Post Carbon Newsletter #38 April 2008

1. Post Carbon Institute
2. Fellows
3. Post Carbon Cities
4. Global Public Media
5. Relocalization Network
6. Energy Farm Network
7. Forthcoming Events

1. Post Carbon Institute

The Day The Gas Dried Up
Julian Darley
Global Public Media, April 30, 2008

“You know what’s worse than a slow computer?” a professor in Texas once asked his class. “No computer.” He was telling the class about his son who was complaining that his processor wouldn’t go fast enough. Now many Americans are complaining that gasoline prices are too high as they crest the astronomical price of four dollars a gallon. They might spare a thought for the Scottish who would be grateful to pay $8.30 a gallon, if only they could get it. For rationing and actual dry gas stations have arrived in what was once an engine of the Industrial Revolution, while the government warned against the spectre of panic buying and hoarding. more....

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2. Fellows

From the Pump to the Plate: Rethinking & relocalizing our food and fuel systems
Julian Darley
HopeDance, May/June 2008

‘Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night’. It looks like the severe food problems long predicted by some agriculture, climate and peak analysts are arriving more or less on cue, with tragic results. Some of the problems are more obviously connected to the growing energy crisis, some apparently not. But the underlying drivers of all the problems are energy and population, and that means there is something the West can do about it, provided we make the right connexions between our dinner plates, the gas pump and plight of the global poor. more....

What Car Do You Drive?
Richard Heinberg
Ecologist May 2008

The question inevitably arises soon after readers or lecture audiences first become acquainted with global oil depletion and climate change. I must be asked it at least once a week. Sometimes I reply by reciting how I didn’t buy my first car till age 40, how I later drove an old diesel Mercedes while belonging to a local biodiesel co-operative, how I scrapped that fume-belching heap of metal and replaced it with a Toyota Yaris to protest the Brontosaurian dimensions of the typical American SUV, and how I now often get around town on an electric scooter. But that answer, while respecting the query’s intent, fails to advance the conversation. The question presumes a continuation of car-centered culture, and that is precisely what must be called into doubt.

In many parts of the world (especially North America), automobile ownership is a given. Throughout the last century, the petroleum, automotive, and road-building industries amassed and exerted enormous political power, systematically foreclosing all other transport options through efforts either to starve rail and public transit infrastructure of funds, or to buy them up and dismantle them. Bucking the current massive system of highways and short-lived personal dream machines often requires courage, dedication, and planning. Very few individuals are sufficiently motivated.

Thus it’s understandable that the first policy response to depleting petroleum reserves and the climate threat has been a rush toward biofuels and coal-to-liquids technologies—rather than a questioning of the auto-centric system itself. Yet if either of these alternative fuel sources is expanded enough to replace oil, the car (rather than the atom bomb) may end up being the invention that destroys the world.

Our transition away from fossil fuels will require a societal effort at a scale and speed never before seen; given the limits on our time and money, we cannot afford to waste both investment capital and precious years pursuing false solutions like alternative fuels. Electric cars may be a better idea, since there are lots of promising renewable sources of electricity. But when we step back and compare auto-based transport systems with rail-based options, even electric cars come out looking like resource gluttons. We don’t need alternative cars; we need alternatives to cars, starting with ways to reduce our need for travel in the first place.

Perhaps those of us who have arrived at this conclusion may be forgiven a less-than-joyous response to the recent unveiling of Tata Motor Company’s $2500 Nano, an auto being marketed to tens of millions of previously car-free Asians who can now afford a scaled-down version of the object that half-a-billion inhabitants of wealthier countries take for granted.

Doesn’t everyone deserve the comfort and convenience enjoyed by Americans and Europeans?

It’s an insidious question. Like the title of this essay, it presupposes a great deal. Only by unpacking and ruthlessly picking apart our assumptions about the future of transportation can we hope to overcome the sinister logic of universal car ownership—a logic that leads to universal destruction. Are biofuels a bad idea in every single instance? Probably not. Should car owners be demonized? That’s neither polite nor helpful. But until we collectively, through coordinated policies, reverse course and stop both building roads and looking to alternative fuels for a solution to environmental problems, we’re all on a highway to hell.

