Sustainability Archives – Page 3 of 27 – Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy

Homesteading: A Steady-State Counterculture

August 18, 2022/14 Comments/in Food and Agriculture, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Muhammed Al-Refai

A counterculture with a focus on self-sustenance, self-reliance, and lifestyles in harmony with the land and local communities has been steadily brewing. This counterculture is best embodied by modern homesteading, which encompasses a wide range of alternative lifestyles marked by principles such as growing your own food, being a good steward of the land, and keeping strong ties with your local community to help each other build a better life for generations to come.

Biden-Harris Water Security Plan Springs a Leak

August 15, 2022/3 Comments/in Climate Change, Consumption, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Food and Agriculture, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Taylor Lange

The American Southwest is a bit parched at the moment. The region is in the midst of its 23rd consecutive year of drought, its longest and most extensive since 800 CE. The drought is so bad that California’s two largest reservoirs—Shasta Lake and Lake Oroville—reached critically low levels in March, when they should have been at their highest.

The southwestern USA (and Mexico) is not the only place facing water shortages.

The Environmental Consequences of Putin’s War

August 4, 2022/1 Comment/in Animal Welfare, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Corruption, Economic Growth, Endangered Species, Energy, Environment, Food and Agriculture, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Connor Moynihan

Steady-state advocates know that peace is required for a stable and prosperous world. Herman Daly said, “It is hard to imagine a steady state economy without peace; it is hard to imagine peace in a full world without a steady state economy.” Brian Czech emphasized succinctly, “Peace is a steady state economy.” And peace campaigners have long connected their goals to the environment.

Don’t Fence Me In: Exnovation for Degrowth

July 28, 2022/4 Comments/in Animal Welfare, Biodiversity, Degrowth, Economic Growth, Endangered Species, Environment, Postgrowth, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability, Technology /by Brian Czech

by Gregory Mikkelson

During recent visits to my family’s woods in northern Wisconsin, I have methodically snipped, pulled out, and recycled a half-mile of long-abandoned barbed wire. By doing so, I hope to help the biotic communities on either side of the old fence line to reconnect. The work is great exercise, and deeply satisfying.

I have not yet figured out who installed the wire or when, but the stuff was invented by Lucien Smith in 1867,

Economic Growth Takes a Bite out of Fishing

July 21, 2022/4 Comments/in Biodiversity, Climate Change, Consumption, Economic Growth, Endangered Species, Environment, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Stephen Coghlan

“A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work,” proclaimeth bumper stickers throughout my neck of the woods in central Maine. No disagreement here! For humans, fishing is fun and mentally and physically stimulating. Fishing also engenders respect for nature, relieves stress, and sometimes provides a tasty meal; though not so much for the fish.

Fishing is deeply embedded in American culture,

West Virginia v. EPA: A Setback for the Steady State Economy

July 14, 2022/8 Comments/in Climate Change, Corruption, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Energy, Environment, Governance, Politics, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Sydney Lyman

Throughout the month of June, many Americans frantically refreshed the Supreme Court’s website each morning, as immensely important cases appeared on the docket in rapid succession. It turned out to be a disorienting month. The freedom to get an abortion was stripped from 40 million people of reproductive age, gun control efforts were stymied, and the separation of church and state in public schools was weakened.

How Steady-State Principles Transcend Economics

July 7, 2022/8 Comments/in Corporate Reform, Economic Growth, Jobs and Employment, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Sydney Lyman

Being a 21-year-old college student, I eagerly awaited the arrival of Harry Styles’ third album for several months. When Harry’s House finally dropped on May 20, I wasn’t disappointed. The modern pop album was brimming with soft summer vibes and the dreamy influence of Fleetwood Mac. What’s not to love?

Well, The Washington Post’s Allison Stewart found many things she didn’t love,

Driving NASCAR Off the American Cultural Cliff

June 30, 2022/6 Comments/in Brian Czech, Consumption, Economic Growth, Energy, Environment, Steady State Herald, Sustainability, Technology /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

In the heart of New York’s spectacular Finger Lakes region last Sunday, 40 drivers lined up to race—for six hours—round and round a circuitous route of doglegs four miles southwest of Seneca Lake. I don’t know who won, and I couldn’t care less, but I do know who lost. That would be people and planet.

Watkins Glen International Raceway, dubbed “the spiritual home of road racing in the USA,” is among six major car-racing tracks scattered about the state parks,

War of the Words: Rebranding the “Healthy Economy”

June 16, 2022/14 Comments/in Consumption, Degrowth, Economic Growth, Energy, Food and Agriculture, Postgrowth, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Mark Cramer

Industries strive incessantly to increase human productivity, often by way of mechanizing or automating tasks. After all, there are limits to purely human energy, strength, and ability. Without more workers, we require technological innovation to overcome these limitations. Fortunately for the pro-growth industries, technology doesn’t earn wages.

Even outside of the workplace, technology takes the place of utilitarian exercise. Long ago, most people hunted and gathered their own food.

Sell Your Stocks and Enjoy the Slide

May 26, 2022/10 Comments/in Banking, Brian Czech, Consumption, Degrowth, Economic Growth, Economic Policy, Energy, Environment, Food and Agriculture, Monetary Policy, Money and Investments, Poverty, Steady State Economy, Steady State Herald, Sustainability /by Brian Czech

by Brian Czech

I’m sorry if you’re one of the 145 million Americans invested in the stock market, but I actually find it gratifying to see the market sliding. Why shouldn’t I? As a steady stater, I’m firmly against GDP growth in the 21st century. A perpetually growing stock market presupposes a perpetually growing economy. If the market has to decline along with GDP, I’m all for it.