THE SIMPLER WAY:
We cannot achieve a sustainable and just world order unless we change to,
- Simpler lifestyles, much less production and consumption, much less concern with luxury, affluence, possessions and wealth.
- Small, highly self-sufficient local economies, largely independent of the global economy.
- More cooperative and participatory ways, enabling people in small communities to take control of their own development.
- A new economy, one not driven by profit or market forces, and a zero-growth or steady-state overall economy, which produces much less than the present economy.
- Some very different values, especially cooperation not competition, and frugality and self-sufficiency not acquisitiveness and consuming.
The Simpler Way is about ensuring a very high quality of life for all without anywhere near as much production, consumption, exporting, investment, resource use, environmental damage, work etc. as ther e is now. There are many rich alternative sources of satisfaction other than material acquisition and consuming. Consider having much time for arts and crafts and personal growth, living in a rich and supportive community, having to go to work for money only two days a week, living in a diverse and productive leisure-rich landscape, having socially worthwhile and enjoyable work with no fear of unemployment...and knowing you are not contributing to global problems. There is no need to sacrifice modern technology to achieve these benefits.
The fate of the planet depends on whether initiatives such as the Transition Towns movement can provide many impressive examples of sustainable, just and pleasant ways showing people in consumer society that there is a better way.
The main purpose of this website is to provide information which will help people in their efforts to educate about the need for change to The Simpler Way.
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1. ISSUE SUMMARIES:
THE SIMPLER WAY; Our global perspective.
SUMMARY (2 pages.)
SUMMARY (6 pages.)
FULL/MAIN ACCOUNT (14 pages.)OUR UNSUSTAINBLY AFFLUENT SOCIETY.
OUR UNSUSTAINABLY AFFLUENT SOCIETY (5 pages)
THE LIMITS TO GROWTH ANALYSIS.
SUMMARY. (3 pages.)
LIMITS (short account. ( 6 pages.)
MAIN ACCOUNT (c. 24 pages.)THE ENVIRONMENT PROBLEM. (11 pages.)
THIRD WORLD DEVELOPMENT
Short account (7 pages)
More detailed... MAIN ACCOUNT (22 pages.)THE ECONOMY -- BASIC SOURCE OF THE PROBLEMS.
BRIEF SUMMARY. (2page.)
THE ECONOMY; A CRITICAL SUMMARY. ( 7 pages.)
THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM; A RADICAL CRITIQUE (47 pages. 111KB)Parts 1.Growth. 2.Market. 3.Money. 4. Economic theory.
THE NEW ECONOMY (34 pages.)
OUR EMPIRE
OUR EMPIRE; The essentials. ( 2 pages).
OUR EMPIRE; ITS NATURE AND MAINTENANCE (c.27 pages.)PEACE AND CONFLICT
GLOBAL PEACE AND CONFLICT, from the perspective of The Simpler Way. (6 pages.)
SOCIAL BREAKKDOWN, COHESION, QUALITY OF LIFE.
SOCIAL BREAKDOWN (12 pages.)
BRIEF OUTLINE. (4 pages.)
THE ALTERNATIVE, SIMPLER WAY. (This is the detailed, 20 page account.)THE TRANSITION TO THE SIMPLER WAY.
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PIGFACE POINT; An educational site in the Sydney region introducing people to limits to growth and alternative society themes.
A GUIDED TOUR OF THE SITE, IN PICTURES..
There are about 150 pictures here, plus notes outlining the ideas we deal with on the approximately 3 hour guided tour. They are in 14 sets of about 7-11 pictures each.
Set 1,Set 2, Set 3, Set 4, Set 5, Set 6, Set 7, Set 8, Set 9, Set 10 , Set 11, Set 12, Set 13, Set 14.
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These are in general large collections of quotes showing that there is extensive supoport for the critical or "simpler way" view.
THE LIMITS TO GROWTH: Collected Documents. (43K)
ECONOMICS: Collected Documents. (249 K)
GLOBALISATION; Collected Documents... contents, and links to sections.
OUR EMPIRE; Its Nature and Functioning: Collected Documents
PEACE; From The Simpler Way Perspective.
