Simplicity, Joy and Social Change

pm220_550

When Cecile Andrews asked herself, "What matters?" the answer popped up: "Having time to do the things you want to do." She simplified her life, quit her full-time job, and started simplicity circles to support others in savoring life. Now she has expanded into neighborhood … [Read more...]

Solving the Environmental Crises – We Can Do It!

pm218_550

Futurist Guy Dauncey's enthusiastic determination is absolutely infectious! The author of Climate Change: 101 Solutions to Global Warming sees multiple environmental crises descending on us all at once. He points to numerous historical examples of our coming together … [Read more...]

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace

pm212_640

"This is a very important piece of music, a very powerful piece of music," says Ken Hardin, conductor of Sierra Master Chorale. In advance of their performances on May 17 and 20, 2012, he provides a musical guided tour of this contemporary work by Karl Jenkins, commissioned … [Read more...]

Young Lawyers Lower the Bar to a Sharing Economy

"Sharing really is going to save the world!" declares Janelle Orsi, author of The Sharing Solution, noting that it's fun, doesn't require special skills — and we can start now. She and Jennifer Kassan co-founded the Sustainable Economies Law Center to help people … [Read more...]

Planting the Seeds for a New Society

Photo, left to right, back: Heather Nicholas, Aileen Warner, Ginny Martin, Ingrid Witvoet, Sue Custance; front: Janaia, EJ Hurst, Judith Plant; Jean Wyenberg; Chris Plant.

"We're a conduit and a packager of important cutting edge material that people need to do the work that they're engaged in." Judith Plant and the New Society Publishers (NSP) team are social change agents bringing emerging ideas and authors to the forefront. They converse … [Read more...]

Awakening the Village Heart and Mind

111205_our_ecovillage__500

From their "Zero Mile Meal Eatery" to zoning and financing innovations, O.U.R. Ecovillage in BC, Canada has paved the way for many communities worldwide. For Brandy Gallagher, the story on the planet right now could be a shared ethos of caring: "Everyone is fed. Everyone is … [Read more...]

Local Investing Made Easy

pm201_640.jpg

We're "keeping money flowing locally so we're more prosperous as a community," says James Frazier, co-founder of the Local Investment Opportunities Network (LION) in Port Townsend, Washington. LION is a clearinghouse between business owners like Matthew Day and potential … [Read more...]

How Many Community Gardens?

Having learned "How Much Food Can I Grow Around My House?" (Episode 87), Judy Alexander kept right on going. As chair of the Local 2020 Food Resiliency Action Group in Port Townsend, WA, she helped initiate 25 community gardens in her county within four years. Sitting in her … [Read more...]

Portland’s Neighborhood Tool Sharing Libraries

Need a tool for a few days? Don't have it? Neighbor doesn't have it? Borrow it from your neighborhood tool library! No tool library? Check out Portland, where several neighborhoods have started successful tool libraries just in the last few years. Organizers Tom Thompson, … [Read more...]

Managing the 21st Century’s Sustainability Crises

"There are no real solutions, there are only responses." So say the expert contributors in The Post Carbon Reader, pointing to society's complex, interdependent systems squeezed by growing demand and declining resources. Co-editor Daniel Lerch tells us renewable energy will … [Read more...]