Culture-Change: Climate can’t wait for techno-fixes

Written by Jan Lundberg

Culture Change Letter 168, originally published Sept. 5, 2007 in Grist

"This is a guest essay from Jan Lundberg, who is, at press time, on the Climate Emergency Fast promoted by Mike Tidwell's organization. It is a response to Tidwell's recent piece in Grist, "Consider Using the N-Word Less." Jan publishes Culturechange.org and participates in campaigns to have cities ban plastic bags and water bottles. His previous article in Gristmill is '(How can we be) looking at the end of the age of oil.'"

Energy efficiency is vital when we are such a wasteful society, because modest changes can reap huge savings. There can be further technological improvements to cut greenhouse gases while allowing people to continue their lives in the same fashion, for a time, that they have enjoyed (or endured). However, as Mike Tidwell pointed out in "Consider Using the N-Word Less," relying on measures such as simply encouraging better light bulbs and more fuel efficient cars will fail.

Knowing that the Earth's climate is shaping up to rapidly shift to a new state -- probably not seen since 55 million years ago -- we cannot play politics with what really needs to be done to make a last attempt to curb greenhouse gas emissions sufficiently. Yet under our system of big business and its influence over both legislation and the content of media, we are witnessing a tragic denial of the need to do the possible, now, to slash greenhouse gas emissions. The present economy is held to be more important.

We cannot buy our way out of the climate crisis, although we must make wiser purchases. It is imperative to simply stop polluting the thin envelope of Earth's atmosphere with carbon dioxide. It can't be stopped 100% overnight, which is what our cherished climate needs, but we can and must carry out essential travel and exchange of goods and services without the excesses of global corporate trade and consumerism. Being car-free, for example, is much better and transformative than buying a gas-sipper. Not having electric appliances, or sharing them with neighbors (as in a laundromat, or an internet café or library), is worthy of the climate challenge we face. We need to accept the sight of clothes-lines, depave driveways and parking lots to plant gardens, and refuse to buy products transported long distances.

A technological fix does not recognize the urgency of the crisis or the challenges of too many billions of consumers at a time of peaking global oil extraction. We need something strong that's commensurate with the threat, instead of barely ratcheting up some comfortable remedies. What about lifestyle change and embracing local economics to replace globalized corporate pillaging?

Society is overdue in debating the feasibility of technofix development and slow implementation versus slashing energy use and corporate profit now. Is it feasible to have a kick-in-the-balls approach to the global heating beast, or not? For a stronger, quicker approach than Mike Tidwell's, let's consider:

• He wrote, "Like Jim Crow practices, we must by law phase out completely the manufacture of inefficient light bulbs and gas-guzzling cars, as a serious start to fighting this problem." This would have been a real start two decades ago when the situation was more manageable and resources were not so depleted, in a less populated world. His message, resting on his examples, does not deliver, just as an anti-racism campaign does not get at root causes if fundamental economic injustice is not addressed with actions that support an alternative.

The gap between what the technofix-approach offers and the problem at hand is not just something for us to read about over coffee as we check our Daily Grist. What Tidwell considers a cure will hardly suffice at this point, when global heating has started to spin out of control.

• "To move our nation off of fossil fuels, we need inspired Churchillian leadership and sweeping statutes a la the Big War or the civil-rights movement." Too bad Tidwell's measures do not heed the climate scientists' warnings. The right to private property has rationalized unending greed. It controls our politics, so any honest leadership would have to come from someone -- you and me -- other than the leaders we have elected and can see on the mainstream horizon.

• Why do measures that are not even half-measures get the lion's share of attention? Lifestyle change is not where the funding wants to go. So, much nonprofit activism props up the status quo. Not buying any new cars, whether one goes car-free or not, is a serious measure for dismantling the power structure of climate destruction, if done on a large enough scale.

• Tidwell's conclusion -- "...muscular clean-energy statutes that would finally do what we say we want: rescue our life-giving Earth from climate catastrophe" -- is a top-down solution that takes precious time and would not slash greenhouse gases to the extent needed. This approach would fall far short of the need for the 90% greenhouse-gases immediate reduction. Some environmentalists suffer from the illusion that major changes are just not in the offing, or are too sensitive to bring up. Or, we must offer a solution that is relatively painless and allows people to think that their basic way of life as consumers will merely change a bit, for the better, but not be upended.

It turns out that with peak oil here already, we are soon not going to have the cheap energy to maintain global trade or food production on today's scale. And renewable energy is not ready to step in as enough of a substitute, when the oil market will soon be handing us an unmanageable, exacerbated shortage. Our approach at Culture Change includes the Sail Transport Network and gearing up for Puget Sound operation in conjunction with SCALLOPS (the Sustainable Ballard initiative). There can be joy in losing the consumer economy, if we can live with a whole "new" scale befitting a small, threatened planet.

* * * * *

From the comments posted on Gristmill regarding my essay, I shared the following with one person steeped in the debate on good technological tidings versus no technofix. The following also addresses the quandary of how much "bad news" to tell the public:

The public ought to know what it's up against. "The truth shall set you free." Additionally, I like to think that there's something positive in the message of culture change, along the lines of liberation for those who sense they're on the treadmill to oblivion. I've found that my columns do them some good, although admittedly they're seen by a small segment of the population. My message is well received when it gets a chance, much more so than five years ago maybe. People are getting enough misleading nonsense from the government and corporations, such that with climate chaos and nuclear threat, and the likelihood of petrocollapse, people are being led like lambs to the slaughter.

What is the option people have, staying in consumerland? Doubtful in the long term. I just don't buy into the idea of selling the feel-good concept of unlimited energy that would be a free-lunch compared to fossil fuels and nukes. It has to be a question of how many people would be drawing how much resources for how long, and how the renewables stack up against the cheapness and versatility of cheap oil gone.

That's my concern over the recent "can't versus shouldn't" on renewables. The Hirsch Report for the DOE on peak oi made clear the lead time needed to change the petroleum infrastructure. I agree that there's been little attempted and much squandering of time and money for better systems. Yet, I like to question the so-called need for the energy people are used to.

Further Reading:

"Consider Using the N-Word Less - Voluntary actions didn't get us civil rights, and they won't fix the climate"
grist.org

"(How can we be) looking at the end of the age of oil and abundant energy"
culturechange.org

"Climate can't wait for techno-fixes" [original posting]
gristmill.grist.org

Support Culture Change with some bucks:
culturechange.org/funding.htm

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lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/culturechange

Get on the daily listserve of the Global Warming Crisis Council:
Email Wanda Ballantine at wsb70@comcast.net

Currently reading : Against Technology: From the Luddites to Neo-Luddism By Steven E. Jones Release date: 14 April, 2006

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Heinberg: Peak Everything [extract]

http://www.richardheinberg.com/museletter/185

MuseLetter 185 / September 2007
by Richard Heinberg

Peak Everything

Note: This issue is an edited version of the Introduction to Peak Everything: Waking Up to the Century of Declines.

During the past few years the phrase Peak Oil has entered the global lexicon. It refers to the moment in time when the world will achieve its maximum possible rate of oil extraction; from then on, for reasons having mostly to do with geology, the amount of petroleum available to society on a daily or yearly basis will begin to dwindle. Most informed analysts agree that this will happen during the next two or three decades; an increasing number believe that it is happening now - that conventional oil production peaked in 2005–2006 and that the flow to market of all hydrocarbon liquids taken together will start to diminish around 2010.¹ The consequences, as they begin to accumulate, are likely to be severe: the world is overwhelmingly dependent on oil for transportation, agriculture, plastics, and chemicals; thus a lengthy process of adjustment will be required. According to one recent U.S. government-sponsored study, if the peak does occur soon replacements are unlikely to appear quickly enough and in sufficient quantity to avert what it calls "unprecedented" social, political, and economic impacts.²

This book is not an introduction to the subject of Peak Oil; several existing volumes serve that function (including my own The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies).³ Instead it addresses the social and historical context in which the event is occurring, and explores how we can reorganize our thinking and action in several critical areas in order to better navigate this perilous time.

Our socio-historical context takes some time and perspective to appreciate. Upon first encountering Peak Oil, most people tend to assume it is merely a single isolated problem to which there is a simple solution - whether of an eco-friendly nature (more renewable energy) or otherwise (more coal). But prolonged reflection and study tend to eat away at the viability of such "solutions"; meanwhile, as one contemplates how we humans have so quickly become so deeply dependent on the cheap, concentrated energy of oil and other fossil fuels, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that we have caught ourselves on the horns of the Universal Ecological Dilemma, consisting of the interlinked elements of population pressure, resource depletion, and habitat destruction - and on a scale unprecedented in history.

Petroleum is not the only important resource quickly depleting. Readers already acquainted with the Peak Oil literature know that regional production peaks for natural gas have already occurred, and that, over the short term, the economic consequences of gas shortages are likely to be even worse for Europeans and North Americans than those for oil. And while coal is often referred to as being an abundant fossil fuel, with reserves capable of supplying the world at current rates of usage for two hundred years into the future, a recent study updating global reserves and production forecasts concludes that global coal production will peak and begin to decline in ten to twenty years.⁴ Because fossil fuels supply about 85 percent of the world's total energy, peaks in these fuels virtually ensure that the world's energy supply will begin to shrink within a few years regardless of any efforts that are made to develop other energy sources.

Nor does the matter end with natural gas and coal. Once one lifts one's eyes from the narrow path of daily survival activities and starts scanning the horizon, a frightening array of peaks comes into view. In the course of the present century we will see an end to growth and a commencement of decline in all of these parameters:

• Population
• Grain production (total and per capita)
• Uranium production
• Climate stability
• Fresh water availability per capita
• Arable land in agricultural production
• Wild fish harvests
• Yearly extraction of some metals and minerals (including copper, platinum, silver, gold, and zinc)

The point of this book is not systematically to go through these peak-and-decline scenarios one by one, offering evidence and pointing out the consequences - though that is a worthwhile exercise. Some of these peaks are more speculative than others: fish harvests are already in decline, so this one is hardly arguable; however, projecting extraction peaks and declines for some metals requires extrapolating current rising rates of usage many decades into the future.⁵ The problem of uranium supply beyond mid-century is well attested by studies, but has not received sufficient public attention.⁶

Nevertheless, the general picture is inescapable; it is one of mutually interacting instances of over-consumption and emerging scarcity.

Our starting point, then, is the realization that we are today living at the end of the period of greatest material abundance in human history - an abundance based on temporary sources of cheap energy that made all else possible. Now that the most important of those sources are entering their inevitable sunset phase, we are at the beginning of a period of overall societal contraction.

This realization is strengthened as we come to understand that it is no happenstance that so many peaks are occurring together. All are causally related by way of the historic reality that, for the past 200 years, cheap, abundant energy from fossil fuels has driven technological invention, increases in total and per-capita resource extraction and consumption (including food production), and population growth. We are enmeshed in a classic self-reinforcing feedback loop:

Fossil fuel extraction

--> more available energy

----> increased extraction of other resources, and production of food and other goods

------> population growth

--------> higher energy demand

----------> more fossil fuel extraction (and so on)

Self-reinforcing feedback loops sometimes occur in nature (population blooms are always evidence of some sort of reinforcing feedback loop), but they rarely continue for long. They usually lead to population crashes and die-offs. The simple fact is that growth in population and consumption cannot continue unabated on a finite planet.

If the increased availability of cheap energy has historically enabled unprecedented growth in rates of the extraction of other resources, then the coincidence of Peak Oil with the peaking and decline of many other resources is entirely predictable.

Moreover, as the availability of energy resources peaks, this will also affect various parameters of social welfare:

• Per-capita consumption levels
• Economic growth
• Easy, cheap, quick mobility
• Technological change and invention
• Political stability

All of these are clearly related to the availability of energy and other critical resources. Once we accept that energy, fresh water, and food will become less freely available over next few decades, it is hard to escape the conclusion that, while the 20th century saw the greatest and most rapid expansion of the scale, scope, and complexity of human societies in history, the 21^st will see contraction and simplification. The only real question then is whether societies will contract and simplify intelligently or in an uncontrolled, chaotic fashion.

Good news? Bad news?

None of this is easy to contemplate. Nor can this information easily be discussed in polite company: the suggestion that we are at or near the peak of population and consumption levels for the entirety of human history and that it's all downhill from here is not likely to win votes, lead to a better job, or even make for pleasant dinner banter. Most people turn off and tune out when the conversation moves in this direction; advertisers and news organizations take note and act accordingly. The result: a general, societal pattern of denial.

Where might we find solace in all of this gloom? Well, it could be argued that some not-so-good things will also peak this century:

Economic inequality Environmental destruction Greenhouse gas emissions

Why economic inequality? The late, great social philosopher Ivan Illich argued in his 1974 book Energy and Equity that inequality increases along with the flow of energy through a society. "[O]nly a ceiling on energy use," he wrote, "can lead to social relations that are characterized by high levels of equity."⁷ Hunters and gatherers, who survived on minimal energy flows, also lived in societies nearly free from economic inequality. While some forager societies were better off than others because they lived in more abundant ecosystems, the members of any given group tended to share equally whatever was available. Theirs was a gift economy - as opposed to the barter, market, and money economies that we are more familiar with. With agriculture and full-time division of labor came higher energy flow rates as well as widening economic disparity between kings, their retainers, and the peasant class. In the 20th century, with per-capita energy flow rates soaring far above any in history, some humans also enjoyed unprecedented material abundance, such that they expected that poverty could be eliminated once and for all if only the political will could be summoned. Indeed, during the middle years of the century progress was seemingly being made along those lines. However, for the century in total, inequality actually increased. The Gini index, invented in 1912 as a measure of economic inequality within societies, has risen substantially within many nations (including the U.S., Britain, India, and China) in the past three decades, and in the world as a whole.⁸ In the decades just prior to the 20th century, the average income in the world's wealthiest country was about ten times more than that in the poorest; now it is over forty-five times more. According to one study released in December, 2006 ("The World Distribution of Household Wealth,") the richest one percent of people now controls 40 percent of the world's wealth, while the richest two percent control fully half.⁹ If this correlation between energy flow rates and inequality holds, it seems likely that, as available energy decreases during the 21^st century, we are likely to see a reversion to lower levels of inequality. This is not to say that by century's end we will all be living in an egalitarian socialist paradise, merely that the levels of inequality we see today will have become unsupportable.

Similarly, it seems likely that levels of humanly generated environmental destruction will peak and begin to recede in decades to come. As available energy declines, our ability to alter the environment will do so as well. However, if we make no deliberate attempt to control our impact on the biosphere, the peak will be a very high one and we will do an immense amount of damage along the way. On the other hand, we could expend deliberate and intelligent effort to minimize environmental impacts, in which case the peak will be at a lower level. Especially in the former case, this peak is likely to lag behind the others discussed, because many environmental harms involve reinforcing feedback loops as well as delayed and cumulative impacts that will continue to reverberate for decades after human population and consumption levels start to diminish. As the primary example of this, greenhouse gas emissions will undoubtedly peak in this century - whether as a result of voluntary reductions in fossil fuel consumption, or depletion of the resource base, or societal collapse. However, the global climate may not stabilize until many decades thereafter, until various reinforcing feedback loops (such as the melting of the north polar icecap, which would expose dark water that would in turn absorb more heat, thus exacerbating the warming effect; and the melting of tundra and permafrost, releasing stored methane that would likewise greatly exacerbate warming) that have been set in motion play themselves out. Indeed, the climate may not return to a phase of relative equilibrium for centuries.

Well, if the goal of the last few paragraphs was to balance bad-news peaks with cheerier ones, that effort so far seems less than entirely successful. Surely we can do better. Are there some good things that are not at or near their historic peaks? I can think of a few:

• Community
• Personal autonomy
• Satisfaction from honest work well done
• Intergenerational solidarity
• Cooperation
• Free time
• Happiness
• Ingenuity
• Artistry
• Beauty of the built environment

Of course, some of these items are hard to quantify. But a few can indeed be measured, and efforts to do so often yield surprising results. Let's consider two that have been subjects of quantitative study.

Leisure time is perhaps the element on this list that lends itself most readily to measurement. The most leisurely societies were without doubt those of hunter-gatherers, who worked about 1000 hours per year, though these societies seldom if ever thought of dividing "work time" from "leisure time," since all activities were considered pleasurable in their way. For U.S. employees, hours worked peaked in the early industrial period, around 1850, at about 3500 hours per year.¹⁰ This was up from 1620 hours worked annually by the typical medieval peasant. However, the two situations are not directly comparable: a typical medieval workday stretched from dawn to dusk (sixteen hours in summer, eight in winter), but work was intermittent, with breaks for breakfast, midmorning refreshment, lunch, a customary afternoon nap, mid-afternoon refreshment, and dinner; moreover, there were dozens of holidays and festivals scattered throughout the year. Today the average U.S. worker spends about 2000 hours on the job, a figure somewhat higher than was the case a couple of decades ago (in 1985 it was closer to 1850 hours). Nevertheless, a long historical overview suggests that time-intensiveness of human labor seems to peak in the early phase of industrialization, and that a simplification of the modern economy could result in a reversion to older, pre-industrial norms.

In recent years the field of happiness research has flourished, with the publication of scores of studies and several books devoted to statistical analysis of what gives people a sense of overall satisfaction with their lives. International studies of self-reported levels of happiness show that, once basic survival needs are met, there is little correlation between happiness and per-capita rates of consumption of fossil fuels. According to surveys, people in Mexico, who use fossil fuels at one-fifth the rate of U.S. citizens, are just as happy.

The opportunities to continue to enjoy current (or elevated) levels of happiness and to reduce work hours may seem pale comforts in light of all the enormous social and economic challenges implicit in the peaks discussed earlier. However, it is worth remembering that the list above details things that matter very much to most people in terms of their real, lived experience. The sense of community and the experience of intergenerational solidarity are literally priceless, in that no amount of money can buy them; moreover, life without them is bleak indeed - especially during times of social stress. And there are many reasons to think that these two factors have declined significantly during the past few decades of rapid urbanization and economic growth.

In contrast with these indices of personal and social well-being, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is easily measured and shows a mostly upward trend for the world as a whole over the past two centuries. But it takes into account only a narrow set of data - the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time. Growth in GDP tells us that we should be feeling better about ourselves and our world - but it doesn't take into account a wide range of other factors, including damage to the environment, wars, crime and imprisonment rates, and trends in education. Many economists and non-governmental organizations have criticized governmental reliance on GDP for this reason, and have instead promoted the use of a Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), which does take account of such factors. While a historical GDP chart for the U.S. shows general ongoing growth up to the present (GDP correlates closely with energy consumption), GPI calculations show a peak around 1980 followed by a slow decline.¹¹ If we as a society are going to adjust agreeably to lower rates of energy flow - and less travel and transport - with minimal social disruption, we must begin paying more attention to the seeming intangibles of life and less to GDP and the apparent benefits of profligate energy use.

This is no mere palliative. Addressing the economic, social, and political problems ensuing from the various looming peaks will require enormous collective effort. If it to be successful, that effort must be coordinated, presumably by government, and enlisting people in that effort will require educating and motivating them in numbers and at a speed that has not been seen since World War II. Part of that motivation must come from a positive vision of a future worth striving toward. People will need to feel that there will be an eventual reward for what will amount to many years of hard sacrifice. The reality is that we are approaching a time of economic contraction and that consumptive appetites that have been stoked for decades by ubiquitous advertising messages promising "more, faster, and bigger" will now have to be reined in. People will not willingly accept the new message of "less, slower, and smaller," unless they have new goals toward which to aspire. They must feel that their efforts will lead to a better world, and tangible improvements in life for themselves and their families. The massive public education campaigns that will be required must be credible, and will therefore be vastly more successful if they give people a sense of investment and involvement in formulating those goals. There is a much-abused word that describes the necessary process - democracy.

As another way of mitigating our paralyzing horror at seeing our society's future as one of decline in so many respects, we should ask: decline to what? Are we facing a complete disintegration of everything we hold dear, or merely a reversion to lower levels of population, complexity, and consumption? The answer, of course, is unknowable at this stage. We could indeed be at the brink of a collapse worse than any in history. Just one reference in that regard will suffice: The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a four-year analysis of the world's ecosystems released in 2006, in which 1300 scientists participated, concluded of 24 ecosystems identified as essential to human life, 15 are "being pushed beyond their sustainable limits," toward a state of collapse that may be "abrupt and potentially irreversible."¹² The signs are not good.

Nevertheless, a decline in population, complexity, and consumption could, at least in theory, result in a stable society with characteristics that many people would find quite desirable. A reversion to the normal pattern of human existence, based on village life, extended families, and local production for local consumption - especially if it were augmented by a few of the frills of the late industrial period, such as global communications - could provide future generations will the kind of existence that many modern urbanites dream of wistfully.

So the overall message of this book is not necessarily one of doom - but it is one of inevitable change and needed deliberate engagement with the process of change on a scale and speed beyond anything in previous human history. Crucially: We must focus on and use the intangibles that are not peaking (such as ingenuity and cooperation) to address the problems arising from our overuse of substances that are.

Our One Great Task: The Energy Transition

As we have seen, just a few core trends have driven many others in producing the global problems we see today, and those core trends (including population growth and increasing consumption rates) themselves constellate around our ever-burgeoning use of fossil fuels. Thus, a conclusion of startling plainness presents itself: Our central survival task for the decades ahead, as individuals and as a species, must be to make a transition away from the use of fossil fuels - and to do this as peacefully, equitably, and intelligently as possible.

At first thought, this must seem like an absurd over-simplification of the human situation. After all, the world is full of crises demanding our attention - from wars to pollution, malnutrition, land mines, human rights abuses, and soaring cancer rates. Doesn't a monomaniacal focus just on fossil fuels miss many important things?

In defense of the statement I would offer two points.

First, some problems are more critical than others. A patient may suffer simultaneously from a broken blood vessel in the brain and a broken leg. A doctor will not ignore the second problem, but since the first is immediately life-threatening, its treatment will take precedence. Globally, there are two problems whose potential consequences far outweigh most others: climate change and energy resource depletion. If we do nothing to dramatically curtail emissions of greenhouse gases soon, there is the substantial likelihood that we will set in motion the two self-reinforcing feedback loops mentioned previously - the melting of the north polar icecap, and the melting of tundra and permafrost releasing stored methane. These would, if set in motion, lead to an averaged global warming not just of a couple of degrees, but perhaps six or more degrees over the remainder of the century. And this in turn could make much of the world uninhabitable and make agriculture impracticable in many if not most places, and could result not only in the extinction of thousands or millions of other species but the deaths of hundreds of millions or billions of human beings.

The post-peak decline in availability of oil, natural gas, and coal - if our dependence on these fuels continues unabated - could trigger economic collapse, famine, and a general war over remaining resources. While it is certainly possible to imagine survivable transition strategies away from fossil fuels involving proactive efforts to develop alternative energy sources on a massive scale and to create policies mandating energy conservation, also on a massive scale, the world is currently as reliant on hydrocarbons as it is on water, sunlight, and soil. Without oil for transportation and agriculture; without gas for heating, chemicals, and fertilizers; and without coal for power generation, the global economy would sputter to a halt. While no one envisions these fuels disappearing instantly, we can avert the worst-case scenario of global economic meltdown - with all of the human tragedy that implies - only by proactively reducing our reliance on oil, gas, and coal ahead of depletion and scarcity. In other words, all that would be required in order for the worst-case scenario to materialize would be for world leaders to continue with existing policies.

These two problems are potentially lethal; they are first-priority ailments. If we solve them, we will then be able to devote our attention to other human dilemmas, many of which have been with us for millennia - war, disease, inequality, and so on. If we do not solve these two problems, then in a few decades our species may be in no position to make any progress whatever on other fronts; indeed, it will likely be engaged in a struggle for its very survival. We'll be literally and metaphorically burning the furniture for fuel and fighting over scraps.

My second reason for insisting that the transition from fossil fuels must take precedence over other concerns can likewise be framed in a medical metaphor: Often a constellation of seemingly disparate symptoms issues from a single cause. A patient may present with symptoms of hearing loss, stomach pain, headaches, and irritability. An incompetent doctor might treat each of these symptoms separately without trying to correlate them. But if their cause is lead poisoning (which can produce all of these signs and more), then mere symptomatic treatment would be useless.

Let us unpack the metaphor. Not only are the two great crises mentioned above closely related (both peak oil and climate change issue from our dependence on fossil fuels), but - as I have already noted - many if not most of our other modern crises constellate also around fossil fuels. Even long-standing and perennial problems like economic inequality have been exacerbated by high energy-flow rates.

