Do the Math

The generally accepted equation for solving our global climate problem is simple—at least if you remove as a factor the web of human expectations and beliefs as well as the network of infrastructure and supply chains that keep most of the world’s 7 billion people alive.  This solution, which, it is also assumed, would alleviate any coming shortage of fossil fuels, is to end our dependence on oil, coal, and natural gas.   Or to put it more simply yet, the solution (and…

I would like to ask Transition to back our kickstarter.com campaign for matireal, a new permeable surface that we believe will be a catalyst to diversify Milwaukee.  We are at 11% of our goal; the campaign ends on November 27, and it's all-or-nothing.  We can do this, but we need your support!  Please check out our kickstarter*…

I am currently working on a book-length manuscript with a  provisional title of Liberal Expectations.  In it I argue that the liberal world-view, and especially the expectations of most  liberals, prevent them (us) from grasping the reality and consequences of global warming, peak oil, and other resource depletion and environmental problems, or from taking significant action to address any of these.  I don’t focus on liberals because I think political conservatives, today, offer any…

Five Stages of Climate Change Consequences

1)      Discomfort.  Hotter more uncomfortable summers.  Less snow in winter disrupts winter sports plans and desire to go to “Glacier” National Park.  Profits at ski resorts take a dive.

2)      Moderate disruption: with increasingly unpredictable weather, farming is much more difficult and there is more threat of severe weather events effecting our population centers.  Food prices rise and more CNN coverage devoted to…

Just wanted to share some nice press that Transition Milwaukee and Power Down Week got this week.

Susan Bence - the environmental reporter from NPR did an interview with three people involved in this project.  Claire Moore, Dan Felix and Myself.

Check it out!  http://www.wuwm.com/programs/lake_effect/lake_effect_segment.php?segmentid=9399

Hey everyone, PDW should have a table at the Energy Independence Day. I am thinking of taking over the Compost Kids part of the event, so, are there others that are interested and willing to come and be part of a team at a table? Let me know- 414 975-2521.

In the summer of 2011, Milwaukee was lucky enough to have been visited by Molly Farison.  Molly is a student at Olin College of Engineering outside of Boston.  She spent her summer as an intern at Rockwell Automation, and doubled up the fun writing a thesis and comparison of 3 of Milwaukee’s Environmental Organizations; Growing Power, The Urban Ecology Center, and Transition…

In search of someone that is skilled in post production color-correction,sound,graphics & editing with the goal of entering in the milwaukee film fest as well as a local screening before or during Power Down week.Deadline for film fest is june 15. I've done most of the leg work/have ducks in order...Thanx, Ken

"Mechanical Engineering", the official magazine of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, in the May issue has a tagline on the cover of "Running on Empty" and and article inside on "Bang for the Buck" and a discussion of EROEI.  They've had articles previously about (essentially) Peak Oil, the need for alternative sources of energy, a transition away from fossil fuels, etc., but this is a different level, I think.  I might try to get  the original article he refers to, as his numbers…

hi everyone,



I am not planning on being part of the organizing this year but last year there was lots of interest in doing another Power down Week this year so we have a date.   Natalie Berland is looking for some people who are interested in giving some real time to the project, anyone interested?  click on the doodle link below if you are then click on the times you could make it.  it can be just what we make it.    …

Asking an economist to evaluate the work of Nicole Foss is a bit like asking a Baptist Minister to evaluate the work of a secular, agnostic theologian or philosopher of religion, for we are dealing with two competing belief systems and Foss (along with Richard Heinberg, John Michael Greer, Juliet Schor, Wendell Berry, and to some extent Bill McKibben) is, among other things, challenging the economists unquestioned belief in a very specific view of the world ,as well as numerous elements of…

Despite its brief history, one might identify changing emphasis in peak oil commentary and analysis.  Though the overlap is far greater than the difference, the earliest stress, it seemed, was on the simple depletion of the oil itself and thus the impact its growing scarcity would have on our trains, planes, and automobiles.  Because of its rather direct use of fossil fuel inputs, the coming challenges of industrial agriculture was also an early topic of extensive…

Why Infrastructure Spending Won’t Work: A Progressive Perspective.

For mainstream Keynesian Democrats who have not yet become troubled about resource depletion and its rather intimate relationship with the economy, infrastructure spending makes obvious sense.  It represents investment in the economy of the future and in this sense will be “self-liquidating” or dividend-paying.  But that this belief is not the main motivating factor for infrastructure spending is in itself…

Invisible Fortunes: Brief Thoughts on Wealth in America

Last week my wife and I saw an unremarkable movie, “Crazy Stupid Love.”  It was good for a few laughs and a highly suspect message on the essential nature of true love, but not much beyond that, unless you were willing to look at the movie in terms of the American ideology of affluence and wealth, of which it provided a very good example while, at the same time, inviting some insights about the way ideology in general…

Postcarbon political activists need to keep an eye on the Tea Party.  Or rather, we need to keep both eyes on them, each eye looking for different things.

From the traditional liberal perspective out of which most Postcarbon, End of Growthers have emerged, and whose values concerning civil rights, equality, and inclusiveness we generally share, the Tea Party’s intolerant politics of myth and fear represent the early stirrings of a movement that could, under the right…