by Shaun Chamberlin | Feb 14, 2009 | All Posts, Climate Change, Cultural stories, Reviews and recommendations
(Just a quickie, but the frantic process of preparing my book for publication is nearly complete, so posting here will resume in earnest soon. I have so many half-written posts to finish up! In the meantime, check out the below radio interview I did with Carl Munson of Traydio.com the other day)
[audio mp3="https://www.darkoptimism.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/CarlMunson.mp3"][/audio]
by Shaun Chamberlin | Dec 26, 2008 | All Posts, Cultural stories, Peak Oil, Reviews and recommendations
I spent a few hours this Christmas watching former Pfizer Vice President Chris Martenson's Crash Course, which undertakes the daunting task of presenting the overarching interplay of economics, energy and environment in today's world, and doing it in a friendly, accessible way. He does an impressive job, and it's all broken down into easily digestible videos from 2-15 minutes long.
His simple indisputable explanations of topics such as why economic growth does not equal prosperity are invaluable, but most impressive to me was the clarity with which Chris distinguishes between his own beliefs and the facts he is sharing which have shaped those beliefs. For example, he states up front his belief that "the next twenty years are going to be completely unlike the past twenty years", and then shows us just which facts have led him to that belief. It becomes hard to disagree.
Chris has utterly reshaped his own life in the light of these understandings, and his website is a free and invaluable resource for those of us who see the turmoil in the economic system, but perhaps as yet lack an in-depth understanding of the underlying trends, laws and habits that have driven us into utterly uncharted territory and mortgaged our right to a future. For me personally it is also a launchpad for my New Year's resolution to gain a deeper understanding of the economic systems which are determining our society's key decisions in these critical times.
Wherever you are, I hope you have enjoyed a delightful Christmas, but if you share the common assumption that coming Christmases will look similar for you and your family, I recommend sitting back and re-examining that dangerous belief in the company of the Crash Course.
by Shaun Chamberlin | Nov 10, 2008 | All Posts, Cultural stories, Peak Oil, Reviews and recommendations
Despite the cute hypothesis that in doing so I risk damning the human race to eternal underachievement, I'm going out on a limb today and encouraging computer gaming.
I fancy the entertainment value of Oiligarchy might just do as much to shift the cultural stories around peak oil as a hundred carefully-crafted essays. It's free, easy, doesn't take long to play through and it might just raise a smile or two! Give it a go below, or here.
Edit - over 1.5 million plays in the first month since launch!
(you may need to wait a minute or so for the game to load - it will appear below)
by Shaun Chamberlin | Sep 27, 2008 | All Posts, Cultural stories, Favourite posts, Peak Oil, Politics, Reviews and recommendations, TEQs (Tradable Energy Quotas)
[audio mp3="https://www.darkoptimism.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/Radio4.mp3"][/audio]
The "You and Yours" programme on BBC Radio 4 this week held a studio discussion on Peak Oil, with energy investment banker Matt Simmons, peak oil educator Richard Heinberg and the Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil, John Hemming MP. The 12 minute discussion can be heard above or here and includes discussion of the options open to the UK government, including Tradable Energy Quotas (TEQs).
by Shaun Chamberlin | Sep 22, 2008 | All Posts, Climate Change, Cultural stories, Favourite posts, Reviews and recommendations
An ingeniously clear and engaging 11 minute animation explaining why the next few years are the most important humanity has ever faced, or will ever face. We who are lucky enough to be alive now are effectively the most powerful people who will ever live, and future generations are breathlessly watching our every choice.
More information on the animation and the thorough research behind it can be found at: http://wakeupfreakout.org/
by Shaun Chamberlin | Sep 11, 2008 | All Posts, Cultural stories, Reviews and recommendations
A very watchable 9 minute video outlining the mass extinction taking place on our planet right now - an event with substantially more significance for our lives than the infamous tragedy that took place seven years ago today.
Lest we forget, humanity is dependent on the web of life for our food, our drinking water and even our oxygen. The dominant cultural story of our separation from Nature is transparently, demonstrably false.
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