DOCSLIB.ORG

The Wealth of Nature: Economics As If Survival Mattered Pdf, Epub, Ebook

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

THE WEALTH OF NATURE: ECONOMICS AS IF SURVIVAL MATTERED PDF, EPUB, EBOOK John Michael Greer | 272 pages | 31 May 2011 | New Society Publishers | 9780865716735 | English | Gabriola Island, United States The Wealth of Nature: Economics as If Survival Mattered PDF Book This is more a rhetorical work than a closely reasoned or well researched one and there are a fair number of lazy errors as a result, in particular when he focusses on energy. To view it, click here. I keep coming back to the same old tired saying regarding energy and possible alternatives Quite an interesting if you can get past some of the cheap shots at other world issues and some narrowly focused examples. Schumacher's revolutionary "economics as if people mattered", this book examines the true cost of confusing money with wealth. Schumacher's revolutionary "economics as if people mattered," this book examines the true cost of confusing money with wealth. If they turn out to be as wrong about that as so many economists were about the housing bubble, they will have made a fateful leap from risking billions of dollars to risking billions of lives. A society running on diffuse energy resources will thus not be able to make use of the same kinds of technology as a society running on concentrated energy resources, and attempts to run most existing technologies of diffuse renewable sources are much more likely to be distractions than useful options. But we are now entering an age of scarcity which will have lasting effects on our economics. Great renewable energy investments. Want to Read saving…. I am already familiar with Greer's philosophy from his earlier book "The Long Descent". Quite the contrary: all the plans for lifeboat ecovillages I've encountered so far, at least, aim at preserving some semblance of a middle-class lifestyle into the indefinite future. Paperback , pages. John Michael Greer is a scholar of ecological history, an award-winning author, and an internationally renowned peak oil theorist whose blog The Archdruid Report has become one of the most widely cited online resources dealing with the future of industrial society. Powered by WebRing. Peak oil Mitigation of peak oil Predicting the timing of peak oil Hubbert peak theory Olduvai theory. Renewable energy sources are much more diffuse. By analyzing the mistakes of contemporary economics, it shows how an economy centered on natural capital--the raw materials that support human life--can move our society toward a more productive relationship with the planet that sustains us all. The age of fossil fuels is going to end and we will have to go back to les I give this 4 stars for the central ideas, but 3 for writing. The Wealth of Nature: Economics as If Survival Mattered Writer John Michael Greer is a scholar of ecological history, an award-winning author, and an internationally renowned peak oil theorist whose blog The Archdruid Report has become one of the most widely cited online resources dealing with the future of industrial society. Jul 09, David rated it really liked it Shelves: Also, the message starts to get redundant. The huge expansion of economic activity in the past years or so is the product of our easy access to abundant energy. Renewable energy sources are much more diffuse. John Michael Greer born is an American author and druid who writes on ecology , politics, appropriate technology , oil depletion and the occult. Schumacher's revolutionary "economics as if people mattered," this book examines the true cost of confusing money with wealth. This is our collective hubris: the idea that we can overcome any limits from Nature with progress. Cookies are used to provide, analyse and improve our services; provide chat tools; and show you relevant content on advertising. All that being said, if you're new to JMG, this might be a good starting point, and you'll probably get more out of it. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. You can learn more about how we plus approved third parties use cookies and how to change your settings by visiting the Cookies notice. Joseph Tainter's classic hypothesis of societal collapse brought on by increasing social complexity is also discussed briefly. Not nearly as well structured or argued as The Long Descent. Follow us. Readers also enjoyed. Not that there's anything wrong with that, since the blog is where he develops his books and gives most of them away for free. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Bald assertions, logical fallacies, false claims, and circular arguments lead this book nowhere. Critical reading for those who want a historical perspective on economics combined with practical alternatives taken throughout history and vastly applicable to our current time. Please check the book's availability line for verification. This comment has been removed by the author. Overall, this was another great read from Greer. Yet the only limit on the production of tertiary goods is that demand for them. This site is a member of WebRing. But, like most peak oil experts, he overstates the peak oil case and over-dramatises the issues that will come from oil shortages. Aug 31, February Four added it Shelves: on-hold. And more generally, what's the point? Taxing the first and third parts of the economy while leaving the second alone will help tremendously in getting our priorities right in terms of conserving what is left of our precious environment and energy resources, an idea also put forth and much elaborated by Sanderson in his book "Terra Nova". However, this ability for unlimited expansion by the tertiary economy can hide the limits of the primary and secondary economies. Jun 06, Patrick Andersen rated it it was amazing. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. I just opened my copy and looked for some highlighted passages. Profoundly insightful and impeccably argued, this book is required reading for anyone interested in the intersection of the environment and the economy as we enter the twilight of the Age of Abundance. I don't know how well the book sold, but I hope that it opened so I had been following John Michael Greer's books on Western practical occultism for about a decade before I ever became familiar with his writings on peak oil and practical ecology. You know the saying: There's no time like the present Well, let's work it out. Notify me. Really decent blog on sustainability. Apr 25, Ryan rated it liked it Shelves: environment. Energy Policy. Want to Read saving…. What is the value of breathing clean air? Another book that points out some of the problems of assuming continued growth is the answer to our problems. About John Michael Greer John Michael Greer is a scholar of ecological history, an award-winning author and an internationally renowned Peak Oil theorist whose blog, "The Archdruid Report", has become one of the most widely cited online resources dealing with the future of industrial society. Are you happy to accept all cookies? Examples include:. Return to Book Page. If they turn out to be as wrong about that as so many economists were about the housing bubble, they will have made a fateful leap from risking billions of dollars to risking billions of lives. I keep coming back to the same old tired saying regarding energy and possible alternatives The Wealth of Nature: Economics as If Survival Mattered Reviews I don't know how well the book sold, but I hope that it opened so I had been following John Michael Greer's books on Western practical occultism for about a decade before I ever became familiar with his writings on peak oil and practical ecology. This is where E. Not every searchable book on this site is in our store's physical inventory. June 6, Download as PDF Printable version. More filters. In the real world, the supply of tangible goods produced by natural cycles or human labor is limited by factors that may not necessarily respond to changes in demand. Apr 25, Ryan rated it liked it Shelves: environment. Free delivery worldwide. Are you happy to accept all cookies? Taxing the first and third parts of the economy while leaving the second alone will help tremendously in getting our priorities right in terms of conserving what is left of our precious environment and energy resources, an idea also put forth and much elaborated by Sanderson in his book "Terra Nova". Covid 19 Spread in the whole world do have to make awareness in the common people digital multimeter price in bangladesh thermal scanner price in bangladesh digital multimeter price in BD best digital multimeter price in bangladesh thermal scanner price in BD. Setting out to re-visit the important work of the seminal economics book "Small is Beautiful", "The Wealth of Nature" provides a new and important voice re-contextualising the discussion about economy and value. I first encountered the shallower end of his thinking on these matters by way of his book Atlantis: Ancient Legacy, Hidden Prophecy , a book which clearly sought to use a sensationalistic topic to bring up some rather serious ideas to a popular audience. Sean rated it really liked it Dec 22, Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Average rating 4. Greer shows how economics can be brought more in line with the real world and he shows what the reader can do at the individual level to prepare for an age of scarcity. If you've got a large family with whom you're on good terms, bone up on your home economics skills; ten years from now, when four of your grandkids, their spouses and their children live in one rundown McMansion, having Grandma and Grandpa there to cook meals, tend children, and tend the garden will likely be worth much more than your keep.
Recommended publications
  • ROMAHDUS Vipu