THE SUSTAINABLE, ALTERNATIVE SOCIETY: Collected Documents
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THE WAY IT COULD BE. This is a c. 250 page novel describing the experiences of a person who visits a fictitional settlement that has adopted Simpler Way principles. (it is in 6 half-day parts. ) This might be a more convenient "story" form for some people to delve into the detail of The Simpler Way.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several of these
documents overlap, and different versions of the same account (e.g., short and
long) are sometimes given for use with different audiences. Please use
the version that suits your purposes.
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A NORMAL WORK DAY
...A normal work day in consumer society and in The Simpler Way...indicating the variety and satisfqction we could have.
ACADEMIC JARGON
The Sokal Affair; A note. On the pretetious gobbledegook academics often engage in.
AFFLUENT SOCIETY
How Cheaply We Could Live. (C 30 pages.) Summarises how very non-affluently we could live, with a high quality of life. Much the same as Ch.4 in The Transition to a Sustainable and Just World, Envirobook, 2010.
The Problem of Affluence. Critical statement of the quest for affluence as the fundamental mistake underlying global problems.(6 pages.)
AGRICULTURE
ALTERNATIVE SOCIETY. (i.e., the form a sustainable society must take.)
The Simpler Way alternative society is discussed in detail in The Transition to a Sustainable and Just World, Enviorobook, 2010.
The Alternative..Brief Outline....4 page summary.
THE WAY IT COULD BE. This is a c. 250 page novel describing the experiences of a person who visits a fictitional settlement that has adopted Simpler Way principles. (it is in 6 half-day parts. )
"The Way I Live", by T. Trainer, outlining some key themes in the simpler way. (8 pages.)
"How
cheaply we could live." Overlaps largely with "The Alternative,
Sustainable Society", but focuses on resource and dollar savings.
The
benefits of The Simpler Way. Two pages.
The New Economy. (30 pages)
ANARCHISM
Anarchism; A note on connections with The simpler Way. ( A basically Anarchist political philosophy underlies The Simpoer Way.)
The Spanish Anarchist Collectives. The remarkable achievements of the workers collectives during the Spanish Civil War; indicating how ordinary people can organise and run local economies without the state or bureaucracy.
ANZAC DAY.
"Why ANZAC Day is so disturbing" A commentary on the failure to think carefully about the causes of war.
BASE LOAD POWER.
"Can sun and wind provide base load" power? This is a c.5 page explanation of the main problem with renewable energy; the fact that there are times when sun and wind are not contributing anything. It is argued that this means renewable energy cannot meet 100% of energy demand in energy-intensive soceities.
On the limits of renewable energy, see RENEWABLE ENERGY items below.
BENEFITS OF THE SIMPLER WAY
CAPITAL.
"Thinking about capital", Two page article explaining that often capital does not need to be borrowed for development, especially by nations.
CAPITALISM
CAPITALISM; A Brief Critical Outline.
Is A Humane Capitalism Possible? Short argument that is is not possible to reform capitalism so that it ceases to generate huge global problems.
See aklsoi itmns under Econonmics, The economy , Development, and The Case Against the Mqarket.
CARTOONS.
Cartoons plus commentary, putting the critical perspective on several core themes in the critical perspective on the economy and on Third World development.
CONVENTIONAL VS APPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT; THE ESSENTIALS. A two page list of contrasting points. Several items on Third World.development are under Development below.
CONFLICT/WAR/PEACE.
PEACE; From the Perspective of The Simpler Way. A short statement of the connections between overconsumption, global economic injustice, and inevitable and worsening global conflict.
GLOBAL PEACE AND CONFLICT; Collected Documents. Quotes relating to the above themes.
CRIME
A note on crime fromthe Simpler Way perspetive.
DEBT
DEVELOPMENT (...of the Third World)
The following items all put much the same critical perspective. See also Globalisation, and Our Empire.
Third World Development, Main more detailed account,( revised slightly in The Transition to a Sustsainable and Just World,Ted Trainer, Envirobook, 2010.)...c 16 pages.)
Conventional vs Appropriate Development; The Essentials. (Contrast between the two on key issues. 2 pages.)
