I asked Derrick Jensen whether he believed in God. “I believe in something,” he replied. “There is some animating force or something. Life is so complex and so extraordinary, and even our individual bodies are so extraordinary and complex.” He plies us with examples of … [Read more...]
Love, Intelligence and Sex — Musings on the Natural World, part 2 (326)
Love, Intelligence and Art — Musings on the Natural World, part 1 (325)
Derrick Jensen reflects on the bird and frog songs he loves, and the richness of longtime relationships with natural places where one lives. By contrast, and especially in cities, our sensory input is largely mediated by machines (computers, television, radio, cars, etc.) … [Read more...]
Unlearn, Rewild — Inspiration for the Future Primitive (276)
"My journey has been as a squatter living close to the land, building cabins, living with friends, learning how to live really intimately with the land by hunting, foraging, scrounging … dancing between the two worlds of human society and wild nature." The author of Unlearn, … [Read more...]
What Is Sustainable? (271)
"We're a mining society. We mine the soils, the groundwater, the forest, the minerals, the fish… We're destroying non-renewable resources. There's no future in it." Richard Reese, author of What is Sustainable? Remembering Our Way Home and Sustainable or Bust, examines past … [Read more...]
A Pathfinder for the Future Primitive
My curiosity was piqued when I read a review of Miles Olson's Unlearn, Rewild: Earth skills, ideas and inspiration for the future primitive in Richard Reese's Sustainable or Bust. For nearly a decade this young man lived with friends at the edge of civilization in the … [Read more...]
What is GENUINE Sustainability?
I've looked forward to meeting Rick Reese since I read his thoughtful and highly readable book What is Sustainable: Remembering Our Way Home a year ago. Rick's driving question is "what is genuine sustainability?" In his just-published Sustainable or Bust, he reviews over … [Read more...]
What Do You Think Is Worth Fighting For? (240)
"There are very sober people talking about the possible death of entire oceans. The end of fish. If that's not worth fighting for, what is?" Activist and author Derrick Jensen asserts that industrial civilization is murdering the planet and it must be stopped. We need to … [Read more...]
Connect the Dots: Systems in Collapse (Video)
Our close friend Ivey Cone hosted and produced Connect the Dots: Systems in Collapse, a panel discussion with Nevada City, CA activists Terra Nyssa, Tom Grundy and myself in late March, 2013. It's a courageous discussion about some of the issues we face at this time of … [Read more...]
Joanna Macy: Active Hope Reconnects Us to Life
Joanna Macy's talk in Grass Valley, California, August 24, 2012 Michael Stone: For young people, the future isn't what it used to be. Joanna has been an activist for five decades. She's an eco-philosopher, and she has touched people all over the world. Joanna is one of … [Read more...]
David Korten: “The Great Turning”
David Korten's inspiring and extensively-illustrated presentation of his new book The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community. David says we are at a defining moment in all of human history. Bonus: a 28-minute personal interview with David. Read presentation … [Read more...]