Pollution is no different in this regard. We humans have polluted our environments in various ways for a very long time; activities like the mining of lead and tin have produced localized devastation for centuries. However, the problem of chemical pollution that is spread generally throughout the environment is a relatively new one and has grown much worse over the past decades. Many of the most dangerous pollutants happen to be fossil fuel derivatives (pesticides, plastics, and other hormone-mimicking chemicals) or by-productions from the burning of coal or petroleum (nitrogen oxides and other contributors to acid rain).

War might at first seem to be a problem completely independent of our modern thirst for fossil energy sources. However, as security analyst Michael Klare has underscored in his book Blood and Oil,¹³ many recent wars have turned on competition for control of petroleum; as oil grows scarcer in the post-peak environment, further wars and civil conflicts over the black gold are almost assured. Moreover, the use of fossil fuels in the prosecution of war has made state-authorized mayhem far more deadly. Most modern explosives are made from fossil fuels, and even the atomic bomb - which relies on nuclear fission or fusion rather than hydrocarbons for its horrific power - depends on fuel for its delivery systems.

One could go on. In summary: We have used the plentiful, cheap energy from fossil fuels quite predictably to expand our power over nature and one another. Doing so has produced a laundry list of environmental and social problems. We have tried to address these one by one, but our efforts will be much more effective if directed at their common root - that is, if we end our dependence on fossil fuels.

Again, my thesis: Many problems rightly deserve attention, but the problem of our dependence on fossil fuels is central to human survival, and so as long as that dependence continues to any significant extent we must make its reduction the centerpiece of all our collective efforts - whether they are efforts to feed ourselves, resolve conflicts, or maintain a functioning economy.

But this can be formulated in another, more encouraging, way: If we do focus all of our collective efforts on the central task of energy transition, we may find ourselves contributing to the solution of a wide range of problems that would be much harder to solve if we confronted each one in isolation. With a coordinated and voluntary reduction in fossil fuel consumption, we could see substantial progress in reducing many forms of environmental pollution. The decentralization of economic activity that we must pursue as transport fuels become more scarce could lead to more local jobs and more fulfilling occupations, and more robust local economies. A controlled contraction in global oil trade could lead to a reduction of international political tensions. A planned conversion of farming to non-fossil fuel methods could mean a decline in environmental devastation caused by agriculture and economic opportunities for millions of new farmers. Meanwhile, all of these efforts together could increase equity, community involvement, intergenerational solidarity, and the other intangible goods listed earlier.

Surely this is a future worth working toward.

The (Rude) Awakening

The subtitle of this book, "Waking Up to the Century of Declines," reflects my impression that even those of us who have been thinking about resource depletion for many years are still just beginning to awaken to its full implications. And if we are all in various stages of waking up to the problem, we are also waking up from the cultural trance of denial in which we are all embedded.¹⁴

This awakening is multi-dimensional. It is not just a matter of becoming intellectually and dispassionately convinced of the reality and seriousness of climate change, peak oil, or any other specific problem. Rather, it entails an emotional, cultural, and political catharsis. The biblical metaphor of scales falling from one's eyes is as apt as the pop-culture meme of taking the red pill and seeing the world beyond the Matrix: in either case, waking up implies coming to the realization that the very fabric of modern life is woven from illusion - thousands of illusions, in fact.

In order for that fabric to be held together, there is the requirement for one master illusion, which is the notion that somehow what we see around us today is normal. In a sense, of course, it is normal: the daily life experience of millions of people is normal by definition. The reality of cars, television, and fast food is calmly taken for granted; if life has been like this for decades, why shouldn't it continue, with incremental developmental changes, indefinitely? But how profoundly this "normal" life in a typical modern city differs from the lives of previous generations of humans! And the fact that it is built on the foundation of cheap fossil fuels means that future generations must and will live differently.

Again, the awakening I am describing is an ongoing visceral as well as intellectual reassessment of every facet of life - food, work, entertainment, travel, politics, economics, and more. The experience is so all-encompassing that it defies linear description. And yet we must make the attempt to describe and express it; we must turn our multi-dimensional experience into narrative, because that is how we humans process and share our experiences of the world.

The great transition of the 21^st century will entail enormous adjustments on the part of every individual, family and community, and if those adjustments are to be made successfully, rational planning will be needed. Implications and strategies will have to be explored in nearly every area of human interest - agriculture, transportation, global war and peace, public health, resource management, and on and on. Books, research studies, television documentaries, an every other imaginable form of information transferal means will be required to convey needed information in each of these areas. Moreover, there is the need for more than explanatory materials; we will need citizen organizations that can turn policy into action, and artists to create cultural expressions that can help fire the collective imagination. Within this whirlwind of analysis, adjustment, creativity, and transformation, perhaps there is need and space for a book that simply tries to capture the overall spirit of the time into which we are headed, that ties the multifarious upwellings of cultural change to the science of global warming and peak oil in some hopefully surprising and entertaining ways, and that begins to address the psychological dimension of our global transition from industrial growth to contraction and sustainability.

Most of the peaks that are before us cannot be avoided, but there are many things we can do to navigate down and around them so as to enhance human sanity, security, and happiness. Let us do those things. Let us work to make a future world from whose vantage point, decades hence, we can look back on these premonitions as having been far too gloomy.

Notes

1. From the OPEC Bulletin, Nov.-Dec., 2006: "[A]ll in all, most would appear to agree that peak oil output is not very far away for all of us. It could take place sometime within the next decade or so, which in fact means that there is not much time left for a world economy to be driven largely by oil." Meanwhile, Claude Mandil, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, speaking on the IEA World Energy Outlook 2006, had this to day: "WEO-2006 reveals that the energy future we are facing today, based on projections of current trends, is dirty, insecure and expensive." www.energybulletin.net/22042.html
2. Robert Hirsch et al., "Peaking of World Oil Production: Impacts, Mitigation and Risk Management" (2005), www.projectcensored.org/newsflash/the_hirsch_report.pdf
3. See also: Kenneth S. Deffeyes, Beyond Oil: The View from Hubbert's Peak (Hill and Wang, 2005), and Roger D. Blanchard, The Future of Global Oil Production: Facts, Figures, Trends and Projections, by Region (McFarland, 2005).
4. Energy Watch Group, "Coal: Resources and Future Production," www.energywatchgroup.org/files/Coalreport.pdf. See also Richard Heinberg, "Burning the Furniture," http://globalpublicmedia.com/richard_heinbergs_museletter_179_burning_the_furniture.
5. http://kontentkonsult.com/blog/2006/01/peak_metals.html
6. Energy Watch Group, "Uranium Resources and Nuclear Energy," Dec., 2006 www.energiekrise.de/news/docs/specials2006/REO-Uranium_5-12-2006.pdf
7. Ivan Illich, Energy and Equity (Calder & Boyars, 1974), p. 17.
8. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient
9. www.wider.unu.edu/research/2006-2007/2006-2007-1/wider-wdhw-launch-5-12-2006/wider-wdhw-report-5-12-2006.pdf
10. Data for this paragraph are taken from from The Overworked American: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure, by Juliet B. Schor (Basic Books, 1993); see also www-swiss.ai.mit.edu/~rauch/worktime/hours_workweek.html
11. GPI www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/117.html
12. See www.maweb.org/en/index.aspx, http://article.wn.com/view/2007/01/04/Global_warming_is_here_now_what/
13. Michael Klare, Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America's Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum (Metropolitan Books, 2004).
14. Thanks to my friend Chellis Glendinning, for her book titled Waking Up in the Nuclear Age (1987), which was an inspiration in more ways than one.

Currently reading : Peak Everything: Waking Up to the Century of Declines (New Society Publishers) By Richard Heinberg Release date: 16 October, 2007

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CultureChange! - Sail transport and Puget Sound’s SCALLOPS network

Written by Jan Lundberg   
(with contributions by Fulvio Casali, Paul Flowers, Dan Bednarz, and Vic Opperman)
Culture Change Letter 165 - September 1, 2007

In the waters around Seattle, Washington, three dozen communities are enriching their bioregion with a common vision of sustainability -- despite the pressures of corporate globalization dominating almost everyone's life. This new vision is being coupled with the resurgence of sailing, with an eye to the tempestuous horizon promising the unprecedented effects of peak oil and global heating.

The roots of this developing project include local, native traditions as well as some modern daydreaming sailors hailing from as far away as California.

(click to jump to larger image in article)

With faith in both humanity and renewable-energy powered sails, an historic movement is getting off the ground in the Puget Sound. The group called Sustainable Ballard had already advanced green initiatives in their Ballard neighborhood northwest of downtown Seattle, gaining the attention of Al Gore. After much success in its four years of organizing, the group has an offspring that seems destined to become far bigger than the parent: SCALLOPS - Sustainable Communities All Over Puget Sound.

Before going further into SCALLOPS and Sail Transport Network, let us capture the essence of Sustainable Ballard. It was born out of frustration with anti-war activity when the U.S. and Britain invaded Iraq. During this time, the founders were also aware of peak oil and climate change. Seeing the futility of attacking a negative (the executive branch across the continent) without offering an alternative, Sustainable Ballard's founders -- Vic Opperman, David Wright, and Erica Jones -- decided to focus their energy on rallying people around positive solutions to our oil-dependent, global-heating lifestyle.

As an example of the projects spawned by Sustainable Ballard, the whole town of Seattle has been turned on to local food supply issues. On Aug. 4, 2007 a local daily paper paid front-page attention to Sustainable Ballard's "100 Mile Diet." As people take the challenge, they get to know their local food sources while increasing awareness of the dangerous syndrome of "blueberries in winter" that Matt Simmons, petroleum-industry investment banker, has decried.

How Sustainable Ballard succeeds

The first festival put on by Sustainable Ballard was in 2003, and the three founders did all the work. Solid organizing and growth of the organization pulled in more and more activists and volunteers, such that subsequent Festivals grew by leaps and bounds. Looking at the pieces necessary in the creation of an autonomous community that can survive if energy and food from far away are cut off, a structure like a starfish took shape. There are at present seven "arms" of the starfish:

- Transportation Guild (includes the "Undriving" campaign to maximize buses, and the biodiesel project)
- Urban Design
- Food, Health and Medicine
- Home energy
- Community (includes Buy Local and homeless)
- Water, waste, environment
- Arts, crafts

At the hub there's administration -- all volunteer. Likewise for the "IT guy," PR, Finance, and Board of Directors. Vic Opperman has been the founding president, and recently turned over the reins to Jenny Heins.

Although Seattle has over a million people in and around it, Sustainable Ballard's approach is to be a global example of an urban environment within a large city. Ballard is "carbon neutral" thanks to a "climate trust fund" and a program for individuals called "achieve net green" costing $17 per month. The carbon footprint of Ballard is further reduced by wind generation and tree planting (elsewhere, providing offsets).

Because the group is all-inclusive, it is non-polarizing, and the city of Seattle feels comfortable consulting them. Fortunately, the city's mayor is keen on organizing hundreds of other cities with the Mayor's Climate Protection agreement.

Sustainable Ballard offers a library for tool sharing for gardening, as well as land sharing: some people don't have time to garden on their own land, and they offer space for those who have the time but not the land. The same principle works for all the guilds (starfish arms), as people exchange skills and their time to achieve goals. Bartering is considered vital for community health, and serves to deprive the global corporate economy of fuel for burning the planet.

Such projects of sustainability greatly interest the Culture Change reader, but the most ambitious of them all seems to be the one resulting from Sustainable Ballard's reaching out to fellow groups around the Puget Sound. SCALLOPS links groups such as Sustainable Ballard, Green Everett, Sustainable Bellingham, and about three dozen more at the latest count. More groups are joining and attending meetings.

SCALLOPS could help transform the local economy when the vast vacuum created by the loss of cheap energy and imported food greets society one day possibly soon. And many of these activists see sailing and kayaking/canoeing as vital elements for our near and long-term future.

Where I write from in the San Francisco Bay area, yachting is popular and there are interesting destinations in a protected area. This makes commute-by-sail a natural for its strong return in anticipation of energy collapse. However, the community has not been so receptive to Sail Transport Network as Puget Sound has been, and Sustainable Ballard may be the reason for Seattle's edge on leading with such a model for sustainable travel and trade.

The difference may be in philosophy or world-view: "This is about survival for the human species", sad Ann Sheerer at Sustainable Ballard's presentation at the Climate Convergence in Skamokawa, Washington, on August 9. While a few people in San Francisco Bay area understand this, most groups at all comparable to Sustainable Ballard have rather an "environmental issues" approach, with the assumption that seven million people in the Bay area will somehow be transformed toward a green survival. Yet, as a trend setter, San Francisco Bay could regain its traditional maritime pride by hoisting sails with a new purpose. Some inspiration from Ballard:

"We have got to take care of ourselves. We need only look to the abundance within our own communities to reduce our dependence on energy, food and other resources from far away. To that effect, Sustainable Ballard seeks to empower their neighbors to become role models in sustainable practices, community self-reliance and environmental stewardship. Most everyone truly wants to make a positive contribution to their families, friends, themselves and the world. Sustainable Ballard was created to give people tools and resources for making positive contributions." (Vic Opperman, 2006, ReStore)

In 1999 the Sail Transport Network (STN) was conceived. I was living in northern California, interested in a more community scene than Arcata in Humboldt County. I had once lived on a ketch for years, sailing to Greece from Los Angeles when a lad, but I felt sailing in Humboldt County around Arcata left something to be desired.

The sailing off Humboldt (and north to the Strait of San Juan de Fuca) is more treacherous than some places in the world. There are no islands offshore to blunt the force of the sea and wind. Also, the number of safe harbors is few, or, they are not always accessible if the tide and winds combine to threaten capsizing your boat. As my bass-playing companion was from Seattle, it took me no time at all to visualize good sailing that stretches from the protected waters of spectacular Puget Sound almost consistently right up to pristine southeast Alaska.

Before searching for a sailboat we checked out the WTO protests at the end of November in 1999, and did our part against petroleum-powered world trade by helping to shut down the meeting with our presence. An able Humboldt contingent did well in shutting down the intersection of 6th and University in the face of tear gas, pepperspray and phalanxes of robocops. With a further desire to leave Babylon behind we looked for boats. We found a sweet Catalina 30-foot sloop in Everett.

The first order of business, besides provisioning and getting to know our neighbors, was to prepare the Sail Transport Network brochure. A webpage was put up, and various levels of participation for captains and port-folk were fleshed out. Media attention and funding proved impossible for STN due to petroleum prices' being still too low to stimulate interest. (That was then!)

One hundred mile map for Seattle

The idea for STN was simple, and remains the germ of today's concept of Sail Transport Network as further developed in the culturechange website, principally by Dmitry Orlov, Paul Flowers and myself. Before summarizing it, here's the precursor of STN:

As a back-to-the-lander dabbling in farming (Pedal Power Produce Farm in Humboldt), who had not forgotten the freedom offered by sailing the open ocean, I thought of certain rivers, such as in Oregon. They would be good places, I reasoned, to base a farm whence one could canoe or raft down to the mouth of the river that had a marina. The best of both worlds, fresh water and land, and access to the sea, would be achieved. This concept did not enjoy a lot of support, but then again I was not thinking of a system for a community just yet.

So STN's basis was to be the linking of coastal, river communities and islands via renewable energy: wind in sails. Paddling canoes and kayaks is another form of renewable energy, and indeed these craft were, along with running, the whole transportation system of the Pacific Northwest native Americans from Alaska down south past Humboldt.

In the fall of 1999 one day I was at my Alliance for a Paving Moratorium office on the computer, and was spell-checking a document_ My last name, Lundberg, was not known to the computer, and the suggested substitution was "landlubber." I was galvanized to soon prove the computer wrong!

This was before the dominance of cars, trucks and their highways and bridges. Before the Mosquito Fleet the indigenous tribes had plied the relatively calm, protected waters of the Sound and northward for millennia. There were no greenhouse gases or harm to other species, and no lack of boat building materials. The old growth cedar were most plentiful, and were made into long war-craft too.

STN is conceived in 2007 as a potential match-making service for linking captains with needed crew, and potential crew who need passage. Rather than building new boats or undertaking expensive refits, or purchasing expensive and large yachts, the efficient and quick approach is to utilize whatever functioning boats there are available.

As for cargo, it can be moved from Point A to Point B as crew "baggage" that can get around regulations and red tape legally.

If some coffee is brought to the U.S. from the south, or Hawaii, the label could say "Sail Transported" in addition to the "Fair-trade, shade-grown, organic" attributes that fetch a premium price.

Quantities will not be anything like today's fossil-fueled orgy of consumption, but will include many essential trade items including heirloom seeds and wisdom in the heads of the sailors to share with others across the sea.

Ecotopian daydream of sail-based community

Fulvio Casali, a sailor in the Puget Sound active with SCALLOPS and Sustainable Ballard, offers this Ecotopian day-dream that could very well spell our future -- if we are so lucky:

The doorbell rings. You open the door, and the delivery man hands you your weekly basket of produce from the CSA. With a smile, you inhale the mixed fragrances - you don't know which one is stronger - is it the thyme, the ripe peaches, the basil, or the bunch of cut flowers?

Suddenly you remember: the tip! You open the door and run outside again - good, he was just about to take off again on his freight bicycle. With a grateful smile, he tells you he was just about done with the CSA deliveries, but he has to make it back to the boat down at the dock. The skipper is waiting for his repaired mizzen sail, so the delivery guy needs to make another stop at the sail loft on Leary Way on the way back to the ketch.

The story had made the rounds last week: several boats got themselves into a bit of trouble in the last gale. Maybe the summer caused many sailors to throw caution to the wind (no pun intended), even though nobody was taking the old predictable weather patterns for granted anymore by now. Fortunately, there were no major losses, but the ketch which today had taken on the CSA cargo had suffered a torn sail.

The sail loft was one of many businesses that had sprung up or expanded since the mosquito fleet of cargo and passenger sailboats started blanketing the waters of Puget Sound with sails, not unlike the fields of windmills that had sprung up in the plains of Eastern Washington state, and on ridges everywhere. You remember your last trip to the Olympic Peninsula, to visit your friends who run the farm outside of Poulsbo: short hike down to the harbor, boarded the boat, enjoyed the crossing on a sunny morning with a perfect little breeze, and the horse-drawn wagon ride to the country from Liberty Bay, made more lively by the chatty local passengers.

It was interesting to watch the skipper of the boat conduct his business via radio and wireless internet connection with the dispatch center, while his crew tended to the sails: he verified the cargo manifests for his next few trips of the day as they downloaded to his computer. Some shipments were not time-sensitive, as they were stored at the warehouses in the harbors, but many were processed in real-time, so the senders had to be notified that a boat would be ready for pickup at a certain time, which could be predicted with good accuracy by tracking the wind conditions and the movements of all the boats and delivery bikes and carts via GPS.

It's all an intricate supply-chain where technologies developed for world-wide trade and shipping when oil was still plentiful and cheap, are applied on a much smaller scale with renewable energy used for transportation, and a whole new array of trades and businesses. Whatever fossil fuels are still left, are now being used much more selectively for crucial infrastructure, such as the communication networks, including the satellites.

S/V Soliton, Fulvio Casali, crossing Puget Sound from Port Madison to Shilshole Bay. Photo by Dan Karten

Sail freight service between California and Mexico!

Downwind Marine in San Diego offers Baja Express, mail-collection and free forwarding that is clearly spelled out for folks availing themselves of this alternative to costly, polluting trucking.

DEFINITION OF MAIL: any carton containing parts, paint, other maintenance supplies, anchor, chain, etc.

LETTER-TYPE MAIL: "Downwind appreciates the importance of news from home. However, we don't have the time or personnel to sort and identify single pieces of mail that are incorrectly or insufficiently addressed (often requiring radio inquiries) for the 800-plus vessels cruising the Sea of Cortez and west coast of Mexico with one or more persons onboard. PLEASE have your people back home put all your mail in a manila envelope once a month or so, label it with your BOAT NAME and YOUR NAME, and we will gladly forward it to you expeditiously. Please try by some method to keep us up to date on where you want your mail sent. BOAT PAPERS, PASSPORTS & other IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS will have PRIORITY HANDLING via the BAJA EXPRESS."
'BAJA EXPRESS': Any gear purchased through DOWNWIND MARINE takes top priority."

http://www.downwindmarine.com
http://www.downwindmarine.com/downloads/cruisingdownwind.pdf

North Star, Port Townsend, courtesy Wooden Boat Foundation

Another arm or two from Paul Flowers

Editor's note: I know Paul to be a first rate singer, with Welsh passion and American soul-power, so his comments on arts and crafts are not to be taken as if he is a Philistine. - JL

Consider the following additional arms to your starfish, as it were.

First I'll put out what everybody hates to talk about the most, but is biggest make or break issue.

Security and Defense of the community: Whether it is peak oil, economic collaps or a nuclear sun rising in the middle of downtown USA, any mass survival situation is going to be fraught with lawlessness for at least a few years. There will be people with guns who don't care how much you want to save civilization and be peaceful and eco-friendly; they want your food and medicine and they want it now.

As a combat veteran, I have seen the effects of civil war. Trust me, security is an issue. The above paragraph isn't conjectural, I've seen it happen in three different countries. Guns exist and people have them and aren't afraid to use them and there's nothing that anyone can do about that. Believe me, unless you want some creep with a feudal-lord-and-vassal trip with a big ego to come along with a bunch of guns and lackeys who aren't afraid to shoot 'em, this community might want to have a few of their own as well -- unless no one really minds the idea of having all the community's supplies being looted, or becoming a serf.

Also, there must be decision making on a community and regional scale; in other words, a system of government. Be it participatorily democratic (as in consensus or direct democracy) or try and tweak the representative system to make a bit more fair. I don't know, but I do know that communities need to run; people need clarity. They need to understand that they are not completely on their own and that there is a body of their peers out there who are doing all the things that they don't know how to do. Make sure the water is potable, make sure the trash is taken care of, make sure food is fairly and evenly distributed in a timely fashion, make sure that the livestock farmers have everything they need, and form networks of acquisition when they don't.

On the food arm. You can't expect everyone to eat at the same table in post-America. Therefore food distribution needs to be organized. If you're talking food distribution, then you also have to talk about either a straight giveaway system (which you can't possibly expect even 5% of food producers to go along with...people have to grow the stuff which means a lot of hard, sweaty backbreaking work...try and get someone to just up and give their hard work away...) or you need to discuss some form of exchange. This is the basis of economy. Economy is not necessarily connotative to money. A barter economy is an economy too. But how to decide what is worth what? How much for what? These are all things that need to be taken into consideration even before arts and culture. If a community without a support system -- any town in America after the electricity stops working, which would also cause the pressurized urban water distribution system to fail as it is dependent on electricity for its operation -- has not considered ALL the basics of survival in a community setting, then all the arts and crafts are for naught because you wouldn't even survive to create another generation.

When tshtf, it's probably a good idea to figure out how to remake much of the underlying systems to society that we all take for granted that will suddenly be gone before worrying about arts and culture, and you should clarify homeless...what homeless? The existing homeless of today, or the 115 million homeless from whatever happens? If it's the latter...don't even bother. People will find their own spaces. Abandoned houses, camps, these kinds of things will become commonplace. I don't think that an open bay shelter for the homeless (such as what exists today) would be such a good idea. No matter what it is that happens, people will be traumatized. PTSD will be boiling in the heads of the people. They will need their own space.

"Public safety will be an issue but it is certainly tied to notions of community and identity. Will we see roving bands of brigands like in the Middle Ages?

"I do not know how to speak authoritatively about this topic, but my hunch is that brigands, if they occur as a social phenomenon, will want to integrate into society. And if we are talking about the few who will declare 'It's a Pirate's Life for Me!' I think they would be at a disadvantage. As you know, with less energy massive armies will not be feasible anyway."

Sustainable Ballard:
sustainableballard.org

See Culture Change's articles on STN:
sailtransportnetwork.org SCALLOPS website under construction:
http://scallops.sustainableballard.org

Bluewater Network bluewaternetwork.org

The Maltese Falcon, mega sail-ship featured in Wired: wired.com

Currently reading : The Golden Age of Sailing: Classic Yacht Photographs by Beken of Cowes By Beken of Cowes Release date: 28 March, 2000

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"Global warming is the most serious threat facing planet" - ana trantruong

Global warming is the most serious threat facing planet.
by ana trantruong

http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2007/09/10981.php
http://www.omahaimc.org/newswire/display/1582/index.php

We have an opportunity, and an obligation, to lead in solving this
global crisis by investing in clean and safe electricity, efficient
buildings and a less polluting transportation system.

The people of New Hampshire derive their sense of place from the Granite
State's unique landscapes and the rhythms of its climate, from its
brilliant fall foliage to deep winter snows in the White Mountains, to
summer fun in the Lakes Region.

However, changes in New Hampshire's climate brought about by global
warming are beginning to affect New Hampshire's way of life?from tourism
to economic opportunity and health care costs.