"What does development mean; A rejection of the unidimensional conception." An older, detailed paper arguing that most thinking about development has taken for granted that growth is development, and presenting a radically alternative conception of appropriate development.
Third World Development DOCUMENTS; Large collection of extracts. Extensive evidence for the critical position. Contents page at the beginning. (Most material was collected to the early 2000s; not since.)
APPROPRIATE Third World Development, a four page list of principles. See also second half of the paper "What does development mean; A rejection of the unidimensional concept".
PEDRO' DEVELOPMENT. This is a play/role reading, attempting to present 17 issues briefly in a form suitable for high school students.
EARTH-BUILT HOUSING
"The Neo-liberal agenda; What is really going on." The Neo-liberal assertion of need for free markets etc should be seen as a push by corporae rich to take over even more of the world's wealth.. (2 pp).
"Economic rationalism has not failed." (4 page article.)
"Illustrating
the nature of neo-liberalism." The
essential refusal to "cross-subsidise" or achieve non-economic goals (i.e.,
only profit maximisation matters) is evident when Maleny "town bank", and
provision of shipping pilots, are considered. (2 p.)
"The economy; A two page summary. This is a very brief statement of The Simpler Way perspective on the economy.)
"The economy; A critical summary." (5 pages). This is brief but slightly more detailed statment of The Sinmpler Way perspective on the economy.)
Capitalism; A brief critical introduction.(3 pages.)
THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM; A RADICAL CRITIQUE (47 pages.) This is the detailed discussion, in four sections,:
Contents ; i.e., sub-sections in the four sections below.
Growth. (However a c 10 p mnore recent crit of growth is in The Case Against Growth.)
Market forces and production for profit. (However a more recent crit of the market is in The Case Against the Market. See also notes on Polanyi and Tawney.
Two specific critical analyses, drawing out themes in above accounts:
Chapter 4 of The Trasnsition to a Sustainable and Just World, Envirobook, 2010 provides a recent detailed critique of the economy., See also Ch. 6 on Third World development.(Book outline.)
The new economy; 34 page account of The Simpler Way economy (also detailed in Ch.4 of The Transition to a Sustainable and Just World. (Book outline.)
ECO-TOURISM
EDUCATION
"EDUCATION; OUTLINE OF A RADICALLY CRITICAL VIEW."
Pedro's Development. A role reading making clear the unsatisfactory nature of the conventional approach to development.
CARTOONS.Several cartoons plus commentary, putting the critical perspective on core themes in Third World development.
EMPIRE. (...i.e., the empire which delivers high living standards to rich countries.)
Our Empire; Essential Themes (2 pages)
Our Empire; Its Nature and Maintenance. (c 23 pages.)
Our Empire; Collected Documents. (c 80 pages.)
ENERGY
See Renewable Energy, below.
ENVIRONMENT.
Saving the environment; What it will take. ...This is a 10 page argument that the environbmental problem can't be solved in or by consumer capitalist society; it can only be solved if there is transition to The Simpler Way.
GLOBAL ECOVILLAGE MOVEMENT.
GLOBAL PEACE AND CONFLICT.
GLOBAL PEACE AND CONFLICT; From the Perspective of The Simpler Way. A short statement of the connections between overconsumption, global economic injustice, and inevitable and worsening global conflict.
GLOBAL PEACE AND CONFLICT; Collected Documents. Quotes relating to the above themes.
GLOBALISATION
Globalisation:A Summary. c.10 page overview.
See within The Economic System; Why It Must be Scrapped; ( Brief statement of the basic The Simpler Way account.)"Two common mistakes about globalisation"; Paper arguing that globalisation is inevitable given capitalist society, and that the limits to growth analysis means there can be little international trade in a sustainable world order.
"The Neo-liberal agenda; What is really going on." The Neo-liberal assertion of need for free markets etc should be seen as a push by corporae rich to take over even more of the world's wealth.. (2 pp).
GLOBALISATION; DOCUMENTS; Large collection of quotes, evidence, notes. Contents page.
GREED
GREENPEACE Energy (R)evolution Report; A critique.
