Despite their different qualities, forms and direct causes, there is an ideological concept that links the recent cuts in public spending, anthropogenic climate change and the banking crisis.

It is of pressing importance to get to grips with, to understand and to tackle in order to reclaim our shared future.

Its name is neoliberalism.

In my next few posts, I will take a closer look at neoliberalism in order to get a better idea of how it operates, in relation to people and nature and what this means for the future. Along the way I’ll show how there are social and ecological limits to neoliberalism, give examples of how its been previously challenged and describe the attributes that make it what it is.

The rise of neoliberalism

During the 1980s in the US and UK, neoliberalism took hold under the wistful gaze of a former actor, President Reagan, and the society denying gawp of Margaret Thatcher. Both of whom were influenced by economists such as Friedman, Hayek and Epstein, and championed a vision that stood as a counter to what it viewed as the failures of the Keynesian, state-coordinated model of capitalism.

A couple of academics, Peck and Tickell, termed this period in the 1980s as ‘rollback neoliberalism’, determinable by patterns of deregulation and dismantlement; the 1990s then went on to see an emergent phase of active state-building and regulatory reform, which they called ‘roll-out neoliberalism’. This can be seen in the new institutions created by Blair and Clinton in the 1990s following the dismantlement of Keynesian structures, and were designed to embed the neoliberal project more deeply in civil society.

I would like to suggest that we can now add a third phase. ‘Roll-over neoliberalism’ sees the influence of corporate power fully infiltrating every aspect of government in a deceptive, misleading and misguided ideological manuoevre that simply expects the public and the environment to roll over and take the abuse. Fast food chains are asked to come up with food policy, tax-dodgers give their input on tax and bankers smarm their way out of any punishment by holding the government’s balls firmly in their money-grabbing grips. Keynesian influenced ideas such as a Green New Deal in which a coordinated approach to stimulating the economy is taken with a focus on developing a low carbon infrastructure and green jobs, is simply ignored in favour of business as usual.

In the face of such ludicrous proceedings by our democratic representatives it is now of great importance that people seeking to improve this situation come together because although the powers that be may soak up our demonstrations in the short term, ignore our dissent and carry on as before, there are limits in the long-term that business as usual will break, bringing neo-liberalism and the global economy to its knees.

These limits are not just those of public tolerance, but are ecological. The people and the planet both have lines you shouldn’t cross, and neoliberalism is pushing both much too far, whilst simultaneously championing itself as the saviour to each in the eloquent hypocrisy that has become the mainstay of the west’s delusional political discourse. Tackling this situation means tackling social justice, poverty, equality and climate change all at once, for all are intricately interwoven and deserve a concerted effort in order to confront business as usual practices that have destructive effects to society and nature. Rather than ignoring global divisions of labour in national policies on poverty or framing climate change in moral terms, doom and gloom rhetoric or even scare tactics, they must be recognised in their true context. Issues such as social justice, poverty, climate change and equality, are situated in a discourse of power, wherein our shared environment is a critical context for shaping the debate the world over.

This is because the power of neoliberalism is in almost everything we see in the West and is itself made possible by the natural mechanisms of the environment and its ecosystems. Capitalism, of which neoliberalism is a shell, may have provided us in the West with considerable material wealth but it is critically flawed. For everyone on the planet to achieve the same standards of living as those in the US we would need another two planets.

There are two main responses to this problem and one is particularly more nasty than the other. One is to have an economic rethink and push for a more just and equal global society and form of human development where resources are utilised sustainably with an eye to the long-term rather than merely short-term political and financial gain. The other is to carry on as we are, securing and using resources for our own Western purposes, exploiting their increasing demand as supplies dwindle, emitting more and more CO2. Throughout history such competition for resources is played out over a backdrop of wars, droughts and famines and in our current trajectory we are potentially set on a course that sees a peaking in oil supplies, growing water scarcity and a potential food crisis that Lester Brown warns could cause widespread societal collapse.

From a cynical perspective, it would appear that this latter choice is a winner when you think about the timescales involved – decades perhaps – that might allow you to have an almighty blowout and then just pop your clogs before having to tidy up any of the mess. But as the baby-boomers start to retire and fade away, the younger generations might have a few things to say about all of this, as they are the ones who currently seem to be on course to get fewer and fewer benefits of business as usual practices as time moves on. The oldies might be about to shuffle of this mortal coil but the young have a vested interest in tidying this place up.