To help ensure our children inherit a state that supports a high quality
of life and rich opportunities, it is important to understand the causes
and direction of climate trends, as well as the practical and
responsible steps New Hamphire can take in the next few years to help
avoid many of the unfavorable consequences of global warming.

CLIMATE TRENDS

In New England everyone jokes about the fickle weather. Although there
is some natural variation in the weather every year, over longer time
periods we see climate trends emerge. If you grew up in New Hampshire,
you probably remember winters being longer and snowier. In the northeast
United States, the average annual temperature has increased by 1.8°F
over the last century. Even more striking, New England's average winter
(December to February) temperature has increased 4.4°F over the last 30
years.

These temperature changes are affecting the region's plants, animals,
and environment.  For example, the average snow cover season has
decreased by more than 15 days compared with 30 years ago, and the New
Hampshire state flower, the purple lilac, now blooms four days earlier.

Much of this warming is caused by emissions, primarily carbon dioxide
(CO2), that blanket the earth and trap heat. The main source of excess
CO2 is the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas to generate electricity
and drive our cars. If we continue to generate large quantities of CO2
and other heat-trapping gases, we can expect an average temperature
increase for the northeastern United States of between five and nine
degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. To place these projections in perspective,
the average global temperature has increased 1.1°F over the last
century. Fortunately there are sensible and affordable solutions
available today to help us reduce our heat-trapping emissions and
preserve our quality of life.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

SKI INDUSTRY
-----------------
Since 1930 the ski industry has been an important part of New
Hampshire's economy. Skiing provides critical jobs in small towns and
pumps more than $650 million into the New Hampshire economy. The ski
industry is already suffering from shorter ski seasons and increased
operating costs attributable to the warming of the past few decades.
Since 1970 the number of New Hampshire ski areas dropped steeply, with
many southern and lower-elevation resorts closest to population centers
going out of business.

In order to survive today, New Hampshire ski areas must produce
artificial snow on more than 90 percent of their trails. Snowmaking
requires freezing temperatures, access to large local water sources, and
intensive infrastructure investments. Rising temperatures mean increased
snowmaking, leading to higher operating costs.

Tourism associated with cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and
snowmobiling will see the earliest effects from global warming because
these activities depend on natural snowfall and do not have the option
of artificial snowmaking.

FORESTS
------------
Because forests cover most of New Hampshire, projected changes in forest
species will change the character of the state. Sugar maples (Acer
saccharum), for example, occur exclusively in the northeastern United
States and southeastern Canada. Maple sugar production depends on
prolonged cold temperatures with freezing nights and warm daytime
temperatures to create the optimal sugar content and sap production.
With warming under way, the maple sugar industry long associated with
New England has already felt some impact. Over the last two decades, the
center of maple sugar production has shifted from the United States into
Canada.

Global climate models project a substantial northward shift in maple
tree distribution. Such shifts in forest vegetation could cause lower
elevations in New Hampshire to lose their brilliant fall foliage and
resemble instead the brown autumns currently experienced in southern
Pennsylvania.

HEALTH TRENDS LINKED TO CLIMATE

Today summer storms tracking across Canada clear away pollution in the
northeast United States. A recent study looking specifically at global
warming and its impact on air quality found that storm frequency is
projected to decrease in the region, resulting in air stagnation over
much of New England. If future emissions of carbon monoxide and black
carbon remain at today's levels, the study showed air stagnation will
result in hazardous smog episodes that will increase in both severity
and duration by mid-century.

Studies for Boston and Portland already show increases in emergency room
visits for respiratory and asthma incidents that correlate with bad air
pollution days (specifically, ground-level ozone events). In addition to
asthma and respiratory ailments, poor air quality is also harmful to New
Hampshire residents with cardiovascular disease.

Currently poor air quality in New Hampshire results in the premature
death of more than 100 residents each year, costing the state one
billion dollars annually. If global warming increases the frequency
and/or severity of dangerous air pollution, then air pollution-related
health problems will likely increase, compromising the health of many
New Hampshire citizens and increasing the state's public health care
expenses.

CHOICES FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE

There is a great deal that state, regional, and national policy makers
can do today to address the root causes of global warming and reduce its
effect on New Hampshire's economy, public health, and environment.

A MODEL REGION

New Hampshire has already taken the lead by joining other northeastern
states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)?a cooperative
effort to establish a program that will reduce CO2 emissions from power
plants much the same way we successfully and quickly reduced acid rain
pollution in the 1990s. This flexible "cap and trade" program harnesses
the efficiency of the marketplace to achieve pollution reductions in the
most cost-effective manner. A successful program for the Northeast not
only benefits the region by reducing pollutants but can serve as a
national model for federal policy.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable energy resources including wind, solar, and bioenergy are now
affordable alternatives to the burning of fossil fuels. Policies such as
a federal renewable electricity standard, which requires utilities to
generate a portion of their electricity from renewable sources, would
create jobs and other in-state economic development while reducing air
pollution and global warming emissions.

For example, a 10 percent standard?similar to the standard that has
passed the U.S. Senate three times?would generate an estimated $12
million in new income for rural landowners and $42 million in new
property tax revenue. In addition, New Hampshire consumers would save
$70 million on their electricity and natural gas bills by 2020 under a
10 percent standard.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The old "waste not, want not" adage has guided New Englanders for years.
Nationally, energy efficiency improvements have helped us keep our per
capita energy use almost identical to that of 1973, even though our
economic output increased 74 percent in the intervening 30-plus years.
These improvements saved consumers at least $430 billion.

But there remains enormous potential for additional cost-effective
energy savings. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that
energy efficiency solutions are available now to cut national energy use
10 percent by 2010. For example, simply extending tax incentives for
energy-efficient equipment and buildings and setting new efficiency
standards for new equipment could reduce peak electricity demand 70,000
megawatts (MW) by 2020?eliminating the need to build 230 300-MW
polluting power plants.

FUEL ECONOMY

Because cars and trucks are responsible for almost a quarter of annual
U.S. emissions of heat-trapping CO2, improving vehicle fuel economy (and
thereby reducing emissions) should be a key element of climate policy.
Fortunately, increasing fuel efficiency is one of the most
cost-effective and technologically feasible methods of addressing the
threat of global warming while benefiting our economy and protecting
public health. Off-the-shelf technology can greatly reduce the amount of
gasoline that cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks need without raising costs.
For example, increasing fuel economy to an average 40 mpg would cost
consumers about $1,000 to $2,500 per vehicle, but would save consumers
$3,500 to $6,000 (calculated at two dollars per gallon) on fuel over the
life of the vehicle.

A sensible federal policy would therefore increase the average fuel
economy of cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks to 40 mpg over the next 10
years. By using existing technology to make more efficient vehicles,
Granite State consumers would cut their 2015 gasoline consumption by
nearly 500,000 gallons every day, for a net savings of $217 million at
the gas pump. In addition, 700 new jobs would be created in New
Hampshire by 2015.

MOVING FORWARD RESPONSIBLY

Because heat-trapping emissions remain in the atmosphere for decades or
even centuries, the choices we make today will affect the climate our
children and grandchildren inherit. The only responsible approach is to
start reducing heat-trapping emissions now. As illustrated above, many
solutions exist today that not only help us begin to slow global
warming, but will also have immediate benefits for our air quality and
economy. Delaying action by even five to ten years will greatly increase
the costs of grappling with the problem.

In addition to reducing emissions that cause global warming, we can
address root causes of air pollution that have public health
consequences.  We must also prepare to manage those future changes that
cannot be avoided. With foresight, planning, and a commitment to
responsible management, New Hampshire can be a leader in effective
climate solutions.

Please email this web page to your friends and to people who are
concerned about our future and our Grandchildren?s future. Thank you.

Proverb:  A good person leaves an inheritance to their children?s
children.

What kind of inheritance are you leaving?

ELIMINATING HUNGER Luke 10:29  Isaiah 1:17; 1:19
Proverb: The field of the poor may yield much food, but it is swept away
through injustice.
http://phillyimc.org/en/2007/02/36740.shtml
http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2006/11/9096.php
http://www.yesmagazine.com/article.asp?ID=576
http://www.carbon.org http://thealgebraproject.org
http://www.communitygarden.org http://www.localharvest.org
http://www.remineralize.org http://www.ncfi.org.uk
http://www.tfljournal.org http://www.treesforlife.org
http://neemfoundation.org http://www.neemresource.com
http://www.moringatrees.org http://www.squarefootgardening.com
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/ppatch
http://www.leftfootorganics.org
http://www.effectivemicro-organisms.co.uk http://www.eminfo.info
book: Food Not Lawns; author: Heather Flores
dvd: Gandhi - Director: Richard Attenborough
http://www.chelseagreen.com/2005/items/americafascismgod/ForTheMedia
http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25076
http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/10603.php

Per the Sustainable Industries Journal,
the Pentagon has blocked the construction of 16 Wind Energy sites in the
USA.
The military claims the Wind Farms are a threat to national security.
Maybe the Wind Farms are a threat to Big Oil and Big Coal?
Apparently, they believe coal and oil are better than wind power for our
children?s health and future.
http://www.awea.org/newsroom/releases/Anti_Wind_Provision_in_Rahall_Bill_052307.html
http://www.cleartheair.org/dirtypower
http://unitedmountaindefense.org
http://www.ohvec.org/galleries/mountaintop_removal/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxx3TFI75SA
http://www.appvoices.org http://www.coalimpoundment.org
http://www.citizenscoalcouncil.org http://www.crmw.net
http://www.wvhighlands.org
http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/dirtytruth/report/conclusion.pdf
http://www.ohvec.org/galleries/people_in_action/2007/01_09/index.html
http://www.ilovemountains.org http://www.stopmountaintopremoval.org
http://www.appalachian-center.org
book: Big Coal, The Dirty Secret, author: Jeff Goodell
http://turn.org/article.php?id=526

WHY DID GENERAL MOTORS DESTROY ELECTRIC CARS
http://www.saveev1.org http://www.dontcrush.com
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar
http://tothesurface.org/?p=70
book: Internal Combustion; author: E. Black 
http://www.internalcombustionbook.com 

REFINERY REFORM, POLLUTION and DEATH
Does Big Oil have a body bag with your name on it?
Prevent Big Oil and Big Coal from Molesting you and your children.
http://www.refineryreform.org
http://www.cleartheair.org/dirtypower http://www.downwindersatrisk.org
http://www.sunkills.com
http://bulgaria.indymedia.org/newswire/display/14135/index.php
http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/37113/index.php
http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25422
http://www.offshore-environment.com
http://shellfacts.com
book: Confessions of an Economic Hit Man; author: John Perkins
book: Secret History of the American Empire; author: John Perkins
book: Internal Combustion; author: E. Black 
http://www.internalcombustionbook.com 
book: Halliburton Agenda, The Politics of Oil and Money; author: Dan
Briody
book: Cronies, Oil and the Bushes; author: Robert Bryce
book: Imperial Oil; author: Andy Rowell
book: Big Coal, The Dirty Secret, author: Jeff Goodell
http://turn.org/article.php?id=526
book: Globalization and Its Discontents; author: Joseph Stiglitz
book: American Fascists; author: Chris Hedges
book: Tempting Faith, An Inside Story of Political Seduction; author:
David Kuo     

IS GOD GREEN
http://www.chelseagreen.com/2006/items/servegod
http://www.chelseagreen.com/forthepress/pressreleases/servegodpressrelease

DVD: Is God Green? - by Bill Moyers
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/moyersonamerica/green/index.html
http://shop.wgbh.org/product/show/8330

STOP CLIMATE CHAOS and the DESTRUCTION of the POOR
http://www.itdg.org/?id=stopclimatechaos

GLOBAL WARMING DESTROYS WINE INDUSTRY
http://cleveland.indymedia.org/news/2007/09/26753.php
http://boston.indymedia.org/newswire/display/201043/index.php
http://arkansas.indymedia.org/newswire/display/21320/index.php
http://pr.indymedia.org/news/2007/08/25427.php
http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2007/08/10884.php

COLLAPSE OF INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE, correcting the problems.
http://www.energybulletin.net/22584.html
http://www.acus.org/docs/051007-Hirsch_World_Oil_Production.pdf

THE MELTING RUSSIAN TUNDRA IS RELEASING METHANE
http://scotland.indymedia.org/newswire/display/4484/index.php
http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2908.htm
http://scotland.indymedia.org/newswire/display/4460/index.php

GLOBAL WARMING IMPACTS on ARCTIC ECOSYSTEM
and the DESTRUCTION of Native Alaskans and artic people.
http://www.montreal2005.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=985F2458-1

GLOBAL WARMING is a massive  THREAT to BIODIVERSITY and WILDLIFE
http://conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/programs/climatechange

DO WE HAVE TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION?
Are your politicians taking Bribes - campaign contributions - from Big
Oil and the Drug Companies?
Is your Congressman a Drug Pusher for the Pharmaceutical Companies?
Halt the incestuous relationship of sleazy politicians in bed with Big
Oil.
http://www.publicintegrity.org
http://www.campaignfinance.org/states

stop ELECTION FRAUD, support Honest elections.
Protect your business from the Oil Pirates and Robber Barons.
Stop the Oil Barbarians from Ravishing your Family and community's
financial budgets.
Do not allow your congressman to be a George Bush Lap Dog.
Tell Big Oil and King Bush - We want our democracy back - Let My People
Go.
Bush@Enron=Bankruptcy.com
Please help groups working for HONEST elections.
http://www.blackboxvoting.org
http://www.investigatethevote.org
http://www.verifiedvoting.org
http://www.votersunite.org
http://www.thiscantbehappening.net
http://www.solarbus.org/election/cd/test/videos.html
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Texas_redistricting_scandal
http://www.citizensact.org
state info:
http://manila.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=31260
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/121775.php

LEAGUE of CONSERVATION VOTERS
Please help set up and support
LOCAL community and city Chapters where you live.
Thank you.
USA:  http://www.lcv.org
http://www.voteenvironment.org
http://www.fscvl.org
AL:  http://www.alaleavs.org
AK:  http://www.acvoters.org
AZ:  http://www.azlcv.org  http://www.azlcvedfund.org
CA:  http://www.ecovote.org  http://www.clcveducationfund.org
CO:  http://www.coloradoconservationvoters.org  http://www.ccvef.org
CT:  http://www.ctlcv.org  http://www.conservationeducation.org
FL:  http://www.floridalcv.org
GA:  http://www.protectgeorgia.org  http://www.gavoters.com
ID:  http://www.conservationvotersforidaho.org
IL:  http://www.lcvillinois.org
ME:  http://www.mlcv.org  http://www.protectmaine.org
MD:  http://www.mdlcv.org  http://www.marylandconservation.org
MA:  http://www.mlev.org
MI:  http://www.michiganlcv.org  http://www.michiganlcvedfund.org
MN:  http://www.mnvotercenter.org
MO:  http://www.movotesconservation.org
MT:  http://www.mtvoters.org
NE:  http://www.nlcv.org
NV:  http://www.nevadaconservationleague.org
NH:  http://www.voteconservation.org
NM:  http://www.cvnm.org  http://www.cvnmef.org
NY:  http://www.nylcv.org
NC:  http://www.conservationcouncilnc.org
OH:  http://www.ohiolcv.org
OR:  http://www.olcv.org  http://www.olcveducationfund.org
PA:  http://www.votecleanpa.org
SC:  http://www.conservationvotersofsc.org
TN:  http://www.tnconservationvoters.org
TX:  http://www.tlcv.org
VT:  http://www.vacv.org  http://www.vcef.org
VA:  http://www.valcv.org  http://www.valcvef.org
WA:  http://www.wcvoters.org  http://www.weave.org
WI:  http://www.conservationvoters.org
http://www.conservationvotersinstitute.org
WY:  http://www.wyovoters.org  http://wcvedfund.org

(Note: you can save this web page to your hard drive. Then you can open
the saved file on your hard drive and click on the links to access the
web sites)

ENEMIES of DEMOCRACY
http://romania.indymedia.org/ro/2006/09/1607.shtml
http://italy.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/1146425.php
http://www.rachel.org/bulletin/index.cfm?issue_ID=2013
http://www.journeytoforever.org/fyi_previous3.html070701
http://www.psrast.org/indmanipsci.htm
http://www.purewatergazette.net/enemiesofdemocracy.htm
http://www.prwatch.org
book: Trust Us, We're Experts; author: Sheldon Rampton

Vice President Dick Cheney, British Petroleum, Halliburton and Russian
Black Gold
http://indexresearch.blogspot.com/2005/11/siberian-shadowlands-part-1.html
http://indexresearch.blogspot.com/2005/11/siberian-shadowlands-part-3.html
http://www.unknownnews.org/041004a-te.html
http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/news/dpc_hearing062705.html

DICK CHENEY DISINFORMATION
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/07/25/1443241

ELECTION FRAUD
http://romania.indymedia.org/ro/2006/09/1607.shtml
http://italy.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/1146425.php

ARE AMERICANS STUPID?
Why be stupid?
http://pr.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/18295.php
http://valparaiso.indymedia.org/news/2006/09/8723.php
http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/38087/index.php

GAS PRICES SURGE.   BUSH - Not My Fault.
http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=4900
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2006/10/347833.shtml
http://worcester.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/4725.php

SHELL OIL SLAMS IRISH PEOPLE
http://worcester.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/4761.php
http://www.stlimc.org/newswire/display/2378/index.php
http://arkansas.indymedia.org/newswire/display/20182/index.php

GENERAL MOTORS and the NAZIS
War Profits at any cost - Auschwitz - Death Camps
Is there any difference between the Neo Nazis and the American Neo
Conservatives?
Are you driving a Hitler Car?
book: Internal Combustion; author: E. Black
http://www.internalcombustionbook.com

NAZIS IN THE AMERICAN MILITARY
Defense Fund for Freedom from the Extremist - please donate.
Keep the Nuts away from the Nukes - Book of Revelation.
George Bush and the End of the World Death Cult society of america - KKK
http://manila.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=145981
http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org
http://www.imcmalta.org/indymedia/node/62
http://indymedia.nl/nl/2007/08/46724.shtml
http://barcelona.indymedia.org/newswire/display/315034/index.php

HITLER used BIBLE PASSAGES to ENSLAVE CHRISTIANS
American Homeland Security is going to use the same Plan on Americans.
What was good for Hitler, is good for George Bush and the Neo
Conservatives.
http://www.ucimc.org/node/1792
http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2007/08/27970.php
http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2007/08/90393.html
http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2007/08/208263.shtml
http://twincities.indymedia.org/newswire/display/31145/index.php
http://www.stlimc.org/newswire/display/3573/index.php
http://richmond.indymedia.org/newswire/display/13453/index.php
book: Tempting Faith, An Inside Story of Political Seduction; author:
David Kuo
book: Years of Infamy, The Untold Story of America's Concentration
Camps; author: Michi Weglyn
book: Prisoners Without Trial; author: Roger Daniels
book: America's Concentration Camps; author: Allan Bosworth
book: Chemical Warfare in Colombia; author: Sue Branford
http://amazon.co.uk
Agent Orange http://www.usvetdsp.com/agentorange.htm
Bio War on the Poor - the Killing Fields:
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=589
Environmental Crimes:
http://www.theecologist.org/archive_detail.asp?content_id=820
book: Seeds of Deception; author: Jeffrey Smith
book: The Hundred-Year Lie; author: Randall Fitzgerald

RENEWABLE ENERGY - ENERGY CONSERVATION
Three Times More JOBS - Real Economic Progress
solar energy, wind energy, micro-hydro, ocean energy, tidal energy,
river energy, energy conservation, earth energy
http://sandiego.indymedia.org/en/2007/03/125432.shtml
http://boston.indymedia.org/newswire/display/198675/index.php
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/03/18/18378731.php

KEEP OUR COUNTRY STRONG LIKE A ROCK!
Please support LOCALLY generated and LOCALLY owned renewable energy
systems.  Thank you.

MORE JOBS and ECONOMIC GROWTH
Per the Wisconsin Energy Bureau, locally generated renewable energy
(solar water heating, solar pool heating, solar building heating,
passive solar buildings, solar daylighting, solar electric, wind energy,
micro-hydro, earth energy, organic vegetable diesel fuel, solar-hydrogen
fuel cells, wind-hydrogen fuel cells, wave-hydrogen fuel cells, tidal
power, Geothermal Hydronic heating and cooling, organic farming and
gardening), creates THREE TIMES more jobs and economic growth in local
economies than using imported fossil fuel or energy from other regions.

SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING for WOMEN
http://solarenergy.org  http://www.solarliving.org http://www.vestas.com
http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/programs/nc_solar_in_schools.cfm
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu http://www.slosustainability.com
http://www.journeytoforever.org
http://www.permaculture-magazine.co.uk http://www.grisb.org
http://www.cat.org.uk http://www.permaculture.org.uk
http://www.strawbalefutures.org.uk http://www.ecologicalsolutions.com.au
http://www.cat.org.uk
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com  http://www.cobcottage.com
http://www.networkearth.org
http://skytube.net.nz http://www.kalwall.com http://solaskylights.com.au
http://naturallightsolutions.co.nz
http://www.adobebuilder.com http://www.hybridadobe.com
http://www.adobebuilding.com
http://www.eartharchitecture.org http://www.adobeasw.com
http://www.gadhiasolar.net 
http://www.calearth.org/apprent.htm  http://www.monolithic.com
http://www.tri-steel.com http://www.portlandpermaculture.com
http://www.hlf.org.np http://www.solare-bruecke.org
http://www.barefootcollege.org
http://thealgebraproject.org http://azsuzuki.org/readlist.htm
http://www.chessintheschools.org http://www.msgo.org
http://www.european-go.org http://www.gokgs.com
http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25107
http://www.yesmagazine.com/article.asp?ID=576 http://www.carbon.org
http://www.ncfi.org.uk http://www.squarefootgardening.com
http://phillyimc.org/en/2007/02/36740.shtml
book:  Super Power Breathing for Super Energy and Longevity; author:
Paul C. Bragg http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com
http://www.cleartheair.org/dirtypower http://www.downwindersatrisk.org
http://www.plants-for-people.org/eng/health/g.htm
Free organic gardening-farming Catalog:
http://www.acresusa.com/other/freesample.htm
http://www.phillyimc.org/en/2007/09/42080.shtml
http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2007/09/28006.php
http://miami.indymedia.org/news/2007/09/9187.php
http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2007/09/208285.shtml
http://twincities.indymedia.org/newswire/display/31226/index.php
http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=5815
http://asheville.indymedia.org/article/254

Translate http://babelfish.altavista.com

SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY MEDICAL FACILITIES and MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
http://fistulatrust.org http://sunutility.com/html_pg/healthcare.html
http://sunfrost.com/vaccine_refrigerators.html
http://plants-for-people.org/eng http://swisssolartech.com
http://geotility.ca http://solargenix.com http://www.powerlight.com
http://www.kalwall.com http://skytube.net.nz http://solaskylights.com.au
http://naturallightsolutions.co.nz http://www.skydome.com.au
http://maxisolar.co.uk  http://calearth.org http://www.monolithic.com
http://www.dftw.org http://sunda.de http://www.geoheat.co.uk
http://www.powerefficiencycorp.com http://isolite.com
http://www.ledtronics.com http://www.staber.com
http://www.waterless.co.nz http://oceanarks.org
http://www.greengridroofs.com http://foodnotlawns.com
http://chlorfreeglobal.com http://www.lorentzpumps.com http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com
http://www.hlf.org.np/Spowts