This report has been influential, being the core reference in the IPCC's 2011 report which is being taken to show that renewable energy can meet most of the world's 2050 demand for energy. This critique details reasons for regarding the Greenpeace report as making little or no contribution to the issue, not establishing its claims, and of giving a mistaken impression re the potential of renewables. For the negative case on their potential, see Renewable energy cannot sustain an energy-intensive society. ..(276KB)
GREENHOUSE PROBLEM.
The TSW case against the possibility of solving the greenhouse problem centrres on the limits to renewable energy. The most recent statements of this case are under RENEWABLE ENERGY, below.
The greenhouse problem; Why you won't solve it. A somewhat dated 6 page argument that consumer-capitalist society cannot solve the problem. It will not be possible to sustain anticipated energy demand on renewables and without using a lot of fossil fuels. A stronger case can now be put; see undr RENEWABLE ENERGY, below.
The Garnaut, IPCC and Stern Reports: Flawed energy analysis underlying mitigation optimism. This is a 15 page radical critique, arguing that the three highly influential reports all fail to consider the reasons why renewable energy sources cannot replace fossil fuels. It is now somewhat dated; better data has been used in the more recnt items on the limits of renewables, see under RENEWABLE ENERGY, below.
GROWTH
"HELPING DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE".
An article explaining how community workers are in an ideal position to help develop alternative/sustainable communities
HOW CHEAPLY COULD WE LIVE WELL (20+ pages.)
An attempt to assess the very low dollar, energy and footprint costs that might be associated with a high quality of life via The Simpler Way. It seems that present costs might be cut by 90%.
Notes arguing that there is nothing in our "nature" that prevents us from developing a satisfactory society.
IMPERIALISM
Accounts of the empire which delivers high living standards to rich countries.
Our Empire; Essential Themes (2 pages)
Our Empire; Its Nature and Maintenance. (c 23 pages.)
Our Empire; Collected Documents. (c 80 pages.)
INEQUALITY
Documentary evidence on degree of inequality in society, and accelerating increases, see Economics: Collected Documents; Section 10.
INTEREST
IPPC
A critical analysis of the 2011 IPCC Working Group 3 report on the potential of renewable energy. This report is being quoted as establishing that renewables couldmeet most of the world's energy demand in 20-50. This critique ag=rgues that the reportr does not establishn this, and is quite unsatisfactory for a number of reasons.
A critical discussion of the IPCCs 4AR (2007) analysis of the poetntial for mitigating CO2 emissions is given in The Garnaut, IPCC and Stern Reports: Flawed energy analysis underlying mitigation optimism. This is a 15 page radical critique, arguing that the three highly influential reports all fail to consider the reasons why renewable energy sources cannot replace fossil fuels. It was published as Trainer, T., (2010), “A critical discussion of the Stern and IPCC analyses of carbon emission mitigation possibilities and costs, “ Energy & Environment, Vol. 21, No. 2, 49 – 73.
(On the limits of renewables, see Renewable energy cannot sustain an energy-intensive society. ..(276KB)
A critical analysis of the 2011 IPCC Working Group 3 report on the potential of renewable energy. This report is being quoted as establishing that renewables couldmeet most of the world's energy demand in 20-50. This critique ag=rgues that the reportr does not establishn this, and is quite unsatisfactory for a number of reasons.
LETS
LIMITS TO GROWTH ANALYSIS, THE
The
Limits to Growth, The basic Simpler Way account.
(c 25 pages.)
The Limits to Growth. (2 page outline)
LOCAL CURRENCIES
LOVINS, Amory
For a critical paper on the "technical fix" position put by A. Lovins et al in the book Natural Capitalism see "Natural capitalism cannot overcome resource limits", paper by T. Trainer. The reductions discussed in the book do not show that "factor 4" reductions in overal materials and energy use can be made, and more importantly the book's assumptions re energy availability, especially gas and renewables, are highly challengeable. A wider and more recent critique of the Technical Fix view see “But Can’t Technical Advance Solve the Problems?”
MORALITY,
The first three chapters from The Nature of Morality, Ted Trainer, Avebury, c 1980.