As well having our future threatened from the old school business as usual practices, our present is equally pushed and shoved. It’s not just the increasing cost of an education that has us buggered but also our relations with each other that are bound within shallow frames of consumption and identity, as well as our relations with nature. These relations have in many ways changed as a result of the ideological power of neoliberal capitalism which drives the politics, economics and culture of the world system, providing the context and direction for how humans affect and interact with non-human nature and with one another. Although we may perceive that we are disconnected from what made us, seeing nature merely as something to be bought, sold, used or overcome, we are in truth completely interconnected with it.

The ideology that has caused this disconnection or alienation has pervaded throughout modern Western living. Its power is evident, paradoxically, in its seeming elusiveness as neoliberal capitalist projects have become the norm, the way we see the world and often each other – they have shaped themselves as a set of objective, natural, and technocratic truisms, so that we can no longer see the wood for the trees.

In Part 2 I’ll be looking at the rationality behind neoliberalism and the effects this has on people and nature.

As consumers there are two ways it is possible to make a difference and vote through purchasing. The first is simple enough – “don’t”. Don’t buy the products that abstain from certain ethical criteria, boycott producers of goods who sidestep moral values and ignore those who do not fulfil decent ideals. By shying away from these products it is possible to show disdain and displeasure at their business malpractices and, as such, an important point has been made.

On the other hand there is the opposite idea – positive shopping. This means embracing items which do good, which keep within certain moral parameters and whose existence is generally more of a benefit to the world than not.

Positive shopping is a great way of voting for ideals you cherish and, in fact, in many ways is easier to see through than boycotting products. Whereas companies whose policies may border on malpractice are unlikely to openly advertise their deeds, companies who promote moral and just practices are; they will wear their actions like a badge of honour. In cartoons harmful products are quite oftentimes labelled with skull and crossbones as a short hand semiotic of their inherent badness; in real life, however, there are no such labels for goods which do not promote Fair Trade or other ethical values. However, for goods which do stick to these measures there are a whole host of labels which can be displayed proudly for a potential consumer to study.

The aforementioned Fair Trade label is probably the most famous and has even inspired its own annual event. The passion that Fair Trade arises in many comes from the values it promotes which ensure that no one is undercut, underpaid or in any way ripped off in the creation of goods and services. To purchase fair trade coffee, for example, means that everyone in the process of bringing those granules to the supermarket, from the farmers who initially cultivated the beans and onwards, will have received a just price for their contributions. When a product bears this label it is boasting that everyone involved in its creation was guaranteed reasonable working standards and practices too. Due to this it is much easier to positively purchase a good which brags Fair Trade principles rather than to boycott products completely which do not include such semiotic guides. Other labels that guarantee ethics in the production of goods include the stamp of approval from associations such as the Fair Labour Association, the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production or the Ethical Trading Initiative.

Finally there are brands who will not just go out of their way to ensure correct treatment of their workers but also donate in a philanthropic fashion. For example many companies will use consumer incentives to donate money to third world charities, will regularly give aid to those who need it or fund, through donation or sponsorship, local or national charities and organisations who may not otherwise be able to operate without this additional income. In this way positive shopping can not only make a difference by telling brands you dislike their bad practices, it also can provide a direct improvement in people’s standards of living.

Whilst oftentimes Fair Trade and ethical clothing may cost a fraction more than other products, the cost is worth paying. Whilst many prominent organisations currently engage in malpractice perhaps positive shopping should be embraced as an equal, or better, measure to boycotting. It is easy to be jaded, cynical and negative about the world but perhaps occasionally it may be worthwhile embracing products and values that can make a difference. Saying “yes” with your wallet to positive things is far more powerful than saying no to everything else.

For a start, it’s not about saving the planet, that’s not going anywhere and has dealt with more than we can imagine over billions of years. The world is us, our cultures, our societies, which all rest entirely upon the natural world, its ecology and all other life on earth. And our world most certainly depends on how each of us affects an other.

When it comes to saving, well, maybe that’s not the best word but it sticks. It’s about stopping ourselves from doing nothing and destroying things we can’t get back once gone. It’s about not taking things for granted and making things better where we can. It’s about not taking the status quo as immutable and omnipotent, instead seeing it as dependent on all of us determining what it is through the way we think about it.

With that in mind here’s 10 ways to save the world that will be running themes throughout this blog:

1. Reform our economic structures
2. Reduce consumption
3. Become less dependent on fossil fuels
4. Participate: get involved, be heard and listen to others
5. Question everything
6. Reduce, reuse and recycle
7. Embrace co-operation, not just competition
8. Stand up for social justice
9. Fight for global fair trade
10. Remember that everything is interconnected

by Rob Plastow

I know. We haven’t even had COP16 yet. But there are 36 days to go until Christmas and so something should be said – I have held off.