CHILDREN
book: Nurtured by Love, The Classical Approach to Talent Education;
author: Shinichi Suzuki http://azsuzuki.org/readlist.htm
Co-Operative Games http://www.familypastimes.com
The Algebra Project
http://thealgebraproject.org http://www.chessintheschools.org
http://www.gokgs.com http://www.msgo.org
http://www.gnu.org/software/gnugo
Academic Success
http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/miracleschool.html
http://www.moscowfood.coop/books/wilson.html
http://www.organicconsumers.org http://www.localharvest.org
http://www.squarefootgardening.com
http://india.indymedia.org/en/2006/01/211309.shtml
http://www.chattanoogahealth.com/PrintArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2138
http://www.feingold.org/PF/wisconsin1.html
http://www.rachel.org/bestPrac/detail.CFM?bestPrac_ID=3
Health
http://www.wellbeingjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=1
http://www.wellbeingjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=33
http://carbs.com/articles/your-school-lunch-program-flunking-or-honor-roll.html
http://www.grist.org/advice/books/2000/08/24/agent/index.html?source=daily
book: The Mozart Effect for Children; author: Don Campbell
http://growingyourmusician.com/booksforparents.html
http://mozarteffect.com
Victory over Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD
http://victoryoveradhd.com
book: Victory ADHD
http://www.bibleplus.org/health/ms_lupus.htm
http://ritalindeath.com
http://www.feingold.org
http://www.foodrevolution.org/askjohn/43.htm
http://www.yesmagazine.com/article.asp?ID=576
historical info - book: Back to Eden; author: Jethro Kloss
http://www.lotuspress.com
book: Super Power Breathing; author: Paul C. Bragg

utilizing ORGANIC GARDENING in SCHOOLS-UNIVERSITIES
for improving Academic Performance and social development
http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/schools.php
http://www.schoollunchinitiative.org
http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/cla_lessons.html
http://www.ecoliteracy.org/programs/rsl-guide.html
http://www.calhealthyschools.org http://www.organicconsumers.org
http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/kit_lessons.html
http://www.ncfi.org.uk
http://www.seedinternational.com.au/Schools.html
http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/garden/pubs/index.html
http://www.goodgrub.org/youth
http://www.utafoundation.org/Sunshine/home.htm
http://www.cherylcorson.com/publications.html
http://hort.ufl.edu/ggk/resources/index.shtm
http://www.communitygarden.org/commgreenrev-99.pdf
http://www.jhsph.edu/clf/PDF%20Files/Toolkit.pdf
http://www.thewatershedproject.org/default/?q=resources
http://www.journeytoforever.org/edu.htmlgarden
http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/nutrition/healthy01.asp
https://secure.bioneers.org/product/books/ecologicalliteracy
http://www.nwf.org/backyard/resourceconservation.cfm
book: Growing Communities: How to Build Community Through Community
Gardening; author: Jeanette Abi-Nader
http://www.communitygarden.org/publications.php
http://public.gripserver4.com/garden/html/learn
book: Learning About Lifecycles Using An Organic Garden; author: Allan
Randall http://www.green-shopping.co.uk
book: Ecological Literacy: Educating Our Children for a Sustainable
World; author: Michael Stone
book: Permaculture Teachers' Guide; author: Andrew Goldring
http://www.green-shopping.co.uk
book: Manual For Teaching Permaculture Creatively; author: Robin
Clayfield http://www.eco-logicbooks.com
book: A Child's Organic Garden, Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables;
author: Fryer Bradford
book: Digging Deeper: A Comprehensive Guide to Integrating Youth Gardens
into School and Communities; author: Kiefer and Kemple
book: Growing Naturally: A Teacher's Guide to Organic Gardening; author:
M. Brown
book: Let's Grow!: 72 Gardening Adventures with Children; author: Linda
Tilgner
book: Organic Gardening, The Natural No-Dig Way; author: Charles Dowding
http://www.charlesdowding.co.uk
book: No-Did, No-Weed Gardening; author: R. Pioncelot
book: The Ruth Stout No-Work Garden; author: Ruth Stout
http://www.emilycompost.com/books.htm
book: Tips for the Lazy Gardener; author: Linda Tilgner
http://www.countrysidemag.com
book: Heirloom Vegetable Gardening - Heritage Seeds; author: William
Weaver
book: An Earth Saving Revolution, Vol. 1, Vol 2; author: Teruo Higa
http://www.emshop.co.nz/em-products-books_videos.html
book: Permaculture, Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability;
author: David Holmgren
book: Gaia's Garden; author: Toby Hemenway
book: The Natural Way of Farming; author: Masanobu Fukuoka
book: Seaweed, A User's Guide; author: Sonia Surrey-Gent
http://acresusa.com
book: Square Foot Gardening; author: Mel Bartholomew
http://www.squarefootgardening.com
book: Cinder Block Gardens, book; author: Lynn A. Gillespie
book: Practical Guide to Container Gardening; author: Susan Berry
book: Soul of Soil; author: Grace Gershuny
book: Great Garden Formulas; author: Joan Benjamin
book: Super Nutrition Gardening; author: William Peavy
book: Windowsill Gardening, Year-Round Indoor Gardening Projects for
Kids; author: Klutz http://eco-artware.com/books.shtml
Vertical indoor Garding: http://www.vertigro.com
http://www.omegagarden.com http://www.aerogrow.com
High School Science Garden, Solar Energy, Farmers Market:
http://www.growingedge.com/magazine/back_issues/view_article.php3?AID=170320
Roof Top Gardening - Balcony Gardening: http://www.rooftopgardens.org
book: Harnessing the Earthworm; author: Thomas Barrett
http://www.wormbooks.com/all.books.htm
book: Allergy-Free Gardening; author: Thomas Ogren
http://www.allergyfree-gardening.com
book: Food Not Lawns; author: Heather Flores http://www.foodnotlawns.com
book: Designing And Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally; author:
Robert Kourik
book: Complete Book of Edible Landscaping; author: Rosalind Creasy
book: Edible Flower Garden; author: Rosalind Creasy<br>>http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/edibleflowers.html
http://www.plantea.com/edibleland.htm
http://www.landofvos.com/articles/kitchen8.html
http://www.ibiblio.org/permaculture-online/artedibl.html
book: Amaranth to Zai Holes: Ideas for Growing Food Under Difficult
Conditions; author: Laura Meitzner http://echobooks.org
book: Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms; author: Paul Stamets
book: New Seed Starter's Handbook; author: Nancy Bubel
book: Natural Soap Book; author: Susan Miller Cavitch
book: Solar Food Dryer; author: Eben Fodor
Solar Cooking: http://www.solarcooking.org
bring sun light indoors to classrooms for growing food and plants:
http://www.sun-dome.com http://www.sun-tek.com http://www.kalwall.com
http://www.led-grow-master.com http://www.skytube.net.nz
http://www.sunscope.com http://www.huvco.com
http://www.tubular-skylight.com 
http://maineindymedia.org/newswire/display/4466/index.php
http://phillyimc.org/en/2007/02/36740.shtml
Free organic gardening-farming Catalog:
http://www.acresusa.com/other/freesample.htm
more info:
http://uruguay.indymedia.org/news/2006/01/44217.php
http://ambazonia.indymedia.org/en/2006/01/1186.shtml
http://ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/14175/index.php
http://india.indymedia.org/en/2006/01/211309.shtml
http://pr.indymedia.org/news/2006/01/12625.php

For more information, please contact local gardeners and farmers who
specialize in Organic gardening, Permaculture gardening, Biodynamic
gardening, Japanese Kyusei Nature gardening, Biointensive gardening,
Heirloom gardening, Agroforestry gardening, Organic Hydroponics
gardening and Gardening Therapy. Gardening is micro-climate specific.
These means that local gardeners might know of gardening techniques and
resources which are helpful for the location you live in. Keep
researching, reading, refining your gardening methods and experimenting
with different growing techniques. Eco Gardening technology is changing
and improving all the time. Also, as the climate changes, you may need
to learn other gardening techniques for various climates.     
http://www.localharvest.org

VOLUNTARY FAMILY PLANNING
http://www.ntimc.org/newswire.php?story_id=5750
http://www.stlimc.org/newswire/display/3501/index.php

TOURS of SOLAR HOMES and SOLAR BUILDINGS
http://www.ases.org/tour/2006_tour/california.htm
http://www.homepower.com/events/index.cfm
http://www.solarliving.org
http://www.solarhouseday.com/index01.shtml

FREE OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE
http://www.openoffice.org - word processor, spreadsheets, data bases and
much more
http://directory.fsf.org - education, games and more
http://www.theopencd.org
http://www.safer-networking.org - Securtiy and Spy Ware

LINKS TO GROUPS SUPPORTING FOOD SECURITY, CLEAN AIR, CLIMATE PROTECTION
USA- http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2006/07/8046.php
International- http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25168

ELECTRIC BICYCLES
http://www.myebike.com http://www.evt-scooter.de http://www.vestas.com
http://www.velomobile.de

ELECTRIC VEHICLES
http://www.electroauto.com http://www.eaaev.org http://www.vestas.com
http://www.nedra.com http://www.veva.bc.ca http://www.myersmotors.com
http://www.ampmobiles.com http://www.acpropulsion.com
http://chiapas.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=145793
http://ovl.indymedia.org/news/2007/06/17060.php
http://newjersey.indymedia.org/en/2007/06/15908.shtml

CONVERT YOUR CAR TO ELECTRIC
http://www.canev.com http://ev-america.com http://www.evparts.com
http://www.kta-ev.com http://www.go-ev.com http://www.metricmind.com

WOMEN'S CLASSES ON ELECTRIC AUTOS
http://www.electroauto.com
http://www.electric-cars-are-for-girls.com

ORGANIC VEGETABLE DIESEL FUEL
http://www.plantdrive.com http://www.ca40g.com
http://biodieselwarehouse.com
http://www.joshuatickell.com/books_films.htm
BILLION dollar CROP- http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/hemp.html
book: How to Make Biodiesel; author: Dan Carter
http://www.lowimpact.org/manuals.htm
book: Biodiesel Power; author: Lyle Estill
http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3898
oil seed press machine - http://www.oilpress.com
http://www.biofuels-sa.com http://www.ufop.de
http://www.grownfuel.com http://www.petrotec.de
http://www.aldabiodiesel.co.uk http://www.rerorust.de

CONVERTING USED COOKING OIL into DIESEL FUEL
http://plantdrive.com/Used_Cooking_Oil_Fuel_4_18_07.pdf
http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=25107
http://www.hawaii.indymedia.org/news/2006/06/5943.php
http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com http://www.mrfunnel.com

HEATING BUILDINGS with organic Vegetable Diesel Fuel -
http://www.homepower.com

BUILD INTO THE FUTURE
Indestructible and energy efficient buildings and homes
(Hurricane proof, Tornado proof, Earthquake proof, Fire proof and Tidal
Wave proof)
Reduces energy use by 40% to 80%
------------------
http://www.monolithic.com http://www.heliodyne.com
http://www.swisssolartech.com http://www.ormat.com
http://radiantsolar.com http://dsegroup.com http://www.fraccaro.it
http://solargenix.com http://plantdrive.com http://sunda.de
http://www.microhydropower.com http://www.powerlight.com
http://www.kalwall.com http://www.bomin-solar.de http://www.isolite.com
http://magenn.com http://teslamotors.com http://www.solarthermal.com
http://www.sun-dome.com http://www.sun-tek.com http://www.skytube.net.nz
http://www.sunscope.com http://www.huvco.com
http://www.tubular-skylight.com http://www.solarwall.com
http://www.greengridroofs.com http://www.sunpower.com
http://www.cansolair.com http://www.insuladd.com http://www.vestas.com
http://www.sunfrost.com http://www.staber.com
http://www.canadiansolartechnologies.ca http://www.sloanled.com
http://www.sunutility.com http://lorentzpumps.com http://www.hlf.org.np
http://rainharvesting.co.uk http://zeolite.com.au http://grasscrete.com
http://www.ultimateair.com http://www.tri-steel.com
http://harvesthomes.ca http://meadowoodindustries.com
http://rammedearthworks.com http://atlantium.com http://www.calearth.org
http://www.sun-dome.com http://www.kalwall.com http://www.sun-tek.com
http://maxisolar.co.uk http://www.skytube.net.nz http://www.sunscope.com
http://www.solaskylights.com http://www.huvco.com
http://www.tubular-skylight.com http://www.solabright.co.uk
http://www.sunpipe.com http://www.sunscope.com http://www.tru-lite.com
http://www.natural-light-skylights.com
http://uruguay.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/42480.php

NATURAL DAY LIGHTING
Saves Money and Energy; increases health, productivity and positive
attitudes
http://www.daylightingtraining.org
http://www.greeningschools.org/resources/view_cat_admin.cfm?id=7
http://www.skytube.net.nz http://www.solaskylights.com
http://www.slosustainability.com http://www.kalwall.com
http://www.solatube.com http://naturallightsolutions.co.nz
http://www.bomin-solar.de http://www.sun-tek.com http://maxisolar.co.uk
http://www.sun-dome.com http://www.sunscope.com http://www.huvco.com
http://www.tubular-skylight.com http://www.solabright.co.uk
http://www.sunpipe.com http://www.tru-lite.com
http://www.natural-light-skylights.com
http://www.sunportdaylighting.com/company.htm http://www.solatube.co.il
http://www.techcomlight.nl http://www.solatube.cz
http://www.solatube.com.mx http://www.solatube.gr http://www.solatube.sk
http://www.solatube.si http://www.gunisigiaydinlatma.com
http://www.daylighttechnology.com http://www.naturalight.co.uk
http://pride.uoregon.edu/point.php?id=2
http://www.advancedbuildings.org/main_t_lighting_daylighting_controls.htm
http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/daylighting.cfm
http://www.soluminaire.com/benefits.html
http://www.pfisterenergy.com/daylighting.html
http://www.southwall.com/southwall/Home/Commercial/Solutions/Daylighting.html
book: The Light Revolution, Health, Architecture, and the Sun; author:
Richard Hobday
book: Daylighting Performance and Design; author: Gregg Ander

ELIMINATING PHANTOM ELECTRICAL LOADS from APPLIANCES
This a cheap way to reduce energy use and save money.
http://www.redwoodenergy.org/ContentPage.asp?C..374
http://www.positivenergy.com/reduceneeds.html
http://www.windchasers.ca/new_page_7.htm
http://www.greenmountainsolar.com/view.php/page/gotphantoms
http://www.homeenergy.org/archive/hem.dis.anl.gov/eehem/96/960715.html
http://www.coolcaledon.org/PDFs/Phantom_Electrical_Loads.pdf
http://www.neutralexistence.com/Reduce-Phantom-Electrical-Loads.html
http://www.builditsolar.com/References/Half/ProjectsConservation.htm
http://www.econet.sk.ca/solutions/energy/cutting.html

QUADRUPLING FOOD PRODUCTION
Per a report from Malaysia, crops grown with Volcanic Rock Dust (
http://www.remineralize.org ) and Eeffective Micro-organisms (EM
http://www.effectivemicro-organisms.co.uk ) increased production by
400%.
References: Permaculture Magazine, 51, Spring 2007; article: Stone Age
Science; author: Dylan Keating
http://www.remineralize.org/story.php?story=EEZFAlEukZOJwODROk.html
http://www.permaculture-magazine.co.uk
http://www.squarefootgardening.com
http://www.carbon.org
http://www.localharvest.org
book:  An Earth Saving Revolution, Vol. 1, Vol 2; author: Teruo Higa
http://www.emshop.co.nz/em-products-books_videos.html
book:  Bread from Stones; author: Michael Olson http://www.acresusa.com
book:  How to Grow World Record Tomatoes; author: Charles Wilber 
http://www.acresusa.com
book:  Eco-Farm; author: Charles Walters http://www.acresusa.com<br> book:  Worms Eat My Garbage; author: Mary Appelhof
http://www.wormwoman.com http://www.vermico.com
book:  Recycle With Earthworms; author: Shelley Grossman
http://www.wormbooks.com/all.books.htm http://elementgreen.com
book:  The Farmer's Earthworm Handbook; author: David Ernst
http://www.acresusa.com
Eeffective Micro-organisms:  http://www.eminfo.info http://www.emnz.com
http://www.emrochina.com http://www.agriton.nl http://www.emro.co.jp
http://www.bmecology.com http://www.embiotech.org http://emiko.de
Free organic gardening-farming Catalog:
http://www.acresusa.com/other/freesample.htm

CARBON SOILS
Adding CHARCOAL to soil ~ http://www.eprida.com ~ greatly increases crop
production for very many years.
References: Solar Today journal, Nov/Dec 2006, article: Chair's Corner:
Positive Charcoal equals Negative Carbon; author: Roanl Larson
http://www.solartoday.org
Permaculture Magazine, 50, Winter 2006; article: The Magical Soils Of
El Derado; author: Terra Preta http://www.permaculture-magazine.co.uk
http://www.newfarm.org/columns/research_paul/2006/0106/charcoal.shtml
http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org
http://iaiconference.org
http://www.carbonnegative.info
http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/terra_preta/TerraPretahome.htm
http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/publications.htm
http://deltafarmpress.com/news/051114-terra-preta
http://www.dynamotive.com/english/biooil/char.html
http://www.agri-therm.com
CHARCOAL SOIL: Adaptation Strategies for Global Change:
http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/publ/MitAdaptStratGlobChange%2011,%20403-427,%20Lehmann,%202006.pdf
http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/publ/Lehmann%20et%20al.,%202002,%20WCSS%20Bangkok,%20paper%20no.0449.pdf
book: Carbon Cycle; by Leonard Ridzon http://www.acresusa.com
book: Lost Crops of the Incas
http://www.growingedge.com/magazine/back_issues/view_article.php3?AID=140668

COMPOST TEA: INCREASED FOOD PRODUCTION
Compost Tea fights plant diseases, insects and increases plant growth.
http://www.vermico.com/compost_tea_brewers.htm
http://www.growingsolutions.com http://www.soilsoup.com
http://www.nature-technologies.com
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/compost-tea-notes.htmlsoilfoodweb
book: Compost Tea Brewing Manual, 5th edition; author: Elaine Ingham
http://www.earthfort.com/shopexd.asp?id=18
http://www.vermico.com/compost_tea_brewers.htm
http://www.soilfoodweb.com
book: An Introduction to the Soil Foodweb; author: Elaine Ingham
http://www.soilfoodweb.com http://www.earthfort.com/shopexd.asp?id=22
seminars: http://www.soilfoodweb.com

WORM COMPOSTING - RECYCLING - SOIL IMPROVEMENT - INCREASED FOOD
PRODUCTION
Worm Composting rapidly converts organic waste into safe and very
beneficial garden products.
http://www.vermico.com http://www.elementgreen.com
http://www.wormdigest.org http://www.wormbooks.com
http://www.eco-ireland.com http://www.wormwoman.com
http://www.earthworms.co.nz http://vermitechnology.com
http://www.wonderwormsuk.com/recycling
http://www.sfenvironment.com/aboutus/recycling/compost/worm.htm
http://whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Redwormsedit.htm
http://www.homestead.org/Gardening/RaisingEarthworms.htm
book: Worms Eat My Garbage; author: Mary Appelhof
http://www.wormwoman.com http://www.vermico.com
book: Recycle With Earthworms; author: Shelley Grossman
http://www.wormbooks.com/all.books.htm
book: Let An Earthworm Be Your Garbage Man
http://www.wormbooks.com/all.books.htm
book: Composting With Worms; author: G. Pilkington
http://www.eco-logicbooks.com
book: A Worm's Eye View of Recycling Rubbish
http://www.organicnz.org/page/organic-nz-book-club-children
book: The Farmer's Earthworm Handbook; author: David Ernst
http://acresusa.com
article: The Worm Composting Toilet http://www.wormdigest.org
book: The Worm Café: Mid-Scale Vermicomposting of Lunchroom Wastes- A
Manual for Schools resources for the Classroom
http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/index.html
schools and univerities composting their organic waste
http://www.wormwoman.com/acatalog/index.html
newsletters: http://www.vermico.com/newsletter1.htm
training and seminars: http://www.vermico.com/seminar.htm
Kitchen Worm Composter http://www.elementgreen.com

E.M. COMPOSTING - RECYCLING - CLEANING POLLUTED SOILS - INCREASED FOOD
PRODUCTION
Effective Microorganisms Composting converts animal waste into safe
garden products and eliminates odors.
http://www.effectivemicro-organisms.co.uk http://bokashicenter.com
http://www.emshop.co.nz http://www.emrousa.com/about.html
http://www.bokashi.co.nz http://www.eminfo.info
http://www.agriton.nl/apnanman.html http://www.emro.co.jp
http://www.emtrading.com http://www.emnz.com http://www.emrochina.com
http://www.multikraft.at http://www.school-el.net http://www.unet.or.jp
http://www.go-emco.co.jp http://www.embiotech.org http://www.chujosl.com
http://www.emgreen.pl http://www.emhellas.com http://www.emiko.de
http://www.lindros.co.za/Effective%20Microorganisms.htm
http://www.emhawaii.com http://www.bmecology.com
http://emerald-natural-living.ie
http://www.newfarm.org/depts/gleanings/0803/rutter.shtml
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/01/01/stories/2005010117170300.htm
book: Beneficial and Effective Microorganisms for a Sustainable
Agriculture and Environment; author: Teruo Higa
book: An Earth Saving Revolution; author: Teruo Higa
http://www.emshop.co.nz/em-products-books_videos.html
book: Eco Pure The Front Line of EM Kitchen Garbage Recycle; author: EM
Joho-shitsu
book: EM Teacher's Manual Transforming Waste http://bokashicenter.com
Compost-Zing for Kitchen Waste Recycling
http://www.bokashi.co.nz/order_form.htm
Bokashi Compost-Zing Systems http://www.bokashi.co.nz/order_form.htm
EM Kitchen and Garden Composters
http://www.emtrading.com/store1/emkc100104_700_26_15_3_261.html

WORM TEA: FIGHTS PLANT DISEASES - ORGANIC FERTILIZERS
http://www.ourvitalearth.com/worm-tea.htm
http://bristen.com/natureshop/gardenjournal/wormtea.htm
http://www.kitsapezearth.com/fact.htmltea

ORGANIC GARDENING:
Free organic gardening-farming Catalog:
http://www.acresusa.com/other/freesample.htm http://planetnatural.com
book: How to Grow World Record Tomatoes; author: Charles Wilber
http://www.acresusa.com http://wormsway.com
book: Square Foot Gardening; author: Mel Bartholomew
http://www.squarefootgardening.com
book: Worms Eat My Garbage; author: Mary Appelhof
http://www.wormwoman.com
book: Compost Tea Manual, 5th edition; author: Elaine Ingham
http://www.soilsoup.com http://soilfoodweb.com
http://vermico.com/compost_tea_brewers.htm
book: Organic Lawn Care Manual; by Paul Tukey
book: An Earth Saving Revolution, Vol. 1, Vol 2; author: Teruo Higa
http://www.emshop.co.nz/em-products-books_videos.html
book: Gaia's Garden; author: Toby Hemenway
book: The Earth Care Manual; author: P Whitefield
book: Secret Life of Compost; author: Malcolm Beck
http://www.acresusa.com
book: Soul of Soil, book; author: Joseph Smillie
book: Four-Season Harvest; author: Eliot Coleman
http://www.fourseasonfarm.com http://www.led-grow-master.com
http://fifthseasongardening.com
book: MetroFarm; author: Michael Olson http://www.metrofarm.com
book: Lasagna Gardening for Small Spaces; author: Patricia Lanza
book: Bread from Stones; author: Michael Olson http://acresusa.com
http://remineralize.org http://stonebread.co.nz
http://www.uoguelph.ca/rocks http://seercentre.org.uk
http://soilandhealth.org http://wewantrealfood.com
http://www.canhealyourself.com/trees.htm http://biobiz.ca
http://rockdust.co.uk http://gaiagreen.com
book: Growing Communities: How to Build Community Through Community
Gardening; author: Jeanette Abi-Nader
http://www.communitygarden.org/publications.php
http://public.gripserver4.com/garden/html/learn
book: Food Not Lawns; author: Heather C. Flores http://foodnotlawns.com
book: Carbon Cycle; author: Leonard Ridzon
Organic insect repellant - Garlic Barrier: http://garlicbarrier.com
http://ghorganics.com http://biconet.com http://organiclandscape.com
http://foxfarmfertilizer.com
Organic Weed Killer - 25% Acetic Acid eliminates Weeds: 
http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=468&bhcd2=1162226528
http://www.milkyspore.com/burnout.htm http://garden-ville.com
http://greenergyinc.com http://groworganic.com http://ehabc.org
http://hotpepperwax.com
http://www.indymedia.no/newswire/display/18832/index.php
http://www.organiclandcare.org http://www.mcs-global.org
http://www.panna.org
Worm Tea: http://www.vermico.com/castings.htm http://soilsoup.com
http://edibella.com http://gaiacollege.ca http://gardenspout.com
http://homeharvest.com
Seattle Tilth: http://www.seattletilth.org Sustainable Technology for
your community. http://www.seedsavers.org http://www.wwoof.org
Microgardens: http://www.carbon.org http://www.echonet.org
http://www.neemfoundation.org http://www.moringatrees.org
http://www.permaculture.org.uk
Church - School Gardening Technology:
http://peru.indymedia.org/news/2006/01/24394.php http://www.sun-dome.com
http://www.led-grow-master.com http://www.sun-tek.com
http://www.skytube.net.nz http://www.sunscope.com
Gleaners: Please set up a Gleaners Group in your community to pick
excess Fresh Organic vegetables and organic fruits from your neighbors'
gardens, from local farms and from Farmers Markets for use by your local
food bank.
Thank you. http://www.gleanerscoalition.org http://www.localharvest.org

