Seasons change but, unfortunately, some things never change. Last December, in Copenhagen, world leaders failed to take bold action to address the climate crisis. And just last week, even after the worst environmental disaster in our nation's history, US Congressional leaders did the same. These failures of national and international leadership made it abundantly clear, that at least for the foreseeable future, leadership is going to have to come one house, one neighborhood, one city, and one state at a time.
This month's newsletter features the release of three new chapters from The Post Carbon Reader, including one on personal preparedness by Fellow Chris Martenson. We also feature a darkly satirical piece by Senior Fellow Richard Heinberg describing five ways you can profit BIG from global collapse.
the post carbon reader
July saw the release of further exclusive articles from our brand new book The Post Carbon Reader. The book will be released in October 2010. Find out more.
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FOUNDATION CONCEPTS: Beyond the Limits to Growth
Report by Richard Heinberg • July 27, 2010
The underlying premise of the book (The Post Carbon Reader) is irrefutable: At some point in time, humanity's ever-increasing resource consumption will meet the very real limits of a planet with finite natural resources... Read more |
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SMART DECLINE: The Buffalo Commons Meets Buffalo, New York
Report by Deborah Popper and Frank Popper • July 20, 2010
In 2002, after decades of trying to restart economic development like most other Rust Belt cities, Youngstown made a radical change in approach... Read more |
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RESILIENCE: Personal Preparation
Report by Chris Martenson • July 6, 2010
My "standard of living" is a fraction of what it formerly was, but my quality of life has never been higher. We live in a house less than half the size of our former house, my beloved boat is gone, and we have a garden and chickens in the backyard... Read more |
latest publications
Read, watch or listen to the latest content by our Fellows, Board and Staff anytime on our website. Here are some selections from the last month:
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What Now? Redux
Post by Asher Miller • July 27, 2010
Back in December in blisteringly cold Copenhagen, tens of thousands of activists, government workers, lobbyists, and world leaders came together... Read more |
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You Can be a BILLIONAIRE Without Even Trying!
Post by Richard Heinberg • July 26, 2010
What can you do to optimize your chances in the case of hyperinflation, a deflationary economic Depression, an oil crisis, a famine... Read more |
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Dems Roll Over, Abandon Climate Bill. Will Citizenry Follow Suit?
Post by Tod Brilliant • July 22, 2010
We can point fingers at Washington, DC, but we should be pointing them at ourselves. We allow our votes to be taken for granted... Read more |
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3 Policy Changes I Would Make Right Now
Video commentary by Gloria Flora • July 22, 2010
Gloria Flora calls for A) the equitable distribution of resources B) the end of wasteful use of fossil fuels C) zero waste D) an immediate carbon tax... Read more |
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Dear Candidate - What will you do if growth is over...?
Post by Nate Hagens • July 21, 2010
To me, one of the most surreal phenomena one encounters these days is that no country, no established economic research institute (that I'm aware of)... Read more |
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The Real Environmental Disaster
Article by Bill McKibben • July 20, 2010
So—whew—the bleeding seems finally to have been staunched, three months after BP stabbed its hole in the bottom of the sea... Read more |
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The Peak Oil Crisis: A Mid-Year Review
Article by Tom Whipple • July 15, 2010
It now appears that the run-away oil well will soon be brought under control and will stop gushing into the Gulf. While the litigation, cleanup... Read more |
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The 50-year farm bill
Article by Wes Jackson • July 14, 2010
We need new strategies for agriculture that emphasize efficient nutrient use in order to lower production costs and minimize negative environmental effects... Read more |
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Canada's Energy Superpower Delusion
Article by David Hughes • July 13, 2010
First off, Canada is not now, nor is it ever likely to be, an "Energy Superpower". This term was first used by Prime Minister Harper... Read more |
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Clean Energy, Brown Fields, Wild Spaces
Article by Majora Carter • July 22, 2010
One of the best things about my work in green project development is that I get to see how innovative projects inspire new policies... Read more |
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Are American Drivers Facing Reality?
Video commentary by Anthony Perl • July 12, 2010
PCI Transportation Fellow Anthony Perl discusses the reality of higher fuel prices and how this is presently and will continue to effect ... Read more |
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India cuts gas subsidy in favor of greener investments?
Article by Warren Karlenzig • July 9, 2010
Is India trying to turn a corner toward more sustainable economic development with its recent reduction in fossil fuel subsidies?... Read more |
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On Personal Downsizing
Video commentary by Chris Martenson • July 8, 2010
PCI Economy Fellow Chris Martenson discusses his family's journey as he transitioned from Fortune 300 executive to community resilience expert... Read more |
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Some Reflections on 'The Big Society'...
Post by Rob Hopkins • July 6, 2010
A few people have asked me what my thoughts are on the whole 'Big Society' concept being promoted by the new British government... Read more |
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A government says NO to airport expansion
Post by Anthony Perl • July 2, 2010
The British government's recent decision to cancel construction of a third runway at London's Heathrow airport marks a major milestone in our adaptation to post-carbon mobility... Read more |
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take action
Are you looking for suggestions of meaningful actions you can take to respond to the issues facing us? PCI is supporting our allies and friends in their campaigns. Keep an eye on the 'take action' block on our home page for more.
