If one accepts the findings of the 2019 Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index, the age of colonial states and super powers is over. The World’s two largest economies, the United States and China, are ranked 34 and 37, respectively. Germany leads the G7 nations, but only places 15 overall. Only two non-European nations, New Zealand (12) and Canada (19) are in the top ten. The World’s most sustainable nations are Scandinavian.
Continue reading The World's Most Sustainable NationsTag Archives: International
Reality 102: Realistic Responses To Today’s Problems
The podcast and article that follow expresses opinions not necessarily shared by the Cortes Radio Society, its board, staff, volunteers or membership.
Editor’s note: Reality 102 with Rex Weyler was the conclusion of a two part series at Cortes Island’s Folk University. This session was recorded and broadcast over Cortes Radio in the regular Cortes Currents slot on November 13, 2019. Rex asks what are realistic responses to the problem of overshoot. He asks the same question in the article below; the embedded podcast is Rex’s Folk U presentation.
At the University of Minnesota Dr. Nate Hagens teaches an honours course called “Reality 101: A Survey of the Human Predicament.” Hagens operated his own hedge fund on Wall Street until he glimpsed, “a serious disconnect between capitalism, growth, and the natural world. Money did not appear to bring wealthy clients more well being.” Hagens became editor of The Oil Drum, and now sits on the Board of the Post Carbon Institute and the Institute for Integrated Economic Research.
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Reality 101: Overshoot
The podcast and article that follow expresses opinions not necessarily shared by the Cortes Radio Society, its board, staff, volunteers or membership.
Editor’s note: Reality 101 with Rex Weyler was one of the lunchtime lectures at Cortes Island’s Folk University. This session was recorded and broadcast over Cortes Radio in the regular Cortes Currents slot on November 6, 2019. The theme is overshoot, and what this means to the future of humanity and our planet. Rex also writes about overshoot in the article below; the embedded podcast is Rex’s Folk U presentation.
I’m in Vancouver, riding the skytrain, the metro-region’s elevated and underground public transport system. In a crowded cabin, I gaze above the seats and see this advertisement:
“By 2050 sea levels have risen. Would you rather:
- A: Build higher dikes to fight it?
- B: Develop underwater transit technology to embrace it?
We Are Eating, Drinking & Breathing Microplastics
A new Portland State University study found an average of eleven microplastic pieces in every oyster tested and almost as many particles in clams. This is only one report. While most of our research focuses on the ocean, far more plastic degradation occurs on land. Up to 700,000 plastic microfilaments can be shed from a single load of laundry. A University of Victoria study concluded that the average North American consumes between 39,000 to 52,000 particles a year and that number can go as high as 121,000 “when inhalation is considered.” We are eating, drinking & breathing microplastics.
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Hamburg’s First Autonomous Shuttle Bus
By Roy L Hales
There are only be five stops along the 1.8-kilometre-long route in Hamburg’s Hafencity. Initially, the only passenger will be an attendant who can take control if necessary. Hamburg’s first autonomous shuttle bus starts its trial run next month.
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