NEO-LIBERAL AGENDA (THE)
"The Neo-Liberal agenda; What is really going on."
See also Economic System, and/or Economic Rationalism, above, and The Case Against the Market.
Accounts of the empire which delivers high living standards to rich countries.
Our Empire; Essential Themes (2 pages)
Our Empire; Its Nature and Maintenance. (c 23 pages.)
Our Empire; Collected Documents. (c 80 pages.)
PEACE AND CONFLICT.
GLOBAL PEACE AND CONFLICT; From the Perspective of The Simpler Way. A short statement of the connections between overconsumption, global economic injustice, and inevitable and worsening global conflict.
GLOBAL PEACE AND CONFLICT; Collected Documents. Quotes relating to the above themes.
"If you want affluence, prepare for war", Ted Trainer, Democracy and Nature,8, 2, July, 2002. An academic paper explaining how rich world high "living standards" involve us in taking far more than our fair share of world resources, and therefore in support of oppressive regimes, use of terror and heavy military activity to maintain the unjust globl economy.
"Why ANZAC Day is so disturbing" A commentary on the failure to think carefully about the causes of war. Includes most of the themes in the "If you want affluence..." paper above.
This is a role play reading, putting the critrical perspective on Third World Development. Suitable for High School and Tertiary students.
PERMACULTURE
POLANYI, Karl
QUALITY OF LIFE
RELIGION AND THE MARKET SYSTEM; Notes on the significance of Protestantism for the emergence of the market system; See notes on religion and the market
RENEWABLE ENERGY
These items put the case that energy intensive consumer-capitalist society cannot fun on renewable energy sources.
The main versions of the argument are,
- Renewable energy can't save us. 6 page overview of the argument.
- Can the world run on renewable energy? A revised negative case.This is an improved version of the article published in Energy Policy, 2010. c. 22 pages.It is an academic paper putting a (simple and easily followed) numerical case based on estinmated future output and costs...concluding that the capital cost would be far beyond affordable.
- Renewable energy cannot sustain an energy-intensive society. This is the full/long (66 page, 275 KB) version of my current understanding of the field. It is updated occasionally. This is much more satisfactory than the 2007 book, below.
Other items:
"Can renewables etc. solve the greenhouse problem? The negative case." Energy Policy, 2010, 38, 8, pp. 4107-14. The above "revised negative case" is a much improved versionof this approach, based on better data. The above revision concludes that the capital investment sum would be much less than in the original study, but still unaffordable.
"Can Australia run on renewable energy? The negative case." (May, 2012.) This c.20 page analysis applies the approach in the above articleon the world situation to the Australian situation, concluding that the capital/investment cost would be too high, even with Australia's very favourable renewable energy resouces.
The limits to solar thermal electricity. ...a c.20 page analysis.
The 2007 book, Renewable Energy Cannot Sustain A Consumer Society, Ted Trainer,
Springer, Dordrecht, 2007. The above 60 pp summary is much more useful now; includes newer evidence and analysis.Papers critical of reports claiming the world can run on renewable energy.
A critique of the IPCC on the capacity of renewable energy to mitigate the greenhouse problem, published as Trainer, T., (2010), “A critical discussion of the Stern and IPCC analyses of carbon emission mitigation possibilities and costs, “ Energy & Environment, Vol. 21, No. 2, 49 – 73.
Critical comments on Zero Carbon Australia, M. Wrignt and G. Hearps, Melbourne Energy Institute, 2020. This report argued that Australia could be converted to run entirely on renewable energy by 2020. The critical 5 page commentary argues that the report is a valuable contribution to the discussion but its assumptions are highly challengeable and its conclusion is not valid. (2010.)
GREENPEACE Energy (R)evolution Report; A Critique. This report has been influential, being the core reference in the IPCC's 2011 report which is being taken to show that renewable energy can meet most of the world's 2050 demand for energy. This critique details reasons for regarding the Greenpeace report as making little or no contribution to the issue, not establishing its claims, and of giving a mistaken impression re the potential of renewables.
A critical analysis of the 2011 IPCC Working Group 3 report on the potential of renewable energy. This report is being quoted as establishing that renewables couldmeet most of the world's energy demand in 20-50. This critique ag=rgues that the reportr does not establishn this, and is quite unsatisfactory for a number of reasons.
