A Common Framework for Global Change?
Posted by Jonathan Cloud in Analysis, Editorial, Global, National, Policy, Sustainability on Saturday, November 26, 2011
On several other sites I’ve posted articles calling for the development of a “Common Framework” for global change, the kind of change that we really can believe in, and can work to bring about ourselves regardless of who’s in Washington.
(You can find the original article here: Demanding Change, and the experimental work on the new economy here: Altonomy.com. I welcome your thoughts and comments.)
This idea grew out of thinking about the development of a “Common Currency” and a “Common Currency Exchange” (and coincidentally trying to find a way to unite and evolve the energies of the Occupy Movement). What if we had a way to convert local and alternative currencies to each other and to the established national currencies of the mainstream world? What if we had a way to establish and provide abstract value that did not depend on control by the wealthy, but was in fact engineered to produce “the greatest benefit for the greatest number”? Wouldn’t people want to migrate to it?
Attend Haiti Rejuvenate Jan 12-13, 2012
Posted by Jonathan Cloud in Haiti, Local, News on Thursday, October 20, 2011
The Haiti Rejuvenate Symposium, originally scheduled for November 17-19, has now been postponed to January 12-13, 2012, at Essex County College in Newark, NJ. For more information, see http://HaitiRejuvenate.org.
Beyond Lingering Problems in Haiti, Progress and Vision Spark Hope
Posted by Jonathan Cloud in Analysis, Haiti, News, Sustainability on Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sustainable Haiti Conference, April 4-6, Miami Convention Center to Feature Sustainable Haiti Coalition
Basking Ridge, NJ March 4, 2011 (from PRWeb): In the face of cholera outbreaks, political turmoil and faltering development efforts in Haiti, can individuals in America impact the long-term prospects for Haitians? Tamara Apollon, president of Mon Pays Mon Cuisine (i.e. My Country, My Cuisine) (Piscataway, NJ), told a United Nations commission on the status of women on February 22 that more help is needed.
State of the Sustainability Movement 2011, Part 2
Posted by Jonathan Cloud in Analysis, Editorial, Energy & Environment, Global, Haiti, National, Policy, State, Sustainability on Tuesday, December 21, 2010
As soon as I wrote the original post, of course, I started discovering new signs of our times that are not adequately reflected in my earlier assessment. Let’s consider a few examples, and see what conclusions we can draw about where we are in the process, and where we might be going from here.
One of the most remarkable ones is OpenEcology.org. which is “a network of farmers, engineers and supporters, that for the last two years have been building the Global Village Construction Set, a set of the 40 industrial machines that it takes to create a small civilization with modern day comforts,” including machines that can be used to build a village, grow food, and generate energy in sustainable ways.
State of the Sustainability Movement 2011
Posted by Jonathan Cloud in Analysis, Energy & Environment, Global, Policy, Sustainability on Monday, December 20, 2010
In the Spring 1990 issue of In Context — which described itself as “A Quarterly Journal of Humane Sustainable Culture” — Robert Gilman described the state of the sustainability movement in his time, and I thought it would be interesting to review this and reflect on where we are today. (See “Sustainability: The State Of The Movement,” in Sustainability (IC#25), Spring 1990, Page 10.)
Subjective Post Election Musing
Here are some musings about the election – I admit that they are subjective, partial and not descriptive of the total picture, which should become quite obvious.
Playing on the edges of being overly simplistic or reductionistic, I think that considering the importance of what could be called a “cost/benefit analysis” or of “following the money, power and privilege” should be at least part of more fully understanding the behaviors of congress, political parties and of some voters — what are the probable “costs” and “benefits” to all involved actors”? Why should I wait until Thanksgiving to start carving up the political turkey – most pundits haven’t and politicians have rushed to put their self-serving interpretive”spin” on what election “results” mean, as a guide or mandate for the “people’s business” ahead.
Extend ALL tax rates for one more year.
Posted by Bill Allen in National on Thursday, November 11, 2010
The message below was emailed to Senator Frank Lautenberg today, and similar messages were sent to Senator Robert Menendez and Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Dear Senator Lautenberg:
The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform issued its first report yesterday. This was only a draft, but we can be sure that the final report will also include a mix of spending reductions and revenue increases. They all should be considered carefully and this will require time.
The new House leadership will need time to demonstrate how it will achieve its spending and revenue goals.
The short lame-duck session of Congress is not an appropriate time to make long-term tax decisions. It is also not the time to engage in prolonged argument about matters that do not have long-term significance.
Therefore, I recommend that you adopt legislation during the lame-duck session that will extend ALL tax rates for one more year.
Do not extend them for two years, because an election year is also not a good time to make tax decisions.
Thank you for considering this proposal.
Bill Allen, 11-11-10
Focus now on economic recovery. Set stage for long term fiscal health.
Posted by Bill Allen in National on Monday, October 11, 2010
Support Democrats for Congress on Election Day
Posted by Bill Allen in Democrats, National on Thursday, September 30, 2010
The letter below was published in the Bernardsville News on September 30. For a look at a display of the relevant facts go to chart.
EDITOR:
Most thoughtful people are worried about federal debt. Unfortunately, some of these are listening to professional fear-mongers and are looking in the wrong direction for solutions.
I will show that those who want to take constructive steps to improve the debt situation, and not just worry about it, should support Democrats for Congress in the coming election.
Before moving on I want to say that the Republicans with whom I served on the Bernards Township Committee were fiscally responsible. Nothing here should be interpreted as criticism of local officials.
Developing a Sustainable Growth Strategy for New Jersey
Posted by Jonathan Cloud in Editorial on Sunday, September 26, 2010
We’re very pleased to have been asked to present our just-released policy paper on Developing and Implementing a Sustainable Growth Strategy for New Jersey at Ramapo College on Wednesday, October 6 at 3:30 p.m., and we invite you to attend. Please download a copy of the paper here, and come prepared to discuss some challenging and controversial issues.
Traditional economics offers no viable models for growing out of the current economic crisis. Cutting deficits and balancing the state budget are important in the long run, but do not stimulate economic growth in any direct way. But while we can’t go back to the old models of consumer debt, consumer demand, cheap fossil fuels, and accumulating wastes, we can find a new path to sustainable growth, the growth of the new Green Economy and of sustainable lifestyles, manufacturing, and economic prosperity.
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