The first month of 2010 may well be the biggest in PCI’s history, thus far. After months of planning, the first Fellows Retreat was hosted at the David Brower Center in Berkeley. By gathering together so many powerful, passionate minds into one room, the Institute cemented its status as a real-world, integrated think tank. While there’s a lot to be said for connecting via web and phone, the physical comingling of the Fellows served to spark important new ideas and reinforced relationships.
Executive Director, Asher Miller, shares his reflections, as do Fellows Warren Karlenzig and Tom Whipple.
As you may expect, we've come out of the retreat incredibly inspired and eager to lend our efforts to those of our Fellows, as well as launch a number of visionary new projects. It's safe to say that we'll be pushing ourselves harder than ever before. As we'll be pushing on your behalf, we'd like to ask you to push back. Communicate with us. Let us know what's important to you, what issues you think should be taking priority in today’s increasingly conflicted world.
The amount of work ahead is staggering. But this work is not impossible, nor is the Institute intimidated by the scope of the numerous and interrelated challenges we all face together. Keep an eye on us this year and tell your friends about the Institute. With your support, we’ll be fighting many battles and achieving success on many fronts.
pci fellows retreat
 |
When Not Enough Is Enough
Post by Asher Miller • January 29, 2010
Last weekend, Post Carbon Institute hosted its first ever retreat—a three day gathering of Fellows, board, and staff—aimed at fostering collaboration, developing a shared vision, and setting the organization’s programmatic direction for the next year... Read more |
| |
|
 |
Vision for Sustainability, Resiliency by Post Carbon Institute
Post by Warren Karlenzig • January 29, 2010
What will we do post growth, post cheap energy, post resource abundance and post climate change? The Post Carbon Institute (PCI) convened its first meeting of Fellows this weekend in Berkeley to address these concerns... Read more |
| |
|
 |
The Peak Oil Crisis: A Meeting in California
Article by Tom Whipple • January 29, 2010
Last weekend, one of the more out of the ordinary meetings in recent memory took place out in Berkeley where some 30 people gathered to begin planning for the world's transition from the industrial age to whatever is to come... Read more |
Back to top
new pci fellow
As part of Post Carbon's work, we're adding more experts to our team to help people make sense of the new challenges of the unfolding post-carbon world. We're pleased to welcome the following colleague as our newest Post Carbon Fellow:
 |
Peter Whybrow is Director of the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California in Los Angeles...He is a frequent advisor to universities, foundations, and government agencies and is the author of numerous scientific papers and six books. His latest book, American Mania: When More Is Not Enough (WW Norton, 2006), is a provocative neurobiological analysis of the origins of the instinctual and social behaviors that balance a market economy... Read more |
latest publications and media
Read and listen to the latest content by our Fellows, Board and Staff anytime on our website. Here are some selections from the last month:
 |
Community Food Enterprise: Local Success in a Global Marketplace
Post by Michael Shuman • January 25, 2010
It's time to connect the headlines between persistent unemployment in the United States and growing food insecurity... Read more |
| |
|
 |
Why community might not need organising
Post by Rob Hopkins • January 21, 2010
I read with interest John Michael Greer's recent post, The Costs of Community, and then Sharon Astyk's response, On the Problem of Community and I wanted to add some thoughts to the flow... Read more |
| |
|
 |
Spreading Ecoliteracy from Berkeley to Bhutan
Post about Zenobia Barlow • January 13, 2010
Post Carbon Fellow Zenobia Barlow, executive director of the Berkeley-based Center for Ecoliteracy, spent a week in December in Bhutan as part of an international delegation of educators... Read more |
| |
|
 |
Activist Shines Light on Urban Pollution Problem
Interview with Majora Carter • Rebroadcast January 18, 2010
In this interview, originally broadcast in March 2009, Majora speaks about social justice and inclusiveness... Listen |
| |
|
 |
The Peak Oil Crisis: 2010 — An Annus Horribilis
Article by Tom Whipple • January 13, 2010
For Queen Elizabeth, 1992, the year Windsor Palace caught on fire and several of her kids separated, was an annus horribilis, for the rest of us the coming year may well turn out to be horrible too... Read |
| |
|
 |
The Next Decade's Top Sustainability Trends
Post by Warren Karlenzig • January 6, 2010
The top ten sustainability stories of the past decade was my last post. What trends are likely the next ten years... Read more |
| |
|
 |
The Meaning of Copenhagen
Article by Richard Heinberg • January 3, 2010
It was the pivotal international conference of the new century. Tens of thousands showed up, including heads of state, officials at all levels of government, representatives of environmental organizations, and ordinary citizens... Read more |
| |
|
 |
Midweek Politics with David Pakman
An interview with Chris Martenson • January 8, 2010
Chris Martenson interviewed on the economy, alternative energy development, green jobs, his transition out of corporate America, and more... View video |
| |
|
 |
Transition on Al Jazeera(UK)
Video about Transition • January 4, 2010
A news report about Transition Totnes featuring a short interview with Post Carbon Fellow Rob Hopkins... Read more |
fellows and staff in the press
energy bulletin highlights
Below is a selection of recent articles and media appearing on Energy Bulletin.
energy bulletin featured articles
 |
Jevons' Law: Enforcing the Age of Energy Decline - Part 1?