"A critique of the proposals by Jacobson and Delucci for world renewable energy supply", (Published in Energy Policy, 2011, 44 (2012) 476–48.1
Critical comments on the Elliston, Diesendorf and Macgill paper, 2012, arguing that renewables could provide Australian electricity..
RESOURCES.
Theory and evidence on resource availability/scarcity; see section within The Limits To Growth.
The unjust distribution of global resource consumption; see within The Limits To Growth, or The Third World.
"SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT; WHAT IT WILL TAKE" This is the main argument, in 10 pages...the environment pr lem cannot be solved in consumer-capitalist society.
This is also the title of a book by T. Trainer, UNSW Press, 199, not now recommended..
SOCIAL COHESION, SOCIAL BREAKDOWN. See the summary statement on
This is a discussion of the failure to attend to the alarming global situation, attempting to understand the phenomenon and its causes, ending with thoughts on what might be done.
SOKAL AFFAIR.
The Sokal Affair; A note on the inexcusable obscurity of much social-sciece literature..
SOLAR ENERGY
See items at Renewable Energy above.
SPANISH ANARCHIST WORKERS' COLLECTIVES
A short account of the remarkable self government of large regions in Spain, by ordinary working people, during the 1930s, showing how participatory democracy can run economnies.
SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SIMPLER WAY.
A 17 page discussion of ways in which The Simpler Way would have benefits for our morale, world view, sensitivity, personal development, etc.
STERN REPORT (on the greenhouse problem).
For a critical acnalysis see The Garnaut, IPCC and Stern Reports: Flawed energy analysis underlying mitigation optimism. This is a 15 page radical critique, arguing that the three highly influential reports all fail to consider the reasons why renewable energy sources cannot replace fossil fuels. (On the limits of renewables, see the items listed under RENEWABLE ENERGY.
SUBSISTENCE
A note on the meaning of the (much misunderstood) term. The Simpler Way is a subsistence economy, in terms of the conception adopted here.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
For the general TSW view see THE ALTERNATIVE, SIMPLER WAY. (This is the detailed, 20 page account.) For its impliations for Third World development see MAIN ACCOUNT (22 pages.)
"What is sustainable development?" Brief critique of most discussions of sustainability, stressing enormous reductions required before a sustainble society would be possible.
The Alternative, Sustainable Society:The basic Simpler Way account.
For the Third World, see the final sections within The Third World.or the last parts of "What does development mean; A rejection of the unidimensional conception?".
Appropriate Third World Development; a four page list of principles.
TAX
Many big corporations pay little tax. See section in Globalisation; Documents.
...the faith that technical advance will avoid the need to move to simpler ways.
“But Can’t Technical Advance Solve the Problems?) This is the main critical analysis of the belief that technical advance will enhable continues pursuit of affluence and growth
THE DEMATERIALISATION MYTH
"The dematerialisation myth"; paper by T. Trainer arguing that the economy is not moving towards reduced materials and energy use per unit of GDP. (Somewhat dated now. For a more recent and convincing account see “But Can’t Technical Advance Solve the Problems?)
THE LIMITS TO GROWTH
The Limits to Growth; A Summary. (2 pages.)
The Limits to Growth, the basic The Simpler Way account; outline. (25 pages.)
THE LIMITS TO GROWTH; DOCUMENTS. Collection of evidence, quotes etc.
TTHE NATURE OF MORALITYHE NATURE OF MORALITY
The Nature of Morality. A c. 6 page summary of the Subjecivist perspective on morality; i.e., contradicting the very common assumption that there are objective moral "facts" and entities (such as rights), and explaining that morality can be analysed solely in terms of human wishes, preferences and created rules.
The first three chapters from The Nature of Morality, Ted Trainer, Avebury, c 1980.
THE NEW ECONOMY. 34 pp.
THE PROBLEM OF AFFLUENCE (6 page article. )THE QUALITY OF LIFE
The quality of life is falling; see within Social Breakdown .
