Photo some rights reserved by Michael Coté That was the opening line of the first issue of the Whole Earth Catalogue back in 1968. Last night I went along to one of the Long Now Seminars in San Francisco — organised by Stewart Brand, the person who penned that first line — to hear astrobiologist David Grinspoon give a talk. […]
Tag archives: Environment
Whole Earth Discipline
Stewart Brand’s book Whole Earth Discipline is one of the best books I’ve read in the last few years, partly because it’s very well written and researched but mainly because it made me change my mind about some important issues. Perhaps the easiest argument for me to accept (although I still learned a great deal) […]
Jeremy Clarkson is right
Not normally somebody I agree with, but Clarkson’s piece to end the current series of Top Gear was quite special. I think he’s right — the best hydrocarbon powered vehicles (planes, trains and automobiles) have been built. Now it’s time for something different. Nice music too.
My Carbon Emissions for April 2009
I’ve got quite into the idea of publishing my energy use information, partly as a way of keeping tabs on what my big carbon emitting activities are, but mainly because I’m interested in learning how easy (or otherwise) it is to work out. I’ll publish it on the blog every month. If you know better […]
Tesco Electric
Saw one of these on my way to work this morning. Encouraging.
Andy Hobsbawm at TED
Just noticed that Andy’s TED talk is up explaining Do The Green Thing. I’m a big fan.
VegExchange.com
One of the possibilities we considered in the Retail Futures work I did with Forum for the Future last year was the idea of allotment produce trading. Well here it comes — VegExchange.com got a good plug on Broadcasting House this morning. Forum for the Future
Going nuclear
Just a quick post on the UK Government’s decision a couple of weeks ago to give the go ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations. The decision for me is a stupid one rather than a dangerous one — I’m not anti-nuclear for safety reasons — my main objection is that the Government has just reduced the […]
Farmsubsidy.org
I’m at BarCampUKGovWeb today about how Government could best use technology and set itself up so that other people can use their data too. Best thing I’ve found out about so far is Farmsubsidy.org. I’ve long thought the CAP is absolutely bonkers, but these guys prove just how crazy (and secretive) the system is.
Carbon Complications
I’ve written before about how complicated things are going to get as climate change becomes a much more mainstream issue. Adrian Hon has a good piece looking at a paper about the carbon emissions from various foods grown in the UK and New Zealand.