December Consumption Peak Addressed
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
Posted on: December 18, 2009
Frank’s Shovel, and Day 8 at Copenhagen Update
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Marc Roberts
Editor’s Note: This is a repost from Marc Roberts at Throbgoblins. Be sure to comment and encourage our Frank in his permaculture ambitions. We’d certainly love to see him taking regular breaks from his passionate activist endeavours to recharge in nature and build some resiliency for himself against these troubled times. (But please, please, no making fun of his thirty five year old singlet….)
Click for larger view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
This cartoon was a response to a suggestion by Craig Mackintosh of the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia – who has been a valued supporter of Frank over the years. Craig points out that what should be on the negotiating table at Copenhagen is:
Comments (0)Posted on: December 15, 2009
Back from the Brink, and the Climate Slamdown
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Craig Mackintosh
 Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins |
I don’t know about you, but I was getting quite concerned about the health and whereabouts of our good friend Cantankerous Frank. We haven’t seen him around these parts for a few months now. A couple of times I thought I saw him lurking in the shadows, but it was probably just my wishful thinking and some branches moving in my periphery.
If he was alive – why didn’t he call?
But, look what the cat (or fox, as the case may be) dragged in (see above).
Despite his unruly appearance, the cartoon genius Marc Roberts quickly got Frank cleaned up and back to work. I am astonished at the comeback. The Copenhagen climate shenanigans are made all too real in the following ‘Climate Slamdown’ – a comic masterpiece of almost epic proportions. And there’s our Frank in the thick of it….
It’s like he never left.
Welcome back Frank – hero of people and place.
Click for full view, and for subsequent parts (big files, so be patient)
Posted on: December 1, 2009
Active Listening
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change, Health & Disease, Society — by Craig Mackintosh
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Courtesy: ThrobgoblinsI’d be very interested in hearing what coping mechanisms readers have developed for dealing with “climate trauma.”
The knowledge that humanity is headed pell-mell toward self-destruction is tough to deal with. I am fortunate that I get to vent blog full time on this subject, though that doesn’t free me from the frustrations of the Cassandra syndrome. I will share one of my secrets for avoiding burnout… – Dealing with climate trauma and global warming burnout [click for more]
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Posted on: October 5, 2009
Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures?
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change, Society — by Craig Mackintosh
I just read how certain scientists are now describing geo-engineering options as ‘feasible‘. Sigh. As it has become increasingly obvious that society as we know it just cannot continue – the gospel of consumption message politicians and economists have been preaching over the last fifty years having outright misled us and painted us into a very tight corner – the goalposts start to get moved on theoretical ‘escape plans’ that people would have instantly dismissed before. Like that old junker car you wouldn’t have even considered before the recession, now we’re walking around it, kicking the tyres, and saying "hmm… perhaps it ain’t so bad after all?"
Posted on: September 6, 2009
The Accidental Tuberist
Comedy Break, Food Plants - Perennial — by Daniel Walter
Bringing food back to the ‘burbs, one spud at a time
The local small town shopping centre; A great place to pick up milk, gasbag about Mrs Jones’ promiscuous cat and find potatoes growing wild on the medium strip.
While collecting cardboard from the recycle bin the other day for a sheet mulching exercise, I found this little guild – of a spud with a purslane ground cover – occurring right outside the local convenience store. Right next to this companioning I also found a heap of lawn clippings, so I did what any permy would do when faced with such an opportunity. I mulched it.
Comments (0)Posted on: August 2, 2009
Carbon Offsetting – Is it Cheating?
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Craig Mackintosh
A couple of years ago I discovered a site called cheatneutral.com. I thought I’d share it with you today in case you haven’t come across it already.
At cheatneutral.com, you’re encouraged to reduce incidences of cheating on your partner, but if you cannot (for reasons beyond your control), you can offset your cheating by investing in a single celibate person, or a monogamous couple.
Comments (0)Posted on: July 7, 2009
The Dam Letter
Comedy Break, Working Animals — by Craig Mackintosh
Who says we’re not getting out of touch with nature? Well, I think we are, and read on to see a bit of a comedic look at this.
