Population and Energy

Today is Earth Day 2013, apparently. This would be a good day for everyone on Earth to accept that, given the incontrovertible operational reality of the exponential function in Nature, technological optimism is not a good idea. I am grateful … Continue reading

Posted in Cognitive Dissonance, Consumerism, Denial, Economics, Energy Crisis, Environment, Fossil Fuels, Growthmania, Politics | Tagged , | 24 Comments

Can technology save us?

I happened to stumble across a BBC TV Horizon special, entitled ‘Tomorrow’s World’ last Thursday. It begins with a fascinating review of humankind’s history of – and propensity for – invention. It also explains some truly fascinating – and inspiring … Continue reading

Posted in Carbon Capture and Storage, Climate Science, Consumerism, Economics, Energy Crisis, Environment, Financial Crisis, Growthmania, Hydraulic Fracturing, Intergenerational Injustice, Mass Extinctions, Modernity, Politics, Renewable Energy | Tagged , , , , , , | 33 Comments

Memo to Osborne, Merkel, Cyprus and the World

Dear George Osborne, Chancellor Merkel, EU Commission, Citizens of Cyprus, and people everywhere, I would like to hereby remind you of what Richard Heinberg said in his book The End of Growth. Here is a quick audio-visual summary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQqDS9wGsxQ Please … Continue reading

Posted in Consumerism, Economics, Energy Crisis, Environment, Financial Crisis, Growthmania, Intergenerational Injustice, Limits to Growth, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Who wants cleaner cars in the EU then?

With apologies for the delay, here is the latest email received from Greenpeace: ————— Hi Rick, Right now, we have a huge chance to help save the Arctic. To tackle the threats posed by the disappearing ice and the invasion … Continue reading

Posted in Arctic, Climate Science, Consumerism, Ecological Modernisation, Economics, Energy Crisis, Environment, Fossil Fuels, Greenpeace, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The dustbin of failed evolutionary experiments?

Once again, as I did in my previous post, I must credit xraymike79 as the source of the title for this offering, as it also featured in the quotation from his recent post. For ease of reference, however, here is … Continue reading

Posted in Climate Science, Consumerism, Denial, Environment, Intergenerational Injustice, Mass Extinctions, Philosophy, Religion | Tagged , , , , , | 45 Comments

Electronic toys of mass distraction

I must credit recent subscriber xraymike79 with apparently coining this term, in his recent post, entitled ‘Mankind’s Infantilism and the Death of the Planet‘. However, before clicking, please note that this contains adult themes that some might find disturbing. For … Continue reading

Posted in Carbon Capture and Storage, Climate Science, Consumerism, Economics, Environment, Fossil Fuels, Hydraulic Fracturing, James Hansen, Politics, Renewable Energy, Storms of my Grandchildren | Tagged , , | 8 Comments