Listed below are details with links to gift ideas, decorations and accessories that have a smaller ecological footprint than most of their standard alternatives and I will post more as I find them in the coming weeks.

I have found that a lot of places on the web seem to make a ‘green’ Christmas a bit of a turn-off, often sounding very frugal and Scrooge-like when noting to be mindful of your waste and over-consumption at Christmas.

Here are ideas for gifts and decorations that are no different from the usual fare but have either been recycled, are energy efficient or are options you might not have thought of that can actually make a difference to the world.

Decorations:
Deck the halls with energy efficient LED Christmas lights, which are up to 90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last around 35,000 hours. They don’t get hot, are durable and if one of the lights goes out all the others stay lit.

Trees:

When it comes to buying a tree this year, there are some very good options provided by the Ecologist , who say in their Christmas Guide:

‘Buy from a small-scale sustainable grower and/or make sure your Christmas tree has Forest Steward Council (FSC) accreditation. See www.soilassociation.org/christmas for a list of producers.

Have a live Christmas tree in a pot that you can take outside to the garden and use next year. If replanting isn’t an option and you buy a cut tree then don’t throw it out with the rubbish. Most local councils run Christmas tree recycling schemes, or try www.letsrecycle.com

If you live in or near London, buy your tree from the Christmas Forest, an independent ‘tree-tailer’ that sells trees at seven sites around the city. Trees are sustainably sourced – every tree cut is replaced by a new one, mostly in the UK to minimise tree miles. For each tree sold, another is planted in on the Forests for Food project in Ethiopia through Tree Aid.’

Alternatively, you can rent one from: http://www.christmastreehire.net/ or if you live near Dorset try http://www.treesforrent.com/

Gift ideas:

Cool Earth can help you save the rainforest and give a gift at the same time this Christmas. They have got some very surprising gift ideas for your loved ones, ranging from protecting a tree to an acre of rainforest, as well as helping indigenous communities by selling their handmade jewelry for them and offering you the chance to give them canoe fuel for a year, farming tools, mosquito nets, solar panels, or help fund female enterprise initiatives and buy textbooks for schools. Each gift comes with a certificate and you can track your tree in Google Earth.

• protect a tree from £1 http://www.coolearth.org/store/uk/capirona.html
• protect ½ acre of rainforest from £30 http://www.coolearth.org/store/uk/tinkareni.html

“Each tree plays a vital role in the biodiversity of the rainforest. When you protect a tree you receive a special certificate via email or through the post. View it’s location in your Cool Earth account. Help fight climate change and keep this tree standing.” www.coolearth.org

Dedicate a tree to someone through the Woodland Trust http://woodlandtrustshop.com/dedicate-a-tree

Or…

Send someone on an eco-course. For online listings of providers of green courses in the UK visit www.allthingseco.co.uk

Stationary and stuff:

Recycled Xmas cards: http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/Christmas_Cards.html

Wrapping paper: ’100% recycled wrapping paper is available from the Natural Collection, where six sheets, plus matching tags, will cost you £4.50.
Alternatively, recycled brown paper is also greener than conventional wrapping paper, and can look good on your presents. Recycle your own by saving any that comes wrapped around a parcel, or buy it from WWF‘. – taken from the Guardian’s Ultimate Green Christmas Guide.

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com

Reduce your carbon footprint and boost your bank account with these easy, healthy, earth-friendly tips from Josh Dorfman, author of The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget.

1. Choose eco workout wear.

Look for tops, pants, shorts — even sports bras made with recycled materials, such as Cocona fabrics, which come from coconut shells. They dry quickly and provide excellent sun and odor protection. (For info and products, go to www.coconafabric.com.) Need new sneaks? Brooks running shoes feature the industry’s first biodegradable midsole (www.brooksrunning.com).

2. Make a fair trade.

Instead of buying new fitness DVDs and books, use swapping sites like www.swapadvd.com and www.paperbackswap.com to trade with thousands of other people for free.

3. Wheel and deal on exercise equipment.

Whether it’s a bike, a Bowflex, or a Precor elliptical machine, you’ll find great deals at craigslist.org in the local classified ads and forums.

4. Get your grooves for less.

Why pay full price for an MP3 player? Check out sites that offer refurbished electronics, like www.dyscern.com where you can save more than 50 percent off the retail price. Refurbished items are typically those that were returned within 30 days of purchase, had damaged packaging or a slight cosmetic defect, were used as in-store display items, or were simply overstocked. Many are still covered by their original warranties; before they can be resold they go through rigorous defect testing.

