Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy The Volume 5, Issue 1 • December 201 2 Stea d y Sta ter

Our Mission The (Steady) State The mission of CASSE is to advance the steady state economy, with stabilized and , as a policy of CASSE in 2012 goal with widespread public support. Folks were starting to wonder, doing CASSE We pursue this mission by: "What's become of CASSE?" It's functions on nights educating citizens on the conflict a fair question because this is the and weekends while 1 between economic growth and first issue of the in working for the U.S. Steady Stater environmental protection, ecological and 201 2. With Christmas right Fish and Wildlife economic , and national around the bend, this will be the Service in the "day security and international stability; last of 201 2, too. job" and serving as a Steady Stater promoting a steady state economy Count on quarterly issues in 201 3 visiting professor for 2 as a desirable alternative to though. Virginia Tech, teaching economic growth; and CASSE affairs were less visible and advising future studying the means to establish a 3 steady state economy. in 201 2 due largely to the fact steady state leaders. that we had no full-time paid staff That explains the lower for nearly a year. Rob Dietz frequency of communication! resigned from his post as Outreach Highlights Executive Director late in 2011 . Nevertheless, CASSE played a • United Nations General Since then we've had a Volunteer key role in some unprecedented Assembly's Panel presentation Acting Director – Brian Czech – steady-state successes in 201 2. for Interactive Dialogue on CASSE board Harmony with Nature members and • World Environmental speakers gave Constitution Forum at Rio+20, dozens of steady- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil state talks around • International Conference on the world. The UN in the Americas at General Assembly McGill University, Montreal, in New York, Canada Rio+20, and even • Measuring What Matters the Princeton Conference at University of Plasma Physics Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, Laboratory were USA among our ... continued on page 3

Brian Czech moderating a panel on "Harmony With Nature," sponsored by Bolivia, at the UN General Assembly, April 18. What's Inside? Two Books for 201 3 ... p2 Position Endorsements ... p4 List of Local Chapters ... p5 Calls to Action 201 3 ... p8 1 Three Authors, Two Books, One "Double­Barrel Shotgun" Maybe the shotgun metaphor and among the general public – isn't warm and fuzzy, but at will be more valuable than the CASSE we don't beat around the sum of the two apart. To draw a bush. We don't waffle about the historical analogy, think of the conflict between economic Federalist Papers with the growth and environmental American Constitution. protection, national security, and international stability. We eschew As the author of Supply Shock: notions of "green growth" and Economic Growth at the don't settle for vague talk of a Crossroads and the Steady State "new economy." We tell it like it is Solution, Czech's intent was to about limits to growth and we provide a hybrid textbook/trade explicitly advance the clear and book in the tradition of Jared Supply Shock is a comprehensive Diamond's approach to steady state sustainable alternative: the Guns, Germs, and economics. History, anthropology, steady state economy. Steel. It took ten years and politics, sociology, , required a thorough and wide- economics, , environmental affairs, public That helps to explain why three ranging treatment, covering policy, and "steady CASSE principals have two historical, technical, and political statesmanship" in international diplomacy are woven into a books coming out this winter that aspects of limits to growth and treatise for the steady state will arm and empower readers to the steady state economy. Czech economy. join the steady state movement was especially keen on handling with knowledge and confidence. some devils in the details, such The first $5,000 of royalties from as the nature of technological each book will go to CASSE; a progress and the corruption of "shot" of cash from both barrels, neoclassical economics. Then, in to temper the metaphor a bit. the final chapter, "A Call for Steady Statesmen: Policies for a Full-World Economy," Czech laid Supply Shock (by Brian Czech) out specific policy proposals for and Enough Is Enough (by Rob Dietz and Dan O'Neill) will achieving the steady state complement and supplement economy. each other, with synergistic effects for the reader. And, to Meanwhile policy proposals are build further on the CASSE much easier to lay out with the connection, Herman Daly (Steady benefit of Enough Is Enough: State Economist # 1 and CASSE Building a Sustainable Economy , Board member) has authored in a World of Finite Resources Enough is Enough offers practical forewords for both books. which started out as the and hopeful solutions to the proceedings of the 201 0 Steady problem of never­ending economic growth. It answers the Each book can stand solidly State Economy conference at question, "What do we need to do alone, or New Society Publishers Leeds University. to establish a steady state Enough is economy." and Berrett-Koehler (respectively) Enough stands on its own wouldn’t have published them. because it too provides context, Yet the coupling of these two describing why economic growth A portion of royalties from these books will be donated to CASSE. books – in classrooms, think has become a bad deal at this Join the book launch team by tanks, civic groups, book clubs, emailing ... continued on page 3 [email protected]. 2 ... continued from page 2 from page 1 ... point in history. But the speaking venues. So, although That's why some of the best strength of Enough is Enough many of our members couldn't news of all is our hiring of Mike is its thorough treatment of have known, we were more Sandler as Administrative policy reforms and other prolific than ever in getting the Director in September, 201 2. actions for achieving a steady word out in 201 2. We weren't Mike brings a solid background of state economy, which was able to keep the CASSE Events organizational leadership and the focus of the Leeds page up to date, but it's been networking to CASSE (see page conference. In Enough is updated now with highlights of 4), and we are extremely Enough, Rob Dietz and Dan our 201 2 speaking events. fortunate to have him on board. O'Neill essentially provide a He will be the jack of all trades blueprint for the steady state Likewise with new CASSE CASSE needs to take it to the economy. chapters; several were formed in next level. His position entails a 201 2 – New South Wales, Hong long list of tasks, including Both books are highly Kong, Serbia, South Africa, financial operations, volunteer recommended. Whether you Tolima, Vienna, St. Louis – but coordination, website prefer the metaphorical website visitors wouldn't have construction and maintenance, double-barrel, one-two known until very recently. fundraising, representing CASSE punch, or two tracks for a Scholarly publications, media at various functions, and the sustainable train, these books appearances, notable signatory zillion "little" things that come with will serve you well. We face list, blog presenceP all was well a one-man operation, from stern opposition in advancing in 201 2. If you're sensing a handling email to changing the the steady state economy. theme, you're right. CASSE folks printer cartridges. Let's be fully prepared with were busy getting things done nuanced understanding of without it, but now In short, 201 2 has been a highly how we got here, the these highlights are slowly productive year for CASSE and, challenging political terrain, coming to light. at least in that regard, a good and a detailed roadmap for year for steady state economics. where we want to go. It's not that we didn't want to keep our networks better Can you think of another apprised, but sometimes you organization that more Are you a Member of have to decide: Do more or talk proactively, more clearly, more CASSE? about what you've done. effectively advances the steady Sometimes you're so state economy as a policy goal Member donations help CASSE promote the steady state shorthanded you simply can't do with widespread public support? economy. You can set up an both. That's the way it was for annual or recurring donation at most of 201 2. steadystate.org/give. ... continued on page 6