    ROMAHDUS Vipu

    ROMAHDUS ViPu Lokakuu 2014 1 Sisällys Lukijalle……………………………………………………… 2 1 Mikä romahdus?…………………………………………… 2 2 Romahduksen lajeista……………………………………… 6 3 Romahduksen vaiheista…………………………………… 15 4 Teoreetikkoja ja näkemyksiä……………………………… 17 5 Romahdus—maailmanloppu, apokalypsi, kriisi, utopia… 25 6 Romahdus ja selviytyminen………………………………. 29 7 Pitääkö romahdusta jouduttaa?…………………………… 44 8 Romahdus, tieto ja hallinta………………………………… 49 9 Romahdus ja politiikka…………………………………….. 53 2 Lukijalle Tämä teksti on osa pohdiskelua, jonka tarkoituksena on luoda pohjaa Vihreän Puolueen poliittiselle toiminnalle. Tekstin aiheena on jo monin paikoin ja tavoin alkanut teollisten sivilisaatioiden ja modernismin kehityskertomuksen romahdus. Tekstin ensimmäiset 8 lukua käsittelevät erilaisia teorioita, käsityksiä ja vapaampaankin ajatuksenlentoon nojaavia näkökulmia romahdukseen. Ne eivät siis missään nimessä edusta ViPun poliittisia käsityksiä tai tavotteita, vaan pohjustavat alustavia poliittisia johtopäätöksiä, jotka esitetään luvussa 9. Toisin sanoen luvut 1-8 pyörittelevät aihetta suuntaan ja toiseen ja luku 9 esittää välitilinpäätöksen, jonka on edelleen tarkoitus tarkentua ja elää tilanteen mukaan. Tätä romahdus-osiota on myös tarkoitus lukea muiden ViPun teoreettisten tekstien kanssa, niiden ristivalotuksessa. 1 Mikä romahdus? Motto: "Yhden maailman loppu on toisen maailman alku, yhden maailmanloppu on toisen maailmanalku." Moton sanaleikin tarkoitus on huomauttaa, että vaikka yhteiskunnan romahdus onkin yksilön ja ryhmän näkökulmasta vääjäämätön tapahtuma, johon
  • Equinor Environmental Plan in Brief

    Equinor Environmental Plan in Brief

    Our EP in brief Exploring safely for oil and gas in the Great Australian Bight A guide to Equinor’s draft Environment Plan for Stromlo-1 Exploration Drilling Program Published by Equinor Australia B.V. www.equinor.com.au/gabproject February 2019 Our EP in brief This booklet is a guide to our draft EP for the Stromlo-1 Exploration Program in the Great Australian Bight. The full draft EP is 1,500 pages and has taken two years to prepare, with extensive dialogue and engagement with stakeholders shaping its development. We are committed to transparency and have published this guide as a tool to facilitate the public comment period. For more information, please visit our website. www.equinor.com.au/gabproject What are we planning to do? Can it be done safely? We are planning to drill one exploration well in the Over decades, we have drilled and produced safely Great Australian Bight in accordance with our work from similar conditions around the world. In the EP, we program for exploration permit EPP39. See page 7. demonstrate how this well can also be drilled safely. See page 14. Who are we? How will it be approved? We are Equinor, a global energy company producing oil, gas and renewable energy and are among the world’s largest We abide by the rules set by the regulator, NOPSEMA. We offshore operators. See page 15. are required to submit draft environmental management plans for assessment and acceptance before we can begin any activities offshore. See page 20. CONTENTS 8 12 What’s in it for Australia? How we’re shaping the future of energy If oil or gas is found in the Great Australian Bight, it could How can an oil and gas producer be highly significant for South be part of a sustainable energy Australia.
  • Durham Research Online

    Durham Research Online

    Durham Research Online Deposited in DRO: 01 January 2015 Version of attached le: Published Version Peer-review status of attached le: Peer-reviewed Citation for published item: Chatzidakis, A. and Larsen, G. and Bishop, S. (2014) 'Farewell to consumerism : countervailing logics of growth in consumption.', Ephemera : theory and politics in organization., 14 (4). pp. 753-764. Further information on publisher's website: http://www.ephemerajournal.org/contribution/farewell-consumerism-countervailing-logics-growth- consumption Publisher's copyright statement: Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Additional information: Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. Durham University Library, Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3LY, United Kingdom Tel : +44 (0)191 334 3042 | Fax : +44 (0)191 334 2971 https://dro.dur.ac.uk the author(s) 2014 ISSN 1473-2866 (Online) ISSN 2052-1499 (Print) www.ephemerajournal.org volume 14(4): 753-764 Farewell to consumerism: Countervailing logics of growth in consumption Andreas Chatzidakis, Gretchen Larsen and Simon Bishop Introduction The logic of growth is dominant in the contemporary political economy and in various notions of social and cultural prosperity (e.g.
  • Drumbeat: December 1, 2006