For more information, please contact local gardeners and farmers who
specialize in Organic gardening, Permaculture gardening, Biodynamic
gardening, Japanese Kyusei Nature gardening, Biointensive gardening,
Heirloom gardening, Agroforestry gardening, Organic Hydroponics
gardening and Gardening Therapy. Gardening is micro-climate specific.
These means that local gardeners might know of gardening techniques and
resources which are helpful for the location you live in. Keep
researching, reading, refining your gardening methods and experimenting
with different growing techniques. Eco Gardening technology is changing
and improving all the time. Also, as the climate changes, you may need
to learn other gardening techniques for various climates.     
http://www.localharvest.org

HEATING GREEN HOUSES with SOLAR HOT WATER and radiant heating systems
(Using the floor as a Thermal Mass for Retaining Heat at Night - see
THERMAL MASS)
http://www.radiantsolar.com http://www.solargenix.com
http://www.radiantec.com http://www.radiantcompany.com
http://www.wirsbo.ca http://www.heliodyne.com http://www.twapanels.ca
http://www.thermotechs.com http://www.thermomax.com
http://www.orange-energy.de
Free Installation Manual: http://www.radiantec.com/installation.htm
Solar Water Wall for Passive Solar Heating
http://www.solar-components.com http://www.growerssupply.com
Water Wall Design Manual
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/AWaterWallIntro.pdf
Polymax Water Wall Bag http://www.growerssupply.com
book: Energy Conservation for Commercial Greenhouses; author: John
Bartok http://www.growingedge.com/store/books_multimedia.php
book: Biodynamic Greenhouse Management; author: Heinz Grotzke
book: Greenhouses for Homeowners and Gardeners; author: John Bartok
http://www.growingedge.com/store/books_multimedia.php
book: Complete Greenhouse Book, Building and Using Greenhouses from
Cold-Frames to Solar Structures; author: Peter Clegg
book: Complete book of the Greenhouse; author: Ian Walls
http://green-shopping.co.uk
book: Greener Greenhouses;
http://www.growingedge.com/store/books_multimedia.php
book: Greenhouse Gardener's Companion; author: Shane Smith
book: Building Your Own Greenhouse; author: Mark Freeman
book: Gardening Under Cover: A Northwest Guide to Solar Greenhouses,
Cold Frames; author: William Head
book: Building and Using Cold Frames
book: Polytunnel Companion; author: Jayne Neville
book: Gardening Under Plastic: How to Use Fleece, Films, Cloches and
Polytunnels; author: Bernard Salt
book: Starting Early Flowering and Vegetable Plants Under Glass; author:
Charles Nissley
bring sun light indoors to grow food: http://www.sunpipe.com
http://www.led-grow-master.com
Vertical indoor Garding: http://207.155.2.70 http://www.vertigro.com
http://www.agripioneer.com http://www.omegagarden.com
http://www.growingedge.com/magazine/back_issues/view_article.php3?AID=170320

WINTER FARMING AND GARDENING TECHNOLOGY
http://www.newfarm.org/features/0404/moore/greenhouse.shtml
http://www.newfarm.org/features/0404/moore/greenhouseII.shtml
http://biointensiveforrussia.igc.org http://www.fourseasonfarm.com
http://www.growerssupply.com
http://www.growbiointensive.org/newsletter/may2000/passive-solar.html
http://www.homepower.com
Passive Solar Greenhouse Workshop: design, construction and year round
production:
contact: sandcmoore@juno.com telephone: 717.225.2489 (USA) Steve and
Carol Moore
book: Four Season Harvest; author: Eliot Coleman
http://www.fourseasonfarm.com/main/books/books.html
book: Solar Gardening; author: Leande Vogel Poisson
http://green-shopping.co.uk
book: Winter Harvest Manual; author: Eliot Coleman
http://www.fourseasonfarm.com/main/books/books.html
book: Lasagna Gardening; author: Patricia Lanza
bring sun light indoors to grow food: http://www.sunpipe.com
energy efficient LED grow lights: http://www.led-grow-master.com
Water Wall Design Manual
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/AWaterWallIntro.pdf
Polymax Water Wall Bag http://www.growerssupply.com
http://www.solar-components.com

SOLAR POWERED GREENHOUSES and passive solar heated greenhouses
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/living/education/12532514.htm
http://www.growingspaces.co.uk
http://www.scrupe.com/Collecting%20Details/collecting_details.htm
http://www.solar.demokritos.gr/desabst/1981.htm
Solar Water Wall for Passive Solar Heating
http://www.solar-components.com
Water Wall Design Manual
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/AWaterWallIntro.pdf
Polymax Water Wall Bag http://www.growerssupply.com

PERMACULTURE - Going Beyond Sustainability
http://www.seedinternational.com.au http://www.tagari.com
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/perma.html
http://www.permaculture-magazine.co.uk http://www.berg-en-dal.co.za
http://www.permacultureinternational.org
http://www.permaculture-hawaii.com http://www.permacultura-es.org
http://www.permacultureactivist.net http://www.permaculture.org.au
http://www.permacult.com.au http://www.permacultura.org
http://permakultur.dk http://www.permaculture-steve.net
http://www.permacult.com.au/noosa
http://www.permaculturemelbourne.org.au http://www.permaculture.biz
http://www.tortuga.com/permacultura http://www.3.telus.net/permaculture
http://permaculturevisions.com http://www.permaculture.net
http://www.openpermaculture.com http://www.permaculture.org.nz
http://www.permacultura-bahia.org.br
http://www.permacultura-montsant.org http://www.permacultura.org.br
http://www.tierramor.org http://www.ecohabitar.org
http://www.ecocentro.org http://www.pacificos.org
http://permacultura.freeservers.com http://www.permacultura.cl
http://permacultura.no.sapo.pt
http://www.utopie.it/ecovillaggi/permacultura.htm
http://www.gaia.org.ar/cursoperma.htm http://www.vidasana.org
http://www.ufpa.br/permacultura
http://www.mutantia21.com.ar/permacultura.html
http://www.permaculture.org.uk
http://colombiaenhechos.org/permacultura.htm http://www.permacultura.it
http://www.ipemabrasil.org.br http://www.brightonpermaculture.co.uk
http://www.torri-superiore.org
http://www.agrorede.org.br/curso-permacultura
http://www.ybytucatu.com.br/permacultura.htm http://www.amazonia.org
http://www.permacultura-rs.org.br http://www.mmrfbz.org
http://www.permaculture.org
http://www.moa-inter.or.jp/english/naturefarm/nf-contents.html
http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/oop/click_ord/showlist.html?sid=5845&list=Gardening
Eco-Buddhahist Project: http://www.buddhafield.com
book: Permaculture Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability;
author: David Holmgren
book: Small Is Beautiful; author: E. F. Schumacher
book: Gaviotas, A Village to Reinvent the World; author: Alan Weisman
http://dharma-haven.org/five-havens/gaviotas.htm
journal: Permaculture Activist http://www.permacultureactivist.net
journal: Permaculture Magazine http://www.permaculture-magazine.co.uk
journal: Permaculture Drylands Journal http://www.permaculture.net
PIL's Planet Newsletter
http://www.permacultureinternational.org/newsletter/newsletter.htm
Permaculture Store: http://green-shopping.co.uk
http://eco-logicbooks.com http://acresusa.com

EAT LOCAL ORGANIC FOOD
Please support your Local Organic Family Farmers
http://www.localharvest.org/csa http://www.localharvest.org/csa.jsp
http://www.eatlocal.org/Ideas.html
http://colombia.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/34640.php
http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/33261.php
http://www.iatp.org

the miracle of tithing
http://twincities.indymedia.org/newswire/display/29435/index.php
http://newjersey.indymedia.org/en/2007/02/13715.shtml
http://www.sfbay.indymedia.org/newsitems/2007/02/05/18357610.php
http://www.kcindymedia.org/newswire/display/72930/index.php

PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING of BUILDINGS
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs14.htm
http://www.ourcoolhouse.com/phase2.htm
http://www.sunplans.com http://www.passivhaustagung.de
http://www.passiv.de http://www.solardwellings.com.au
http://www.omsolar.net http://www.poweredliving.co.nz
http://www.solarliving.org
http://www.passivehouse.org.nz http://www.sunpowerdesign.com.au
Passive House Planning Package 2007 Manual + CD-Rom (7th revised
edition) http://e-colab.org
http://www.passivhaus.org.uk http://passiefhuisplatform.be
http://pibp.pl http://budynek-pasywny.pl http://www.lamaisonpassive.fr
http://maison.passive.free.fr http://www.lamaisonpassive.be
http://www.maison-passive.be http://www.maisonpassive.be
http://www.passiefhuisplatform.be http://www.batirbio.org
http://www.la-maison-ecologique.com http://passive-aventure.vivao.be
http://maisonpassive.info http://solares-bauen.fr
http://www.energieinstitut.at http://www.hausderzukunft.at
book: Warm House, Cool House: Inspirational Designs for Low-Energy
Housing; author: Nick Hollo
http://www.unireps.com.au/isbn/0947277226.htm
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/environ/housedesign/moreinfo.shtml
http://www.aseg.net/InTheNews.htm
http://www.cfd.rmit.edu.au/programs/sustainable_buildings/books_on_sustainable_architecture_and_building
http://www.architext.com.au/Cat/environmental.htm
http://www.facs.gov.au/indigenous/housing_guide2/b8.htm
http://www.bookworm.com.au/bookworm/dw000013.htm
http://www.theownerbuilder.com.au/Bookshop.pdf
book: Passive Solar House; author: James Kachadorian
http://www.chelseagreen.com/2006/items/passivesolarhouse2
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com/passolhous.html
http://www.urbanharvest.org/permaculture/pclinks.html
http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/wcpa/ow/bccde3d2434d17fba19afeb4da09e526.html
http://www.homesteadinginfo.com/books/chelseapublishing/passive_solar_house.html
http://store.sundancesolar.com/pasohoussode.html
http://www.acresaustralia.com.au/bookstore/prod381.htm
http://www.rockymtsolar.com/passivesolar.htm
book: Solar House, Passive Heating and Cooling; author: Ph.D. Chiras
http://www.nesea.org/publications/NESun/review_chiras.html
http://store.altenergystore.com/Books-Videos/Solar/c457
https://www.oikos.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=160
https://www.naturalhomeandgarden.com/nhgecom/router.aspx?PageId=ProDetail&ItemNumber=1436
http://www.dynamiclist.com/?node=a55acf4b-3c30-407f-b74a-712446aeb04d
http://www.designcoalition.org/features/lansing/details/aircore/aircore.htm
book: Affordable Passive Solar Homes; author: Richard Crowther
http://www.nesea.org/buildings/passive.html
http://www.ases.org/print_catalog/residential_design.htm
http://www.austinenergy.com/Energy%20Efficiency/Programs/Green%20Building/Sourcebook/passiveSolarDesign.htm
http://www.3sc.net/solarm/resources.htm
http://www.permacult.com.au/shelter/energy_solar.html
http://www.cectoxic.org/pdf/BuildingGreen.pdf
book:  Sustainable Community; author: Graham Meltzer
http://green-shopping.co.uk
book: Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook; author: Michael J.
Crosbie
http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471183083.html
http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageId=492
http://www.cecer.army.mil/Sustdesign/SDRFavBooksPV.cfm
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/solardesign.html
http://www.greensage.com/CEU/4467nr/CEU4467nrbooks.html
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/heatwithsun.htm
book: The Passive Solar Energy Book: A Complete Guide to Passive Solar
Home, Greenhouse, and Building Design; author: Edward Mazria
book: Solar Projects for Under 500 Dollars; author: Mary Twitchell
book: Passive Solar Construction Handbook; author: Levy Emanuel
book: European Passive Solar Handbook; author: Owen Lewis
book: Survey of European Passive Solar Buildings; author: Commissariat a
L'ene
book: Profiting from Sunshine - Passive Solar Building in the Mountains
book: Passive Solar Design Strategies; National Renewable Energy Lab
http://bookstore.greenbuilder.com/index.books
book: Passive Solar Retrofit; author: Darryl Strickler
book: Village Homes, Solar House Designs; author: J. Corbett
book: California Passive Solar Handbook; California Energy Commission
book: Passive Solar Design Handbook (volumes I, II, III); author: D.
Balcomb
book: National Design Handbook Prototype on Passive Solar Heating and
Natural Cooling of Buildings; United Nations Centre for Human
Settlements
book: Erstes Mehrfamilien-Passivhaus im Altbau; author: A. Willensdorfer
http://www.hausderzukunft.at
book: Passivhaus Schulungunterlagen; author: P. Holzer
book: 1000 Passivhäuser in Österreich; author: G. Lang
book: Praxis- und Passivhaustaugliche Sanierungssysteme für Dach und
Wandbauteile unter Verwendung von Hochleistungswärmedämmsystemen;
author: A. Ferle
book: Wohnbausanierung mit Passivhaustechnologie; author: A. Prehal
journal: Solar Today; article: Return of the Water Wall; author: David
Bainbridge; issue: vol. 21, no. 4; July/August 2007
http://www.solartoday.org http://www.solar-components.com
journal: Mother Earth News; article: Build a Water Wall Solar Home;
author: David Bainbridge; issue: Nov/Dec 1984 
http://www.slosustainability.com
Water Wall Design Manual
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/AWaterWallIntro.pdf
Polymax Water Wall Bag http://www.growerssupply.com
http://www.solar-components.com  http://www.solar-components.com

HIGH PERFORMANCE PASSIVE HOUSES
http://www.viking-house.net

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
http://www.zeri.org http://www.effectivemicro-organisms.co.uk
http://www.oceanarks.org http://www.bokashi.co.nz
http://www.elementgreen.com
http://www.zerowastekovalam.org http://zerowaste.co.nz
http://www.zerowaste.com http://www.towardszero.com
http://www.powerefficiencycorp.com   http://www.1windowquilts.com 
http://www.waterless.co.nz    http://waterrecycling.com 
http://ecoflo.ie
book:  Create an Oasis With Greywater; author: A. Ludwig
http://www.oasisdesign.net   http://www.ecological-engineering.com 
http://atlantium.com 
book:  Safe Rainwater Collection; author: Charmaine Taylor   
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com/safraincol.html   
http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com
Greywater Heat Exchangers: http://www.gfxtechnology.com
book:  Worms Eat My Garbage; author: Mary Appelhof
http://www.wormwoman.com http://www.vermico.com http://elementgreen.com
book:  Recycle With Earthworms; author: Shelley Grossman
http://www.wormbooks.com/all.books.htm

ADVANCED RECYCLING TECHNOLOGIES:
http://rogueimc.org/en/2007/05/8529.shtml
http://india.indymedia.org/en/2005/12/211277.shtml
http://santiago.indymedia.org/news/2007/05/68545.php
http://turkce-cyprus.indymedia.org/newswire/display/120/index.php

RAINWATER HARVESTING
http://www.greengridroofs.com http://www.rainharvesting.co.uk
http://plants-for-people.org/eng http://foodnotlawns.com
Rainwater Filtering: http://rainfilters.com http://www.hydroscreen.com
http://www.oasisdesign.net
Rainwater Purification: http://www.chlorfreeglobal.com
http://www.ecological-engineering.com http://atlantium.com
http://www.wolvertonenvironmental.com http://www.hlf.org.np/Spowts.html
http://sunutility.com
http://www.rainwaterclub.org
http://www.eng.warwick.ac.uk/DTU/rwh/index.html
http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org
http://www.aboutrainwaterharvesting.com http://www.rainman.ie
http://www.sustainable.com.au/rainwater.html
http://www.rainharvesting.co.uk http://www.forgottenrain.com
http://www.lifewater.ca/rain.htm http://www.rainwaterharvesting.net
http://www.raincentre.org http://www.ne-design.net
http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/PI/rainbarrels.htm
http://www.rainharvesting.ie http://www.freerain.co.uk
http://www.cseindia.org http://www.ideorg.org/Page.asp?NavID=215
http://products.ecosaver.com.au/dma-savew/?secti..20
Online Book: Texas Guide to Rainwater Harvesting; author: Wendy Price
Todd
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/RainwaterHarvestingManual_3rdedition.pdf
http://www.ircsa.org/7th.html
http://home.btconnect.com/engindia/rainwaterharvesting.htm
http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/resources/rainwater-harvesting-with-cisterns-resources
http://www.newint.org/issue354/harvesting.htm
http://www.selfhelpintl.ie/selfhelp/Files/20509%20Self%20Help%20Water%20Book.pdf
http://www.itdg.org/docs/technical_information_service/rainwater_harvesting.pdf
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/18/17754.htm
http://www.oneworld.ca/guides/water/harvesting
http://www.solar783.com/rainharv.pdf
book:  Create an Oasis With Greywater; author: A. Ludwig
http://www.oasisdesign.net
book:  Safe Rainwater Collection; author: Charmaine Taylor
http://www.dirtcheapbuilder.com/safraincol.html

INTERNET BOOKS: 
http://www.abebooks.com   http://alibris.com   http://eco-logicbooks.com
  http://amazon.co.uk   http://fetchbook.info  http://lowimpact.org
http://www.cat.org.uk http://oasisdesign.net 
http://dirtcheapbuilder.com  http://chelseagreen.com
http://permaculture.org.uk  http://green-shopping.co.uk 
http://acresusa.com http://www.green-shopping.co.uk
http://www.tfljournal.org   

~~ USA LINKS ~~

Utility Solar Water Heating Initiative
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/ush2o
http://www.solargenix.com
http://www.heliodyne.com
http://www.solarthermal.com

Million Solar Roofs Initiative
http://www.millionsolarroofs.org
http://www.powerlight.com http://www.solarwall.com
http://www.cansolair.com

Photovoltaic Power Systems for Buildings Organization
http://www.task7.org

USA Solar Energy Society
http://www.ases.org/about_ases/chapters.htm

Solar Energy Industries Association
http://www.seia.org

Solar energy, solar heated homes - buildings
Solar heated swimming pools, spas and hot tubs.
~~Advanced Sustainable Technologies for Economic Progress
http://www.thunderbay.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/21689.php
http://istanbul.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/82627.php
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/05/112665.php

Solar Incentives by each state
http://www.dsireusa.org

Renewable Energy Links
http://www.homeenergy.org/links.html

Renewable Energy Events
http://homepower.com/events
http://homepower.com/links

Local Energy
http://www.localenergy.org

Climate Change Knowledge Network
http://www.cckn.net

Post Carbon Institute
http://www.postcarbon.org

Surviving Peak Oil
http://www.survivingpeakoil.com

Fossil Fuel's Destructive Hidden Costs
http://www.homepower.com/files/hiddencosts.pdf

Schools going Solar
http://www.irecusa.org/schools
http://www.the-environment.org/FEE/schools.html
http://www-solar.mck.ncsu.edu/sgs/sgsindex.htm

Alliance's Green Schools Program
energy-saving activities for schools
http://www.ase.org/section/program/greenschl/aboutgs

Solar Schools
http://solarschools.com

American Lung Association Action Network
protecting our grandchildren from Filthy outdoor Air
http://lungaction.org
http://calhealthyschools.org

Clean the Air Assocaition
stop Power Plant Dirty Air Pollution
http://www.cleartheair.org/dirtypower

SILENT SPRING INSTITUTE
Links between the Environment and breast Cancer
http://www.silentspring.org

Clean Energy Climate Solutions Project
http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org

SolarQuest
http://www.solarquest.com

Sustainable School Design
http://www.innovativedesign.net/sustainableschools.htm

List of Grant Money and Loans for Solar Schools
http://www.dsireusa.org

Public Renewables Partnership
http://www.repartners.org/stateactres.htm

Alliance to Save Energy
http://www.ase.org/section/_audience/educators

Local Power Program
http://www.local.org

Solar Electric Power Association
http://www.solarelectricpower.org

National Center for Photovoltaics
http://www.nrel.gov/ncpv

International Solar Energy Society
http://www.ises.org/ises.nsf!Open

Green Festivals USA
http://www.greenfestivals.org

Interfaith Climate Change Network
http://www.protectingcreation.org

Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
http://www.coejl.org

Evangelical Climate Initiative
http://www.christiansandclimate.org

Islamic Foundation for Ecology
and Environmental Sciences
http://www.ifees.org

Earth Sangha
http://www.earthsangha.org

National Religious Partnership for the Environment
http://www.nrpe.org

National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Care of community and care of creation
http://www.ncrlc.com

US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Environmental Justice Program
http://www.nccbuscc.org/sdwp/ejp

Native American Energy Campaign
http://www.ienearth.org/energy.html http://www.hoanw.org

Episcopal Ecological Network
http://eenonline.org

Episcopal Church and the Environment
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/1829_ENG_HTM.htm
http://www.episcopal-life.org/26724_62397_ENG_HTM.htm
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/1829_54110_ENG_HTM.htm
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_19838_ENG_HTM.htm

North American Coalition for Christianity and Ecology
http://www.nacce.org

Energy Justice Network
http://www.energyjustice.net

Religious Witness for the Earth
http://www.religiouswitness.org

Greek Orthodox and the Environment
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/environment

UU Ministry for Earth
http://uuministryforearth.org

Quaker Earthcare Witness
http://www.quakerearthcare.org

National Black Environmental Justice Network
http://www.nbejn.org

National Hispanic Environmental Council
http://www.nheec.org

Asian Pacific Environmental Network
http://www.apen4ej.org

Minority Environmental Lawyers Association
http://www.concentric.net/%7EMstanisl

National Council of Churches of Christ
Eco-Justice Programs
http://www.nccecojustice.org
http://www.toad.net/~cassandra/otherprog.htm

Climate Ark
http://www.climateark.org

Noah Alliance
http://www.noahalliance.org

Earth Ministry
http://www.earthministry.org/your_congregation.htm

EarthCare
http://www.earthcareonline.org

Earth Ethics
http://earthethics.com

Target Earth
Serving the Earth, Serving the Poor
http://www.targetearth.org

Interfaith Works
http://www.interfaithworks.org

GreenFaith
http://www.peqnj.org

Navajo Renwable Energy Programs
http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2006/01/hopi_power.php?page=all
http://www.wapa.gov/es/pubs/esb/2000/00Oct/default.htm
http://www.sunwize.com/news/images/ntua_project.pdf
http://www.sandia.gov/media/NewsRel/NR2000/navajos.htm

Native American Wind Energy
http://www.nativewind.org
http://www.irecusa.org/articles/static/1/1082763722_1051597266.html

Climate Crisis Coalition
http://www.climatecrisiscoalition.org

Set America Free
http://www.setamericafree.org

Physicians for Social Responsibility
http://www.psr.org

Science and Environmental Health Network
http://www.sehn.org

Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility
http://www.iccr.org

Our Stolen Future
http://www.ourstolenfuture.org

National Center for Appropriate Technology
http://www.ncat.org

Rocky Mountain Institute
http://www.rmi.org

Community Energy Opportunity Finder
http://www.energyfinder.org

Community Solution
http://www.communitysolution.org

Global Footprint Network
http://www.globalfootprintnetwork.org

Earth Policy Institute
eco-economy
http://www.earth-policy.org

Alliance for Sustainability through Higher Education
http://www.secondnature.org

Campus Ecology - Sstainable Campus
http://www.nwf.org/campusEcology

Clean Air Now
http://www.lung.ca/cando


Global Warming early warning signs
http://www.climatehotmap.org

Climate Crisis
http://www.climatecrisis.net

Climate Change Educational Speakers
http://www.greenhousenet.org

Redefining Progress
http://www.rprogress.org

University Leaders for a Sustainable Future
http://www.ulsf.org

New England Climate Coalition
http://www.newenglandclimate.org/effectsbystate.htm

Advocates for Oil Awareness
http://oilawareness.meetup.com

Life After the Oil Crash
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net

Refinery Reform Campaign
http://www.refineryreform.org

OilSandsWatch
The Destruction of Canadian Wilderness
http://oilsandswatch.org

Mining Watch
http://miningwatch.ca


Killing with Oil Company Spills
http://www.sunkills.com
http://www.panda.org/news_facts/newsroom/crisis/spain_oil_spill/index.cfm

Environmental impact of the offshore oil and gas industry
http://www.offshore-environment.com

book: Big Coal, The Dirty Secret, author: Jeff Goodell
http://www.booktv.org/feature/index.asp?segID=7209&schedID=444
http://www.vestas.com

DVD: Kilowatt Ours
How Coal is destroying the Planet
http://www.kilowattours.org

Global Warming Impacts on Arctic ecosystem
and the destruction of Native Alaskans and artic people.
http://www.montreal2005.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=985F2458-1

Global Warming is a massive  threat to Biodiversity and Wildlife
http://conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/programs/climatechange

book: Next Gulf, Oil Conflict in Nigeria; author: Andy Rowell
http://www.remembersarowiwa.com/nextgulf.htm
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/?lid=2511
http://www.carbonweb.org/showitem.asp?article=70&parent=7&link=Y&gp=3
http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=list_pages_categories&cid=20

