Our economies and our jobs depend on mass consumption, argues Oliver Williams. If we all consume less to save the planet, the economy will tank and millions will lose their jobs. The answer is not frugality, but reductions in population.
… Unravelling the Relationships between Used-Clothing Imports and the Decline of African Clothing Industries , is that African countries fail to establish their own clothing industries due to the competition of …
The world's two largest clothing brands are among those that have just commited to eliminate pulp from ancient and endangered forests from all of their rayon and viscose clothing.
… handm-poster.png The world's two largest clothing brands are among those that have just … forests from all of their rayon and viscose clothing. The companies, retail and design … to address the growing impacts of the clothing industry on the world's forests, …
Four protestors have been shot in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where hundreds of thousands garment workers are protesting against unfair working conditions. Alessandra Mezzadri reports ...
… also finally acknowledge that also our own clothing is blood-stained, in each and every …
What do the Australian Environment Foundation, the Renewable Energy Foundation and the Global Warming Policy Foundation have in common? They are all fiercely anti-environment, writes William Laurance - and we must beware their 'eco-doublespeak'.
… Beware environmental wolves in sheep's clothing! William Laurance | 9th June 2014 …
Nuclear power is neither beautiful, nor safe, nor cheap, writes Justin Keating - a message to the United States, where the Obama administration has pledged to waste over $200 million financing the 'Small Modular Reactor' (SMR).
Nuclear power - small isn't beautiful, safe, or cheap Justin McKeating Greenpeace | 22nd June 2014 Comment Nuclear USA Energy Technology hms-ambush-cut.jpg Nuclear power is neither beautiful, nor …
To date, only one person has been jailed in connection to the US torture program, writes Alyssa Rohricht - the man who blew the whistle. His sentence must now be quashed and this true American hero set free and compensated.
Torture: Thou shalt not bear honest witness Alyssa Rohricht | 27th January 2014 Comment Human Rights Torture waterboard.png To date, only one person has been jailed in connection to the US torture …
Andy Hope has been working with solar power for over 25 years and pioneered renewable energy at festivals. He talks to The Ecologist about his passion for sustainability and his self-built, off grid home - 'The Shack' ...
… - having learnt the hard way that mangling clothing with buttons leaves them, well ... …
The phony justification for the US's ban on hemp makes even less sense than it did before Colorado and Washington State legalized marijuana. Jill Richardson says its high time to legalize them both.
… you high. Instead, it's useful as fiber for clothing, rope, and paper, and its seed is … It's a much better option than cotton for clothing, since cotton requires heavy …
Supporters of HS2 assert that it will cause prosperity to trickle down from London to the entire North of England, writes Tony Payne. But economic theory and hard experience tell us that the reverse is more probable - that it will help London to 'suck out' northern wealth.
HS2 - the wealth will 'suck out' to London, not 'trickle-down' to the North Tony Payne | 23rd May 2014 Comment Transport UK Development Economics high-speed-rail-taiwan-cut.jpg Supporters of HS2 …
As well as being masters of water engineering, the Romans also engaged in a long distance trade in water across the Mediterranean - embodied in grain, oil, wine, cloth, metals and other goods. They also discovered the food-water-energy nexus - and not in a good way. We need to heed the warnings from Roman history.
The food-water-energy nexus defeated the Romans. It could defeat us too Jonathan Bridge | 13th December 2014 Comment History Water Food Energy Society caesaria-aqueduct-cut.jpg As well as being …
Under the TTIP US-EU trade agreement, the world's largest chemical corporations would be able to attack US states' attempts to regulate for chemical safety, writes Patrick Gleeson. In both the US and the EU, corporate rights - asserted in secret courts - would trump democracy and attempts to raise health, safety and welfare standards.
TTIP: Chemical corporations against safety protections Patrick Gleeson | 24th December 2014 News US EU Trade Finance Health Law baby-bottle-cut.jpg Under the TTIP US-EU trade agreement, the world's …
How can we reduce our ever increasing throughput of raw materials? By breaking out the the 'iron cage of consumerism', writes Mariale Moreno: make things to last - whether clothes, houses, cars, or washing machines. Join a car club. Share domestic appliances with neighbors. And bring back the laundromat!
Recycling is not enough! Sharing is the way to achieve a circular economy Mariale Moreno | 13th March 2014 Ethical Living Green Economy Consumerism Waste Recycling laundromat-cut.jpg How can we …
Lewis Pugh has completed long-distance swims in the 'seven seas' to promote his dream of a peaceful world of well-managed Marine Protected Areas, abundant oceans teeming with fish, turtles, whales, sea-birds and sharks. His shocking experiences in the water make that dream more urgent and compelling than ever.
