Democracy for Sale by the Corporate Citizen
Alternatives to Political Systems, Comedy Break, Society — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor February 2, 2010
Should corporations have the same rights as individuals? Should corporations, many of which have a greater turnover than entire countries, be free to finance the politicians they favour – in direct competition against little ‘ol you and me? Well, the Supreme Court of the United States thinks so, and has ruled this into law. This means the term ‘Corporate America’ is now completely accurate. Corporations now effectively own the U.S. (We already knew this, but now it’s law.)
Comments (7)Chicago’s Chicken Ordinance
Animal Housing, Bird Life, Comedy Break, Livestock — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor January 30, 2010
This is a rather amusing look at Chicago’s ‘Chicken Ordinance’.
The moral of the story is if it’s not on paper, it doesn’t exist.
Comments (4)December Emissions Peak Addressed
Comedy Break, Consumerism — by Marc Roberts December 18, 2009
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
Frank’s Shovel, and Day 8 at Copenhagen Update
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Marc Roberts December 16, 2009
Editor’s Note: This is a repost from Marc Roberts at Throbgoblins. Be sure to comment and encourage our Frank in his permaculture ambitions. We’d certainly love to see him taking regular breaks from his passionate activist endeavours to recharge in nature and build some resiliency for himself against these troubled times. (But please, please, no making fun of his thirty five year old singlet….)
Click for larger view
Courtesy: Throbgoblins
This cartoon was a response to a suggestion by Craig Mackintosh of the Permaculture Research Institute of Australia – who has been a valued supporter of Frank over the years. Craig points out that what should be on the negotiating table at Copenhagen is:
Comments (2)Back from the Brink, and the Climate Slamdown
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor December 1, 2009
 Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins |
I don’t know about you, but I was getting quite concerned about the health and whereabouts of our good friend Cantankerous Frank. We haven’t seen him around these parts for a few months now. A couple of times I thought I saw him lurking in the shadows, but it was probably just my wishful thinking and some branches moving in my periphery.
If he was alive – why didn’t he call?
But, look what the cat (or fox, as the case may be) dragged in (see above).
Despite his unruly appearance, the cartoon genius Marc Roberts quickly got Frank cleaned up and back to work. I am astonished at the comeback. The Copenhagen climate shenanigans are made all too real in the following ‘Climate Slamdown’ – a comic masterpiece of almost epic proportions. And there’s our Frank in the thick of it….
It’s like he never left.
Welcome back Frank – hero of people and place.
Click for full view, and for subsequent parts (big files, so be patient)
Tigger Does Mullumbimby Community Gardens
Comedy Break, Community Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, Swales, Urban Projects, Water Harvesting — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor November 13, 2009
Regular readers will have noted a couple of posts – here and here – covering the new and developing Mullumbimby Community Gardens project underway not so far from Zaytuna Farm (about half an hour east, if travelling by car, or a day’s ride on horseback).
Readers of those posts will have seen the panoramas I took to try to keep track of progress. Well, despite clambering up onto their shipping-container-come-tool-shed to take those shots, I always thought that I wasn’t quite high enough to really do the place justice.
So, this time I thought I’d go along with a pogo stick in hand! I had to use a super-fast shutter speed, as travelling at these heights does make for shaky hand-holding of the camera. After several attempts, and not a few bumps and bruises, I managed to get a couple of publishable shots.
Taken after the fifth bounce, when I had a bit of a rhythm going
Active Listening
Comedy Break, Global Warming/Climate Change, Society — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor October 5, 2009
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Click for full view
Courtesy: ThrobgoblinsI’d be very interested in hearing what coping mechanisms readers have developed for dealing with “climate trauma.”
The knowledge that humanity is headed pell-mell toward self-destruction is tough to deal with. I am fortunate that I get to vent blog full time on this subject, though that doesn’t free me from the frustrations of the Cassandra syndrome. I will share one of my secrets for avoiding burnout… – Dealing with climate trauma and global warming burnout [click for more]
Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures?
