The Sustainability Book Club Network
Bill McKibben is Taking Questions from GreenLeaves Members
I'm delighted to announce that Bill McKibben has kindly agreed to answer questions about Deep Economy from GreenLeaves members! This is a great opportunity to engage with one of the country's preeminent sustainability thinkers and activists. Please use this thread to leave your questions and comments for Bill.
Bill McKibben is an American environmentalist and writer who frequently writes about global warming, alternative energy, and the risks associated with human genetic engineering. Beginning in the summer of 2006, he led the organization of the largest demonstrations against global warming in American history. His first book, The End of Nature, was published in 1989 and is regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change.
More about Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben is an American environmentalist and writer who frequently writes about global warming, alternative energy, and the risks associated with human genetic engineering. Beginning in the summer of 2006, he led the organization of the largest demonstrations against global warming in American history. His first book, The End of Nature, was published in 1989 and is regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change.
More about Bill McKibben
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by scott a. nadig on -
Hi Bill,
I love the book. I am about half way through so please forgive me if you cover this but I am going to ask my question regardless. What are your thoughts on "local energy", whether it be solar, geo thermal, wind. Do you think we can cover everyones needs using renewables from local sources? Do you think local energy economies energy are realistic?
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Permalink Reply by bill mckibben on
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First goal is: can we cut consumption by a large amount with efficiency and conservation? If so, then it's much easier ot make the math come out okay with renewables. I'm typing this from the sunlight falling on my Vermont roof today, so that helps provide the answer
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Permalink Reply by Ann on -
Hi Bill,
Thank you so much for taking time for questions.
In Deep Economy, you write that money consistently buys happiness up to about $10,000 per capita income and that after the $10,000 point, the correlation disappears. Intellectually, I can believe the research. However, on a gut level, imagining happiness at $10,000/year in the U.S. feels like a fairytale. Thus, in my mind, the $10,000 statistic requires many readers to take a leap of faith.
My question is: What success have you had as an activist and speaker in communicating that kind of number in a real and realistic way to your audiences? What has been most effective in getting readers to take that leap with you into imagining a world substantially different from the one we know?
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Well, inflation runs things up--but think $40k for a family of 4. For most of the world that represents something above basic security.
I think that people get it when I say: cheap fossil fuel has let us become the first people on earth with no need of our neighbors. And that hasn't worked out well, at least psychologically
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Permalink Reply by eric shupert on
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Hey Bill
Thanks for taking ?s!
Are there economic incentives - other than the clear advantages gained through economies of scale - large corporate farms enjoy over smaller operations? I'm pained to think that our government is rewarding this build-up.
Thanks
Eric
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Of course. Corporate farming is mostly the result of massive govt. subsidy--which continued essentially unabated in the new farm bill passed last week. It's a direct reflection of the political power of Cargill, ADM, and the big corn state senators
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