DID YOU EVER HAVE A PAPER ROUTE? If so, you'll remember not only the smell of newsprint and rubber bands, but the frustrating days when late-breaking news delayed your pedal-powered deliveries. While your customers received their papers a bit later than usual (expertly placed on their doorsteps...or nearby in the bushes), the tardiness was offset by extra content and exciting headlines.
We're hoping you'll consider this October/November delivery of the Post Carbon Institute newsletter as a late paper packed with big headlines and bulging with valuable content. We think it's our most significant delivery to date. Enjoy.
our brand spanking new website launches!
 Beyond giddy. Tickled pink. Supremely excited. However you want to put it, we're very happy to announce the launch of our brand new website. The launch is the latest, but not the last, in a series of exciting changes for the Institute. Much more to come. You'll see.
One new website feature we particularly want to draw your attention to is the your stories tab. For those struggling with how to adjust to our rapidly emerging economic, energy, and environmental crises, there's nothing quite like hearing the inspiring stories of others who have already begun this journey. So, if you're looking for motivation, please check these out. Thanks to those who have already sent in stories—if you have a story to share, we'd love to hear from you.
Remember, for more topical updates, and to participate in PCI's interactive Eco Question of the Day, you can follow Post Carbon Institute on Facebook or on Twitter. |
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searching for a miracle
 In November Post Carbon Institute and the International Forum on Globalization released their important and challenging new report Searching for a Miracle.
The report, authored by Post Carbon Senior Fellow Richard Heinberg and edited by Jerry Mander, explores the question of whether any combination of known energy sources can successfully supply society’s energy needs at least up to the year 2100?
From the press release: "An alarming new study jointly released by two prominent California-based environmental/economic think tanks, concludes that unrelenting energy limits, even among alternative energy systems, will make it impossible for the industrial system to continue operating at its present scale, beyond the next few decades. The report finds that the current race by industries and governments to develop new sustainable energy technologies that can replace ecologically harmful and rapidly depleting fossil fuel and nuclear technologies, will not prove sufficient, and that this will require substantial adjustments in many operating assumptions of modern society." Read more |
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tis the season
 The end of the year is the "Giving Season" for friends, family, and--yes--nonprofit organizations like Post Carbon Institute. Over the next few weeks, you'll undoubtedly be inundated with solicitations for donations, including a request or two from Post Carbon Institute.
For our part, we'll try to keep the requests to a minimum, and the text brief and to the point. And we'll also let entire months go by the rest of year without any solicitations!
But when you do get a request from PCI, please keep in mind the vital role you can play in building a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable future. You'll support the creation of original, challenging, and compelling solutions to the most pressing problems emerging from the economic, environmental, and energy crises. You'll help ensure that our planet can nurture life abundantly, and our societies can nurture communities that thrive responsibly.
You can contribute online (you don't need a PayPal account):
or by mail:
Post Carbon Institute
500 North Main Street, Suite 100
Sebastopol, CA 95472
USA
At Post Carbon Institute, our ideas come from independent minds like yours, and our experience derives from communities made up of people like you—from across the globe, and bound together by a common commitment to a more sustainable future. Post Carbon Institute is not affiliated with any government, corporate interest, religion, ideology, or political party.
Thanks for your support. |
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latest publications
Read and listen to the latest content by our Fellows, Board and Staff anytime on our website. Here are some selections from the last month:
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Mr. President: Time to Quit Fibbing and Spinning
Commentary by Bill McKibben • November 16, 2009
Two caveats. First, early in the primary season, when I was asked to join Environmentalists for Obama, I signed on immediately. I knocked on doors, made phone calls, gave money, and celebrated his victory—I think he’s the best president of my lifetime... Read more |
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Just Tell Us the Truth
Commentary by Richard Heinberg • November 10, 2009
At last we know...sort of. An article in the UK newspaper The Guardian for November 9, titled “Key Oil Figures Were Distorted by US Pressure, Says Whistleblower,” reveals what hundreds of analysts have been trying to convey to world leaders for years... Read more |
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Resilience Thinking: an article for the latest ‘Resurgence’
Commentary by Rob Hopkins • October 29, 2009
Resilience; "the capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganise while undergoing change, so as to retain essentially the same function, structure, identity and feedbacks"... Read more |
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Water for life
Article by Sandra Postel • October 7, 2009
The phrase "water scarcity" now seems to roll off the tongues of corporate executives as often as it does those of environmental leaders. ... Read more |
fellows in the press
energy bulletin highlights
Thanks to the more than 1000 Energy Bulletin readers who have already participated in our survey. There is still time to take part.