CASSE Regional and Chapter Outreach

Geoff Mosley, Australian Director, gave a talk to a packed public audience in Adelaide, organized by Economic Reform Australia. Afterward, a video of the presentation was widely distributed.

Claudia Munera, Colombian Chapter, spoke at the Tertulias sustentables Villa de Leyva (Sustainable meetings - Villa de Leyva), Colombia.

Daniel W. O'Neill, UK Director, was an invited panelist at We Need to Talk About Growth, University of Manchester, UK.

James Magnus Johnston, Canadian Director, participated in the 201 2 Global Issues Conference at Menno Simons College, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 3 CASSE Position Spotlight CASSE's position on economic growth serves many functions in promoting the message of a steady state economy and building the network of steady staters and their allies around the world.

Notable Endorsements PPoossiittiioonn Individuals • Jane Goodall • Bill McKibben SSttaattiissttiiccss • • Chris Matthews 99550000 iindiiviidualls have • David Suzuki • David Korten siigned

New notables Fall 2012 11 9900 organiizatiions • Douglas Rushkoff, author, blogger, and media critic have endorsed • Nazia Mintz-Habib of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Fellow at 11 22 professiionall,, government or Harvard's Center for International Development sciientiifiic groups say the same thiing • Aubrey Meyer, originator of the Contraction & as of 1 5 November 201 2 Convergence model for equitable climate stabilization • Gerard Ndabemeye, Director Général de l Help us reach our goal of 1 0,000 Planification Agricole et de l'Elevage, Burundi Help us reach our goal of 1 0,000 before 1 January!! Organizations • Conservation International - Brazil • Miljøpartiet De Grønne (Green Party Of Norway) International • Institute Communications • E. O. Wilson Foundation With five new translations in 201 2, • Public Employees For Environmental Responsibility the CASSE position on economic New notables Fall 2012 growth is now on the Internet in the following languages: • Post Growth Institute, Vancouver, Canada • Institute for Sustainable Futures at University of English, Spanish, French, German, Technology, Sydney, Australia Hindi, Italian, Russian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Europe), Norwegian, Swedish, Croatian, Hungarian, Tamil, Mongolian, Serbian, Catalan, Dutch, and Ukrainian

CASSE Board Member Outreach Although retired, CASSE Board member Herman Daly gave two interviews on BBC's World Business radio show. Herman also published an article in Ecological Economics, "Growth, Debt, and the World Bank."