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3. Post Carbon Cities: Preparing for energy and climate uncertainty in Ireland and the UK

Post Carbon Cities Program Manager Daniel Lerch recently returned from a two-week trip to Ireland and the UK, sharing information and strategies from his book Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty. He also met with a wide variety of local officials, planners and citizens working to prepare their communities for a future of expensive energy. Here's a quick look at what some of these leaders are doing to push Europe further and further in its preparations for peak oil and global warming.

In his opening address to Dublin's Convergence 13 conference, Irish Minister for the Environment John Gormley captured an increasingly common theme in smart government approaches to sustainability: the need for citizens and elected officials to work together on solutions. "Don't tell me what's wrong -- I know what's wrong," said Gormley. "Tell me how to change it." Showing how relatively small government actions can help address big issues like local food security, Junior Minister for Food Trevor Sargent, followed with an example of how Ireland is "skilling up" for a future of expensive energy and global food scarcity: To help spur gardening and self-sufficiency in a country that has decisively turned away from local agriculture over the last few decades, Sargent has overseen the distribution of potato-growing kits to every primary school in Ireland.

Deciding how to change what's wrong in the big picture is no easy matter, of course. Peak oil and global warming are indicators of much deeper system problems in our global economy and environment. One model for tackling this complex challenge is The Natural Step (TNS), an organizational management framework that integrates sustainability and systems thinking. TNS has already proven successful as a tool for local governments, with over 100 municipalities around the world (largely in Sweden and a few U.S. states) having adopted it in recent years. A new consulting firm called RealEyes Sustainability Ltd. is helping the City of Dublin adopt TNS as a framework for city planning and governance, positioning Dublin as one of the first major cities outside Sweden to fundamentally reorient itself for sustainability. (American planner Sarah James and Swedish Natural Step organizer Torbjörn Lahti are the lead advocates helping U.S. communities adopt the The Natural Step and become "eco-municipalities"; learn more in their book and their upcoming trainings for city officials and staff.)

Actions large and small are of little use without vision and goals -- and the UK in particular is fortunate to now have an excellent roadmap that is serious about both the challenges ahead and the solutions we need to pursue. The Zero Carbon Britain report, produced by the very impressive Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), details how Britain can eliminate emissions from fossil fuels in 20 years and break its dependence on imported energy -- by halving energy demand and installing massive renewable energy generation. CAT Development Director Paul Allen described their straightforward approach: "Instead of forecasting from within existing attitudes, trends and approaches, we 'backcasted,' looking at where we need to be, then seeing what policies and technologies we need to get there."

The result is a sobering call for quick and decisive moves to electrify the transport system, retrofit buildings for top energy efficiency, and invest in a renewables-powered electricity grid with a strong role for local energy production. The centerpiece of the plan is an international "contraction and convergence" strategy which transitions the nations of the world to an equitable global per-capita carbon emissions cap. The 105-page report can be downloaded for free at zerocarbonbritain.com

Daniel's time in Ireland and the UK included a keynote presentation at the Convergence 13; presentations to local government officials and staff in Dublin and Kilkenny in Ireland, and Belfast and Bristol in the UK; and a important meeting with the UK's Local Government Association, introducing that organization to the challenges that peak oil is creating for cities. Daniel also attended the second annual Transition Network conference, where he spoke to citizen activists about approaching local government officials on peak oil and relocalization.

Watch for Post Carbon Cities weekly blog.