Building Tomorrow?s Crisis?
http://www.foe.org/camps/intl/institutions/finan03.pdf

British Petroleum (BP) Greenwash, Climate Change
http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/002130.html
http://www.medialens.org/alerts/index.php
http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/sbeder/bp.html
http://forests.org/articles/reader.asp?linkid=30224

BP's pipeline destroying communities
http://www.bakuceyhan.org.uk/more_info/bp_pipeline.htm
http://www.bakuceyhan.org.uk/news.htm
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/02/285978.html

Campaign Against Climate Change
http://www.campaigncc.org

DIRTY TRICKS against AMERICANS and
Corporate spying on citizens
http://www.oneworldsee.org/external/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenpeace.org%2Finternational_en%2Ffeatures%2Fdetails%3Fitem_id%3D434049

WATCHING THEM, WATCHING YOU
http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=9653

The PRESIDENT and EXXON
Axis of oil
http://www.oneworldsee.org/external/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenpeace.org%2Finternational_en%2Ffeatures%2Fdetails%3Fitem_id%3D434049

Association for the Study of Peak Oil
http://www.peakoil.net

The Coming Global Oil Crisis
http://www.oilcrisis.com

Twilight in the Desert,
The Coming Saudi Oil Shock and the World Economy
http://www.twilightinthedesert.com

Powerdown Project
project to assist municipalities and communities in surviving
http://www.postcarbon.org/initiatives/powerdown

Power Shift
http://www.videoproject.com/pow-833-v.html

Community Food Security Coalition
http://www.foodsecurity.org

Community Solutions
Film: Power of Community, How one Community Survived Peak Oil
http://www.communitysolution.org/cuba.html

High Noon For Natural Gas
http://highnoon.ws

Peak Oil Project
http://www.bone2.com/kt/po/peakoil_project.htm

Oil Empire
http://www.oilempire.us

Oil Decline
http://www.oildecline.com

Oil Crash
http://www.oilcrash.com

Crude Awakening
http://www.crudeawakening.org

Die Off
http://dieoff.com

Freedom From Oil
http://freedomfromoil.com

Kick the Oil Habit
http://kicktheoilhabit.org

Threats of Peak Oil
to the Global Food Supply
http://www.museletter.com/archive/159.html
http://www.harpers.org/TheOilWeEat.html

Hunger For Natural Gas
http://www.chelseagreen.com/2004/items/highnoon/AssociatedArticles

Why Our Food Is So Dependent on Oil
http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/34/10314

Pew Center on Global Climate Change
http://pewclimate.org

National Environmental Trust
http://www.net.org

Environment Site
http://theenvironmentsite.org

Planet Drum
http://planetdrum.org

Natural Step
http://www.thenaturalstep.com

BioGems
http://www.savebiogems.org

Kibbutz Collective Farm
sustainable communities and food security
http://www.kibbutz.us

David Suzuki Foundation
http://www.davidsuzuki.org

Living Nutrition
http://www.livingnutrition.com

Tour d'Organics bike rides
http://www.tourdorganics.com

Organic Athlete
http://www.organicathlete.org

Race to Be Cool
http://www.racetobecool.org

Wolf at the Door
Beginner's Guide to Peak Oil
http://www.wolfatthedoor.org.uk

Survival in the 21st Century After Oil
http://www.after-oil.co.uk

Film: The End Of Suburbia,
Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream
http://www.endofsuburbia.com

Film: Oil Crash
http://www.oilcrashmovie.com

Film: The Oil Factor
http://www.theoilfactor.com

Film: PEAK OIL - imposed by Nature
http://www.peakoil-imposedbynature.com

Peak Oil Video material
FREE downloads links
http://sydneypeakoil.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=49

book: Uneasy Alchemy, Citizens and Experts in Louisiana's Chemical
Corridor Disputes (death from oil refineries); author: Barbara L. Allen
book: Oil Spills; author: Joanna Burger
book: Energy, Economics, and the Environment: Conflicting Views of an
Essential Interrelationship; author: Herman E. Daly
book: The Oil Depletion Protocol, A Plan to Avert Oil Wars, Terrorism
and Economic Collapse; author: Richard Heinberg
book: Powerdown; author: Richard Heinberg
book: Save Cash and Save the Planet; author: Andrea Smith
book: Empty Tank, Oil, Gas, Hot Air, and the Coming Global Financial
Catastrophe; author: Jeremy Leggett
book: Outgrowing the Earth, The Food Security Challenge in an Age of
Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures; author: Lester R. Brown
book: The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of the Oil Age, Climate
Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-first Century;
author: James Howard Kunstler
book: Petrodollar Warfare: Oil, Iraq and the Future of the Dollar;
author: William R. Clark
book: Big Book of Self-Reliant Living; author: Walter Szykitka
book: When Technology Fails, A Manual for Self Reliance & Planetary
Survival; author: Matthew Stein

report: The Full Economic Costs Of Louisiana?s Oil/Gas And Petrochemical
Industries; author: P. Templet
free report at- http://www.leanweb.org/pub.html

report: The Making (and Breaking) of a Petrochemical Paradise; author:
Raymond J. Burby
free report at-
http://www.planning.unc.edu/facstaff/faculty/burby/Baton_Rouge.pdf

Solidarity Economics
Strategies for Building New Economies
http://www.geo.coop/SolidarityEconomicsEthanMiller.htm

Green Economics
http://www.greeneconomics.net

EcoSquared
Ecological Economics
http://www.ecosquared.org

Local Living Economies
http://www.livingeconomies.org

Energy and Resource Institute
http://www.teriin.org

Organization of Petroleum Avoiding Consumers
http://www.mainebrook.com/opac

Culture Change
http://www.culturechange.org

World Centric
http://www.worldcentric.org

Solar Electric Light Fund
http://www.self.org

Architects-Designers-Planners for Social Responsiblity
http://adpsr.org

No Need for Nukes
http://www.socialistreview.org.uk/article.php?articlenumber=9622

CAR SHARING - to reduce costs.
When will this happen for electric bicycles?
http://www.erideshare.com http://www.carsharing.net
http://vvv.com/carshare/Links.html http://www.flexcarnetwork.com
http://www.carshare.org http://www.shareajourney.com
http://www.carsharing.org http://www.citycarshare.org
http://www.autoshare.com http://www.liftshare.org http://www.zipcar.com
http://www.flexcar.com http://www.communauto.com
http://www.stattauto.com http://www.carsharing.ca http://www.mobility.ch
http://www.icscarsharing.it http://www.carsharing.bz.it
http://www.communitycar.com http://www.hourcar.org
http://www.phillycarshare.org http://www.a2c3.org
http://www.carsharegloucestershire.com

CAR POOLING or RIDE SHARING
http://www.erideshare.com  http://www.nationalcarshare.co.uk
http://www.carcompanion.co.uk http://www.carpoolconnect.com
http://www.commuterchoice.com

Electric Car Rentals
http://www.revaindia.com/rentareva.htm

Organic Gardening Catalog
http://www.acresusa.com/other/freesample.htm

Solar Catalog
http://www.gaiam.com/realgoods

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering
http://scitation.aip.org/ASMEJournals/Solar/

INTERNATIONAL LINKS

International Solar Energy Society
http://www.ises.org

International Photovoltaic Solar Electricity Association
http://www.iea-pvps.org/ar/index.htm

International Source Guide for Renewable Energy
http://energy.sourceguides.com

PV database
http://www.pvdatabase.com

International Solar Heating and Cooling Programme
http://www.iea-shc.org
 
Solar Works
http://www.solar-works.com/staff.htm

Solar Cookers International
http://www.solarcookers.org

Farming with Windmills
http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200208260345.html
http://www.sunfrost.com

Ocean Energy Expo
http://www.energyocean.com

Concentrating Solar Power
http://www.mng.org.uk/green_house/renewable_energy/csp.htm
http://www.energylan.sandia.gov/sunlab/index.html
http://www.dlr.de/tt/med-csp
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/34440.pdf

International Symposium on
Concentrating Solar Power Systems
http://solarpaces2006.com

Huge Solar Plants Bloom in Desert
http://www.wired.com/news/planet/0,2782,69528,00.html?tw=rss.TOP
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=43336

Boron: A Better Energy Carrier than Hydrogen?
http://www.eagle.ca/~gcowan/boron_blast.htmlborotop

Schools going Solar
http://www.solarschools-brighterfuture.org/solarschools_en.htm

International Institute for Energy Conservation
http://www.iiec.org

Sun & Wind Energy Journal
http://www.sunwindenergy.com
http://www.bva-solar.de

Home Power Journal - free
http://homepower.com

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering
http://scitation.aip.org/ASMEJournals/Solar/

World Solar Challenge Car Racing
http://www.wsc.org.au/2007

~~ IRELAND - SCOTLAND - UK  ~~

Irish Solar Energy Association
http://www.irishsolar.com

Scottish Solar Energy Group
http://www.sseg.org.uk

UK Solar Energy Society
http://www.thesolarline.com
http://www.uk-ises.org

British Photovoltaic Association
http://www.greenenergy.org.uk/pvuk2

Solar for London Schools
http://www.sustainable-energy.org.uk/site.builder/school%20solar.html
http://www.solarforlondon.org.uk/site.builder/community.html

Sustainable Ireland
http://www.sustainable.ie

Fuelling the Future
http://www.fuellingthefuture.org

Leeds Sustainability Network
http://www.leeds-susnet.org.uk

sustainable Thornbury
http://www.sustainablethornbury.org

Carbon Trust
http://www.carbontrust.co.uk

London Rising Tide
http://www.londonrisingtide.org.uk

People and Planet
http://www.peopleandplanet.org

Friends of the Earth-Climate Change Campaign
http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate/issues/climate_change/index.html

South Bank University
Solar Car Racing
http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/solarcar/main.htm

~~ CANADA ~~

Solar Energy Society of Canada
http://www.solarenergysociety.ca

Canadian Solar Industries Association
http://www.cansia.ca

Canadian Solar Decathlon
http://www.canadiansolar.org

BC Sustainable Energy Association
http://www.bcsea.org

Oil Free Coast Alliance
http://www.oilfreecoast.org

Vancouver Renewable Energy Coop
http://www.recov.org

City Green
http://www.citygreen.ca

Relocalize Saint John
http://www.relocalizesj.org

Canadian Electric Vehicle Society
http://www.evsociety.ca

Electric Vehicle Society of Canada
http://www.evsociety.ca

Vancouver  Electric Vehicle Association
http://www.veva.bc.ca
http://www.veva.bc.ca/otherlinks

Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa
http://www.evco.ca

Durham Electric Vehicle Association
http://www.durhamelectricvehicles.com

Solar Vehicle Racing
http://www.uoitsolarcar.ca

Power of One
Solar Car Racing
http://www.xof1.com

McMaster University

Solar Car Racing
http://www.solarcar.mcmaster.ca

University of Calgary
Solar Car Racing
http://www.calgarysolarteam.ca

University of New Brunswick
Solar Car Racing
http://www.ee.unb.ca/Projects/unbsolar

University of Toronto
Solar Car Racing
http://www.blueskysolar.utoronto.ca

University of Waterloo
Solar Car Racing
http://www.midsun.uwaterloo.ca/www

University of Western Ontario
SunStang Solar Car Project
http://www.eng.uwo.ca/sunstang

Polytechnique de Montreal
Solar Vehicle
http://www.polymtl.ca/esteban

Technologie Supérieure
Solar Car Racing
http://eclipse.etsmtl.ca/fr/

~~ AFRICA - MIDDLE EAST  ~~

Solar Energy Society of Southern Africa
http://www.sessa.org.za

Solar Schools in South Africa
http://www.self.org/SamanthaDlomo.asp

Sustainable Energy Africa
http://www.sustainable.org.za

Renewable Energy Association of Swaziland
http://www.ecs.co.sz/reaswa

Yonge Nawe
http://www.yongenawe.com

Green Clippings
http://www.greenclippings.co.za

Egyptian Solar Energy Society
http://www.soficom.com.eg/eses

North Africa Renewable Energy Conference
http://www.nrea.gov.eg/menarec/menarec.htm

Desert Power: energy, food, and water from desert
http://www.ju.edu.jo/confernces/gcreader/workshops_details.htm

Sustainable Design links
http://www.iciscenter.org/html/4_resources/links_sustainable.htm

Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
http://www.arava.org

Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem
http://www.arij.org

Dead Sea Project
http://www.deadseaproject.org

~~ LATIN AMERICA  ~~

Latin America Renewable Energy Fair
http://www.rio6.com

Asociacion Nacional de Energía Solar
http://www.anes.org

Oilwatch Mesoamerica
http://www.oilwatchmesoamerica.net

~~ CUBA ~~

Cubasolar
http://www.cubasolar.cu

~~ PUERTO RICO  ~~

Universidad de Puerto Rico
Solar Decathlon
http://solar.uprm.edu

~~  EUROPE  ~~

Eurener Energia Solar
http://eurener.com

European Photovoltaic Industry Association
http://www.epia.org

European Solar Energy Association
http://www.eurosolar.org

European Solar Cities
http://www.eu-solarcities.org

European Solar Thermal Industry Federation
http://www.estif.org

European Solar Water Heater Initiative
http://www.soltherm.org

European Solar Research
http://www.pvnord.org

European Solar Engineering School
http://www.eses.org

European Association for Electric Vehicles
http://www.avere.org
http://www.citelec.org

~~  AUSTRIA  ~~

Austria Solar Water Heater Initiative
http://www.austriasolar.at

Austrian Society for Renewable Energy
http://www.aee.at

Austrian Solar Thermal Initiative
http://www.soltherm.at

~~  BELGIAN  ~~

Belgian Solar Car Racing
http://www.solarteam.be

~~  DENMARK  ~~

Denmark Sustainable Energy Technology
http://www.elle-kilde.dk

Denmark Solar City
http://www.solarcity.dk

Solar City Copenhagen
http://www.solarcitycopenhagen.dk

Denmark Gaia Solar
http://www.gaiasolar.dk

Denmark Solar Heating
http://www.arcon.dk
http://www.solvarme.dk

Dansk solenergiforening
http://www.danvak.dk

Dansk Eco Building
http://www.ecobuilding.dk

Green City Denmark
http://www.greencity.dk

~~  FRANCE  ~~

France Association for the Development of Renewable Energy
http://www.asder.asso.fr

France Committee on Renewable Energy
http://www.cler.org

France Renewable Energy Organization
http://www.energies-renouvelables.org

France Hespul Association
http://www.hespul.org

France Electric Vehicle Association
http://www.cereveh.org

Renewable Energy Policy Network
for the 21st Century
http://www.ren21.net

French Renewable Energy Industry Association
and Exhibition
http://www.energie-ren.com/2006

SolarPACES
concentrating solar power systems
http://www.solarpaces.org

France Solar Car Racing
http://www.helioscar.com

~~  FINLAND  ~~

Finnish Solar Education Program
http://solis.wwnet.fi

Finnish Solar Energy Society
http://www.tkk.fi/Units/NEMO/eng4ises.htm

~~  GERMANY  ~~

German Institute for Solar Energy Systems
http://www.ise.fhg.de

German Federal Solar industry Association
http://www.bsi-solar.de

German Solar Industry Association
http://www.solarwirtschaft.de

German Society for Solar Power
http://www.dgs.de

German Solar Server
http://www.solarserver.de

German Solar Promotion Association
http://www.sfv.de

German Solar Promotion
http://www.solarfoerderung.de

German Solar Info
http://www.solarinfo.de

German Solar Intergration
http://www.solarintegration.de

German Solar Institute
http://www.sij.fh-aachen.de

Renweable Energy in Germany
http://www.german-renewable-energy.com

German Solar Energy Circle
http://www.solarkreis.de

German Solar Journal
Photon
http://www.photon.de

German Solar Journal
Solar Themen
http://www.solarthemen.de

German Solar Initiative
http://www.solarinitiativen.de

German Solar Federal League
http://www.solarbundesliga.de

German Solar Portal
http://www.solaranlagen-portal.de

German Solar Factory Group
http://www.solar-fabrik.com

German International Solar Center
http://emsolar.ee.tu-berlin.de/iscb/home.html

German Solar Association of Amberg
http://www.solarverein-amberg.de

German Citizen Solar Power Group of Ainring
http://www.sonnenkraft-ainring.de

German Citizen Solar Power Group of Bavaria
http://www.gmoaner.de

German Solar Association of Bensheim
http://www.solarverein-bensheim.de

German Solar Project of Freilassing
http://www.solarprojekt-freilassing.homepage.t-online.de

German Solar Association of Marbach
http://www.solarverein-marbach.de

German Solar Association of Leobendorf
http://www.solarregiolaufen.de

German Solar Association of Piding
http://piding.buergerkraftwerke.de

German Solar Association of Rosenheimer
http://www.rosolar.de

German Citizen Solar Power Group of Saaldorf-Surheim
http://www.saaldorf-surheim.de/index.php?id=115

German Solar Association of Trier
http://www.solarverein-trier.de

German Solar Cooker
Easy for you to build
http://www.solarofen.de

German Solar Energy Demonstration
http://www.solid.de

Erneuerbare Energien
http://www.erneuerbareenergien.de

Bochum Solar Car Racing
http://www.fh-bochum.de/solarcar

~~  GREECE  ~~

Greek Solar Industry Association
http://www.ebhe.gr

Greek Centre of Renewable of Energy
http://www.cres.gr

Greek Electric Vehicle Association
http://www.heliev.gr

University of Patras
Solar Car Racing
http://www.mech.upatras.gr/~solarcar

Olympic Solar Cars Racing
Phaethon 2004
http://www.phaethon2004.org

Aristotle University
Solar Car Racing
http://lat.eng.auth.gr/helios2004/

Holland Solar
http://www.hollandsolar.nl

~~  ITALY  ~~

ItalianSun Country
http://www.paesedelsole.org

Italian Solar Energy Society
http://www.isesitalia.it

Italian Solar Energy Newsletter
http://www.ilsolea360gradi.it/news/news_sommario.htm

Italian Association of Renewable Energy Producers
http://www.aper.it

Italian Solar Thermal Association
http://www.ambienteitalia.it/solare.htm

Italian Association for Solar Heating
http://www.assolterm.it

Italian Association for Renewable Energy
http://www.resedaweb.org

Italian Renewable Energy Society
http://www.renael.it

Italian PV Tech Expo
http://www.pvtech.it

Italian PV Journal
Fotovoltaici FV
http://www.artenergy.it/pages/rivista_FV.asp

Concentrating Solar Power
for the Mediterranean Region
http://www.dlr.de/tt/med-csp

Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation
http://www.trecers.net/index.html</a>

Italian Team Futura
Solar Car Racing
http://www.futura2.it

~~  NETHERLANDS  ~~

Netherlands Solar Links
http://www.solarstart.nl

Netherlands Solar - Startkabel
http://zonne-energie.startkabel.nl

Netherlands Solar - boogo links
http://zonne-energie.boogolinks.nl

Netherlands Solar
http://www.polderpv.nl

Netherlands Solar Solutions
http://www.tss4u.nl

GEZEN Foundation for Massive Solar Power
http://www.gezen.nl

Netherlands Electric Vehicle Association
http://www.asne.nl

Netherlands Nuon Solar Team
Solar Car Racing
http://www.nuonsolarteam.nl

Netherlands University of Twente
Solar Car Racing
http://www.solarteamtwente.nl http://www.raedthuyssolarteam.nl
http://www.wsc2005.utwente.nl

Netherlands Solar Team
http://www.solar-team.nl

~~  NORWAY  ~~

Norwegian Solar Energy Society
http://www.solenergi.no

Norsk Solar Industry Association
http://www.norsksolfangerindustri.no

Norsk side om solenergianlegg
http://www.solvarme.no

SOLARNOR water heating systems
http://www.solarnor.no

Sun Lab
http://www.sunlab.no

ECO ark
http://www.arkitektur.no/ecoark

Sun Cook
http://www.suncook.no

~~  RUSSIA  ~~

Center for Energy Efficiency
http://www.cenef.ru

~~  SPAIN  ~~

Spain Renewable Energy Association
Eco Earth
http://www.ecoterra.org

International Symposium
Concentrating Solar Power Systems
http://solarpaces2006.com

Plataforma Solar de Almería
http://www.psa.es

Spain Solar Cookers Conference
http://www.solarconference.net/

Universidad Politecnica de Madrid
Solar Decathlon
http://www.solardecathlon.upm.es

Spain Solar Energy Training Centre
http://www.censolar.es

~~  SWEDEN  ~~

Solar Energy Association of Sweden
http://www.solenergiforeningen.se

Swedish PV consultants
http://www.energibanken.se

Swedish Design tool for
building integrated photovoltaic systems
http://www.solcell.nu

Swedish Renewable Energy
http://www.elforsk.se

Swedish Switch to Solar Energy
http://www.switchpower.se

Swedish Solar Technology
http://www.gpv-solar.com

Solklart ? solvärme
http://www.solklart-solvarme.nu

Nationellt solcellsprogram
http://www.elforsk.se/solel

SOLCELLER I BYGGANDET
http://www.solcell.nu

Svenska Solgruppen
http://www.solgruppen.se

~~  SWITZERLAND  ~~

Swiss Solar Energy Society
http://www.sses.ch

Swiss Solar Thermal Initiative
http://soltherm.ch

Swiss Exhibition center for photovoltaic integration
http://www.demosite.ch

Swiss Solar Engineering Association
http://www.solarstrom.ch

Stirling Engine
http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~khirata/indexe.htm

~~  OCEANIA  ~~

~~  AUSTRALIA  ~~

Australian & New Zealand Solar Energy Society
http://www.anzses.org

Solar Home and Building Tours
http://www.solarhouseday.com

Solar Education for Schools
http://www.solarschools.net

ASPO-Australia
http://www.aspo-australia.org.au

Blackall Range Relocalisation
http://www.blackallrangerelocalisation.org

Beaudesert Shire -
Local Planning for an Oil-Depleted Future
http://www.kimspages.org/beaudesertshirepeakoil.htm

Sydney Peal Oil Group
http://sydneypeakoil.com

Queen's University
Solar Car Racing
http://engsoc.queensu.ca/solar

Australia Aurora Vehicle Association
Solar Car Racing
http://www.aurorasolarcar.com

Australian Technology Network
Solar Car Racing
http://www.unisa.edu.au/solarcar

Australia
Solar Car Racing
http://www.sunrace.com.au

~~  JAPAN  ~~

Energy Conservation Center of Japan
http://www.eccj.or.jp

JapaneseSolar Car Racing
http://www.toyobo.co.jp/mirai/sunlake/top/solahome3.htm

Japanese Osaka University
Solar Car Racing
http://solarcar.osaka-sandai.ac.jp

Kyushu Tokai University
Solar Car Racing
http://www.jp-nextage.com

Zero to Darwin Project
Solar Car Racing
http://www.zdp.co.jp

Yumekobo
Solar Car Racing
http://www2.kanazawa-it.ac.jp

~~  INDIA  ~~

Solar Energy Society of India
http://www.ises.org/india

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
http://www.iredaltd.com

Energy and Resource Institute
http://www.teriin.org

~~  KOREA  ~~

Solar City - Korea
http://www.solarcities.or.kr

~~  NEPAL  ~~

Kathmandu. School of Renewable Energy
http://www.sre.org.np

~~  CHINA  ~~

Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association
http://www.creia.net/cms_eng/_code/english/invest/index.php

Beijing International Wind Power Exhibitiion
http://www.gwref.org

~~  INDONESIA  ~~

Institut Bisnis dan Ekonomi kerakyatan
http://ibeka.port5.com

REFERENCES
----------------
Bradbury, J.A., B.D. Keim, and C. P. Wake. (2003) The influence of
regional storm tracking and telecommunications on winter precipitation
in the northeastern United States, Annals of the Association of American
Geographers, 93, 544-556.

Deyette, J. and S. Clemmer, (2004) Renewing America's Economy, Union of
Concerned Scientists
(www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy/page.cfm?pageID=1505) Fact
Sheet at
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/cars_and_suvs/page.cfm?pageID=221.

Friedman, D., D. Mackenzie, and M. Goldberg. (2004) Creating jobs,
saving energy and protecting the environment: An Analysis of the
potential benefits of investing in efficient cars and trucks, Union of
Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, MA, 8p.

Hamilton, L.C., D.E. Rohall, B.C. Brown, G.F. Hayward and B.D. Keim.
(2003) Warming winters and New Hampshire's Lost Ski Areas: An Integrated
Case Study, International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 23,
52-73

Markham A. and C. Wake. (2005) Indicators of Climate Change in the
Northeast. Clean Air - Cool Planet and The Climate Change Research
Center, University of New Hampshire 32pp.

