Jermey Rifkin on the Third Industrial Revolution

Writer and thinker Jeremy Rivkin delivered this address to the Royal Society of the Arts (RSA) in London on the critical need to develop our economies into a post carbon Third Industrial Revolution, or else we’ll spiral into a ‘dangerous endgame’. This was posted on ABC on May 21, 2012. It's available at http://www.abc.net.au/tv/bigideas/stories/2012/05/21/3507370.htm Rivkin is the president of the Foundation of Economic Trends and the author of numerous books on the impact of scientific and technological changes in on the economy, the workforce, society and the environment. Rifkin is compelling in addressing the coming convergence of internet technology and digital communications with energy and environmental issues. He has been an advisor to the European Union since 2002 and in that capacity has been the principle architect of the Third Industrial Revolution long term economic sustainability plan addressing the global economic crisis, energy security and climate change.

Amazon.com's Nick Hanauer's TED Talk

Here's what Ezra Klein of Wonkblog on the Washington Post's web site has to say about Nick Hanauer's TED Talk on taxing the wealthy: "Chris Anderson, head honcho at TED, has responded to Nick Hanauer’s claims that his TED talk was censored. TED, Anderson says, tries “to steer clear of talks that are bound to descend into the same dismal partisan head-butting people” and that Hanauer “framed the issue in a way that was explicitly partisan.” The upshot, though, is that he’s letting viewers decide for themselves. Watch the video above. To my ears, Hanauer framed the issue in a way that was explicitly nonpartisan. The only mention of either party comes at the beginning: 'If taxes on the rich go up, job creation will go down,' Hanauer says. “This idea is an article of faith for Republicans, is seldom challenged by Democrats, and has indeed shaped much of the economic landscape. But sometimes the ideas we’re certain are true are dead wrong.'" (taken from Wonkblog, May 22, 2012) This is an interesting post and a controversial issues, so alive in today's discussion about our economy. Was Hanauer successful in being nonpartisan? What aspects of his argument appealed to you? Which were you persuaded of? Which left you unconvinced?

Creating a Time Trade Circle

The Berkeley Tool Lending Library

Hosting a Clothing Swap

How to Start a Solar Co-op

Solving Problems through Community Wisdom

This video contains some great examples regarding community actions to address food justice and to solve problems with "food deserts." At the heart of this effort is how we define the American dream. As you watch this video, consider how you define what the American dream is for you.

The New Plenitude--A Model for a Sustainable Economy

The High Price of Materialism

Here's an interesting video that makes connections among our culture of consumerism, research studies of depression and anxiety, and sustainability. The video suggests several ways in which intrinsic values can be emphasized and thereby diminish the influence of consumerism. What ways can you think of to consciously give more weight to a more intrinsically gratifying lifestyle for you and your friends and family?