Learn to live with less and doing less that consumes resources.

Every week I am quietly quite pround of myself and my family. Each Monday I put out our garbage cans for collection and recycling. I don't root through my neighbours bins but it looks generally like we all recycle a lot and that our landfill bound quotas are very low. I like living where I do amongst likeminded, socially responsbile people who compost and recycle where possible.

I attended a systems thinking seminar on Saturday by Russel Horwitz. It was very interesting but like all courses based on the true nature of the predicament that we are facing, somewhat daunting, depressing and aggravating. http://www.leadership-vancouver.ca/Sys-Think.asp

It occurs to me that we are in a communal grieving process.

Shock stage: Initial paralysis at hearing the bad news.

This book, by a former chief economist of CIBC, is facinating if somewhat depressing. Anybody interesting in profiting from the upcoming and permanent surge in oil prices would be well advised to read this book. At least you can make some money out of an economic armageddon that you won't be able to stop anyway.

Am facinated by the Degrowth movement. I believe with all my heart that it is the only way forward the question now is whether people will adopt it out of necessity or willing enlightenment. I can't see a way that they will adopt anything but the most rudimentary degrowth principles without all alternaives being removed through taxation (which won't happen) of some form - maybe tarrifs.

When giving presents to the friends of my child I am now going to consciously avoid anything that is over packaged. I was actually offended by the level of waste that her recent 4th birthday party generated in terms of ribbons, paper and plastic barbie packaging.