Mickley, L. J., Jacob, D. J., Field, B. D. and Rind, D. (2004). Effects
of future climate change on regional air pollution episodes in the
United States, Geophysical Research Letters, 31, L24103,
doi:10.1029/2004GL021216

National Assessment Synthesis Team. (2001). Climate Change Impacts on
the United States: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and
Change, Report for the US Global Change Research Program, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge UK, 620 pp.

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. (2004) Air Pollution
Transport and How it Affects New Hampshire, R-ARD 04-1, 107p.

Peng R.D., F. Dominici, R. Pastor-Barriuso, S.L. Zeger, and J.M. Samet.
(2005) Seasonal Analysis of Air Pollution and Mortality in 100 US
Cities, American Journal of Epidemiology, 161, 585-594.

Ski NH 2001-02 economic impact study.

Wilson, A.M., C.P. Wake, T. Kelly, J.C. and Salloway. (2004) Air
pollution, weather, and respiratory emergency room visits in two
northern New England cities: an ecological time-series study,
Environmental Research, 97, 312-321.
>

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Save the Trees / Vegan Organics GIG: 21.09.07

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The Fight Against Latin American Terrorism or the Destruction of Democracy?

The Fight Against Latin American Terrorism or the Destruction of Democracy?

On August 29, demonstrators tried to break through a police blockade around La Moneda, Chile's presidential palace in the center of Santiago. This sparked yet another string of police violence against social protestors in a Latin American country. That day in Chile, the Central Unitaria de Trajabadores demonstrators were joined by a socialist senator of the ruling Concertación party, Alejandro Navarro. "My government should not be afraid of the workers," he stated after being pounded by the police for speaking with other nearby politicians. "The government should have allowed the demonstrators down the main avenue of Santiago." All together, 453 protestors were arrested in the capital.

The episode in Santiago was the latest incident of what seems to be a dangerous trend in which civil libertarians have come to see an increase of a resort to force, in which the military and police target social protestors throughout Latin America. Many of the groups under attack include community activists, labor organizers and militant priests. The motive behind each of these street scenes is to try and voice dissatisfaction with the government. The ever-looming shadows of what were often U.S-sponsored military dictatorships that plagued the region in the late 1970s and into the 80s, have been reconfigured in the twenty-first century and translated into what now can be portrayed as right-wing counterinsurgency efforts against what is most accurately described as left-leaning dissidents with basic reforms in their eyes. However, these demonstrations have been at times masked by a popular media and a U.S.-backed crusade, which it had consecrated as the "War on Terror." This enabled security forces to assail any group suspected of aggressively challenging the status quo and lack of accountability on the part of public authority who swing their clubs without probable cause or credible evidence.

Salvadoran Social Protests: Acts of Terrorism?
Earlier this summer the first of many recent civil-military confrontations occurred in El Salvador when 13 protestors, including one journalist, were arrested for blocking the road to the small colonial town of Suchitoto, north of San Salvador. They were out to disrupt government plans to decentralize the country's drinking water services. Police alleged that the hundreds of local residents and social activists fired shots, threw rocks, and committed other crimes of public disorder, labeling these actions as "acts of terrorism," which fall under the Law Against Terrorism. Those arrested served almost 90 days in jail before the Salvadoran courts ascertained that the charges against them were not even minimally supported by the evidence that the prosecution managed to muster.

El Salvador's Special Law Against Terrorism came into effect in November 2006. One of its shortcomings is that it never provides an explicit definition of terrorism. This term, although widely understood in the international community in terms of setting the point, nevertheless, it carries with it no precise definitions, nor only applying to the most serious crimes of violence meant to instill generalized fear in the population in order to achieve a political goal. However, as the Americas' director of Human Rights Watch has observed, "The Salvadoran government should not misuse counterterrorism legislation against less serious crimes." At the end of the day, "Terrorism" connotes anything Washington has on its mind on that particular occasion.

The closest the law comes to defining terrorism is in Article 1. It states:

"by their form of execution, or means and methods employed, evidence
in the intention to provoke a state of alarm, fear or terror in the population,
by putting in imminent danger of affecting peoples' lives or physical or mental
integrity, or their valuable material goods, or the democratic system
or security of the State, or international peace."

The provision used against the 13 defendants charged with "destroying or damaging" the belongings of government officials, covers a wide variety of delinquencies not traditionally classified as terrorism or ones that fall into any reasonable definition of it.

Articles 6 and 8 of the anti-terrorism measure call for prison sentences, which the Human Rights Watch estimate could range anywhere from 5 to 10 years for publicly justifying terrorism, and 25 to 30 years for anyone participating in "taking or occupying, in whole or in part" a city, town, public or private building, or a variety of other locations. The law would be activated when weapons or "similar articles" are used to "affect the development of the functions or activities" of its inhabitants. Once again, these vague conditions criminalize a variety of what previously was classified as common crime, and with no clear definition of terrorism, it is not hard to imagine that putting this legal justification into the hands of some power-hungry forces, could have the potential to unravel years of democratic gains in the region.

The Colorado Party May Be Heading Back to Its Dark Roots
With the development of the soybean industry in Paraguay, hundreds, if not thousands of rural poor are being forced from their land, resulting in a growing number of movements of the dissatisfied landless. These increasing radicals have become cause for concern under the new penal code and Anti-Terrorist Law, which could result in the prosecution of any aggressive opposition in the country. Juan Martens, a lawyer with the National Coordinator of Human Rights in Paraguay said, "The law is so lax that anyone could be considered a terrorist….A lawyer giving a workshop, a journalist doing an investigation or an international NGO providing financial support could all be accused of promoting terrorism."

This pattern of social limitations and scare tactics is an echo of some of the country's past traumas, which occurred during the extremely repressive 35-year dictatorship of General Alfredo Stroessner. His time in power was the longest in Latin America and his harsh practices were implemented by the still-ruling Colorado Party. During the early Pinochet period, Stroessner collaborated with the region's other dictators through Operation Condor, which coordinated the computer-based coalition that arranged for the kidnapping, torture and murder that squashed dissent and sternly dealt with political opponents. His human rights record was so abysmal that even the then Reagan Administration made an exception to condemn at least one the region's military dictatorships.

Following the end of the dictatorship in 1989, scores of civil society organizations began to form which staged a number of mass demonstrations, some adding up to over 30,000 protesters. However, it soon became clear that the new "democratic" Colorado government took little interest in heeding the demands of the rural peasants and urban workers started finding "alternative" ways to deal with the social unrest, such as the Duarte Frutos government unleashing the Public Defenders Office, culminating in the Anti-Terrorism Law. This last mentioned institution has become synonymous with the word cháke, which means 'be careful' in the official indigenous language of Paraguay. In other provinces, such as Concepción, the fall of the dictatorship meant small victories for rural communities, with several being granted legal land titles, but in the past few years hundreds of local organizers have been imprisoned.

Despite its own monitoring system, the Paraguayan government has not been entirely on its own. In May of 2005, the Paraguay's Senate voted to allow American troops to operate in Paraguay with total immunity for any crimes committed by U.S. personnel while in the country. Washington had threatened to cut off millions in aid to Paraguay if it did not grant U.S. troops entry under these conditions. In July of 2005, hundreds of U.S. soldiers arrived in the country, and Washington's funding for counterterrorism efforts in Paraguay doubled. U.S. troops conducted various operations and joint training exercises with local forces, including so-called Medical Readiness Training Exercises (MEDRETEs). In December 2006, the Paraguayan Senate and executive branch, responding to pressure from neighboring countries, voted to end the American troops' immunity from prosecution for any crimes that they committed in the country. Latin American governments trading bloc MERCOSUR, of which Paraguay is a member, were especially concerned, predicting future problems within the region if Paraguay continued to grant immunity to U.S. forces. But even though there is not a strong physical U.S. military presence in Paraguay, as President Duarte has made sure of, Washington continues to have significant influence over the country's foreign policy.

Heading Down a Slippery Slope of Anti-Democratic Processes
After the White House implemented its own Anti-Terrorism Law, including the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act, many countries in Latin America started to follow suit. However, the difference is that unlike in the U.S., where democratic consolidation, especially in the existence of strong political institutions, is at the base of its political and social achievements, the same is not true in Latin America. If Washington continues to push its own anti-terrorism agenda in the Southern Hemisphere, before the regional nations are ready for it, the result could be considerable political dysfunction and serious prospects for the impingement of personal freedoms.

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Introduction to Horizontalidad: Voices of Popular Power in Argentina

Introduction to Horizontalidad: Voices of Popular Power in Argentina

Written by Marina Sitrin
Tuesday, 23 January 2007
Purchase book from AK Press

This book is the story of a changing society told by people who are taking their lives and communities into their own hands. It is told in their own voices. It is a story of cooperation, vision, creation, and discovery.

Over the past ten years, the world has been witnessing an upsurge in prefigurative revolutionary movements; movements, that create the future in the present. These new movements are not creating party platforms or programs. They do not look to one leader, but make space for all to be leaders. They place more importance on asking the right questions than on providing the correct answers. They do not adhere to dogma and hierarchy, instead they build direct democracy and consensus. They are movements based in trust and love.

   Where are these movements? They are everywhere. They are in the autonomous Zapatista communities of Chiapas, Mexico, where indigenous communities are organizing autonomously from the state to meet their basic needs, while using consensus-based decision-making to create themselves anew. They are in the massive organizations in rural Brazil, where the landless movement (MST) has been reclaiming the land, creating the future in their daily activities and interactions. They are in the shanty-towns of South Africa, where women and men, "the poors," use direct democracy and action to take back electricity, housing, water, and other things stolen by corporations and government. They are in India, where many thousands of people are coming together to protect the environment and prevent the construction of dams, using mass action and participatory decision-making. They are in Ecuador and Bolivia, where indigenous groups are stopping privatization and preventing the destruction of the earth through mass blockades and mass democracy. They are in Italy, where new social centers are providing direct services as well as space to gather for those involved in direct democracy projects. They are in the many groups in Eastern Europe, organizing against borders, while asserting the principal that no person can be illegal. They are in the US and Canada, where autonomous groupings are being built on the basis of consensus decision-making, anti-hierarchy, and anti-capitalism.

   The autonomous social movements in Argentina are one part of this global phenomenon. Within Argentina, they are also a "movement of movements." They are working class people taking over factories and running them collectively. They are the urban middle class, many recently declassed, working to meet their needs in solidarity with those around them. They are the unemployed, like so many unemployed around the globe, facing the prospect of never finding regular work, yet collectively finding ways to survive and become self-sufficient, using mutual-aid and love. They are autonomous indigenous communities struggling to liberate stolen land.

   In Argentina, these active movements are now communicating, assisting, and learning from one another, and thus constructing new types of networks that reject the hierarchical template bequeathed to them by established politics. A core part of this rejection includes a break with the idea of "power-over." People are attempting, instead, to organize on a flatter plane, with the goal of creating "power-with" one another. Embedded in these efforts is a commitment to value both the individual and the collective. Simultaneously, separately, and together, these groups are organizing in the direction of a more meaningful and deeper freedom, using the tools of direct democracy and direct action. They are constructing a new form of popular power.

   Horizontalidad is a word that has come to embody the new social arrangements and principles of organization of these movements in Argentina. As its name suggests, horizontalidad implies democratic communication on a level plane and involves—or at least intentionally strives towards —non-hierarchical and anti-authoritarian creation rather than reaction. It is a break with vertical ways of organizing and relating.

   Horizontalidad is a living word that reflects an ever-changing experience. Months after the popular rebellion in December of 2001, many movement participants began speaking of their relationships as horizontal as a way of describing the new forms of decision-making. Years after the rebellion, those continuing to build new movements speak of horizontalidad as a goal as well as a tool.

   Our relationships are deeply affected by the power dynamics of capitalism and hierarchy, which operate in our collective and creative spaces, especially in how we relate to one another in terms of economic resources, gender, race, access to information and experience. We see this arise often in our meetings, assemblies, activities, and actions. While usually not intentional, power based in various sorts of privileges often comes up and can silence others in a group or movement. As a result, until these fundamental social dynamics are overcome, the goal of horizontalidad cannot be achieved. Simply desiring egalitarian relationships does not make them so. But the process of horizontalidad is also a tool to achieve this goal. Thus horizontalidad is desired and is a goal, but it is also the means, the tool, for achieving this end. In the second chapter, "Horizontalidad," dozens of movement participants discuss their experiences and reflections on this new social relationship.

   The social movements in Argentina describe themselves as autonomous in order to distinguish themselves from the state and other hierarchical institutions. Autonomy also describes a politics of self-organization, autogestion, and direct, democratic participation. This use of autonomous is not meant to address, or reflect, any direct relationship to the autonomous Marxist currents, which have their origins in Italy. While the autonomous movements in Argentina are not the largest numerically, I believe they are the most interesting in terms of what they are creating. The effect of these movements is much larger than their physical size would suggest. This is true in part because of the new social relationships and articulations of these relationships that these movements are creating—relationships and institutions that can be emulated. "Autonomy," the fourth section of the book, will clarify this choice of political identification.

   The movements described in this book are prefigurative movements: they construct and enact, in the present, the social relationships by which the future will be shaped. Unlike past movements, social change isn't deferred to a later date by demanding reforms from the state, or by taking state power and eventually, instituting these reforms. As the interviews reflect, most in the autonomous movements are placing their energies in how and what they organize in the present. Most of the movements are anti-capitalist, and some anti-state, but their strategy for the creation of a new society is not grounded in either state dependency or the taking of power to create another state. Their intention is, to borrow John Holloway's phrase, to change the world without taking power.

   Over the past five years, in particular, the autonomous social movements in Argentina have begun to articulate a new and revolutionary politics, embodied in various new practices, and in language used to describe these practices. Some participants say that they are not political, or that they are anti-political. Often this is related to their experiences with "old" ways of doing politics, with the use of hierarchy and political parties that make decisions for people, taking away their agency. Today, they are engaged in the more immediate politics of everyday life, creating the future in their present. They reject hierarchy, bosses, managers, party brokers, and punteros. Simply put, they reject the very idea of anyone having power over someone else. They organize themselves in every aspect of their lives, both independently and in solidarity with others: autogestionandose in communities, neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and universities. What is the name of this revolutionary process: Horizontalidad? Autogestion? Socialism? Anarchism? Autonomy? Politica afectiva? None of these? All of them? Certainly, no single word can describe it. It is a process of continuous creation, constant growth and the development of new relations, with ideas flowing from these changing practices. 

   Argentina has a long rich history of rebellions, resistance, and self-organization. The movements discussed in this book are the most recent of these, and developed in two cumulative waves. The first wave represented a movement of unemployed workers, which emerged in the 1990s. It had little support from, and in some cases was violently opposed by, the still relatively prosperous Argentine middle class. However, the collapse of the Argentine economy and the declassing of much of the middle class as a result of the coercive policies of the IMF, sparked a second wave of popular rebellion, during which the now declasses Argentine middle class linked up with the unemployed and underemployed workers.

   The people of Argentina have endured a long history of domination of their communities and neighborhoods by those who, while claiming to represent them, make huge profits from this alleged representation. This concept of "representation" was seen most notably under Peronism, particularly with its reliance on "punteros," local neighborhood Party bureaucrats, or brokers. This system resulted in a politics of "clientelism" where, particularly in poor neighborhoods, nothing could be accomplished without the mediation of the punteros, and people were forced to exchange their autonomy for basic necessities. The new autonomous social movements are a conscious break with this form of politics. They reject the hierarchy inherent in the clientelist system and replace it with direct democracy, and in public gatherings discuss alternative plans, deciding openly and collectively what to do. Chapter 1, "Context and Rupture," discusses this new form of direct democracy. Clientelism still exists in many neighborhoods and is discussed in parts of chapter 3, "Challenges to Autogestion."

   Olivia, a woman in her eighties living in Ledesma, Jujuy, in the far north of the country, explained how things today are different now from how they were for most of her life. She spoke with tremendous pride about being a part of an unemployed workers' movement in her neighborhood—one of thirty three neighborhoods organized in Ledesma. As a part of that movement, she now participates in the decisions that affect her life, as well as the life of her community. One of the ways this is done is through weekly neighborhood assemblies that use direct democracy and synthesis as a means of making decisions. Decisions are made on a town-wide basis once a week, when over three thousand people come together in a mass assembly. Everyone has a voice. Discussions range from direct action planning, to the coordination of bakeries, childcare centers, and beauty salons, all self-organized by the neighborhood movements.

   The creation of directly democratic organizations, such as those in Ledesma, are clear rejections of, and decisive ruptures with, past vertical organizational structures of clientelism, as well as concepts of "representation." 
 

   The emerging rejection of old political ways became publicly visible in the North and South of the country in the 1990s, when unemployed workers' movements, as well as other popular movements, began organizing against local governments and corporations. Generally led by unemployed women workers in the provinces of Salta, Jujuy, and Neuquen, they took to the streets by the thousands, blocking major transportation arteries to demand subsidies from the government. In a decisive break with the past, this organizing was not led or brokered by elected leaders. Instead, those in the streets decided day-by-day and moment-to-moment what to do next.

   During the road blockades, people used direct forms of decision-making, and began creating new social relationships, which, in many places, evolved into what are now known formally as unemployed workers' movements (MTDs), Unions of unemployed workers (UTDs), or the Movement for Work and Dignity (MTD). They are referred to informally to piqueteros, (both the people and the movement), a name taken from "piquete," the tactic of blockading roads.

   In some places, as the Solano Unemployed Workers' Movement people describe, neighbors came together, tried to discover what needs existed in the neighborhood, then formed a movement, and decided to blockade roads. In other areas, the movements began with a group of neighbors meeting in the street to demand something. They would form a road blockade, and then use democratic forms of decision-making to collectively decide their demands, and then negotiate with representatives of government. From these points of collective action and decision-making, the movements were born. Distinct from previous forms of organizing, where there was always a person speaking for the group (most often without consent), in these early piquetes, people decided they would negotiate at the blockade itself. There are some cases of government officials being helicoptered onto the road to negotiate directly with the assembly at the blockade. The piqueteros' initial actions forced the government to give the first (small) unemployment subsidies in the history of Latin America, which inspired many other visions and projects. The chapters "Autogestion" and "Creation" describe the specifics of what the various movements are doing. Projects range from bakeries and organic gardens, to alternative medicine, education, and schools, to raising animals and taking over land for housing and food production.

   The relationship of various movements to one another continues to evolve. Soon after the popular rebellion of 2001, the dozens of autonomous unemployed workers movements, which reflected the participation of tens of thousands, created a loose network called Anibal Veron, after a piquetero who was murdered by the police in northern Argentina. This network had regular gatherings to share information, experiences, and to plan collective direct actions. The various movements in the network organized around the principles of horizontalidad, autonomy, dignity, and social change. Over time, this network stopped functioning, and some movements continued to coordinate actions through the Frente Dario Santillan, named after another young piquetero murdered by police at a road blockade. Others formed a loose network that focused on an exchange of information and support. These changes reflect friction over the question of autonomy, and how it is understood in practice by the various movements. Around 2003, a number of the MTDs decided—some of them after these interviews were conducted—that they no longer wanted to fight for the government unemployment subsidy. They felt this maintained a relationship with the state, rather than focusing their energy on self-organization, autogestion, and attempts at self-sufficiency. Organizing a road blockade creates a contentious relationship to the state, when many would prefer no relationship at all. It also entails a sophisticated level of organizing, which takes a great deal of time to develop. These questions of time and political priorities pushed a number of movements to stop using the road blockade as a frequent tactic. Other movements that continue organizing regular piquetes are critical of those that do not, both for theoretical reasons—they don't see the relationship to the state being overly determined —but there is also a sense of frustration because they believe support is needed from everyone in the movements to make the blockades successful. This is an ongoing discussion and debate.

   While the piquetero movement was still growing, the increasing economic crisis pushed thousands into the streets in the northern town of Santiago del Estero. As one of the first contemporary urban uprisings, this rebellion looms large in the imagination of millions of Argentines. It involved protests against government, as well as the creation of libratory spaces where people together began to feel their collective power. Government buildings were destroyed—as were the homes of government officials. "Representatives" were forced to leave office, due to their fear of the rebelling population. These early rebellions remain significant because they represent, in the memory and imagination of Argentines, the rejection of systems of representation, in favor of direct action and direct democracy.

      The definitive rupture with past practice, however, occurred in the popular rebellion of the 19th and 20th of December of 2001, often referred to as the "nineteenth and twentieth." Millions spontaneously took to the streets across Argentina and, without leaders or hierarchies, forced the government to resign, and then, through continuous mobilizations, proceeded to expel four more governments in less than two weeks. The precipitating incident was the government's freezing of people's bank accounts, and converting their money, once pegged to the dollar, into a financial asset that would be held by the banks and used to secure payments to foreign investors, but that could not be accessed by the depositers.

      This was the spark dropped on a long smoldering fire. The government of Argentina had taken out huge loans with the IMF in the 1990s, and in the late 90s began to pay these loans back through privitization and severe austerity measures. Thousands of people were laid off, wages and pensions were cut, and social services degraded. These measures eminated from the IMF as part of the contract for yet another loan of billions of dollars. As with most of Latin America (and the world) the results were disasterous for most people. Working and middle class Argentines experienced no direct relief from the new loans, and by 2001 industrial production had fallen by over 25 percent. The official poverty level grew to 44 percent, with the unofficial level substantially higher. For many Argentines the popular rebellion was no surprise.

      As with the previous experiences in the North and South, the experience of the rebellion was one of direct democracy and direct action. The government quickly responded by declaring a state of emergency, ordering citizens to stay at home, and attempting to disperse the people in the street. In response to this repression by the state that killed dozens and wounded many hundreds of others, and was witnessed on television by the general population, hundreds of thousands poured onto the streets of Buenos Aires.

      These protesters were not demanding something new, but were creating it. As pointed out by a number of those interviewed in this book, this massive outpouring into the streets, despite the state of emergency and repression witnessed by all, is hugely significant. These days, many refer to this moment as a rupture with the past, a break from the deeply instilled fear and silence that was a legacy of the most brutal dictatorship in Argentine history. A dictatorship that "disappeared" 30,000 people, often torturing them in the most horrific ways. Some see the nineteenth and twentieth as a break in the collective memory. In chapter 1, "Context and Rupture" many reflect upon this simultaneous break and opening.  

   The popular rebellion was comprised of workers and unemployed, of the middle class, and of those recently de-classed. It was a rebellion without leadership, either by established parties or by a newly emerged elite. Its strength was measured in the fall of four consecutive national governments in two weeks. It precipitated the birth of hundreds of neighborhood assemblies involving many tens of thousands of active participants.

   People in the neighborhood assemblies first met to try and discover new ways of supporting one another and meeting their basic needs. Many explain the organization of the first assemblies as an encounter, as finding one another. People were in the streets, they began talking to one another, they saw the need to gather, and they did so, street corner by street corner, park by park. In many cases someone would write on a wall or street, "neighbors, let's meet Tuesday at 9pm" and an assembly was begun.

    In each neighborhood, the assemblies work on a variety of projects, from helping facilitate barter networks, creating popular kitchens, planting organic gardens, and sometimes taking over buildings—including the highly symbolic take-over of abandoned banks, which they turn into community centers. These occupied spaces can house any number of things, including kitchens, small print shops, day care areas, they may offer after-school help for kids, free internet access and computer usage, and one even has a small movie theater. 

   The years after the rebellion have witnessed a significant decrease in the organization of, and participation in, neighborhood assemblies. Many dozens are still active, but this is much less than the hundreds that instantly emerged. While we will explore the reasons in the interviews ahead, some recurring themes are: the intrusion of left political parties, a lack of concreteness in activity, and interference from the state.

   After the first months of self-organizing, a number of political parties saw an opportunity for recruitment and control. Party members entered neighborhood assemblies, and attempted to take them over. Many neighborhood assembly participants recounted stories of political party members coming to their assemblies and attempting to dominate discussionsby speaking at great length, as well as by raising political demands that the assembly must adhere to—such as an end to all imperialism and the creation of a workers' state. Many people described to me a high level of frustration about this. The nature of the assemblies, which were based on trust and listening with respect, facilitated the problem. Party members used this to enter the assembly and talk or shout endlessly until many neighbors left out of frustration. Many explained that it was not that they were against the political demands raised per se, but that this was not what the neighborhood assembly was organized for.

   Similar attempts to dominate the assemblies occurred in the inter-barrial assemblies, where hundreds of assemblies would come together in a park in the center of Buenos Aires and exchange ideas and experiences, in order to create networks of mutual support. As has also occurred around the world historically, political parties created front groups, false neighborhood assemblies in this case, so that they would have the right to speak at the inter-barrial assemblies. They then used this time to push their political line and program, and again participants in the real neighborhood assemblies decided to remove themselves from this experience. There is a great deal of hostility toward the political parties for this disruption in particular. Many participants in the neighborhood assemblies saw the inter-barrial as a potential place to begin to generalize the local experience of the neighborhood into a city-wide phenomenon of direct democracy and new politics.