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change, Society — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor September 7, 2009
I just read how certain scientists are now describing geo-engineering options as ‘feasible‘. Sigh. As it has become increasingly obvious that society as we know it just cannot continue – the gospel of consumption message politicians and economists have been preaching over the last fifty years having outright misled us and painted us into a very tight corner – the goalposts start to get moved on theoretical ‘escape plans’ that people would have instantly dismissed before. Like that old junker car you wouldn’t have even considered before the recession, now we’re walking around it, kicking the tyres, and saying "hmm… perhaps it ain’t so bad after all?"
The Accidental Tuberist
Comedy Break — by Daniel Walter August 2, 2009
Bringing food back to the ‘burbs, one spud at a time
The local small town shopping centre; A great place to pick up milk, gasbag about Mrs Jones’ promiscuous cat and find potatoes growing wild on the medium strip.
While collecting cardboard from the recycle bin the other day for a sheet mulching exercise, I found this little guild – of a spud with a purslane ground cover – occurring right outside the local convenience store. Right next to this companioning I also found a heap of lawn clippings, so I did what any permy would do when faced with such an opportunity. I mulched it.
Comments (4)Carbon Offsetting – Is it Cheating?
Comedy Break, Consumerism, Economics, Global Warming/Climate Change — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor July 8, 2009
A couple of years ago I discovered a site called cheatneutral.com. I thought I’d share it with you today in case you haven’t come across it already.
At cheatneutral.com, you’re encouraged to reduce incidences of cheating on your partner, but if you cannot (for reasons beyond your control), you can offset your cheating by investing in a single celibate person, or a monogamous couple.
Comments (10)The Dam Letter
Comedy Break, Working Animals — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor July 1, 2009
Who says we’re not getting out of touch with nature? Well, I think we are, and read on to see a bit of a comedic look at this.
The following two letters are said to be the actual correspondence between a Mr. Price of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan and a Ryan DeVries of the same state (enjoy the letters first, then stay tuned for why I say ’said to be’ at bottom — no peeking though):
Comments (3)On the Rebound
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts May 17, 2009
Researchers suggest that our self indulgence might cancel out our cleverness, as we consume more of what we save in a “rebound effect“.
Which is, apparently, a variant of the Jevons Paradox (thanks to Marc Hudson).
What price water and food when there’s no water and food.
Elsewhere, Russia reserves the right to wage its own wars for oil; the planet becomes increasingly unbalanced; marine wildernesses go the way of all fish.
Some fine urban pollution materials here, at Urban Emissions.info.
I haven’t been through this, but it looks very interesting – Recalibrating the Law of Humans with the
Laws of Nature: Climate Change, Human Rights, and Intergenerational Justice.
Infernal Combustion
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts May 10, 2009
Frank is feeling a little better today. Thanks for asking.
While the UK entrenches itself up to its neck in car culture, the scientific world debates whether it is best to starve us all and destroy our biodiversity in the name of biofuel or bio-electricity – whichever gives most miles per acre. Motorists, as ever, expect to be coddled through without inconvenience.
Those on two wheels had better watch their backs.
So many choices, so little accurate information.
What price action?
China and Italy invest heavily in renewables.
Comments OffSurface Reflection
Comedy Break — by Marc Roberts May 5, 2009
Whilst the world’s media squeal about Swine-flu and worry about the sex lives of the rich and famous, some other stuff has happened
Al Gore has been talking about Black Carbon particulates, whilst temperatures at the top of the world soar. The Himalayas enjoy L.A. like pollution levels and record CO2 recordings. Burning down the planet may have something to do with it.
To combat this the only wind turbine factory in the UK closes down whilst the US steams ahead.
Perhaps we need to look at why we behave this way, and how we can stop it.
Meanwhile the oil shale monster ratchets up a perfect storm (thanks to Susan Anderson for this)
And the squillions at stake for the nuclear industry prompt the usual shenanigans.
Comments OffHappy “Fock the Earth Day”
Comedy Break — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor April 25, 2009
Okay, this is a couple of days late – but… whatever.
Although Earth Day has merit in bringing people’s attention to environmental issues, since its inception in 1970 it doesn’t seem to have stopped us all trashing the planet on the other 364 days of the year (or even on ‘Earth Day’ for that matter). The following clip is a comical hand-wringing about this very fact – suggesting and introducing a “Fock the Earth Day” for April 23.
Hat Tip: Energy Smart
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