    Drumbeat: December 1, 2006

    The Oil Drum | DrumBeat: December 1, 2006 http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2006/12/1/8307/71623 DrumBeat: December 1, 2006 Posted by threadbot on December 1, 2006 - 9:30am Topic: Miscellaneous [Update by Leanan on 12/01/06 at 2:10 PM EDT] House to vote on offshore drilling bill WASHINGTON - House Republicans agreed Friday to move a compromise offshore drilling bill passed by the Senate this summer that would open new territory in the Gulf Coast area to oil rigs and create a cash cow for nearby states. With time running out on the party's majority rule, GOP leaders decided to send the measure to the floor for a vote next week, Kevin Madden, a spokesman for Majority Leader John Boehner said. Energy industry: Give us something solid - Utility execs see carbon restrictions as inevitable, want regulations 'soon rather than later;' seek stability in oil markets; questions linger over nuclear power. Saudi Arabia was held up as a model example. John Roberts, an energy security specialist with Platts, the provider of energy information that sponsored the event, said the kingdom pledged $53 billion to expand its oil infrastructure. "They are putting their money where their mouth is," said Roberts. "They say they are increasing capacity, and there is no reason to think they won't. With other countries, it's much less clear." Stirling Newberry on the economy, peak oil, and global warming: The Other Future It isn't energy per se that is the problem, but the problem of recycling petrodollars and the marginal profits of energy.
  • Local Utopia As Unobtrusive Resistance: the Greek Village Micro-Economy

    Local Utopia As Unobtrusive Resistance: the Greek Village Micro-Economy

    Local Utopia as Unobtrusive Resistance: The Greek Village Micro-Economy Marina Karides Florida Atlantic University [email protected] In late 2008 Athenian youths, triggered by extreme police violence, took to the streets with collective and intensive protests against the growing poverty, unemployment, and political corruption in Greece. The subsequent, regular protests in urban Greece speak not only to the rejection of Greek governance but also to the political and economic promise of the Euro-zone falsely promoted as a boon for its periphery. The oft-reiterated headline “Athens is burning” is varyingly used by left and right media reporting on Greece and its population’s fierce dissent. Yet Greece is not Athens. While half the nation’s population lives in urban centers such as Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patra, the other lives in small agricultural villages often mixed with low-key tourism. It is these small independent and diverse communities, or “meta-industrial populations” (Salleh), in which local agriculture literally feeds the immediate population and its tourists, offering a modest blueprint for a convivial economy. In this Symposium Ariel Salleh highlights the foundations of real ecological sustainability in the work of peasants, women, and Indigenous communities versus the commodification of a green economy. In Greece and its villages, it is not only the historical practices of environmental sustainability – a hallmark of island populations – that is to be showcased, but also an economic culture oriented towards sharing, generosity, and negotiation that is characteristic of many non-core communities. Analyses of the Greek economy are inconclusive; conservative commentators focus on political clientelism, a bloated state sector, migration and the informal economy.
  • Michael: Welcome to This Episode of the Future Is Calling Us to Greatness

    Michael: Welcome to This Episode of the Future Is Calling Us to Greatness

    Michael: Welcome to this episode of The Future is Calling Us to Greatness. Today I’ll be talking with John Michael Greer, who is a peak oil writer, a blogger, actually, to be quite honest, of everyone that I’m interviewing in this series, I’ve not read anyone more deeply and more enthusiastically than John Michael. In face, my first introduction to him was just maybe eight months ago. I read The Ecotechnic Future. Richard Heinberg was the one that introduced me to that book. Then I listened to it. Fortunately it was available on audio. Then I’ve read several others of his books that I’ll talk about here. But John Michael, welcome to this podcast series, this interview series, on The Future is Calling Us to Greatness. John: Thank you. It’s a pleasure to be on. Michael: So John Michael, could you begin just by sharing with our viewers and listeners a little bit about your own background, your accomplishments, and especially what you’re particularly passionate about or interested in at this time. John: Well, I reached adulthood at the end of the 1970’s, the early 1980’s, at the last time that American society was showing any signs of paying attention to the future or any future outside of Ronald Reagan’s distorted imaginations. I was at that time very heavily involved in what we used to call the appropriate tech movement. There’s a phrase that doesn’t get a lot of reference these days, but doing things like solar energy and wind power, but not taking over vast amounts of Nevada.
  • Shifting the Peak Oil “Debate” to Strategic Management