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4. Global Public Media

	Gail Tverberg: The Expected Economic Impact of an Energy Downturn Gail Tverberg is known on the website The Oil Drum as Gail the Actuary. She created this presentation for a public health program called "Converging Environmental Crises: A Teach-in on Energy, Climate Change, Water, Agriculture and Population." It explains the large economic changes that even a minor energy downturn could bring about.
	Deconstructing Dinner: Global Hops Shortage / Biodynamics and Microorganisms Beer was one of the first industrialized food and beverage products. The first segment is on the recent global shortage of hops. The second on Biodynamic agriculture is a method of organic farming that treats the farm as a unified and individual organism.
	The Reality Report: Mary Wood on Government as the Trustee of Common Assets Law professor Mary Wood will explain how the government, acting as trustee of the atmospheric commons, is obligated to deal realistically with climate change science. She is authoring a forthcoming book, The Dawn of Planetary Patriotism: A Citizens’ Call to Climate Defense.
	Crop to Cuisine: We welcomed our first episode of Crop To Cuisine. This show is produced by Dov Hirsch at KGNU Community Radio in Boulder, Colorado. • Why Localism Matters Learn more about why localization of our food supply is so important, including the historical context, environmental impacts, and even economic benefits. • SPIN farming In this episode a local restaurant making it a point to utilize locally grown and raised ingredients. They also speak with Roxanne Christenson, the President of the Institute for Innovation in Local Farming in Philadelphia. And Kipp Nash joins us in the studio to talk about his experiences with SPIN Farming in Boulder, Colorado.
	Kunstlercast Duncan Crary’s latest interviews with Post Carbon Fellow James Kunstler. In his irascible but ever engaging style, Kunstler talks with Crary about the plight of children raised in suburbia, answers questions from some of the urban planners (a profession he regularly skewers), and critiques energy guru Amory Lovins for his obsession with keeping the world motoring in hydrogen-powered cars. Children of the Burbs Urban Planning Fate of Flagstaff

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5. Relocalization Network

Post Carbon Institute is pleased to welcome Asher Miller as the newest member of the Relocalization Network team. As Relocalization Network Manager, Asher will work closely with Coordinator Shelby Tay to support existing members of the Relocalization community and grow the network. Asher has worked in various capacities in the nonprofit sector for over twelve years, most recently as founder of Climate Changers, an organization that inspires people to reduce their impact on the climate by focusing on simple and achievable actions anyone can take. Asher shares a little of his story in this blog entry. You can learn more about his professional experience on our Network Team web page.

Local Groups: SustainaBundy Goes to Press!
Congratulations to SustainaBundy, the Relocalization Network group in Bundaberg, Australia, which has just released a wonderful guide to their region. Printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks on a waterless press, the SustainaBundy Directory and Guide has it all:

• a directory of local businesses to help residents be more environmentally responsible at home and in the office

• how-to articles on reducing consumption and waste, harvesting, storing and conserving water, natural resource management, eating fresh, and local food

• calendars for keeping tabs on regional, national and worldwide environmental events

• a local produce availability guide provided by the Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers

• a guide to the various markets in the region.

For more information about the guide or other Sustainabundy projects, visit sustainabundy.org.

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6. Energy Farm Network

2008 will be a very important year in the creation of healthy local food systems. More and more, citizens are choosing to acquire their produce from local sources. Seasonal Farmer’s Markets are beginning to open. Here in Sonoma County, nine new Community Gardens are experiencing their first busy spring. People are planting their front yards with vegetables, flowers, and perennials. Cities like Petaluma are committing to developing sustainable food systems. Every day, we receive requests at the Energy Farm Network from people wanting to use their backyards, lawns and neighborhood open lots to acquire nourishment for their families with out dependence on fossil fuels for fertility, pest-control, transport, processing or storage.

Sebastopol CA - Energy Garden
Spring at the Sebastopol Energy Garden brings with it the initiation of our Volunteer and Harvest Exchange programs. Thursdays the community is invited to work along us doing the seasonal tasks associated with sustainable food production.

We have introduced 10 new (baby) hens to the garden so that we can accommodate the launch of our Harvest exchange program. More chickens will mean more eggs, and more calories that we are able to produce onsite. Supporting a flock of chickens; however, requires energy as well. Each chicken needs at least 200 calories/day to survive, and while the chickens can get about 30% of those calories by foraging, we must supply the other 70%. We give our chickens access to the compost piles and recycled food scraps, but this is still not enough feed for all 15 chickens. We are producing some chicken feed onsite from our last summer’s harvest . Our goal to achieved full independence from off-site sources.