The following two letters are said to be the actual correspondence between a Mr. Price of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan and a Ryan DeVries of the same state (enjoy the letters first, then stay tuned for why I say ’said to be’ at bottom — no peeking though):
Comments (1)Posted on: June 30, 2009
On the Rebound
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts
Researchers suggest that our self indulgence might cancel out our cleverness, as we consume more of what we save in a “rebound effect“.
Which is, apparently, a variant of the Jevons Paradox (thanks to Marc Hudson).
What price water and food when there’s no water and food.
Elsewhere, Russia reserves the right to wage its own wars for oil; the planet becomes increasingly unbalanced; marine wildernesses go the way of all fish.
Some fine urban pollution materials here, at Urban Emissions.info.
I haven’t been through this, but it looks very interesting – Recalibrating the Law of Humans with the
Laws of Nature: Climate Change, Human Rights, and Intergenerational Justice.
Posted on: May 16, 2009
Infernal Combustion
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts
Frank is feeling a little better today. Thanks for asking.
While the UK entrenches itself up to its neck in car culture, the scientific world debates whether it is best to starve us all and destroy our biodiversity in the name of biofuel or bio-electricity – whichever gives most miles per acre. Motorists, as ever, expect to be coddled through without inconvenience.
Those on two wheels had better watch their backs.
So many choices, so little accurate information.
What price action?
China and Italy invest heavily in renewables.
Comments (0)Posted on: May 9, 2009
Surface Reflection
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts
Whilst the world’s media squeal about Swine-flu and worry about the sex lives of the rich and famous, some other stuff has happened
Al Gore has been talking about Black Carbon particulates, whilst temperatures at the top of the world soar. The Himalayas enjoy L.A. like pollution levels and record CO2 recordings. Burning down the planet may have something to do with it.
To combat this the only wind turbine factory in the UK closes down whilst the US steams ahead.
Perhaps we need to look at why we behave this way, and how we can stop it.
Meanwhile the oil shale monster ratchets up a perfect storm (thanks to Susan Anderson for this)
And the squillions at stake for the nuclear industry prompt the usual shenanigans.
Comments (0)Posted on: May 4, 2009
Happy “Fock the Earth Day”
Comedy Break, Consumerism — by Craig Mackintosh
Okay, this is a couple of days late – but… whatever.
Although Earth Day has merit in bringing people’s attention to environmental issues, since its inception in 1970 it doesn’t seem to have stopped us all trashing the planet on the other 364 days of the year (or even on ‘Earth Day’ for that matter). The following clip is a comical hand-wringing about this very fact – suggesting and introducing a “Fock the Earth Day” for April 23.
Hat Tip: Energy Smart
Comments (0)Posted on: April 24, 2009
From Each According to Their Ability?
Comedy Break, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Marc Roberts
 Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins |
The wealthy in the UK are throwing all manner of hissy fits at the very idea of paying their fair share to help pull our collective fat out of the fire. They are once again threatening to leave the country in droves unless we all pucker up. Perhaps a concerted drive is needed to finally establish a clear distinction between the concepts of ‘earn’, ‘receive’ and ‘deserve’. These people are deeply confused.
From each according to their ability. To each according to their need.
As the emissions of rich nations continue to rise, the push for carbon capture picks up steam in a last ditch attempt to create tools to save the likes of orchards, fish and humans from the consequences of habitual greed.
Comments (0)Posted on:
Earth Day – The Lotto Way of Thinking
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Global Warming/Climate Change, Health & Disease — by Marc Roberts
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Courtesy: Throbgoblins
Posted on: April 22, 2009
When Fixes Need Fixing?
Comedy Break, Food Shortages, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Water Contamination — by Marc Roberts
Click for full view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
Grist provides these two links to reports of pending agricultural collapse in the Punjab due to (profit driven?) over-exploitation of resources. [Editor's Note: for more on this, head here]
The Huffington Post posts this, by Lise van Susteran, on Moral Obligation.
Fred Pearce, on consuming vs population. Did I post this already?
I just saw this – Ian Tomlinson’s death at the G20 demonstrations now being treated as possible manslaughter.
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