Topic: Empire

Latest

[ Episode #81 // Falling Empires ]

Sep 2 2014

Mini Episode

With its empire in decline, the United States is no longer the world's dominant superpower. Stuck in the idea of international control, it continues to maintain military reach at the expense of long-term economic health. Will the people of the US empire be able to regain democratic control over their communities as the political system fails?

John Michael Greer returns in Extraenvironmentalist #81 to talk about his new book Decline and Fall: The End of Empire and the Future of Democracy in 21st Century America which covers democracy in the United States during the 21st century. We ask John about the anacyclosis of past empires may indicate what could be in store for the transformation of the US empire. Then, Chris Martenson joins us to discuss his work in communicating difficult information to people who don't want to believe it.

 

// Books

Decline and Fall: The End of Empire and the Future of Democracy in 21st Century America by John Michael Greer

// Links and News Items

Join us for our live broadcasts and video from the 4th International Degrowth Conference in Leipzig Germany from September 2nd through 6th
Video interview with Chris Martenson

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)

[Break] - 32m

Chris Hedges - Cults at the end of empire
Obama on American Exceptionalism
US Empire putting geopolitics over economics

[End]

Terence McKenna on being an extraenvironmentalist

// Music (in order of appearance)

Gadget - Dotted Out
Lucius - Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears Cover)
Sade - When am I going to make a living (Poolside Edit) via Et Musique Pour Tous
James Ray - I've got my mind set on you (Senior Citizens Mix)
Elder Island - Garden
Lemaitre - Wait (Jerry Folk Remix)

// Production Credits and Notes

Our correspondent and editor Kevin via Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel

Episode #81 was supported by donations from the following generous listeners:

Jonathan in New York
Michael in Texas
Vincent in Pennsylvania
Nancy in Colorado
Ken in British Columbia
Daniel in Texas

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[ Episode #76 // Energy Slaves ]

Mar 31 2014

Mini Episode

Our command of energy resources has created amazing technologies and social systems at a grand scale, but at what cost? Where past societies shackled human muscle with force and subjugation to create an energy surplus, beginning in the late 19th century we have used coal, oil & gas to create an unprecedented energy abundance. As the era of surplus energy comes to an end, how will our systems reliant on energy slaves for mechanical and cognitive work adapt? How is the energy transition moving forward?

In Extraenvironmentalist #76 we discuss our global energy systems with Andrew Nikiforuk as we discuss his new book, The Energy of Slaves: Oil and the New Servitude. Andrew discusses ways of understanding our use and abuse of cheap energy. Then, Chris Nelder joins us to talk about the ongoing energy transition and how it is reaching a tipping point through the recognition of a financial carbon bubble, the German Energiewende and the decline of the traditional oil majors.

As Terence McKenna once said, "Reason, and science, and the practice of unbridled capitalism, have not delivered us into an angelic realm. Quite the contrary: they’ve delivered 3% of us into an angelic realm, completely overshadowed by guilt about what’s happening to the other 97% of us who are eating it!"

// Books

The Energy of Slaves: Oil and the New Servitudeby Andrew Nikiforuk

// Links and News Items

News Item #1. NPR: US Commuters Ditch Cars For Public Transit In Record Numbers

News Item #2. Fukushima’s “crisis of manpower”: Unskilled and destitute workers have taken over the cleanup process

Stephen Kopits Presentation on Energy Supply Forecasting

[jwplayer mediaid="3532"]

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)

[First Break] - 35m

Shell energy scenarios to 2050
RT: Running on Empty
"Peak Oil Debunked"
Canadian Tar Sands Ad

[Second Break] - 85m

Earth 2050 - How Much Energy Will We Need
Stephen Kopits on Energy Forecasting

[End]

From the XE Youtube Channel: Richard Heinberg on Snake Oil: How Fracking's False Promise of Plenty Imperils Our Future

// Music (in Order of Appearance)

Henry Green - Electric Feel (Kygo Remix)
Camera2 - Appetite via KCRW Today's Top Tune
Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine (Rare Monk Cover)
Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman (Paddy McAloon Cover)
No Nukes - Power
Porter Robinson - Sea of Voices (RAC Remix)
Great Good Fine Ok - Not Going Home

// Production Credits

Our correspondent and editor Kevin via Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel
Mr. Nelder for music suggestions

Episode #76 was supported by donations from the following generous listeners:

Derek in CA
Jay in WA
Linus in Sweden
Simon in Norway
Kim in Quebec City

// Send us a BTC tip for #76

Even .0001 BTC goes a long way!

