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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

Sep 8, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

My Interview with Graham Turner on ‘Limits to Growth’

Below is the next instalment of the interview series Jordan Osmond and I are releasing as part of the crowd-funding campaign for our documentary, A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity. Thank you to all the generous souls who have helped us reach our first goal in 18 days! For more information on the documentary or to make a donations, please see here. ————- The 1972 book, Limits to... 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 26, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

My Interview with Helena Norberg-Hodge

As mentioned in recent posts, I’m currently co-producing a documentary called A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity, and as part of our crowd-funding campaign, we’re releasing some of our full interviews with leading activists, educators, and thinkers, parts of which will eventually be used in the documentary. Below you can view the full interview with the one and only Helena Norberg-Hodge, a... read more

Aug 21, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity (Documentary)

Readers of this website will know about the ‘simpler way’ demonstration site that I’ve been helping develop in Gippsland, Victoria, called Wurruk’an. I’ve also mentioned the documentary that I’m co-producing with Jordan Osmond of Happen Films, called A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity, which is capturing the development of that demonstration project. We are super... 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 8, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Horizon (The Crash Narrative)

I’m very excited to share the video for ‘Horizon’, the first single by The Crash Narrative! The full EP will be released on iTunes, Spotify and Bandcamp next week. Stunning video by Jordan Osmond of Happen Films. 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 31, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Beyond Extinction: Transition to Post-Capitalism is Inevitable

Below is an article by Nafeez Ahmed discussing the transition to post-capitalism, which features my latest book, Prosperous Descent: Crisis as Opportunity in an Age of Limits. The article was originally published here. Beyond Extinction: Transition to Post-Capitalism is Inevitable In Margaret Atwood’s powerful essay on the reality of climate change — and its implications for the future of... read more

Jul 22, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

My Interview with Nicole Foss

Earlier this year I interviewed Nicole Foss as part of the documentary I’m making with Jordan Osmond of Happen Films. The interview is quite long but it is well worth a watch: read more

Jul 14, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Low-Tech Living as a ‘Demand-Side’ Response to Climate Change and Peak Oil

I’ve just published a new Simplicity Institute Report, co-authored with Paul Yacoumis, entitled “Low-Tech Living as a “Demand-Side” Response to Climate Change and Peak Oil”. I’ve posted the abstract and the introduction below and the full essay is freely available here. LOW-TECH LIVING AS A ‘DEMAND-SIDE’ RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND PEAK OIL Simplicity is the... read more

Jul 9, 2015 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Tiny House on Wheels Workshop (Oct 17-22)

For those in Victoria, here are details of an upcoming “Tiny House on Wheels” workshop out at Wurruk’an. If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to apply as spots are limited and are likely to be filled quickly. I’ve been part of four of these workshops now – this will be my fifth – and each of them have been utterly fantastic. Come to Wurruk’an and learn the... 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

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.