by Lionel Orford, The Oil Drum
In his 1865 book "The Coal Question: An Inquiry Concerning the Progress of the Nation, and the Probable Exhaustion of our Coal-Mines," English economist William Stanley Jevons made the observation "Of the Economy of Fuel"... Read more |
| |
|
 |
The Costs of Community
by John Michael Greer, The Archdruid Report
The point to be made in this week's post is a bit complex, and I hope that my readers will have the patience to read through an apparently unrelated story that leads to it.... Read more |
| |
|
 |
Reconsidering Cities
by Sharon Astyk, The Chatelaine's Keys
I get a lot of emails from people who want to get out of the city. Sometimes the reasons are really good ones... Read more |
| |
|
 |
The Food System and Resilience
by Jason Bradford, The Oil Drum
For something as critical as food, it is common sense that society should design for resilience. Reliability in food production in the face of change requires a system capable of rapid evolution...Read more |
| |
|
 |
Biophysical economics: Putting energy at the center
by Kurt Cobb, Scitizen
Many scientists have long complained that standard economics fails to account for the biological and physical systems that form the basis of the economy... Read more |
energy bulletin featured media
 |
Jeff Rubin at the The Business of Climate Change Conference 2009
by Jeff Rubin, wwfcanada
Jeff Rubin, the former Chief Economist of CIBC World Markets and the author of Why Your World Is About To Get A Whole Lot Smaller built his reputation... View media |
| |
|
 |
Agroinnovations Episode #73: Felder School Farm
by Frank Aragona, Agroinnovations
This episode we welcome Ragan Sutterfeld of Felder School Farm, a school farm located in Little Rock Arkansas that is pioneering the way to get agriculture... Listen |
| |
|
 |
Peak Moment 160: A Young Couple Find Freedom in Simple Living
by Yuba Gals Independent Media, Peak Moment
Rather than follow the customary American dream, Tammy and Logan sold their home and car, and moved to a bikeable/walkable neighborhood in Sacramento... View media |
| |
|
 |
Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse
by David Orr, commonwealthclub.org
Due to our refusal to live within the Earth's natural limits, we now face a multitude of problems that will have a severe negative impact... Listen |
| |
|
 |
Perennial Polyculture Prevails over PeakOil
by KrisCan, KrisCan.com
KrisCan visits Eric Toensmeier in his Holyoke, Massachusetts home garden that was transformed from a bleakly barren backyard ... View media |
Back to top
transition US update
A monthly update from the US regional hub of the international Transition Towns movement.
 We greet a new decade heartened by all those stepping up to adventure with us and the impressive new tools they bring to help us shift toward resiliency. Sandpoint Transition Initiative, in Idaho, is celebrating their second anniversary and learning as they grow, while Sustainable Berea in Kentucky is taking steps to help local residents prepare for the cold with their Resilient Household Project. On the news front, Transition Initiatives have been seen in: Yes Magazine, Huffington Post, and other local papers like the Pasa Robles Press.
On January 27th, Transition Network co-founders Peter Lipman and Ben Brangwyn in conversation with Vicki Robin will discuss what is happening in the Transition Movement in the UK and in other countries around the world (rsvp here). Browse our calendar for all upcoming online workshops and trainings.
For more news on Transition Initiatives, projects and resources, check out our January Newsletter (subscribe). |
Back to top
events
View our events calendar
 Sustainability Education: Connecting Art, Science, and Design
February 8-10, 2010, Berkeley, CA
Post Carbon Fellow Zenobia Barlow is the executive director and cofounder of the Center for Ecoliteracy. This seminar examines ways to deepen students' understanding of the natural world through art and science, and apply ecological principles and processes to student projects to design solutions to environmental issues.
Further event information. |
| |
 Illahee Lecture Series - Power, Change and Energy
February 22, 2010, Portland, OR
The lectures provide a forum for science-based, policy-relevant environmental inquiry. Senior Fellow Richard Heinberg will speak on Power, Change and Energy.
Further event information. |
| |
 15th Water Conservation/Xeriscape Conference
February 25—26, 2010, Albuquerque, NM
Post Carbon Fellow Sandra Postel will participate in this special 2-hour panel discussion that will assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits of creating and expanding product stewardship efforts, including framework policy...
Further event information. |
| |
 CT NOFA's 28th Annual Conference
March 6, 2010, Manchester, CT
Post Carbon Fellow Michael Shuman will be the keynote speaker at this annual celebration of local organic farming, gardening, landscaping and sustainable lifestyles.
Further event information. |
| |
 Peak Oil and the Industrialised World
March 8—12, 2010, Dartington, UK
Part of a 3 week course After Copenhagen: Opportunities and Challenges, Post Carbon Fellows Richard Heinberg and Rob Hopkins will join Nigel Topping teaching week 2 of the course
Further event information. |
| |
 Built Green Conference
March 12, 2010, Bellevue, WA
Post Carbon Fellow David Orr will give the keynote address at this year's annual Built Green Conference.
Further event information. |
| |
Illahee Lecture Series - Power, Change and Food
March 15, 2010, Portland, OR
Post Carbon Fellow Wes Jackson's focus is the development of natural systems agriculture and the transformation of our food systems.
Further event information. |
|
issues
support pci
The Party's Over
