Blog Profile / Free Public Transit

Brave attempts to stop road-building address only the symptoms, not cause, of sprawl tsunami

combehavendefenders.wordpress.com What’s wrong with the Link Road? « Combe Haven Defenders: "The road would carry up to 30,000 vehicles a day across a valley, Combe Haven, described by ESCC as ‘probably the finest medium-sized valley...Show More Summary

Iceland: default works, plain and simple

Carbon trading, carbon tax, won't work. Here is why

Carbon market solutions to #climatechange are supply-side solutions. The idea is that industry will gradually replace fossil-fuel energy sources. What is not said, is that the renewables are very low in net energy. This means the carbon price will have to be very high. Show More Summary

Carbon trading is just more corporate welfare

MPs warn against compensating heavy industry for low-carbon costs | Environment | The Guardian: " "I welcome the government helping energy-intensive companies cope with additional carbon price rises to stop them moving jobs abroad. But...Show More Summary

GDP measures cost, not benefit. #Degrowth thoroughly explained in 16 minutes - video

Transition to #carfree, car sharing can help

Global growth rate in steady decline since 2Q 2010

http://www.economist.com/ Guest Post: Declining Global Growth | Zero Hedge: "Globally, there was a big and swift return to strong GDP growth, built on the backs of emerging countries and particularly the BRICs. Since early 2010, rather than getting stronger and stronger, global growth has actually become weaker and weaker."

World’s 100 richest earned enough in 2012 to end global poverty 4 times over — RT

World’s 100 richest earned enough in 2012 to end global poverty 4 times over — RT: "The world's 100 richest people earned a stunning total of $240 billion in 2012 – enough money to end extreme poverty worldwide four times over, Oxfam has revealed, adding that the global economic crisis is further enriching the super-rich." 'via Blog this'

LEED just more sprawl promotion

As Important As It Is, LEED Can Be So Embarrassing - Housing - The Atlantic Cities: "Contrary to myth, the environmental performance of a building is not determined just by what happens inside the building. Research shows, for example,...Show More Summary

How growth of renewables can lead to sharper #peakoil collapse

Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are low EROEI, just as are shale oil and tarsand. They will not allow the economic growth necessary to sustain capitalism. What they will do, however, is prolong the fall of oil. During...Show More Summary

2013: Beginning of Long-Term Recession? | Our Finite World

2013: Beginning of Long-Term Recession? | Our Finite World: "This recession is likely be very long term. In fact, based on my view of the reasons for the recession, it may never be possible to exit from it completely."

U.S. infrastructure deferred costs have reached the limits of growth

3.5 Million Jobs at Stake if Infrastructure Continues to Crumble: "What would it cost if the nation’s crumbling infrastructure of bridges, roads, rails, sewer systems, power grids, airports and more is allowed to deteriorate at its current pace? Some 3.5 million jobs and $3.1 trillion in lost economic output by 2020. Show More Summary

Starving the cities to feed the suburbs | Grist

Starving the cities to feed the suburbs | Grist: "These public dollars, the report argues, collectively create an incentive for suburban sprawl and redistribute income from the poor to the rich. " 'via Blog this'

The sprawl tsunami

Autosprawl subsidy has dominated U.S. economics for many years. A system of transporting people by car combined with spacial spread of residential infrastructure has been built and supported by direct taxpayer subsidy, indirect taxpayer...Show More Summary

Israel politician proposes free public transit and is viciously criticized. Should be no surprise there.

The Death of the Party - Salem-News.Com: "And last month, she unveiled an ambitious economic agenda featuring a cornucopia of goodies for the middle class, such as a higher minimum wage, longer maternity leaves, more public housing, free day care, and even free public transportation in Tel Aviv." 'via Blog this'

Australia burning from global warming

Picture: AP Photo/Holmes Family Five Australian children were reunited with their parents after their grandparents helped them dramatically escape from blazing bush fires by clinging to a wooden jetty for three hours. Grandfather Tim...Show More Summary

Big oil attacks, threatens government, and tries to hold economy hostage

Hands Off, Oil Industry Warns Government - NYTimes.com: "But he cautioned that this rosy future was dependent on the federal government’s not interfering with his industry, by, say, raising taxes on oil companies, or imposing new environmental regulations on fracking operations, or limiting greenhouse gas emissions from refineries." 'via Blog this'

Capitalist economists admit that austerity doesn't work. Next lesson, growth does not either.

The Big Fail - NYTimes.com: "For what the paper concludes is not just that austerity has a depressing effect on weak economies, but that the adverse effect is much stronger than previously believed. The premature turn to austerity, it turns out, was a terrible mistake."

Subways extend the life of autosprawl

Building subways is not green. The car is choking the city. The best solution is car-free cities. If cities are car-free, there is no need for subways. Subways make possible longer commutes, something we should not be encouraging. Subways take people underground to relieve traffic congestion on the surface. Show More Summary

Carbon tax supported by oil-industry and its trolls -- should make you wonder

The best solution for climate change is a carbon tax | The Great Debate: "Despite its critics, a carbon tax has garnered broad support – even from unexpected places. Exxon Mobil’s chief executive has supported a carbon tax. Among conservatives,...Show More Summary