Info, news & debate

07/2015 posts

How to answer the question: ‘if you don’t like this system, what do you want to replace it with?’ – aka a review of The Democracy Project by David Graeber

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 30-Jul-2015 | 5

Graeber was a leading light in the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the book begins with a fascinating insider’s view of the goings-on in and around Zucotti Park in 2011. The most important point in the book for me though was the reminder that people always want a blueprint for a new society Read more

Holidays without flying: how to cycle around Scotland on a folding bike

Obviously this isn’t a ‘no-fly’ holiday if you live on the other side of the world to Scotland, but I’m sure you have somewhere beautiful closer to home for a holiday that doesn’t involve an environmentally-damaging flight. Read more

Five myths about economic growth

Brian Czech of CASSE | 26-Jul-2015 | 0

We were sent this by CASSE – the Centre for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy. Love it – there are so few organisations pointing out the insanity of the quest for perpetual growth (image: http://www.polyp.org.uk). Read more

If you’re not exactly ‘time-rich’, here’s how you can change society with your money as well as your actions

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 24-Jul-2015 | 0

Since Lowimpact began as LILI in 2001, we’ve offered a constantly increasing bank of information, courses, products, services, books, magazines, links, videos and advice for people wanting to change their lives – to live in a more sustainable and less corporate way. Read more

Permaculture Conference & Convergence: 10% discount for Lowimpact visitors

The International Permaculture Convergence, London 2015, will bring together leading experts and practitioners from around the world. We have everything we need to create a sustainable world and future. Read more

Cargo bikes collecting local food waste for anaerobic digestion and biogas

Rokiah Yaman of LEAP Micro AD | 20-Jul-2015 | 2

Closing the food-waste-energy loop – a celebration of sustainability. Enjoy a free community event in a beautiful wildlife park learning about closed-loop recycling, urban agriculture, sustainable cities, decentralised waste management, renewable gas and how YOU can make a difference. Read more

Why land, on which to build a home and grow food, is our ultimate security

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 18-Jul-2015 | 10

There’s a general feeling – and a growing one I think – that we’re headed for disaster, and that no-one is in control or able to steer us away from the precipice. Here are four categories of reasons that people give for pessimism about the near future: Read more

Greece v the Empire; how to understand what’s being done to the Greeks

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 16-Jul-2015 | 15

I’ve been thinking about how to write articles about the fact that we live in a corporate empire – trying to work out a way to present the idea, thinking that it would sound rather silly or extreme to many ears. Then a former World Bank economist (Peter Koenig) says: Read more

Thoughts about the Breaking the Frame gathering and an idea for a potential spin-off

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 14-Jul-2015 | 14

I’ve just returned from the Breaking the Frame gathering – a long weekend at Unstone Grange in Derbyshire. My head is still spinning from the workshops, talks and panels featuring specialists on technology around GM, the military, nuclear power, surveillance, synthetic biology, health, energy, toxics annd climate, plus TTIP, emerging and alternative technologies. Read more

How I built a rocket mass heater in our timber-frame classroom

When I built our timber framed classroom last year, one of the concerns was how best to heat it. We are entirely reliant on woodfuel here, and a regular woodburner was going to make a big dent in our precious wood pile. Read more

Help set up eco-settlements by moving your money and getting a better return than from a bank savings account

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 08-Jul-2015 | 6

If we want to: help set up organic smallholdings; allow people to build natural homes on their land; preserve rural skills and livelihoods; and develop a sustainable, non-corporate food supply, we have to do more than just talk about it. Read more

Good luck to Greece, and why you won’t find the real reasons for their crisis in the mainstream media

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 06-Jul-2015 | 21

It’s so ironic that the biggest lesson in how to destroy democracy is being delivered to the world in the birthplace of democracy. Read more

How to get George Osborne to buy you shares in a wind turbine

Jon Halle of Sharenergy | 06-Jul-2015 | 0

No, this isn’t a scam – you can get tax relief on shares in community energy. But it’s not charity – you don’t have to part with your money. It’s an investment, and one that is projected to give you a 7% return – much more than a bank savings account. Read more

Why I’d like to bring together radical academics and people building a sustainable, non-corporate system on the ground

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 05-Jul-2015 | 3

I’m going to the Breaking the Frame gathering on Thursday, representing Lowimpact.org. The event has been organised by Corporate Watch, Scientists for Global Responsibility, Rising Tide and Luddites200. Dave King of Luddites200 contacted a couple of years ago and I’ve been going along to his ‘politics of technology’ reading group one evening a month since. Read more

Goodbye to WWOOF and to Redfield Community: the dawn of a new era for Lowimpact.org

Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 01-Jul-2015 | 8

Today we part company with both WWOOF and Redfield Community. Here’s a bit of history, including why we’re splitting, plus an advert for both WWOOF and Redfield. Read more

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