For links to further information on the work of our speakers please see the Speakers page.
Climate Change links (the problem):
Bexbroke - Oxford University http://www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk/climate/interface.html A clear presentation on the basics of climate prediction.
Times interview with Mark Lynas http://www.timesonline.co.uk/.../ Mark Lynas explaining in March 2007 why if we don't drastically reduce global emissions by 2015, it may be too late to avoid catastrophe.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) http://www.truthout.org/.../ The UN's conservative and consensus-driven IPCC supports Mark Lynas' analysis in its latest report (Sept 2007), saying that "if warming is not kept below 2 degrees C, which will require the strongest of mitigation efforts, and currently looks very unlikely to be achieved, then substantial global impacts will occur, such as: species extinctions and millions of people at risk from drought, hunger and flooding, etc." Press release available here. Full report here.
The Big Melt http://www.carbonequity.info/.../ A critically important new report (October 2007) from the excellent Carbon Equity group in Australia, showing that climate change impacts are happening at lower temperature increases and more quickly than projected, and explaining why the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projections will always lag behind reality.
Geoffrey Lean of the Independent http://www.nzherald.co.nz/.../ Geoffrey Lean explains that areas of the Amazon Rainforest are already catching fire due to drought, and warns of mega-fires which could release the 90 billion tonnes of carbon contained by the drying forest.
How to answer climate change sceptics http://gristmill.grist.org/skeptics/ There are still some arguments out there to the effect that man is not really causing severe climate change. Unfortunately the evidence says that that's not true - here are the answers to the common contrarian arguments.
Real Climate http://www.realclimate.org/.../ A climate change site run by climate scientists. If you're confused by some of the more complex aspects of climate change, this is the site that knows the answers.
On hopelessness http://www.truthout.org/.../ A man who has met the death of hope in the most direct way tells us what he learnt there.
Climate Change links (the solutions):
Zero Carbon Britain http://www.zerocarbonbritain.com/ This perceptive report was published by the Centre for Alternative Technology in July 2007, laying out the challenges we face and presenting a bold, radical vision of how Britain could eliminate carbon emissions altogether within 20 years. The suggested policy framework is built around Contraction and Convergence at the international level and TEQs at the national.
The Apollo-Gaia Project http://www.meridian.org.uk/.../ David Wasdell, an expert on climate feedbacks, outlines the type and scale of programme required to quantify and respond to our current global situation.
The Stop Climate Chaos Coalition http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/ A registered charity which counts many of the UK's leading environmental organisations, international development agencies and other national campaigning bodies among its members. It aims to build irresistible public pressure on the UK Government to act at home and abroad to prevent global warming from exceeding the widely-accepted danger threshold of 2 degrees C.
The Man in Seat Sixty-One http://www.seat61.com/ An extremely useful site for those of us who have decided not to fly (for whatever reason). This site gives first-hand information on how to get almost anywhere in the world by surface-based transportation.
Carbon Trading - A Critique (pdf) http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk/.../ An excellent exploration of some of the shortcomings of our current systems of international carbon trading, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Edited by Larry Lohmann.
Carbon offsetting? http://www.treeaid.org.uk/ or http://www.treesforcities.org/ If you're considering using a carbon offsetting service, why not donate to one of these charities instead? There is justifiably much controversy surrounding carbon offsetting, but these charities were carefully planting trees where they would be most beneficial long before offsetting became fashionable (and profitable). Just don't buy the myth that donating money gives you any ethical right to emit more carbon! .
Local solutions links:
Transition Culture http://transitionculture.org/ Blog site by Rob Hopkins, founder of the rapidly spreading Transition Towns movement, which is mobilising localities to prepare for the future.
Sustrans http://www.sustrans.co.uk/ The UK's leading sustainable transport charity, working on practical, imaginative ways of dealing with the transport challenges that affect us all.
The Lean Economy - A Vision of Civility for a World in Trouble http://www.feasta.org/.../ David Fleming's essay exploring the social and cultural qualities that will be indispensable for surviving crisis and moving on to recovery, renewal and stability.