Below is a selection of recent articles and media appearing on Energy Bulletin.
energy bulletin featured articles
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The Choice Ahead: Entrenched Fossil Fuel Dependence Or Climate Change Management
by Emily Spence, CounterCurrents
According to Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard economist Linda Bilmes... Read more |
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Wind Powered Factories: History (and Future) of Industrial Windmills
by Kris De Decker, Low-tech Magazine
In the 1930s and 1940s, decades after steam engines had made wind power obsolete... Read more |
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The Speech Obama Needs to Give (...in which he renounces Industrial Civilization)
by Dan Allen
In one illuminating sense, the future is a probability distribution. Unfortunately, a host of not-so-nice futures are more probable than others... Read more |
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The Ecotechnic Future (book excerpt)
by John Michael Greer
...From the standpoint of the far future, in fact, modern industrialism may turn out to be a primitive and vastly inefficient form of the technic society. Like other... Read more |
energy bulletin featured media
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Begin with Biochar
by KrisCan
Why biochar? KrisCan joins David Yarrow during a biochar experiment... View media |
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Peak Moment 153: How Do I Invite You to Grow Food?
by Yuba Gals Independent Media, Peak Moment Television
Jenny Pell’s infectious enthusiasm will sweep you up into creating a future that’s beyond... View media |
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October: Beer, Health & the WFP
by Dov Hirsch, Crop to Cuisine
Crop To Cuisine goes global with Oktoberfest in Palestine & The 2009 World Food Prize. We also... Listen |
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Pedal Powered Groceries/Tom Stearns on Hardwick, VT
by Jon Steinman, Deconstructing Dinner
Martin Gunst is an active cyclist in Vancouver. Throughout the summer of 2009, Martin joined Kevin Cooper... Listen |
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Rural Vermont's New Directions, Plus Produce: The New Urban Agriculture
by Carl Etnier, Equal Time
Brian Moyer, the new executive director of Rural Vermont, explains how... Listen |
transition US update
A monthly update from the US regional hub of the international Transition Towns movement.
 An inspiring day of climate action - Transition Initiatives answered the call to action as part of the over 5200 events that took place in 181 nations around the world on Saturday, October 24, 2009. These events continue to inspire an ever growing community of people calling for action on climate change. Here's a quick recap.
To help develop strategies and plans to address these critical issues, the Transition US board has invited four distinguished individuals to form an Economic Transition Advisory Council. Members who have stepped up to the task include: Vicki Robin, Judy Wicks, Michael Shuman and Woody Tasch. The new Economic Transition Advisory Council will be convening in the near future to consider economic priorities for local communities and Transition Initiatives.
We have upcoming trainings scheduled in Boston, MA, Houston, TX, Vancouver, BC, and Oklahoma City, OK, as well as several webinars - check the calendar for details. |
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events
View our events calendar
 Seminar: 'The Crash Course: Thriving in Any Future'
November 20-22, Rowe, MA
Chris and Becca Martenson lead this seminar on understanding our present economic condition, making informed decisions about your future, and creating balanced, productive relationships with your finances, as well as your natural and social environments.
Further event information. |
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 SEEAL Annual Event
November 24, New Bedford, MA
The event will include a presentation by Post Carbon Fellow David Orr, a renowned scholar, teacher, writer, speaker, and entrepreneur in a broad set of environmental fields including politics, education, ecological design, and climate change.
Further event information. |
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 Greenhouse Gas Benefits of Product Stewardship Policy
November 30, online seminar
Post Carbon Fellow Bill Sheehan will participate in this special 2-hour panel discussion that will assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits of creating and expanding product stewardship efforts, including framework policy...
Further event information. |
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 Irrigation Show 2009
December 2-4, San Antonio, TX
Post Carbon Fellow Sandra Postel will give the keynote address at the 2009 Irrigation Show. She will discuss how best to unleash the vast potential of consolidated and coordinated action through stronger policies and partnerships, and greater incentives and ingenuity.
Further event information. |
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 Sustainability Education: Connecting Art, Science, and Design
Febuary 8-10, 2010, Berkley, CA
This seminar will probe the implications for education of Leonardo da Vinci's science, examine ways to deepen students' understanding of the natural world through art and science, and apply ecological principles and processes to student projects to design solutions to environmental issues.
Further event information. |
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