THE RADICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE LIMITS TO GROWTH ANALYSIS FOR THE DESIGN OF SETTLEMENTS.
This an approximately 20 page academic paper. The document HOW CHEAPLY COULD WE LIVE WELL ? is a more recent , detailed and satisfactory account.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GLOBAL ECOVILLAGE MOVEMENT
"The Significance of the Global Ecovillage Movement."A 10 page article arguing that in view of the global crisis the Eco-village movement is extremely important, because it must provide examples of the sustainable alternative to consumer society, but also arguing that the performance of the movement to date is not as satisfactory as it should be.
THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SIMPLER WAY.
A 17 page discussion of ways in which The Simpler Way would have benefits for our morale, world view, sensitivity, personal development, etc.
THE TECHNICAL FIX POSITION.For a critical paper on the common "technical fix" view that technical etc. advances will solve the problems and we can go on with a society committed to growth and affluence see “But Can’t Technical Advance Solve the Problems?
This tech-fix view is argued by A. Lovins et al. in the book Natural Capitalism: see "Natural capitalism cannot overcome resource limits", paper by T. Trainer. The reductions discussed in the book do not show that "factor 4" reductions in overal materials and energy use can be made, and more importantly the book's assumptions re energy availability, especially gas and renewables, are highly challengeable. Lovins has more recently elaborated his case, in winning the Oil End Game, and Reinventing Fire, 2012.
THE TRANSITION (to a sustainable society.)The Transition Process. This is the main SHORT statement, dealing with the implications of the global situation for thinking about transition theory and pracice. It argues that the coming conditions of severe limits and scarcity, and the need for radicallty different ecsocieties, set clear im;plications, and make most previous thinking and action inapproppriate now.
A friendly critique of the Transition Towns Movement. (2010.)The movement is extremely important; we can't get to a satisfactory society without such a movement...but the present form it is taking will not get us there; it is reformis and does not (yet) reflect recognition that huge and radical system changes are required.
The window of opportunity will be short. (3 pages.) As problems intensify there will be a strong tendency for ruling class and the middle class to move to repressive ways,in an attempt to deal with the dissent and chaos. We will not have much time to get alternative ways established before a new fascist or feudal era prbhably sets in.
THE TRANSITION TO A SUSTAINABLE AND JUST WORLD, Envirobook, 2010. A 330 page book detailing the global predicaament, theclaim that the problems cannot be fixed in consumer-capitalist society, the nature of the alternative, The Simpler Way, and discussing transition theory and strategy, ending with a recommended strategy. Outline, 2 pp.
THE THIRD WORLD; See under DEVELOPMENT above.
THE TRANSITION TO A SUSTAINABLE AND JUST WORLD. This is a 2 p. outline of the book with this title, by Ted Trainer, Envirobooks ,2010.
THE TRANSITION TOWNS MOVEMENT
An article outlining my more-or-less alternative lifestyle, and indicating the ways in which it could be far cheaper and more rewarding with changes to the local community/economy. A more useful recent item is How cheaply could we live well?, focusing on community/village ways, and deriving very low footprint, energy and dollar cost conclusions.
THE WAY IT COULD BE
This is a presentation of The Simpler Way in the form of a "novel" -- a 220 page fictional account of a jourrnalist's three day visit to a town that practises The Simpler Way. It is an attempt to present the vision detailed at this website, in a different form, hopefully accessible to non-technical readers as an exploration of the alternative vision. (Critical feedback that might enable improvement of this account would be welcome.)
WAR.
See PEACE AND CONFLICT above.
An article arguing that a Letsystem is valuable but far from sufficient for local economic renewal.
A short article arguing that G. W. Bush has achieved much that people in rich countries should be grateful for...i.e., he has secured the empire they benefit from.
Brief critique of most discussions of sustainability, stressing enormous reductions required before a sustainble society would be possible.
An article discussing the global signifce, and limitations of Permaculture.
THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WILL BE SHORT.
The reasons why society is likely to become very repressive when global problems intensify. (c. 4 pages.)
ZERO CARBON AUSTRALIA...Critical comments on the 2010 report arguing that Australia could run entirely on renewable energy by 2020.