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Nov 21, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Less Meat, Less Heat: The Overlooked Climate Strategy

Leat Meat, Less Heat: The Overlooked Climate Strategy by Samuel Alexander, Nicholas Bowles, and Mark Pershin Sometimes the best way to respond to a problem is overlooked because it is right under our noses – literally, one might say, on our dinner plates. Even when we see what is under our noses and know how best to respond, we might nevertheless choose to look away because it seems too hard or... read more

Nov 2, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

What is Degrowth? Envisioning a Prosperous Descent

This is a transcript of my keynote address presented at the ‘Local Lives, Global Matters’ conference in Castlemaine, Victoria, 16-18 October 2015.Other keynote speakers included Rob Hopkins, David Holmgren, and Helena Norberg-Hodge. Introduction Thank you for that introduction, Jacinta, good morning everyone. I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of this land and to recognise... read more

Sep 15, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Earth as a Petri Dish: The Problem of Growth

The 1972 publication of Limits to Growth sparked a controversy that has yet to subside. This book argued that if population, resource use, and pollution kept growing on our finite planet, eventually economies would face environmental ‘limits to growth’ – with potentially dire consequences. Despite the evidence mounting in support of this position, any suggestion that we might have to give up... read more

Aug 28, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

The ‘green tech’ future is a flawed vision of sustainability

Below is my new article published in The Conversation today, co-authored with Josh Floyd. The original article can be viewed here. What does your vision of a sustainable future look like? Some people imagine a scenario whereby technology solves the world’s most pressing environmental problems. In this world we all drive electric cars and have solar panels on our roofs that power our air conditioners and... read more

Aug 11, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Introduction to “Sufficiency Economy”

Below I have posted the introduction to my new book of collected essays, Sufficiency Economy: Enough, for Everyone, Forever. This is the companion volume to Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits, published earlier this year. The paperback of Sufficiency Economy is available here. For those unable to pay or who would like an electronic version, the pdf is available on a ‘pay... read more

Aug 9, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Sufficiency Economy: Enough, for Everyone, Forever

I’ve just published my second book of collected essays, Sufficiency Economy: Enough, for Everyone, Forever. This is the companion volume to Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits, published earlier in the year. The paperback of Sufficiency Economy is available here. Your support is greatly appreciated. For those unable to pay, the pdf is available on a ‘pay what you... read more

Aug 5, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Greening the Apocalypse

Last night I was interviewed on Melbourne’s RRR radio, during a show called “Greening the Apocalypse”. You can listen to the interview here. The show was also the radio launch of “Apocaloptimystic”, the debut EP from the Melbourne/Christchurch duo, The Crash Narrative. More about The Crash Narrative another time. ... read more

Jul 4, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

‘One Planet Living’ Interview on Radio National

On Tuesday I was interviewed on Radio National about my recent Conversation article. You can listen to the radio interview at the link here: read more

Jun 28, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

If everyone lived in an ecovillage, the Earth would still be in trouble

Here is my new article which was published in The Conversation on Friday: We are used to hearing that if everyone lived in the same way as North Americans or Australians, we would need four or five planet Earths to sustain us. This sort of analysis is known as the “ecological footprint” and shows that even the so-called “green” western European nations, with their more progressive approaches to... read more

Jun 6, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

One Planet Living

Yesterday I was keynote speaker for World Environmental Day at the University of Melbourne. Below I have posted the transcript of my talk: Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for that introduction, Professor Kvan, and thank you all for being here to mark World Environment Day. It was Buckminster Fuller who once said: ‘You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a... read more

Invitation / Incitation

The Simplicity Collective is founded upon the idea that a 'simpler life' of reduced resource and energy consumption is a viable and desirable alternative to consumer culture.

Our position is that simple living will improve not only our own lives, but the lives of others, as well as help save our planet from the environmental catastrophe towards which we are so enthusiastically marching.

We must not just fall in line, then, and continue the march ‘business as usual.’ We must explore alternative ways to live. We must experiment creatively, like the artist. We must be the poets of our own lives and of a new generation.