Category Archives: Human Ecology

Into the Wild: a Parable for our Times

Posted on 7 December 2010 by Graham

One of the most enduring quasi-religious myths in the environmental movement is that our percieved problems- the percieved crisis in the modern world- stems from a separation from nature. We were born in pre-history, an integral part of Mother Nature … Continue reading →

Posted in collapse, community, Environment, Gardens, Human Ecology, Science and Rationaltiy, survivalism | 12 Comments

Why I was Wrong About Population

Posted on 23 August 2010 by Graham

Update Aug 25th: Brilliant talk by Hans Rosling, in which he explains “Child survival is the new Green”. Book review PeopleQuake by Fred Pearce Eden Project Books 2010 Pbck; 342pp There is a scary book I have a half-share in … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, collapse, Environment, Human Ecology, Overshoot, Population | 13 Comments

Whole Earth Discipline

Posted on 22 March 2010 by Graham

Book Review: Whole Earth Discipline An Ecopragmatist Manifesto by Stewart Brand Atlantic Books 2009 316pp “Civilization is at risk, but civilization is the problem”. Stewart Brand is one of the iconic founders of the environmental movement, an original old hippy … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, climate change, collapse, community, Environment, Human Ecology, Population, Renewable Energy, Science and Rationaltiy, Tools and technology | 21 Comments

Peak Water

Posted on 18 December 2009 by Graham

Peak Water Civilisation and the World’s Water Crisis Alexander Bell Luath Press 2009 Hardback 208 pp If oil supply peaks and begins to decline times will be hard. Standard of living will decline and people may go hungry but they … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, climate change, collapse, Food, Human Ecology, Overshoot, Population, water | Leave a comment

Reading the Great Book of Life

Posted on 27 October 2009 by Graham

Book Review: The Living Landscape: How to Read and Understand it Patrick Whitefield Permanent Publications 2009 334pp 48 color photos When I first saw in the recent Permaculture Magazine that Patrick Whitefield had written a book on reading the landscape … Continue reading →

Posted in Biodiversity, book review, Environment, Human Ecology, Permaculture | 4 Comments

Future Scenarios

Posted on 11 June 2009 by Graham

Book Review- Future Scenarios How Communities Can adapt to Peak Oil and Climate Change David Holmgren Chelsea Green 2009 When I first saw David Holmgren’s Future Scenarios talk and slide at a permaculture design course in Slovenia in 2005 I … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, climate change, collapse, General, Human Ecology, Peak Oil, Permaculture, Powerdown | 7 Comments

Essential Reading on Population

Posted on 28 March 2009 by Graham

The Real Perils of Human Population Growth by David and Marcia Pimentel The present world population of 6.7 billion is projected by the United Nations to increase to 9 billion and may rise to as many as 11 billion by … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Ecology, Population, Renewable Energy | 5 Comments

Book Review: The Long Descent

Posted on 11 December 2008 by Graham

The Long Descent- A Users Guide to the End of the Industrial Age John Michael Greer New Society Publishers 2008 John Michael Greer has written a fascinating and engaging, but also contradictory and perplexing account of how he sees the … Continue reading →

Posted in book review, collapse, consciousness, Human Ecology, Overshoot, Peak Oil, Science and Rationaltiy, Tools and technology | 12 Comments

Future Scenarios

Posted on 26 May 2008 by Graham

Thanks to Adam Grubb (Fenderson), founder of Energy Bulletin for sending me the link to David Holmgren’s new site Future Scenarios- Mapping the cultural implications of Peak Oil and Climate Change, which is launched today. You can read the press … Continue reading →

Posted in Human Ecology, Peak Oil, Permaculture, Powerdown | 1 Comment

Monbiot on Population

Posted on 1 February 2008 by Graham

[Update: See John Feeney's excellent response to Monbiot here.] A few people have pointed me to George Monbiot’s recent article on population in the Guardian. While it is welcome that Monbiot addresses the issue I wanted to reply because I … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Human Ecology, Overshoot, Peak Oil, Population | 8 Comments