Donate Bitcoins

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[ Episode #41 // Surviving Progress ]

May 27 2012

Mini Episode

The complexity of modern civilization has obscured an ecological crisis through a finely crafted system of markets and trade. Local environmental problems can be exported across the world with modern technologies while placing the global economic ladder on ever shakier ground. Is our species capable of sparking a widespread and intelligent discussion of our trajectory as a species before the problems of social inequity and ecological collapse take civilization down?

In Extraenvironmentalist #41 we speak with Ronald Wright about his book A Short History of Progress which chronicles the idea of progress through human history and has been adapted into a new film, Surviving Progress. Then we hear from Mathieu Roy and Harold Crooks who directed and wrote Surviving Progress. We ask them about the challenges of adapting the story of our complex civilization into a succinct and slick film. Last of all, we report back from Montreal about the Maple Spring uprising and our interviews with numerous ecological economists at the Montreal Degrowth conference as our civilization attempts to redefine our economic priorities.

Be sure to view the Surviving Progress trailer.


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Passion Pit - Take a Walk via Consequence of Sound
Penguin Prison - Fair Warning (Robotaki Remix) via Robotaki
Gossip - Perfect World (RAC Remix) via Idolator
Killer Mike - Ronald Reagan via our listener David, who also left a voicemail
Passion Pit - Take a Walk (Peking Duk Remix) via The Music Ninja

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
[Break] - 39'50
Jim Cramer on Bank Runs
Disaster Looms for Greece
Michael Hudson from Surviving Progress

[End]
Montreal Degrowth - Mary Evelyn Tucker

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[ Episode #34 // Why America Failed ]

Jan 19 2012

Mini Episode

Twilight is on the horizon for American culture. After spreading an ideology of endless economic growth around the world, the definition of modernity has been defined by the United States. American values are now written into the cultural textbook for nations across the globe. Now that America is failing, what does it feel like to look back and what did we achieve? Was the collapse written in the opening chapters? What if our technological legacy comes with a terrible dark side?

In Extraenvironmentalist #34 we speak with author and historian Morris Berman about his recent look back at the history of American values as chronicled in the book Why America Failed. We ask Morris why American culture has dominated the globe despite so many dark aspects within its technology and values. Our discussion covers the ways in which people can seek meaningful lives as part of a counterculture and why our ideologies of technology and infinite growth were born on the landscape of an endless frontier. Is there a way to avoid the culture of hustling by channeling the alternative values that have arisen from those discontented by capitalism? Is it best just to become an expat?

Check out the new Extraenvironmentalist blog edited by Louisa, the newest member of our team.


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Marvin Gaye - Sunny (Mercury II Edit) via Pigeons and Planes
FM Belfast - American  via Iceland Music Maffia
Electric Guest - This Head I Hold via Blahblahblahblahscience
Cheerleader - Do What You Want via Turntable Kitchen
Buddy Holly - Slippin' and Slidin' (Jacques Renault Remix) via RCRDLBL

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
Chris Hedges - Brace Yourself for America's Collapse
Detroit Savaged by Economic Problems
America's New Poor
Judge Napolitano
Frank Zappa on Schools
Ray Kurzweil on Technology
Kevin Kelly on Technology
Terence McKenna on Western Civilization
Jiddhu Krishnamurti - Why Do We Live With Stress

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[ Episode #12 // Questioning Collapse ]

Mar 13 2011

Mini Episode

As anthropologists, historians and popular writers fit the complex events of the past into stories that relay morals to the modern world, sometimes details can be overlooked to make a point. Does a civilization collapse or does it merely transform? What role does human resilience play in the shifting structures of a society? Has a society failed if it still has millions of descendants and a rich cultural history?

In Extraenvironmentalist #12 we speak with Patricia McAnany, co-editor of Questioning Collapse which addresses many oversights in the complex narratives conveniently distilled to form the pages of Jared Diamond's Collapse. We discuss some of the issues with the often cited reasons for the collapse of Mayan civilization, including simplifications made in Diamond's writings. How can we identify and classify a civilizational collapse? While many historical examples of rapid societal change may appear to be a collapse, they might just represent a collection of people living in the aftermath of empire.

NOTE: All celebrity voices are purely very poor impersonations and are not meant to be real in any way, shape or form.

 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Chris Bathgate - No Silver via Chris Bathgate's Website
Oh Land - Wolf and I via Et Musique Pour Tous
RÜFÜS - We Left via FRENCH EXPRESS
Generationals - Greenleaf via Klubb Ace

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