CASSE Board member Brent Blackwelder spoke in New Mexico at the annual conference of Age Nation, a seniors NGO concerned with sustainability affairs. Brent's efforts in advancing the steady state economy were also prominent in his work as a board member of Tax Justice Network and of Foundation Earth.

CASSE Board member Lisi Krall published an article in Ecological Economics, "Ecological economics, degrowth, and institutional change," and another article "Ecological economics and institutional change," in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, both written with Kent Klitgaard.

CASSE Board member Peter Victor gave the keynote address at the annual conference of the Institute for New Economic Thinking in Berlin; received grant with Tim Jackson to work on ecological macroeconomics. 4 New Local Chapters in 2012 CASSE has been adding new local chapters, listed below. Welcome to these well-qualified Directors! Are you nearby? Contact your local chapter lead through the CASSE website to see how you can help. Location Director Bio Hong Kong, China Claudio Delang Geographer at the Hong Kong Baptist University with background in economics, geography, and environmental studies, working in rural areas in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam) and China.

London, UK Miri Sloboda Founding Director of STEP: Staying Together - Encouraging Parents. She has worked for Oxfam, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and in the private sector.

Sydney, Australia Anna and Eva Anna is a chemical engineer with a PhD in reaction kinetics Schlunke (from Sydney University) who works in the area of sustainable buildings, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions. Eva is an artist and illustrator, who lives and exhibits in Redfern, Sydney, with a background in business administration and eco-tourism.

Risaralda, Colombia Paola Arias Economist with graduate studies in the management of protected areas. Working as a consultant mainly in the Otun Watershed on interdisciplinary projects involving economic valuation, watershed management and planning, and payments for environmental services and has experience with the Ecovillage El Prado.

Novi Sad, Serbia Ante Vujić Full professor at the Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences (University of Novi Sad, Serbia) with main interests in biodiversity conservation, entomology, and the protection of endangered species.

KwaZulu-Natal, Gertrud Lomas-Walker South Africa Jean Senogles Gertrud has worked for the past 20 years in the fields of sustainability and economic development for a large South African financial services organisation, and for an international assurance and advisory firm. Jean is a veteran environmental activist, conservationist, geographer, and teacher. She has served on many boards including several nature reserves, conservancies, and research associations.

St. Louis, Missouri, Eric Zencey Author of the The Other Road to Serfdom: Essays in USA Sustainable Democracy. An internationally published (and nationally best-selling) novelist, he holds a Ph.D. in political philosophy, and currently is a visiting professor at Empire State College and an affiliate of the Gund Institute of Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont.

5 New Local Chapters (continued) Location Director Bio Ekondo Titi, Mukete Awah Project Officer at the Service for Environmental Cameroon Beckline Protection (COSEP), Cameroon Office and a Postgraduate Research Student, Environmental Agriculture at the Buea University, Cameroon. He has previously worked as a Research Ecologist in Copenhagen, Denmark, in the Netherlands, and elsewhere.

Tolima, Colombia Sandra Marcela Marcela is a biologist with a passion for wildlife conservation Cely Santos and a deep interest in biodiversity conservation in productive landscapes. works at a Regional Innovation Institute which educates people living in rural landscapes and supports them in the establishment of and associations. The purpose is to improve livelihoods, build equitable communities, and re-empower communities to build a better future.

Toronto, Canada Ryan Dyment Ryan is a Chartered Accountant and the Executive Director of Institute for a Resource-Based Economy, a non-profit organization that connects economic and environmental issues and implements shared-resource projects in Toronto. Ryan is a graduate of McGill University and serves on the Board of Wildlife Preservation Canada.

Vienna, Austria Graziano Ceddia Graziano is an economist with a PhD in and Management (Ebor, UK). He is Associate Professor in at MODUL University (MU) Vienna, where he teaches ecological economics and he serves as president of the MU Sustainability Committee.

