The good news about how disastrously troubled our world is is that it needs so many sorts of talents and passions in order to help it that there is a place for every one of us. In other words, if you care about world problems, you don’t have to fit yourself into someone else’s idea of how to […]
Activism and Social Change
Be Stupid Enough to Try
People in my past have asked me if I was “too stupid to know that one person can’t make a difference in the world.” This is a meme in our culture–that cynics and skeptics are the smart ones. That the idealists and the optimists are too dumb to realize there is no point trying. Think […]
The problem of materialism and the solution in five minutes
A video written by my friend and colleague Tim Kasser. It presents a unifying theory of what’s wrong and what to do about it.
Advice from an Accidental Activist
The following article was originally published in Yes! Magazine at this location. Other articles I've published in Yes! include: "Ten Ways to Change Your Life," "Fight Climate Change: Live the Good Life," and "Christmas with No Presents." So many of us have good ideas for helping the world. But we tuck our ideas away. I […]
Thoughts on communicating on climate–my remarks at climate negotiations communication conference
In 2006, I became increasingly concerned both about climate change and the military action taken by the United States to secure its access to oil supplies in the Middle East. As a journalist and author, I wanted to find a way to make the case for a lower reliance on fossil fuels and other natural […]
Now it’s time for world leaders to follow the people on climate change
So, yesterday, on 10/10/2010, thousands upon thousands of people at over 7,000 locations around the world got to work on behalf of the planet. People did everything from planting trees to fixing bikes to installing solar panels. This international action, organized by 350.org (follow the link for photos of actions around the world), will hopefully […]
No Impact Man now out in paperback–An interview with Colin Beavan
Hey folks, I’m excited to report that No Impact Man is out in paperback this week (borrow it from your library or share with friends a copy from your local bookseller, Amazon, or BN.com). Anyway, I’ve been doing a new round of press interviews so I thought I’d let you in one email interview I […]
Crowd-sourcing our way to a better world
“I’m worried that students will take their obedient place in society and look to become successful cogs in the wheel – let the wheel spin them around as it wants without taking a look at what they’re doing. I’m concerned that students not become passive acceptors of the official doctrine that’s handed down to them […]