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Challenging Our Own Beliefs —
01 May 2013 —
KMO and science fiction author, futurist, and contrarian David Brin discuss a range of themes in post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction. Brin also opines on the need to be contrarian and to challenge our own beliefs. As human civilization faces a transition from smart animals to beings that wield god-like powers in real time with no do-overs, we must overcome our tendency toward self-deception, factionalism, and righteous indignation.
Better Bacterial Biofuels Through Genetic Engineering? —
27 Apr 2013 —
As the failings of current biofuels become more obvious, the strategies to find a truly successful, high-net-energy biofuel continues. Professor John Love discusses efforts to genetically engineer microbes that will more efficiently convert simple sugars into petro-identical go-juice for our vehicles. (GP comment: All biofuels are destined to fail, if only for the rarely discussed but obvious reason that they steal resources from biological processes that are essential to a sustainable global ecosystem.)
Stealing From the Future —
24 April 2013 —
Mark Robinowitz of the Oil Empire web site notes that earth is over its carrying capacity, regardless of which problem—climate change, peak oil, water supplies, etc.—you wish to discuss. In this "peak everything" era, we're using everything as fast as we possibly can, with nothing but economists' assurances that there will be the same level of abundance in the future. Our most serious problem is "peak denial"—the general public is rejecting reality. He explains why the declarations of some environmentalists that extraction technologies have trumped peak oil are wrong, and he laments that climate change has come to dominate the entire discussion about sustainability. In particular, he comments that the typical environmentalist's position that we can solve climate though economic methods within the infinite growth paradigm is hopelessly wrong.
Get more audio clips on transition towns, resilience, peak oil (and many more topics) in Grinning Planet's biweekly downloadable audio news feed. |
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| Copyright 2013 © Mark Jeantheau — All rights reserved. More info | ||
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