Recent Posts
Imagine two field mice discover an overturned truck of grain. From their perspective they have hit the jackpot – an unlimited food supply. As they feed on the grain and reproduce their numbers double, say every two months, as does their consumption of grain. After 2 years they have consumed all the grain and experience a rapid die-off.
Question 1: At what point in time is half the grain left uneaten? Answer: One month before it is all gone.
Question 2: What is the population of mice at this time? Answer: Over 8 million rising to 16 million in the final month.
Question 3: When does it become obvious to the mice that there is a problem? Answer: When it is far to late to do anything about it. Continue Reading »
As part of the 400 Fruit Tree project Michael Micklis of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association will run a short tutorial on how to prune fruit trees. This tutorial is primarily for those involved in the project or who have received an orchard but if you are interested please get in touch to book a place. The event will take place on Sat 27th February from 2pm-4pm in Ballyline, Callan. Contact Brian on 056 7725913 or text 087 2980755.
To celebrate Fair Trade Fortnight(22nd Feb-7th March), Kilkenny City Council is hosting a Fair Trade Talk on Friday the 26th of February in City Hall at 2.30pm. Representatives from Fairtrade Mark Ireland will speak to provide an update on Irish Fair Trade promotional activities before Josephat Sylvand, a coffee exporter from Tanzania speaks about the benefits that local co-ops receive from selling their coffee produce under Fair Trade terms.
The event will be hosted by Mayor Malcolm Noonan and a cup of Fair Trade Tea/Coffee will follow after the hour talk. The Kilkenny Fair Trade Steering Committee would be delighted for members of the public to attend to hear about Fair Trade and the Fair Trade Status of Kilkenny City.
Please reserve a seat by ringing Bernadette Moloney on 056-7794487.
The Inaugural meeting of Kilkenny Economic Forum will take place on Thursday 18th February at 8pm at Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel.
This group will discuss the imminent limits to economic growth and develop a local response to these issues
All are welcome to attend
“The idea of a non-growing economy may be anathema to an economist, but the idea of a continually growing economy is anathema to an ecologist” - Jim Jackson, Prosperity without Growth, Sustainable Development Commission.
“I will accept the possibility of infinite growth in the economy on the day that one of my economist colleagues can demonstrate that the Earth can grow at a commensurate rate” – Herman Daly, Beyond Growth: Economics of Sustainable Development
“The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function.” - Prof. Al Bartlett, Arithmetic, Population and Energy
I have read many many books that critique societies addiction to growth and some of the best I have listed above. However this short video by the The New Economics Foundation is all you really need to know. It is concise and too the point and far better than any of my blatherings. Great as an introduction to a talk or discussion on economics and sustainability. The clip coincides with a new publication called “Growth is’nt Possible“. Short, sweet and to the point.
More videos on growth below the fold.