At the Sebastopol Energy Garden, eggs account for a large portion of the calories that we produce. Of the estimated 1,476,765 calories that we can produce over the next growing year, 408,654 of that will be in the form of eggs. Not only do chickens provide a source of calories for the suburban land user they also provide nutrient rich manure. It is estimated that each hen produces 140 lb of excrement each year. For the Energy Garden that means that 2100 lb of manure will come from our flock of 15! Because of their relatively minimal space requirements and valuable contributions to the garden and gardener, chickens are great for the suburban landscape.

Willits CA – Brookside Farm
At 1400 feet elevation, Willits has been sunny and cold. As a result of over-night lows in the 30’s, the growth of transplanted and direct seeded spring veggies has been quite slow. We are tending hundreds of starts in a makeshift greenhouse, and they are making markedly better growth than those outdoors.

Brookside Farm has accomplished an initial goal of getting our veggies to young children and into a local institution! North Coast Opportunities pre-school has agreed to purchase two shares from the CSA at Brookside Farm. The school’s kitchen staff is looking forward to utilizing fresh farm produce and cooking according to the harvest season. The kids will have a direct experience of fresh, organic food. They will get to see first hand that a relocalized food system, not dependant on synthetic fertilizers, pest controls, long-distance transport or even diesel for tractor power is possible.

Frankfort KY - Kentucky State University
The Kentucky State University Energy Farm project is just beginning its first field season. Our project will incorporate both food and energy crops: Our energy crops — sweet sorghum, sweet potato, corn, and soybean — are all warm-season crops that will be planted in late May. Each of these crops is high in carbohydrates, making them either high-calorie food for humans or a source of sugars, starches, or oils that could be used for biofuel production.

We will grow our energy crops at three different scales. The smallest scale will be a biointensive system, in which only hand tools are used. Our medium scale will be a market garden system, using a combination of hand tools and a walk-behind tractor with attachments.
The largest scale system will be tractor-based. We will measure the land, labor and energy use efficiency of energy crop production at each of these scales.

The data collected from this experiment will allow us to analyze effects of farm scale on input use efficiency, and to answer questions about farmer motivation to dedicate multi-use crops to food or fuel production under a range of possible future scenarios for land, labor and energy pricing.

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7. Forthcoming Events

Post Carbon Institute Speakers Schedule

May 3 & 4, 2008
Maker Faire
San Mateo, CA
Julian Darley will be presenting and Post Carbon Institute will be exhibiting at this exciting DIY fair.

May 10, 2008
Nevada Union High School
Grass Valley, CA
Richard Heinberg presentation.

May 30-31
International Conference on Peak Oil and Climate
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Richard Heinberg and Julian Darley will be presenting via video link.
*when possible we are trying to reduce our speakers fuel usage by using a video link.

Post Carbon Events Participation

May 2, 2008
Sustainable Enterprise Conference
Rohnert Park, CA
Meet with Post Carbon Institute during this regional sustainability event.

June 6, 7 & 8, 2008
Harmony Festival
Santa Rosa, CA
Post Carbon Institute will have a booth in the Eco-Village at the largest cultural event in Sonoma County.

Featured Events

May 3 & 4, 2008
Living Green Expo
St. Paul, MN
The Living Green Expo is a free, annual event that provides information and products to help Minnesotans improve the environmental and social impacts of their day-to-day living.

May 15-16
Navigating the Carbon World
San Diego, CA
This conference is the California Climate Action Registry's 6th annual conference, this year in collaboration with Point Carbon. Over 1000 policymakers, businesses, academics and NGOs from across the globe will gather in San Diego, CA for this two day event that focuses on providing a complete understanding of the climate programs being built around the world.

May 17 - 18
Green Festival
Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
Hosted by Co-op America and Global Exchange, this green festival showcases more than 350 diverse local and national green businesses displaying and selling eco-friendly, fair trade and sustainable products. More than 150 visionary speakers appear for standing-room-only panel discussions, presentations and main stage speaking events.

May 19-21
In Safe Hands – Agricultural Biodiversity Fair
Bonn, Germany
This event, organized during the ninth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, aims to show the importance of genetic diversity for food sovereignty and food security and how agricultural biodiversity is linked with cultural diversity. Presenters will argue that “the only safe place for the diversity of our farm seeds and animals is in the hands of local people and communities worldwide.”

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