Zürich, Switzerland Michael Curran Ph.D. student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zürich, focusing on applying the principles of steady state and ecological economics to the problem of land allocation between nature conservation and human use. He holds a Master’s degree in spatial ecology from the University of Basel and a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from University College Dublin.

Recent Comments from Signatories

"Bravo to CASSE for calling attention to the elephant in economic theory: no system can sustain exponential growth indefinitely."

"Please keep up this very important work — for the sake of my children and (hopefully) grandchildren."

"I knew there had to be a better way; glad to find people who understand and can explain it."

"We need 900 million more signatures... at least."

6 Daly News Recent "Bestsellers"

Herman Daly, Eight Fallacies about Growth

Brian Czech, Economic Growth: The Missing Link in Environmental Journalism

Brent Blackwelder, Climate Change Trumps Terrorism as Threat to National Security

Rob Dietz, The Triumph of Fantasy over Science from page 3 ...

Probably not. In fact, no other the Escalade sector declines. organization is even focused on Without CASSE, who is going to advancing the steady state lead the way in advancing the More Comments economy. steady state economy as a policy goal with widespread public from Signatories In a typical year-end letter such support? as this, you'd know what to "I feel a steady state economy expect at this point, right? Big Money isn't going to is the solution to a good Somewhere has to come the participate in our development, portion of modern society's annual pitch for donations. Well, so please consider making your current ailments." we won't let you down! voice for the steady state economy heard, as part of a "I think this an absolutely We truly need our supporters – growing movement, by donating great cause." members, signatories, social as best you can and as soon as media followers, even speakers possible. This will put us in a "The true heart of what the and board members – to come much better position for green and sustainable through this year, for the good of foundation grants in 201 3. movement needs to all. That's because most embrace." charitable foundations are Meanwhile, enjoy the rest of the struggling, and this has impacted pages the 201 2 Steady Stater, "The world needs a new the CASSE coffers. Thanks and get ready for a big 201 3! model...CASSE may be it." largely to our individual donors we've managed to maintain a "I agree, this is the "steady state" at around fundamental issue of our $1 00,000, the bare-bones time." minimum to keep a non-profit Support CASSE organization running in the "Thank you for creating and Washington, DC area while Donate and/or become a holding this space." staying on the radar of charitable CASSE member at foundations. "Steady State is the ONLY steadystate.org/give. way to solve environmental Of course we of all people want a problems and provide justice steady state economy, but at this for people." point in history we need the CASSE sector to grow while, say,

7 Calls to CASSE welcomes new Upcoming Events Action for Administrative January 24, 201 3: Enough 201 3 Director, Is Enough Book Launch, Mike Sandler various locations in US and UK, see CASSE website CASSE has been building a list In late for more information. of over 200 volunteers from September, around the world. Volunteers CASSE hired are generally expected to be Mike Sandler self-directed in promoting the as the new steady state economy. Every Administrative Director. Mike Donate to CASSE so often CASSE may send out recently moved to ideas for coordinated actions. Washington DC from CASSE relies on contributions Northern California where he from people like you. Individual There are several ideas for had been working on climate donations are very important for actions you can take on the change issues with local our general administrative costs CASSE website under “Act.” governments and the (which we keep as low as The top action for volunteers is advocacy community. Mike possible). Help keep the lights to help us get more signatures looks forward to working with on and the website up, so we can on the CASSE position on you to promote the steady continue to provide you and economic growth. The state economy. You can others tools to transform the reach Mike at importance of these signatures growth economy into a steady [email protected]. is overlooked and hard to state. exaggerate. Dear Speakers Not yet a member? join us at Next, how about doing one steadystate.org/join action each month? For and Notable example, next month, focus on Signatories: Thanks! writing letters to the editor to newspapers or magazines. For If you are traveling through 201 3, monthly actions could areas where there is a local include: CASSE chapter, let us know by sending your events schedule to • Lecture and discussion at [email protected]. local university for students. Leverage our international network promote our • Contact Chambers of common message to fellow Commerce, Sierra Club steady staters. chapters, or other groups that host speakers.

• Seek endorsement of CASSE position by an organization or CASSE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the business. advancement of the steady state economy. Please email all comments and correspondance to • Send us your ideas! [email protected]. Thanks for reading the steady stater!

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