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Should President Obama put solar back on the White House?
Support the 350.org campaign and sign the letter urging President Obama to PutSolarOn.It! |
fellows and staff in the press
energy bulletin highlights
Below is a selection of recent articles and media appearing on Energy Bulletin.
energy bulletin featured articles
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A Deutschland disconnected from its Volk
by Rahul Goswami, Energy Bulletin
Travelling by road from Bruxelles to Berlin, your vehicle enters Deutschland through the Belgian border along the state of Nordrhein-Westfalen...Read more |
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Putting Me in My Place
by Sharon Astyk,
Casaubon's Book
The first thing you need to know about my farm is that it is huge. I mean enormous—by world standards. The vast majority of the world's farms... Read more |
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Transition in the big city — part I
by Joanne Poyourow, Transition US
The Transition movement coaches us to "begin in your own backyard." But what if your backyard happens to be one of the biggest megacities in the world?...Read more |
energy bulletin featured media
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Peak Moment 176: How we live at Lone Bobcat Woods
by Yuba Gals Independent Media, Peak Moment Television
Peek behind the scenes at Peak Moment TV's home base. Janaia Donaldson shows guest host Ivey Cone the solar power system, woodstove... View media |
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Are agricultural systems sustainable? (Toby Hemenway on permaculture)
by Jon Steinman, Deconstructing Dinner
Much of the content of Deconstructing Dinner revolves primarily around the practice of agriculture; from examining the downsides and challenges... Listen |
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Naresh Giangrande, Co-Founder of the World's First Transition Town
by Carl Etnier, Equal Time Radio
Naresh Giangrande is the co-founder of the world's first Transition Town, in Totnes, UK. The goal of Transition Towns is to transition from oil dependence to community resilience... Listen |
transition US update
A monthly update from the US regional hub of the international Transition movement.
 As the story of Transition in the US unfolds (74 official Transition Initiatives!) so does the journey of Transition US. We continue to be busy providing opportunities to come together virtually through webinars, conference calls, list servs, trainings, all exploring areas from organizing in big cities to nurturing the heart and soul of Transition. We are constantly inspired by all of the wonderful projects that Transition Initiatives across the country are spearheading. The Richmond Rivets and Transition Albany in California created a lovely video on celebrating our interdepence in lieu of the July 4th holiday - watch it here. For more stories, resources and events, read the July Newsletter. |
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events
View our events calendar
 Climate Change Conference 2010
August 13-15, 2010, Toronto, Canada
Post Carbon Fellows Anthony Perl and Bill McKibben will both be taking part in the Climate Change Conference 2010. Bill McKibben will be speaking on the Political Challenges of 350 on Friday by video link. Anthony Perl's Transport Solutions session is on Saturday...
Further event information. |
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 On The Money - A Vision Quest to the Heart of Local Money
August 14-18, 2010, Findhorn, Scotland
Post Carbon Fellow Richard Douthwaite, presenting via videolink, will be one of the guest speakers. Richard is helping to develop the Liquidity Network, a debt-free electronic currency system, in Ireland.
Further event information. |
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 Southwest Michigan Community Harvest Fest
September 19, 2010, Scotts, MI
Post Carbon Senior Fellow Richard Heinberg will be making the featured presentation at this event on the subject of 'Sustainability: How to Make the Transition'.
Further event information. |
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 Green Collar Jobs
September 21, 2010, Syracuse, NY
While the term "green-collar jobs" gains more press and pundits daily, very few people have actually marshaled the resources to get unemployed Americans trained and placed on pathways out of poverty in this growing economic sector. Post Carbon Fellow Majora Carter has.
Further event information. |
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 UDEI Energy & Sustainability Conference 2010
September 23, 2010, Newark, DE
Post Carbon Program Director Daniel Lerch will be one of the keynote speakers at the University of Delaware's 2010 Energy & Sustainability Conference. The conference will cover a variety of topics including eco-villages, green entrepreneurship, local foods, sustainable building and community design, permaculture and energy policy.
Further event information. |
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 Smart Growth VI: Building a Prosperous and Liveable Community
September 23, 2010, Santa Rosa, CA
Post Carbon Fellow Michael Shuman is the keynote speaker at this event hosted by the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy.
Further event information. |
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 2010: Prairie Festival
September 24, 2010, Salina, KS
Post Carbon Fellow Joshua Farley will be one of the speaker's at this year's Prairie Festival, held by the Land Institute.
Further event information. |
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 Peak Oil, Peak Economy: Energy, Money, and the End of Growth (webcast)
September 24, 2010, University of Otago, New Zealand
Post Carbon Institute Senior Fellow Richard Heinberg will be giving this seminar via webcast. |
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 ASPO USA 2010 Oil Conference
October 7-9, 2010, Washington, DC
Post Carbon Fellows Chris Martenson and Tom Whipple, and Post Carbon Board President Debbie Cook will all be speakers at the 2010 ASPO USA conference.
Further event information. |
Image credit: Obama 2020 image — tcktcktck/Greenpeace
Image credit: 50 Year Farm Bill — Scott Bontz/The Land Institute
Image credit: Wessex Archaeology — flickr
Image credit: TransitionSF Bike Tour, 18th and Rhode Island Permaculture Garden, California Sarah Roggero/flickr |
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