… and plastic bags, bottles, cans, shoes and clothing - but absolutely nothing that …
After a peaceful protest against nuclear weapons showed up shoddy security at a $19 billion nuclear bomb factory site, writes Kevin Alexander Gray, Uncle Sam got mad - against the protestors, now jailed for up to five years. Will Peace Prize winner Obama set them free?
President Obama - pardon the 'Oak Ridge Three' anti-nuclear activists! Kevin Alexander Gray | 19th March 2014 Activism Nuclear Weapons USA Religion y12.png After a peaceful protest against nuclear …
In 1980 The Ecologist published an iconic Special Edition' devoted to the multi-use 'wonder crop' hemp. 34 years on, Thomas Prade finds the case for industrial hemp is as strong as ever.
Hemp - the energy and industrial crop of the future? Thomas Prade | 5th January 2014 Comment Hemp Biofuels Biodiesel Farming Energy hemp-field.png In 1980 The Ecologist published an iconic Special …
Laws handing sweeping new powers to police and private security to restrict access to Britain's public space will extinguish the diversity of civic life, writes Josie Appleton. Time for us to rediscover and defend our freedoms!
Public space - we must defend our freedoms! Josie Appleton | 21st January 2014 Comment Commons Enclosure Cities public-space.png Laws handing sweeping new powers to police and private security to …
One unintended consequence of China's spectacular economic growth is a growing water shortage, reports Joshua Bateman. As rivers run dry, aquifers sink, climate harshens and pollution spreads, he asks: can China solve its water crisis?
China's looming water crisis Joshua Bateman | 25th February 2014 News Water China Climate dujiangyan-08.png One unintended consequence of China's spectacular economic growth is a growing water …
Mads Gilbert, a renowned 67-year old doctor and human rights activist who has saved innumerable lives in Gaza by working right through Israel's two most recent military attacks, has been banned by Israel from entering the territory for life. His 'crime'? Apart from healing the shattered bodies of Palestinians, he has dared to speak out about the horrors he witnessed.
Israel bans heroic Norwegian doctor from Gaza for life Ben Norton | 16th November 2014 News War Human Rights Land Grabs Middle East mads-gilbert-cut.jpg Mads Gilbert, a renowned 67-year old doctor …
Survivors of a previously unknown Amazon tribe have escaped gunmen in Peru, seeking refuge with settled indigenous communities in Brazil. But as Alice Bayer reports, their problems are far from over. Many remain under threat in Peru, and even the refugees are at risk of common but potentially lethal infections.
… are filmed helping themselves to items of clothing and tools from the Asháninka's …
A orchard garden has taken root on a long-vacant lot in an economically and racially divided neighborhood of Boston, writes Orion Kriegman. In the making it has united a community, helped to heal deep scars of violence, and inspired a wider reclamation of the urban commons.
Making it happen - a community orchard in downtown Boston Orion Kriegman | 7th November 2014 Ethical Living Commons Cities USA Farming sunflower-cut.jpg A orchard garden has taken root on a …
It's fine for 'green' groups to plant trees, or rescue baby flying foxes, write Susan & Bill Laurance. But when they campaign for the environment, right wing politicians see red, Moves are now afoot to strip advocacy groups of their charitable status, reflecting a broader clamp down on eco-activism across the Asia Pacific region in China, Cambodia, Lao and India.
… . Such environmental wolves in sheep's clothing include the Australian Environment …
The new Commission may have dropped environmental protection from its 2015 work plan - but it's pressing ahead with a new Directive to protect corporate secrecy, threatening consumers, journalists, whistleblowers, researchers and workers.
… to hide information on chemicals in plastics, clothing, cleaning products and other items …
A voter initiative in Maui, Hawaii requires a suspension of GMO crops pending a safety review to be paid for by Monsanto and other corporations - although corporations spent almost $8 million trying to defeat the measure. Monsanto is now preparing a legal challenge.
… or send their kids to school or provide clothing for them. This will affect our …
Women of an 'untouchable' caste in village India are rebelling against a life of cleaning human ordure, poverty and relentless discrimination, writes Amy Braunschweiger. Among them is Lalibai, who inherited her 'job' at the age of 12 - but has just helped to organise a protest march of 10,000 women across 18 states.
… forced to go barefoot and wear distinctive clothing that identified their caste. In 2002, …