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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

I have decided that I need a last-minute course correction on the title for my next book, due out in early January. I had tentatively decided on the title “RENEWABLE AND DOABLE – Our Transition to a Clean Energy Economy that Won’t Cost Us the Earth” (later revised to “Is Renewable Really Doable?”  But the more I thought about this and its spunky optimism, the more I realized that it didn’t properly reflect the actual content of the book, which, though not exactly pessimistic, is a frank treatment of the many “tough realities” facing the industry that are presented by the current political and economic scene.

To that end, I’ve tentatively chosen:

Why Renewable Energy May Never Arrive on Planet Earth
An In-Depth Look at Clean Energy’s Tough Realities

Do you mind commenting on this new title? Do you like it? Why or why not? Any further suggestions?

Thanks very much in advance.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

In the course of a given day, the typical human has approximately 60,000 independent thoughts – some in our waking hours, others in our dreams. This seems like re-enforcement of the idea that we make our own heaven (or hell) right here on Earth.

Not to state the obvious, but this appears to be a good reason to try to aspire to a life that produces happy thoughts – perhaps thoughts of love, charity, peace, and general good will to our fellows. I wonder if there is a case to be made that the folks involved in the sustainability movement, those who honestly and actively care what type of world we’re creating for the seven billion others around us, have happier thoughts than those who are indifferent to their neighbors.

Of course, one could argue that there is a great deal of heartbreak in failed efforts, that ignorance is bliss, and that, in the words of Emerson: “You can have truth or repose, but you cannot have both.”

I’d be interested in readers’ comments.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbJYGg9VjiI&w=420&h=315]

Here’s a short video in which I discuss how a sustainable future for our civilization could come about. To the degree to which people a) understand the issues, and b) care about them, I believe there is hope.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkc1d0ATA1s]

Here’s a short video (under one minute) in which I suggest that the end of cheap energy and easy credit will force us to change our habits as super-consumers. Though this sounds painful, it doesn’t have to be, as it will ultimately cause us to see our lives in grander terms and look beyond the thin veil of materialistic pleasures.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

“Why would anyone be interested in that?” some (super-candid) person asked me recently during a conversation about renewable energy and how it costs more than burning coal.  I could see what was implied: that our rights and obligations begin and end with making money any legal way, and pursuing happiness and prosperity as vigorously as possible, here and now.

Yet the question was a bit awkward.  “Why would anyone be interested in that?” I paused, wishing to avoid a difficult conversation. Either the answer is obvious, or it’s unsatisfactory. Have you ever noticed how seldom you change another’s mind on matters of politics or personal philosophy? I just smiled. “That’s a tough question,” I responded, and moved on to another subject.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Here’s a quick conversation I had at the Opportunity Green with the folks from Steaz, who offer a truly healthy and good-tasting carbonated beverage. I happened to be sipping the blueberry pomegranate flavor, when I began:

Craig: Wow, this is good. Please tell me about it.

Steaz rep: Well, it’s all natural.

Craig: So there’s fruit, water, and essentially nothing else?

Steaz rep: Well, there’s actually no fruit.

Craig: You mean there is not a molecule of blueberry or pomegranate in what I’m drinking?

Steaz rep: That’s right.

Craig: Well, not to be combative, but exactly in what sense is this “all natural?”

Steaz rep: (silence) Um, that’s a good question.

Craig: Hey, don’t feel bad. In my estimation, the word “natural” lost all meaning in our language a long time ago. Regardless of how you define the term, this is a hell of a lot closer to “natural” than the chemicals that are in most of what we eat and drink.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

At the heart of the adoption curve for clean energy, electric transportation, and sustainability more generally is consumer behavior. If consumers don’t vote in favor of green products with their wallets, the world will remain mired in dirty and abusive practices until the pain associated with that reaches a point that we literally cannot maintain the status quo. By that point, of course, inestimable damage will have been done to our ecosystem, not to mention our very humanity. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

On Friday, I had lunch with Professor Shireen Musa of State University of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. Her job is to make sure as many people as possible who are entering the fashion industry understand the basic components of sustainability. As one might expect, there are several ingredients to sustainable fashion, but at the top of the pyramid is this: everyone shares a responsibility to minimize abusive work practices around the world. We need to refuse to buy products or components from organizations that deal in slave or child labor, or that systematically abuse their employees. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

A note from a reader:

I wonder if I might ask your advice quickly on a matter. I am a young man who has recently developed an interest in the renewable energy sector, and sustainability generally. Could you recommend some reading material that gives a good introduction to the industry and how it all fits together financially from a potential employee’s point of view?  I have gathered some good material on the major issues, points of debate and themes in RE but have not been able to find so much on the different companies operating within the sector, what kind of jobs are available and how these companies go about making money.

My response:

I’d really love to help you, but I don’t think I have anything specific to offer. I’m sure you know that there are websites that specialize in this type of thing, e.g., SustainableBusiness.com, run by Rona Fried, a personal friend, and a terrific person.

But to put it in a few words, right now, the fossil fuel industries have a significant cost advantage over clean energy, due in part to 80 years of subsidies and their own internal efforts to secure their monopolies.  Together, these actions have built them into superpowers that sport the most forceful lobby in the known universe. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

I was delighted to meet Nancy Pearlman yesterday, award-winning broadcaster, environmentalist, college instructor, anthropologist, editor, producer, on-air personality, and outdoorswoman.  Nancy safeguards the earth’s ecosystems, both as a vocation and an avocation, having worked with hundreds of conservation organizations, serving as administrator, founder, member of advisory councils, participant, and member of boards of directors.

We met at her house in Los Angeles for an interview which we taped a show for some of her numerous radio broadcasts; I’ll post a link when it’s available.  It was instantly apparent why Nancy has won these awards for her broadcasting.  In the dozens of questions she asked in the half-hour show, she showed a terrific command of the subject (clean energy), and phrased every one of her queries so as to elicit something of value and interest to the listener.  Perhaps most important, I felt a sort of warm kindness in her smile, making me feel very safe and at home, which served to make me even more forthcoming than I would have been if I had felt myself pressured or stressed.

Thanks for the opportunity to be a guest on your show, Nancy.  It was a great honor to meet you.

 

 

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