Currently Browsing: Nature
Apr 25, 2012
In my last post, “Urban Food Forests: A Policy Proposal,” I began by noting that relocalising food production – especially in urban centres – is absolutely critical to decarbonising our economies and making our communities more resilient. I stated that my vision of a sustainable urban landscape (a vision you might share?) is one where the streets are lined with fruit and nut trees,...
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Envisioning a Sustainable Urban Landscape
Apr 23, 2012
Relocalising food production – especially in urban centres – is absolutely critical to decarbonising our economies and making our communities more resilient. My vision of a sustainable urban landscape is one where the streets are lined with fruit and nut trees, supplying the community with a greater portion of its own food.
The City of Moreland (my local Council in Melbourne) is in the process...
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Urban Food Forests: A Policy Proposal
Feb 28, 2012
Ignoring the rather gloomy title, I highly recommend this new educational video on peak oil and economic growth. It’s a very engaging summary of many of the issues related to peak oil and resource depletion, and it’s essentially a short (34mins) visual expression of my recent paper, “Peak Oil, Energy Descent, and the Fate of Consumerism,” which is available here.
To watch the video,...
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There’s No Tomorrow (Film)
Sep 12, 2011
No, this isn’t the same citrus tree that I planted and posted about a couple of weeks ago. Although I do look very fondly upon that citrus tree, and check upon it morning and night, I wouldn’t bother you again with more details were it not for the fact that another tree has mysteriously appeared, this time on my neighbour’s nature strip. It looks quite fine, I must say.
Whoever could have put...
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Viva La Resistance!
Aug 30, 2011
Relocalizing food production is one of the most important steps on the path to a sustainable society, and in times of great economic uncertainty, relocalizing food production is just plain sensible. It should bother us, therefore, when we see good land in our neighbourhoods sitting dormant and uncultivated, especially when it is right outside our own doorsteps.
Such thoughts crossed my mind every time I...
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Guerrilla Gardening and the Relocalization of Food Production
Aug 23, 2011
Is this the most beautiful film ever made?
“Home” is a uniquely beautiful film by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, made in 2009. I’m sure some of you will have seen it, but if you haven’t, I highly recommend spending an hour and a half absorbing this masterpiece. It is a truly magnificent work of art – one utterly beyond the capacity of words to describe. Make some time one evening; turn your phone off; turn the lights out;... read more
Aug 9, 2011
Just Enough is Plenty: Thoreau’s Alternative Economics (Audio Lecture and E-Book)
I’ve recently started teaching a Masters of Environment course called, “Consumerism and Sustainability,” through the Office for Environmental Programs, University of Melbourne. Last night I was privileged enough to deliver a lecture on Thoreau, and I have attached an audio file of part of that lecture if anyone would like to have a listen. I have also attached an e-book called ‘Just... read more
Jul 19, 2011
Reimagining the Good Life beyond Consumer Culture
Continuing the July series of publications, this post consists of an essay called “The Voluntary Simplicity Movement: Reimagining the Good Life beyond Consumer Culture,’ which is soon to be published in the peer-reviewed, International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability. This essay, which is based on a collection of earlier posts on this website, is... read more
Jul 1, 2011
Planned Economic Contraction? The Emerging Case for Degrowth
I’ve recently drafted a paper on ‘degrowth’ for the journal Environmental Politics (forthcoming) which I’ve summarised below. The full paper can be downloaded here: Planned Economic Contraction: The Emerging Case for Degrowth Abstract: This article outlines the sociological, ecological, and economic foundations of a macroeconomics ‘beyond growth,’ focusing on the idea of... read more
May 4, 2011
An Introduction to Peak Oil: Some Online Resources
For some time I have been interested in the notion of peak oil, but recently I have had the opportunity to research quite extensively on the subject. I am currently working on an essay about peak oil and its implications for high consumption lifestyles, but presently I would just like to share some of the best online resources (articles, videos, and websites) that I have discovered in my research. Before... read more