    Shifting the Peak Oil “Debate” to Strategic Management

    Shifting the Peak Oil “Debate” to Strategic Management Sally Odland March 2007 It’s time to initiate a real public discourse on the Peak Oil “debate” from a management perspective. On the one side, there are the “Peak Oilers”, urgently warning that world oil production will soon hit its maximum, if it hasn’t already. Many predict dire ramifications for the economy and our current way of life. They are a disparate band, but include some prominent businessmen, members of Congress and the Intelligence community. On the other side, a number of government agencies, oil company CEOs, energy consultants and economists are publicly assuring us there is plenty of oil. They say production will not peak until at least 2030, maybe later…assuming we get access to politically and environmentally extreme areas and invest enough. Each side fires predictable volleys from well-entrenched positions. One side clearly has more corporate clout and better access to the mainstream media. The other uses the internet with the tenacity of resistance fighters. But bottom line, everyone is speculating. There’s a conspicuous lack of verifiable data about how much oil is really out there and who has the capacity to produce more. How can ordinary people and businesses decide whom to believe, much less whether to act, in the face of such polarized viewpoints? Out here in daily life, managers – and by that I mean anyone who makes conscious resource allocation decisions for themselves or others – frequently must take action in the face of incomplete and contradictory information. So, instead of arguing about who has correctly predicted the exact date for peak oil, how about shifting the debate? Let’s examine the spectrum of possibilities, the assumptions underlying them, and their probability, uncertainty and risk.
  • Sustainability Leaders

    Sustainability Leaders

    new society publishers 2020 YEARS Sustainability Leaders Publishing Books for a World of Change 40 Years new society publishers is proud to be celebrating 40 years of activist, solutions-oriented publishing. From our roots in non-violent of Publishing civil disobedience training during the Vietnam war to today, with over for a World 500 books published — some across a dozen languages — we continue to bring positive solutions and cutting-edge ideas, to some of the most of Change troubling challenges of our time. Having never wavered from our mission to help build a just and ecologically sustainable society — placing planet and people before profit —we are proud to hold the highest environmental and social standards of any publisher in North America. With a dedicated community of changemakers and thought leaders, always working ahead of the curve, we look forward to another 40 years of bringing our readers books for a world of change. As the climate crisis accelerates and the coronavirus outbreak exposes the fragility of the just-in-time globalized, growth economy, we are focussed ever more on local resilience. Our Fall 2020 list is packed with practical books to get you started on building local capacity with how-to books on ecological land design, regenerative agriculture, and growing quality, nutritious local food – the very backbone of a resilient local economy. Yet resiliency is not all about food. We also offer tools for the deep inner work of personal transformation and methods for leveraging behavior change to build an inclusive society in which all voices are heard and all people can contribute.
  • ICT After Fossil Fuels

    ICT After Fossil Fuels

    Communications Information Technology After Fossil Fuels Wednesday, August 17, 2016 Speakers: Casey Hall directs Citizen's Engagement Lab's Climate Lab), Dr. Douglas RusHkoff, (author of THrowing Rocks at the Google Bus), RicHard HeinBerg (Post CarBon Institute), AsHer Miller (Post CarBon Institute) Contact Us: [email protected] Tweet Us: #renewablefuture WeBsite: OurRenewableFuture.org Monica Hello! ZacH An excellent, useful read! leslie [email protected] david An exciting topic, that is for sure! leslie #renewablefuture Lovis WHat is the role of B incorporation in creating the renewable/sustainable future? Jack THanks for opening this view of the Human predicament leslie CHeck out all the free reading and the in depth analysis AsHer mentioned Here: leslie www.ricHardHeinBerg.com leslie Http://www.rusHkoff.com/ leslie Http://engagementlab.org/people/casey-Harrell ZacH Your thougHts on How alternatives to the growth douBling down can enter the political reality would "Appropriate tecHnology reminds us that Before we cHoose our tools and tecHniques, we must first cHoose our dreams and values, for some tecHnologies serve them wHile others make them Craig unoBtainable" Tom Bender Looking Back it seems the only collective dreams and values centers on Silvia Can capitalism Be reformed to Be compatiBle with a living, livable planet? Can we Have a "well- Monica Can people de reformed to think in terms that are compatiBle with ecological Health, social respect ZacH You can. People can. Ben Capitalism to serve the planet... it's a Both/and. Mark THis is really Boring. WHat's the purpose Here? Economics Has Become the language of extinction as we give value to the very things that directly Craig undermine our and future generations well Being.
  • 2. PEAK OIL 10 2.1 the Origin of Oil 11 2.2 History of Oil 12 3

