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We sometimes talk about the end of nature or treats to nature. But nature, though it includes trembling subtleties, can be a son of a bitch. [p 238] Humanity’s history is inextricably that of mankind’s relationship to the natural world and exploitation of nature for nourishment. And, with the explosion of human population over the […]

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Richard Clarke served the United States in multiple roles, gaining his greatest fame due to his harsh criticism of the Bush White House for ignoring/down-playing his urgent calls for attention to Al Qaeda in the months leading to the 9/11 attacks.  Clarke has served the nation in other ways, including a series of thoughtful, illuminating […]

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Head-slapping moments liberate intellectually. A weltanschauung shifting moment is powerful, especially that sudden light bulb over the head event which seems so self-evident in retrospect. Slavery fosters pollution Slavers are operating outside the law already and thus typically have utter disdain for any form of environmental regulation and/or protection. Slavers are despoiling humans for profit, why […]

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This post violates one of the most basic of all rules for bibliophiles: don’t judge a book by its cover. Readers of these pages wouldn’t be surprised that I reached out with interest for a review copy of “How to Change Minds About Our Changing Climate” On opening the package, the first thing to come […]

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George Marshall’s Don’t Even Think About It: Why our brains are wired to ignore climate change (first chapter in pdf) should be on the must read list for anyone concerned about communicating climate change (and — as importantly — who is open to reconsidering much of their thinking about what works and doesn’t work). In […]

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With Clean Break, a recommended 99 cent ‘Kindle Single’ purchase/read, Osha Gray Davidson has provided English speakers an enjoyable and illuminating look at Germany’s Energiewende — that wholesale societal shift commonly translated as “energy shift” and “energy transition”.   Despite its booming economy — in the powerhouse position of Europe — and the mounting role that solar […]

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Elton Sherwin’s Addicted to Energy is an eminently readable and accessible letter to the nation’s governor. This 300+ page “letter” lays out a set of key issues and check lists that provide any (sane) state government (Governor) a sensible starting point for transforming their state from inefficient fossil fuel status quo to a more prosperous climate-friendly […]

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No serious student of energy can deny the inanity — the senselessness — of our energy system in the face of increasingly serious resource challenges (Peak Oil, climate change, etc). Beyond the necessity for confronting these challenges to stave off catastrophic implications, a simple (yet incredibly complex) truth: options exist to foster sanity out of the […]

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On reading the opening paragraphs of Robert Bryce’s author’s note, I felt a kindred soul: .. just how lucky I am. There is no more complex or fascinating topic than energy. … the scale of energy use and the complexity and the importance of the energy business are unmatched by any industry. The study of […]

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Efficiency is the ugly stepchild of the energy and climate world. Recently, I put solar on my roof. Many neighbors and friends are excited about trying to do the same. When I hear this from them, the advice: make sure that your home is energy efficient before putting a penny into something like solar power […]

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