Peak Oil links:
Richard Heinberg on One World TV (video) http://www.youtube.com/.../ A 7 minute extract from an interview with Richard Heinberg, in which he outlines the basics of Peak Oil. Heinberg's books The Party's Over and Powerdown have justifiably become the classic Peak Oil texts. Anyone wishing to begin understanding the subject should consult them. He also publishes a weekly 'MuseLetter' giving his insights on various topics.
Simmons and Kilduff on CNBC (video) http://www.youtube.com/.../ American news network CNBC present a 7-minute report in March 2007 on the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report into Peak Oil. This video clearly highlights many of the basic issues.
The Hirsch Report (pdf) http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/.../ A 2005 report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy (full title: Peaking of World Oil Production: Impacts, Mitigation, and Risk Management) which concludes that "the peaking of world oil production presents the U.S. and the world with an unprecedented risk management problem", that without timely mitigation the economic, social and political impacts will be abrupt, revolutionary and permanent, and that mitigation "must be initiated more than a decade in advance of peaking". Hirsch produced a brief update in 2007.
Rob Newman's History of Oil (video) http://video.google.com/.../ Ready for some light relief? Rob Newman is a renowned stand-up comedian who shows in this video that he understands the problems we face..
David Strahan http://www.lastoilshock.com/ Strahan is a journalist and documentary film-maker, and his book The Last Oil Shock - focusing on the UK - is by far the most readable guide to our Peak Oil predicament. Thoroughly recommended reading for beginners and Peak Oil experts alike.
Peakoil Films http://valuesystem.livejournal.com/16067.html Links to the various Peak Oil films, documentaries and features available online.
Peak Oil Blues http://www.peakoilblues.com/ All a bit too much? This excellent and friendly site is run by professionally trained psychotherapists to help those trying to come to terms with Peak Oil and its impact on their life and plans.
Economics links:
Money as Debt (video) http://video.google.ca/.../ An astonishingly clear and engaging explanation of the little-understood reality behind our existing monetary system, presented as a video animation.
Dr. Albert Bartlett http://globalpublicmedia.com/lectures/461 Dr. Bartlett applies the arithmetic of steady growth to populations and to fossil fuels. A lot more interesting than it sounds, and available here as video, audio or text.
The Endangered US Dollar http://www.richardheinberg.com/archive/149.html Richard Heinberg looks to history to find the roots of our present global economic position.
The International Forum on Globalisation http://www.ifg.org/ A research and educational institution composed of leading activists, economists, scholars, and researchers. They provide analyses and critiques on the cultural, social, political, and environmental impacts of economic globalisation and stimulate new thinking, joint activity and public education with regard to the neoliberal free-market economic paradigm.
New Economics Foundation http://www.neweconomics.org/ A UK organisation proposing alternatives to the dominant economic paradigm. Practising economics as if people and planet mattered.
The Ecologist http://www.theecologist.co.uk/.../ Dr. Stephan Harding's article in The Ecologist magazine on economic growth and TEQs.
Other links:
Write To Them.com http://www.writetothem.com/ The very easiest way to write to your MP or other political representatives, even if you don't know who they are (UK residents only).
truthout http://www.truthout.org/ An independent online news source, supported solely by donations from readers.
The Optimum Population Trust http://www.optimumpopulation.org/ A UK charity opening the critical debate over sustainable human population levels.
Big Picture.tv http://www.big-picture.tv/ Big Picture TV streams free video clips of leading experts, thinkers and activists in environmental and social sustainability, including scientists, journalists, economists, businessmen, designers and politicians.
Resurgence http://www.resurgence.org/ Over 40 years after it was first published Resurgence magazine continues to publish articles on the cutting edge of current thinking. Resurgence not only offers penetrative critique of the old paradigm, it gives working models for an emerging new paradigm and is full of positive ideas about the theory and practice of good living, including spirituality, permaculture, community supported agriculture, local economics, creativity, ecological building, art in the environment, small schools and deep ecology.
Schumacher College http://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/.../ A truly transformative place where space and time is given for learning, reflection and the exchange of ideas and experiences. Much of its unique character comes from the way the College community creates an expression of a sustainable lifestyle, with participants sharing in essential activities including cooking, housekeeping and gardening. If you have a chance to study there do not fail to take it.
Online energy conversion tool http://www.onlineconversion.com/energy.htm Confused by BTUs, petajoules, gallons, kilowatt hours and megacalories? This conversion tool is invaluable.