You can watch the interview on video here (it starts at the 49:10 time mark), listen to it as an mp3 here, or read the transcript below: AMY GOODMAN: Finally, on this Christmas Eve, I’m joined by a man who makes a compelling environmental case for a non consumptive Christmas. We’re joined by Colin Beavan, also known […]
Best of No Impact Man
How does a society effect rapid change?
I posted the last couple of days about the occupation of the Capital Power Plant, spearheaded by Bill McKibben and Wendell Berry. Why were there so few comments? How come, when we talk about how to compost, we get a huge discussion, but when we mention civil disobedience, there is quiet? Do we all agree […]
The ridiculousness of relying on “market indicators” to run our planet
We’ve all heard talk of the efficiency of the free market. You know, as the idea goes, companies will only do what customer-citizens want them to do, because if they don’t, customers will sanction the companies by not buying from them. There are all sorts of reasons why this doesn’t work, of course, including the […]
On buying more than status
What follows is a passage from the draft of the book about my No Impact project. I thought you might enjoy a glimpse into my progress. The draft, by the way, is turned in and I await comments from my editor at Farrar, Straus & Giroux. This passage is about some experiences we had in […]
You’re in charge of saving the world!!!
When I allow myself to lapse into know-it-all-ism, it is a mistake. In fact, I don’t know the answers to this catastrophe that threatens our health, happiness and security as it depends upon our planetary habitat. And I’ve never met anyone else who knows the answers either. What I hope to do with this blog […]
Strangely, a way to enhance both technology and environmental activism
A study of the Structures of Participation (STROPs) in Museums from xDesign Project on Vimeo. Start by remembering these words: “structures of participation.” Now let’s go… I’ve argued before that, when it comes to using resources effectively, it is not only that we should make sure that our designs and production processes are energy- and […]
Business People: Forget the fallacy of the zero sum game
Zero sum game: A situation or interaction in which one participant’s gains result only from another’s equivalent losses. Sometimes, we imagine business works that way. But what a sad, sorry way to look at the world. And if we do look at the world that way, does it make us happy? Let me explain: The […]
We’ve changed our lifestyles. What about our politicians?
If you’re not from New York, you may think this post doesn’t apply to you. But please bear with me. You’ll see that it applies to us all. This week, we in New York City saw the death of Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan–which would have reduced gridlock in New York by charging certain drivers […]