5. Drink smarter.

More than 38 billion disposable plastic bottles end up in landfills every year in the United States. Instead of adding to that number, tote a reusable water bottle and fill it with filtered water. At FilterForGood.com, a campaign created by Brita and Nalgene, you can sign a pledge to give up disposable water bottles and get a coupon for $5 off a Brita system.

6. Save water and energy.

Less water for your daily shower + less heat = lower utility bills. Evolve has designed a series of water-saving showerheads that let the cold H20 run until the water temperature reaches 95 degrees and then stops it to a trickle until you step into the shower and turn the valve. If you choose the Roadrunner low-flow showerhead ($39.95), you’ll also save about one gallon of water per minute. Find out more at www.evolveshowerheads.com.

7. Keep cool.

Set the right temperature in your home with a Lux digital thermostat — an affordable, Energy Star-rated option that starts at about $35 and is available at stores like Wal-Mart and Sears. Energy Star requires that all of its qualified models come with four pre-programmed settings to automatically adjust temperatures throughout the night and day.
8. Breathe easier.

A HEPA filter vacuum sucks up very small particles of dust, allergens, and chemicals and traps them in the vacuum instead of spewing them back out into the air. The Eureka Upright is one of the most affordable HEPA filter vacuums available at around $140.

9. Carpool.

Zimride is a ride-share service that lets you create personal profiles, like Facebook, and select car mates who share similar music tastes or favorite sports teams. Zimmers can evaluate things like driving speed and smoking preferences before agreeing to hop in. www.zimride.com.

10. Better yet, bike to work.

Cut down on car emissions and get some exercise by cycling to your office. Go to Mapmyride.com, plug in your starting point and your destination and you’ll be able to see the route’s elevation map. Choose a path with hills for a workout, or a flatter ride to arrive sweat-free.

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/health/spirit/your-best-you/10-ways-to-go-green-get-healthy-save-money/

Here is a list of the ways The Sustainable Development Commission, headed by Sir Jonathan Porritt, said the Government could meet targets on green living.

1. Carbon credit cards

2. Happiness lessons

3. More outdoor education

4. Free bikes

5. Locally produced food

6. Grow vegetables on public land

7. Increase NHS spending on preventing ill health

8. Use internet to help communities work together

9. Public forum on the future to look at Government policy for the long term

10. Royal Bank of Sustainability invests money in climate change projects

11. Government-issued green bonds invest in renewables

12. Low carbon zones of energy efficient housing

13. Councils and private companies join up to provide cheap insulation

14. Pay-as-you save to help households pay for efficiency measures by taking cost from electricity bills

15. Green jobs for the unemployed

16. Cap amount of energy from fossil fuels that companies can sell

17. Look at new ways of controlling global emissions as part of any international agreement

18. Charcoal produced from burning wood chips or “bio-char” could be ploughed back into the ground as fertiliser

19. Carbon captured from burning fossil fuels can be used to grow algae which is then converted into biofuels

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/greenerliving/5702689/Green-living-19-ways-to-save-the-planet—list.html

http://www.pcmag.com

Recycling your old, unwanted cell phone and carrying your laptop in an eco-friendly bag are just some of the steps you can take to protect the environment.

Most folks aren’t exactly what you’d call “environmentally conscious” when it comes to technology. We often leave our computers powered up for weeks on end (even though we know better). Our old cell phones get tucked away in dresser drawers alongside other discarded devices. Peek into our homes and offices, and you’ll often find chargers still plugged into sockets even though they’re not in use.

Not every techie is guilty of all of these crimes against the environment, of course. Some of us have actively taken the first step toward going green, such as investing in a green PC, or using solar-powered gadget chargers and LEDs. But these aren’t the only ways we can take better care of the environment. Whether it’s recycling an old cell phone or reducing computer power, here are 10 steps you can take towards going green.

1. Use an Eco-Friendly Laptop Bag: Targus Grove Bags

Targus recently released its line of eco-friendly notebook bags, made of recyclable material and nickel-free metals, and are PVC-free. The Grove Bags line consists of the Messenger ($49.99), Sling ($59.99), Topload ($59.99), and Convertible Messenger/Backpack ($79.99). The cases fit 15.4-inch laptops, and also include a security strap and custom pockets for your water bottle and MP3 player. Targus will offer free shipping to anywhere in the U.S. for the rest of April. In addition to the green bags, Targus partnered with Dell on its “Plant a Tree for Me” program to help off-set the impact carbon emissions have on the environment.