    2. PEAK OIL 10 2.1 the Origin of Oil 11 2.2 History of Oil 12 3

    Bachelor's thesis (Turku University of Applied Sciences) Degree Programme in International Business International Business Management 2012 Aleksi Rantanen, Lauri Stevens PEAK OIL – A study of the phenomenon and possible effects and alternatives in Finland BACHELOR´S THESIS | ABSTRACT TURKU UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES International Business | Management 2012 | 66 + 5 Emmanuel Querrec Aleksi Rantanen and Lauri Stevens PEAK OIL – A STUDY OF THE PHENOMENON AND POSSIBLE EFFECTS AND ALTERNATIVES IN FINLAND This thesis studies a phenomenon called oil peak; what does it mean, what are the possible effects and consequenses in Finland. The theoretical framework covers facts about oil and energy, different theories from microeconomics all the way to different oil theories. It provides comprehensive information on the subject. The empirical research includes two separate expert interviews with the aim of understanding peak oil and its effects in Finland from two different perspectives. The other expert coming from from private sector and the other expert from public sector. The research was conducted by using qualitative method and the questions were made mainly based on the theoretical framefork. Main findings of this study were that peak oil is recognized but experts still argue what does it mean practically; when is it going to happen or has it already happened. The era of cheap oil is coming to an end and it is time for Finland to investigate all possible solutions which could decrease our level of oil dependency. KEYWORDS: Peak oil, oil dependency, oil crunch, eroei, energy, alternative energy, energy in Finland, oil theory, energy production, energy consumption OPINNÄYTETYÖ (AMK) | TIIVISTELMÄ TURUN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU International Business | Management 2012 | 66 + 5 Emmanuel Querrec Aleksi Rantanen and Lauri Stevens ÖLJYHUIPPU – TUTKIMUS ILMIÖSTÄ JA SEN MAHDOLLISISTA VAIKUTUKSISTA JA VAIHTOEHDOISTA SUOMESSA Tämä opinnäytetyö tutkii öljyhuippua ilmiönä; mitä se tarkoittaa ja mitkä ovat sen mahdolliset vaikutukset ja seuraukset Suomessa.
  • Small Is Beautifull Une Société À La Mesure De L'homme

    Small Is Beautifull Une Société À La Mesure De L'homme

    Small is beautifull Une société à la mesure de l'homme EF Schumacher Table des matières Le monde moderne...............................................................................................................1 1 Le problème de la production ......................................................................................3 2 Paix et pérennité ........................................................................................................11 3 Le rôle de l'économie.................................................................................................25 4 Le système d'économie bouddhiste............................................................................35 5 Une question de taille ................................................................................................43 Ressources..........................................................................................................................53 6 La ressource première : l'éducation ...........................................................................55 7 De la bonne utilisation de la terre ..............................................................................73 8 Ressources pour l'industrie ........................................................................................85 9 L' énergie nucléaire : salut ou damnation ? ...............................................................97 10 Une technologie à visage humain ..........................................................................107 Le tiers monde..................................................................................................................117
  • Sustainable Tompkins Blog Richard W. Franke May 2012

    Sustainable Tompkins Blog Richard W. Franke May 2012

    Are We Nearing the Peak? Sustainable Tompkins Blog Richard W. Franke May 2012 Hi everybody, welcome to the Sustainable Tompkins May 2012 Blog. The ST Board is attempting to provide monthly opportunities for community discussion and May is my month. I would like to share some information and a few thoughts on the topic “Are we approaching the energy descent?” Could that approach be part of the cause of the current economic crisis? Nice, easy subjects, right? If you’re interested, read on… In thinking back over the past few decades I could not help but notice that years ending in “2” seemed to have a lot of significance for sustainability. 1962 was the year of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. 1992 was the year of the Rio Earth Summit and the Declaration of the 27 principles on Environment and Development – it was also the year of the Scientists Warning to Humanity. And then there was 1972, the year of the Limits to Growth. I got to thinking of the Limits to Growth study several days ago, when, on May 2 (another “2”) I attended a presentation at Cornell by J. David Hughes of the Post Carbon Institute. In 108 powerpoint slides – nearly all of them graphs or charts – Hughes identified the main apparent trends in “availability and deliverability” of oil, gas, coal and uranium, aspects of electricity production, and implications of population growth and other factors for future energy needs. You can view all 108 slides by clicking here, or go to: http://www.eeb.cornell.edu/howarth/HUGHES%20Cornell%20Ithaca%20May%202 %202012.pdf For those of us