   Many of the assemblies lacked concrete projects, and ended up talking a great deal more than doing. While one of the lasting effects of the assembly movement is the change in the participant's sense of self, community and collectivity (a process many refer to as the creation of new subjectivities), without concrete projects to ground the assemblies, many people drifted away. Of the assemblies that continue to exist, almost all are involved in a variety of neighborhood-based projects, and some continue to function in occupied buildings.

    The neighborhood assemblies quickly became one of the focal points of the government's attempts to regain control of society. These efforts generally involved, on the one hand, overt and covert repression, such as violent evictions of occupied buildings and police harassment. And on the other hand, the government tried to use them to regain legitimacy. For example, the choice to run the notorious Carlos Menem as a candidate for president made many feel they had no alternative but to vote against him. Menem was seen, with good reason, as the person most responsible for privatizing Argentina. This privitization was profound, and included everything from natural resources to the local zoo. He was one of the most right wing candidates that could have been considered. He ran his campaign on a "Law and Order" ticket, promising to "clean" the country of its disrupters, referring to people in the social movements. Because of this, many people in the neighborhood assemblies decided that they had to vote—not for Menem, but against him. The result was that focus was once again on the state, conferring legitimacy onto the process of elections, and the state itself.

   Another, sometimes successful, tactic the government used was to offer services, goods, and sometimes even physical space to the neighborhood assemblies. Most assemblies self-organized all of their popular kitchens and projects, including the occupation of buildings for community use. The government saw this as an opportunity to gain credibility, and began to offer assemblies boxes of food, and even buildings where they could hold their meetings, rather than conducting them on the street corner. These offers were sometimes debated for months in the various assemblies, and created huge distractions from projects that were already underway.

   Many of those interviewed in this book predicted a decline of the participation in neighborhood assemblies, and even felt it would not be a significant loss. Something, they explained, had changed in them as people, in how they related to one another. These changes could not be undone, even if the structures of organization changed. Once their subjectivity and social relationships had changed, the assemblies had fulfilled their role. This change would then infuse new organizations and activities.

   This may be true. I returned to Argentina several times in 2005, after this book was published in Spanish. I participated in, and witnessed, the emergence of a number of groups, including political prisoner support groups, anti-repression organizations, new assemblies in parks, collectives of street artisans, and high school student groups. All of these began with the basic consensus that they would organize based on horizontalidad and autonomy. They referred to the neighborhood assemblies or MTDs when discussing their conceptions of horizontalidad and direct democracy. And, like earlier groups, these new formations absolutely rejected political parties and hierarchical organization. I was fortunate enough to witness a number of meetings and assemblies where political parties that tried to dominate were kicked out, sometimes with people even referencing previous experience. The experience of the neighborhood assemblies continues as a living part of an overall continuity. This is something that many participants imagined would take place as early as 2002.

   Just as the popular rebellion sparked the growth of neighborhood assemblies, it also inspired the unemployed workers movements. As they grew to include tens of thousands of participants, these groups developed an even more sophisticated theoretical framework. A network formation grew among those in the various autonomous movements, a network that crossed class lines and class identification. One of the most significant relationships in this network was that between the piqueteros and neighborhood assemblies. Before the 2001 rebellion, the middle class (or at least those who identified themselves as the such) considered the piqueteros' use of road blockades more than an annoyance. There was a general, social consensus that the unemployed were to blame for their own economic and social condition, and that drastic methods were justified in suppressing them. After the rebellion, a relationship of words and deeds developed between the piqueteros and the neighborhood assemblies. Joint actions with middle class groups were organized, including bridge and road blockades. The same middle class people who had hated the piqueteros for disrupting daily life were now supporting blockades as a necessary action for re-establishing economic viability. At the same time, many piqueteros, who in the past had seen the middle class as partly responsible for the dire economic situation (or at least culpable through their inactivity), were now organizing side by side with them.

   A "space for autonomous thought and reflection" began, taking place on land occupied by unemployed workers movements, with participants from neighborhood assemblies, unemployed workers movements, indigenous communities, arts and media collectives, and various other social actors. For a time the slogan "Piquete y cacerola, la lucha es una sola," [The road blockade and the banging of pots and pans is one struggle] was widely used. 

    The dozen or so occupied factories that existed at the start of the 2001 rebellion grew in only two years to include hundreds of workplaces, taken over and run directly by workers, without bosses or hierarchy. Many in the new movements gathered inspiration from the occupation and recuperation of workplaces, and those workplaces received much support from the movements, particularly the neighborhood assemblies and new arts and media collectives. In most instances of occupation, it is the immediate neighbors and various collectives and assemblies that physically come to support and defend the occupied workplace. In the example of Chilavert, a printing press, it was the retirement home across the street that came out and not only defended the factory from the police, but insisted on being the front line of defense. In many other workplaces, the neighborhood assemblies cook lunch and bring it to the workers, and then sit down with them to eat. In many workplaces, there is a relationship with media and arts collectives who collaborate on the use of space in the factories, opening art galleries, venues for live music for the neighborhood at night, as well as cafés and after-school programs. Almost every workplace sees itself as an integral part of the community, and the community sees the workplace in the same way. As the workers of Zanon, a ceramic factory say, "Zanon is of the people."

   Workplaces range widely, from printing presses and metal shops, to medical clinics, from cookie, shoe, and balloon factories, to a four star hotel, and a daily newspaper. Throughout this book, participants in the recuperated workplaces say that what they are doing is not very complicated, despite the challenges, quoting the slogan: "Occupy, Resist, and Produce." The third chapter, "Autogestion," is where these stories are discussed in the most detail. Autogestion—meaning self-organization and self-management—is how most in the recuperated movements describe what they are creating and how.

   This movement, now generally calling itself a movement of recuperated workplaces (though some use the terms "occupied factories" and "recovered factories"), continues to grow and gather support throughout Argentina, despite threats of eviction. Thus far, each threat has been met with sufficient mobilization to thwart the government's efforts. The government does not seem to know what to do with the recuperated workplaces, and acts in contradictory ways. The recuperations are hugely popular, and many outside the movements explained them to me quite simply, saying that there is a lack of work and these people want to work. Based in part on this support, the government on the one hand will sometimes give start up loans to recovered workplaces. However this is only temporary, and the government has also supported attempts to evict countless workplaces. Each eviction is met with an outpouring of support from neighbors and other participants in the factory movement. This support ranges from giving food, money, and other physical manifestations of support, to people organizing by the hundreds and sometimes thousands, as was the case with Zanon and Brukman, to physically defend the factories. Battles with slingshots and molotov cocktails are not uncommon as a part of the physical defense of a factory.

   Over time, recuperated workplaces have begun to link with one another, creating barter relationships for their products, and collective links to the global workplace. For example locally a medical clinic will service members of a printing factory in exchange for the free printing of all of their material. This has happened on a global level, as well. A number of workplaces now have international relationships, including, for example, relationships for the exchange or purchase of products. In November 2005, the "First Gathering of Recuperated Workplaces" took place in Caracas, Venezuela. There were 263 recuperated workplaces represented from eight countries in Latin America. The gathering concluded that this was, "the first step in the creating of a network of workplaces and factories without bosses or owners." The recuperated workplaces that gathered there, signed seventy five agreements. Some were for the exchange of material goods, while others were more creative. A tourist agency in Venezuela, for example, agreed to provide yearly vacations to the families of workers at a recuperated newspaper in Argentina, in exchange for advertising. 

   The particular movements discussed in this book may be new, but some of the goals and methods of achieving those goals, are historically familiar. While movements of such rapid growth, diversity, and popularity are not unprecedented, the most significant innovation in Argentina may be that disparate groups are aware of one other, that they are interrelated, and that they can make use of (or create) many more networks of exchange and communication around the globe. Argentine movements, for example, have made significant connections to the MST in Brazil, trading experiences and strategies for land take-overs, forms of traditional medicine, and tools for democratic practices. The Zapatistas have also consistently engaged in exchanges, visiting and being visited by people in other movements. Since the 2001 rebellion, a number of people from various unemployed workers movements have been invited by the Zapatistas to spend time in the autonomous communities in Chiapas, exchanging ideas and experiences. Also, participants in the then Frente Zapatista spent time with movements in Argentina discussing a range of things, including how the election of a so-called progressive president effects the movements. Despite limited resources, dialogue between various movements has been long and varied.

   During the past three years in Buenos Aires, autonomous movements have held an annual gathering called Enero Autonomo (Autonomous January). Groups came from all over Latin America and Europe—including Mujeres Creando from Bolivia, and autonomous groups from Brazil. Participants also included various collectives and community-based organizations in Europe and the United States. This linking process has gained momentum over the past few years and all signs indicate that this growth is accelerating.

   Various networks, conferences, and links between the various autonomous movements around the globe have been created over the past decade—groups and gatherings including People's Global Action (PGA), The World Social Forum, Via Campesina, and indymedia, to name just a few. Many of these new global networks, such as PGA and Via Campesina, for example, are created and facilitated by participants in the global movement of movements. The relationships of the movement of movements in Argentina, is one piece of a much larger global phenomenon of networking and horizontal relationships.

   There is a growing body of literature analyzing the social movements of the last decade in Argentina. A brief list would include: Colectivo Situaciones, Mas Alla de los Piquetes, and 19 y 20: Apuntes para el Nuevo protagonismo Social; MTD la Matanza, De la Culpa a la Autogestion; Sebastian Pereyra y Maristella Svampa, Entre la Ruta y El Barrio; Raúl Zibechi, Genealogía de la Revuelta. This book however, is not another analysis. Instead, it offers the direct testimony of the participants themselves, through interviews conducted during 2003 and 2004.

   These interviews allow the activists themselves to speak about what they are creating, why they are creating it in the ways that they are, what it feels like, what their dreams and desires are, and what it all might mean.

   One caveat is in order here. While it may appear that you are looking through a transparent window at the person speaking, this is a window that I have constructed. I initiated and participated in all the conversations in this book. Then, after choosing what topics be addressed, and deciding which communities were fully explored, I selected the passages to be included in the final manuscript. For this reason, I think it is important to situate myself for you. I am not from Argentina, although I have spent a good deal of time there. I do not ascribe to any one ideology or practice, but partake in many, and feel that it is only through the practice of individual and collective social creation that we will invent, as the Zapatistas discuss, many new worlds. I am part of the global movement of movements, and I am not neutral towards the movements described in these pages. On the contrary, I traveled to Argentina because I had heard of them and felt that sharing this experience in whatever way I could would be important and useful to people who are committed to social change.

   The texts are full of depth, emotion, intellect, and passion, but they also require patient readers. Some voices will sound familiar, others less so. Some of the narratives may seem redundant. However, it is often the similarity of the tales that is most fascinating. The ideas of a factory worker take on new meaning when echoed by a middle-class assembly participant, a piquetara, and a university student. Similarly, it is remarkable that an unemployed worker in the south speaks of autonomy in almost the same terms as someone from an indigenous Guarani community in the north. Horizontalidad, as a goal and tool of the autonomous movements, spans a great deal of physical and experiential geography. Both the similarities and differences make the movements in Argentina especially unique and the interviews I conducted so exciting. It is not just what is said, but the diversity of the voices speaking.

   Rather than a contextualized history, this book reflects and explains what people are doing, what motivates them, how they are relating to one another, and how they have changed individually and collectively in the creation process. It is not so much a movement of actions, but rather a movement of new social actors, new subjects, new protagonists.

   In my opinion, horizontalidad and direct democracy are important for building a new society. One basis for this new society is the creation of loving and trusting spaces. From this same space of trust and love, using the tools of horizontalidad, a new person—who is a protagonist in her or his own life—begins to take shape. This is not random, it is a conscious process of social creation (as discussed in chapter 9). Women, in particular, have created new roles for themselves (addressed specifically in chapter 8). Based on this new individual protagonist, a new collective protagonism appears, which changes the sense of the individual, and then the sense of the collective. From this relationship arises the need for new ways of speaking, a new language (as discussed is in chapter 5).

   Ideas and relationships cannot occur in a vacuum. They take place in real places, in "territories" that are liberated from hierarchical structures, and involve real people. These territories are laboratories of social creation. What is being created, and how, is discussed in the chapters "Autogestión," "Creation, " and "Power." These chapters also address some of the challenges being faced.

   As I write in January of 2006, the government of Argentina has been increasing its repression of the new social movements. This repression, while not as violent as that practiced by earlier regimes—in that tens of thousands are not "disappearing" or being tortured —is nevertheless daunting. For example, thousands of people are being forced through the legal system, many without formal charges, and many awaiting trial while in jail, some for years. Their crime—trying to create a new world. What offence did they commit? They protested the lack of jobs and their children's hunger. In some cases, they took back their ancestral land, which had been stolen by corporations and the government. They worked in the street in order to feed their family. "Repression," (chapter 7), based on conversations in 2006, reflects on this current situation, and suggests some responses.

"Dreams," the last chapter of the book, gives a glimpse of what some of us dream. It is from dreams that we create new worlds.

Currently reading : Horizontalidad: Voces de Poder Popular en Argentina By Marina Sitrin Release date: 15 June, 2005

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Bowles - Who said Marx wasn’t Green?

Who said Marx wasn't Green? 
by William Bowles • Sunday, 2 September 2007 
  
'An ecological approach to the economy is about having enough, not having more.' — John Bellamy Foster

Review: Ecology Against Capitalism by John Bellamy Foster

'For the first time … nature becomes purely an object for humankind, purely a matter of utility; ceases to be recognized as a power for itself; and the theoretical discovery of its autonomous laws appears merely as a ruse so as to subject it under human needs, whether as an object of consumption or as a means of production. [my emph. WB]' — Karl Marx, Grundrusse

For some of us on the Left it appears that confusion reigns in much of what's left of the Left, caught up as it is in its own largely petty squabblings, mostly about who said what to whom and when, thus when a book comes along like Ecology Against Capitalism, I feel damn well vindicated!

For make no mistake, Foster's take on things is rooted in Classic Marx, it's us who have gotten it wrong for the past 150 years. Why this is so important to our current situation is made apparent all the way through this book, whether it's his analysis of the economics of capitalism, or the fundamental importance of basic values like humility, respect and justice not only for each other but for our home, the Earth.

'It's not that people value money more but that they value everything else so much less—not that they are more greedy but that they have no other values to keep greed in check.' — Dee Hock, former head of Visa bank card

First off, with lucid logic and prosaic prose, Foster shows why and how the very nature of capitalism, the 'genetic code' of capitalism, is the source and the cause of our current predicament, and most importantly, that no amount of 'tinkering' with the system will solve things and in fact, 'tinkering' will in all likelyhood, increase the speed of the slide toward catastrophe through the simple expedient of delaying dealing with the inevitable consequences of an economy that can only survive by expanding its markets or as it's euphemistically known, 'growth'.

It's the Capitalist Economy Stupid

There are several issues that need to be understood for anybody who cares enough about what's happening to our world, that Foster unpacks, the first of which is the fundamental role that economics plays, for without understanding the nature of the capitalist economy, it's impossible not only to realise just how perilous our situation really is or, to take the necessary steps needed to transform our world.

Foster quotes from a confidential memo from Lawrence Summers, then chief economist for the World Bank, written in 1991 and leaked to the Economist and published in an article entitled 'Let them eat pollution', which sums up the attitude of the class of capitalists and those who serve them,

'Just between you and me, shouldn't the World Bank be encouraging more migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]? I can think of three reasons:

'1) The costs of health-impairing pollution depends on the foregone earnings from increased morbidity [death] and mortality. From this point of view a given amount of health-impairing pollution should be done in the country with the lowest cost, which will be the country with the lowest wages. I think the economic logic [my emph. WB] behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest-wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that.

'2) … I've always thought that under-populated countries in Africa are vastly under-polluted; their air quality is probably vastly inefficiently low [sic] compared to Los Angeles or Mexico City…'

'3) … The concern over an agent that causes a one-in-a-million change in the odds of prostate cancer is obviously going to be much higher in a country where people survive to get prostate cancer than in a country where under-five mortality is 200 per thousand .… While production is mobile the consumption of pretty air [my emph. WB] is non-tradeable. The problem with the arguments against all of these proposals for more pollution in LDCs (intrinsic rights to certain goods, moral rights, social concerns, lack of adequate markets, etc.) [is that they] could be turned around and used more or less effectively against every Bank proposal for liberalization.' (pps. 60-61)

Too right Mr Summers! Nothing like telling it like it is. The Economist thought that Summers' language was "objectionable" but "his economics was hard to answer" once again reinforcing the view that morality and ethics under capitalism are very fluid concepts determined first and foremost by the demands for the accumulation of capital. The Economist of course recognised that for capitalism, Summers was stating the real deal but merely objected to his spelling it out in such stark terms.

When the 'bottom line' is measured purely in terms of profit and if the victim is essentially unable to defend herself against the ravages of international capital, then the views of people like Summers will dominate. Note too the use by Summers of the term 'liberalization', the buzzword for the 'neo-liberals' since the 1970s, in other words, a free-for-all.

Backing up this view of the world is the notion, prevalent since the grossly misnamed Age of Enlightenment in the 16th and 17th centuries is the idea that the inhabitants of our planet are no more than cogs in a giant wheel,

'Our present social order is entrapped in a mechanistic view of human freedom, and of the human relationship to nature, that is directly at odds with ecological imperatives. This mechanistic emphasis in our culture dates back to the emergence of the modern scientific worldview, which arose along with the capitalist world economy' (p.52)

What emerges as a result, and what makes the struggle so difficult, is a veneer of 'science' and a view of 'human nature' that purports to be objective and based in fact but Foster points out that,

'Discoveries in such sciences as physics and have ecology have undermined Newtonian mechanics, which has not yet however been replaced by any other equivalent worldview' (p.53)

Quoting the great physicist David Bohm,

'Values … have significance behind them … If the universe signifies mechanism and the values implicit therein, the individuals must fend for themselves. With mechanism, individuals are separate and have to take of themselves first. We are all pushing against each other and everyone is trying to win. The significance of wholeness is that everything is related internally to everything else, and therefore, in the long run, it has no meaning to ignore the needs of others. Similarly, if we regard the world as made up of lots of little bits, we will try to exploit each bit and we will end up by destroying the planet. At present, we do not adequately realize that we are one whole with the planet and that our whole being and substance comes out of it.' (p.53)

Until such time as a wholistic and relativistic worldview replaces the outdated mechanistic interpretation of reality,

'The struggle for material welfare among the great mass of the population, which was once understood mainly in economic terms, is increasingly taking on a wider, more holistic environmental context. Hence, it is the struggle for environmental justice—the struggle over the interrelationship of race, class, gender, and imperial oppression and the depradation of the environment—that is likely to be the defining feature of the twenty-first century.' (p.40)

Foster makes it demonstrably clear that an economy based upon endless production and consumption (of mostly unwanted and unneeded) goods, is structurally incapable of taking the necessary steps needed to stop the impending catastrophe.

'Capitalism must be regarded as an economy of unpaid costs.' — K. William Kapp, The Social Costs of Private Enterprise

And in the process of unpacking the nature of the capitalist economy, Foster explodes many of the major myths including the fallacy that technological 'fixes' to capitalism are a solution, for example finding 'sinks' for the excess carbon dioxide industry is generating or the equally fallacious idea that that by applying the 'laws' of the market to nature, the 'market' will, all on its ownsome, resolve the problem of global warming.

'Much of environmental economics thus aims at the creation of markets to solve problems of pollution and environmental degradation .… Particularly popular among neoclassical environmental economists and policy makers is the use of the state to establish market-based incentives such as tradeable pollution permits.

'… The entire neoclassical [economic] view, it should be clear beyond any doubt at this point, rests on turning the environment into a set of commodities. Further, the goal is quite explicitly one of overcoming the so-called market failures of the environment by constructing replacement markets for environmental products. If environmental degradation and pollution are evident, the economist reasons, it must be because the environment has not been fully incorporated within the market economy, and does not operate according to the laws of economic supply and demand. Yet the faulty character of neoclassical environmental economics becomes evident when one realizes that this entire methodology is based on the utopian myth that the environment can and should become part of a self-regulating market system.' — (pps. 29-30)

And predictably this is exactly what corporations and governments are doing with all kinds of products and services now being sold to us as 'green'. But as Foster points out,

'Nature is not a commodity produced to be sold on the market .… Nor is it a market organized according to laws of individual consumer preferences … the commodification of nature.' [my emph. WB].

The other myth of classical economists, the concept of 'dematerialisation', that is, the emergence of the so-called knowledge economy, what the 'experts' call a 'weightless' economy is also revealed as a fantasy, for in absolute terms, the sheer volume of production has been increasing regardless of the fact that we can do 'more for less', which in any case has always been the case for as long as the human species has been around.

'[C]apitalism's inherent anti-environmental character, drawn from the case of global warming, stands in stark contrast to the views of those who in recent years have advanced the notion that capitalism is not a threat but rather contains within itself the solution to global environmental problems'. (p.22)

'represents … the alienation of nature from society in order to develop a one-sided, egoistic relation to the world.' (p. 31)

Foster goes on to say,

'From an ecological standpoint, insofar as the diversity of life is an objective, the market is extremely inefficient compared with nature itself .… turning forests into commodities has led to their degradation (i.e., extreme simplification), thereby diminishing rather than enlarging the domains of organic nature in this sense.' (pps.33-34)

Capitalism has responded to the crisis that confronts us by attempting to commodify everything, a process that is as old as capitalism and now includes the human genome and human reproduction and even our brains (what the ecological-socialist economist Martin O'Connor calls "the ecological phase of capital").

Quoting O'Connor further, we read,

'the relevant image is no longer of man acting on nature to 'produce' value, henceforth appropriated by the capitalist class. Rather, the image is of nature (and human nature) codified as capital incarnate, regenerating itself through time by controlled regimes of investment around the globe, all integrated in a 'rational calculus of production and exchange,' through the miracle of the price system extending across space and time. This is nature conceived in the image of capital' [my emph. WB].

There is so much more to this book than I have referred to here but for anyone who calls him- or herself a socialist or who is searching for explanations and an alternative, this is the book to read. Foster's logic as is his humanity, inescapable.

There is one final aspect of this book that I have to bring to the reader's attention, and it is perhaps this aspect that is the most relevant to our condition, what Foster calls the "global treadmill of production," a treadmill which we are all on.

Foster breaks it down into six elements:

1. The increasing accumulation of wealth by a relatively small section of the population at the top of the social pyramid.

2. The longer term movement of workers away from self-employment and into wage jobs that are contingent on the continual expansion of production.

3. The competitive struggle between businesses necessitates on pain of extinction the allocation of accumulated wealth to new, revolutionary technologies that serve to expand production. (my emph. WB)

4. Wants are manufactured in a manner that creates an insatiable hunger for more.

5. Government becomes increasingly responsible for promoting national economic development, while ensuring some degree of "social security" for at least a portion of its citizens.

6. The dominant means of communication and education are part of the treadmill, serving to reinforce its priorities and values. (pps. 44-45)

Foster calls it a "giant squirrel cage" in which most of us are imprisoned including investors and managers who are driven to expand their scale of operations or see their corporations die. It's a question of running faster and faster just to stay in the same place.

'Looked at in this way, it is not individuals acting in accordance with their own innate desires, but rather the treadmill of production on which we are all placed that has become the main enemy of the environment.' (p.45)


Ecology Against Capitalism by John Bellamy Foster, Monthly Review Press, 2002.

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This essay is archived at: http://williambowles.info/ini/2007/0907/ini-0500.html - 'Who said Marx wasn't Green?'

Currently reading : ECOLOGY AS POLITICS By Andre Gorz Release date: 01 May, 1980

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UK Gun Crimes Soar After Gun Ban?

http://www.myspace.com/gmackwizard says:

same old story....less guns=crime soars...more guns=crime plummets...but it doesnt matter how many reports you see...you just will not believe it until your favorite news outlet "reports it"....

and reports:

UK Gun Crimes Soar After Gun Ban
Newsmax | August 27, 2007

Gun crimes in England have almost doubled since 1997, when a ban on firearms began.

According to the Sunday Times of London, crimes in which guns were used numbered 4,671 in 2005-06.

Also, government officials report that most gun crime is committed by children and teenagers under 18 years old.

David Davis, the shadow home secretary, told the Telegraph: "What this shows is that the majority of these crimes are committed by youngsters under 18.

"The government's policy has failed with the group most responsible for this increase in crime. It is long past time the Government stopped believing its own propaganda, and took measures to get a grip."

Currently listening : Police & Thieves By Junior Murvin Release date: 27 August, 2002

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