2. Reduce Computer Energy: The ecobutton

The next time you leave your computer to take a lunch break, attend a business meeting, or go away for the weekend, press the ecobutton to put your computer in energy-saving mode. This recycled, computer power-saving device can really make a difference for your home or work PC power usage. It can be placed on your desk and connects to your computer via USB. When you’re about to take a break, press the button, and your computer will be put into energy-saving “eco-mode,” which is said to ensure that both your computer and monitor draw the same nominal power as when they are shut down. In addition, each time your computer is put into “ecomode,” the ecobutton software records how many carbon units and how much power and money you have saved. The ecobutton is available outside the UK for £17.92 ($35 USD) plus shipping costs.

3. Unplug Your Phone Charger: Nokia’s Mobile Tip

Nokia recently shared some very helpful green mobile-phone tips with us. A simple way to save energy in your home is by unplugging your phone charger when your phone is fully charged. “Two-thirds of the energy consumed by a mobile phone during its usage is lost when the phone is fully charged and unplugged but the charger is left connected to the outlet,” according to the company. In an effort to remind consumers to unplug their charger, Nokia released four phone models that include alerts to remind people to unplug the charger once the battery is full: the 1200, 1208, 1650, and the 3110 Evolve, which is currently available in select European markets. By the end of 2008, virtually all of Nokia’s newly launched phones will have this alert built in. To learn more about Nokia’s environmental efforts, visit www.nokia.com/environment.

4. Share Your Favorite Green Products: Amazon’s Green 3

Amazon.com just launched Green 3, a site where Amazon shoppers can list the three green products they are most passionate about and would recommend to other consumers. Amazon’s vast selection of environmentally-friendly products includes everything from Electronics & Computers to Home Improvement. Consumers can also educate themselves about going green with the ongoing series of postings from leaders in the green community.

5. Web Surf the Green Way: Flock’s Eco-Edition Browser

Social Web browser Flock, which lets users organize their online interests in one place, has launched an Eco-Edition browser. Scheduled to go live on Earth Day, the new Web platform is built on the company’s existing model of social applications, offering a wide range of environmentally related content from media streams, news feeds, and recommended bookmarks that will be free to download and use. Flock partnered with major news and information outlets like Discovery Networks, The New York Times, and TreeHugger.

6. Recycle Old Phones: Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine Program

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 130 million cell phones will be retired this year, and fewer than 20 percent of those phones will be recycled. Verizon Wireless wants to make it easier for mobile phone users to recycle no-longer-used wireless phones through its HopeLine phone-recycling program. The phones are “refurbished, recycled or sold and the proceeds are donated to domestic violence advocacy groups or used to purchase wireless phones and service for survivors.” Go to www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline to find a store to donate.

7. Educate Your Kids: Planet Earth, SeaLife, and WildLife DVD Games

Saving the planet is important for people of all ages. What better way for parents and children to explore the beauty of the planet and the importance of keeping it clean than with Imagination Games’ three new DVD board games? In Planet Earth ($25), answer a range of trivia questions based on the award-winning television series. The DVD game features categories like Fresh Water/Ice Worlds and Seasonal Forests/Jungles, and is made out of 100-percent recycled materials. In SeaLife ($27), players collect sea creature cards by correctly answering educational ocean-based trivia questions. And in WildLife ($30), players explore the African Serengeti safari.

8. Shop Green Electronics: CircuitCity.com’s Online Resource

Electronics retailer Circuit City offers a new online resource that aids consumers in adopting a green lifestyle. By visiting www.circuitcity.com/green, consumers can research and shop for products that have earned ENERGY STAR designations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The site also offers tips for recycling electronics, saving energy, and spotlights Circuit City’s trade-in program, which allows consumers to turn in old electronics in exchange for Circuit City gift cards.

9. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: iLinc’s Green Meter Web Conferencing

If you’re a frequent business traveler, you may want to mention to your boss that it’s better to Web conference than commute. James M. Powers, Jr., head of the Web conferencing software company iLinc, designed the Green Meter, a CO2 savings application embedded in the company’s conferencing products. Inspired by Al Gore’s initiative to save the earth, the Green Meter uses a “mathematical algorithm to detect the locations of the people that are attending a Web conference via IP address and measures the distance between the meeting participants and the meeting leader.” The program then arrives at the amount of travel and measures how much CO2 is saved by Web conferencing rather than commuting. iLinc’s Green Meter comes standard with iLinc version 9.0.

10. Travel Green: SmarterTravel.com

SmarterTravel.com, an online travel resource, is covering new eco-friendly travel destinations for its “Trip du Jour” series every day for the month of April. The series will feature domestic and international destinations, including New York City, Berkeley, and Iceland. For instance, the site highlights the Big “Green” Apple, with organic bakery finds and environmentally friendly clothing stores.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2286030,00.asp