Here is a link to a very disturbing story where mythology and faith are replacing objective science in determining policy and politics in the United States. The Tea Party is dumbing down the Republican Party with ignorance and fear promoted by fundamentalists in religion, economics and politics rule the day for them.
This quote from the story alone is most telling and terrifying. It is showing the decline of intelligent reasoned political deliberation and the pursuit of power through merchandising of fear and ignorance amongst GOP politicians.
"Remarkably, of the dozens of Republicans vying for the 37 Senate seats in the 2010 election, no one supports climate action, after climate advocate Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) lost his primary to Christine O’Donnell. Even former climate advocates Sen. John McCain(R-AZ) and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) now toe the science-doubting party line."
Progressive political thought can't remain quiet and assume all is well when this kind of ignorance pervades the political culture. I wonder how many members of the federal Harper Conservatives and their provincial counterparts in the Wildrose Alliance Party are climate change deniers. Quite a few is my bet.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
Monday, September 27, 2010
Are Albertans, Like Americans, Becoming Fat Dumb and Lazy & Losing Our Advantage?
Thomas Friedman has a very interesting piece in the New York Times comparing the energy of authoritarian China and the torpor the democratic United States. Before we get into any anti-American Canadian sense of superiority, it is my observation that what Friedman says holds true for Canada and even good old Alberta.
Democracy is broken in Canada and in Alberta too. It is partly the fault of the system, the politicians and the media, but it is mostly the fault of indifferent and compliant citizens who have defaulted on their duty of citizenship.
Power is the purpose of the political machines we see running what passes for democracy today in our country too. The best evidence of the citizen culpability in the democratic deficit is the lack of voter participation. But the problem goes much deeper to the consequences of an uninformed and politically illiterate population that can be manipulated by language and fear.
Friedman describes this as a lack of ability for democracy in the USA (Canada and Alberta???) to >>>"generate the kind of focus, legitimacy and stick-to-it-iveness to do big things - democratically." He notes "we have done it before. But we're not doing it now because too many of our poll-driven, toxically partisan, cable-TV addicted, n=money corrupted political class are more interested in what keeps them in power than what would make America (Canada and Alberta???) powerful, more interested in defeating each other than saving the country." (Canada and Alberta???)
This is the political cultural backdrop that Reboot Alberta started to seek some sense of and solutions about. It is time for progressives to become activist again. The number of Reboot people running in the current local school board and municipal elections is a positive sign that this is starting to happen. Reboot 3.0 has to take that energy and start identifying issues that progressives feel need something done about them. That is at least informed citizen engagement, democratic reform, intergenerational equity and acting like owners of the oil sands to ensure they are developed in an integrated, open, honest, transparent, accountable way with an overarching concern for ecological stewardship.
If you are tired of being complacent, mislead and manipulated you will want to be part of the Reboot Alberta progressive citizen's movement. If you are not impressed with the serious shift to the right in the Alberta political spectrum by the two leaking parties, you will want to be part of the Reboot Alberta progressive citizen's movement. If you want to be proud to be an Albertan again as we look beyond being the best place in the world and aspire to be the best place for the world, you will want to be part of the Reboot Alberta progressive citizen's movement.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
Democracy is broken in Canada and in Alberta too. It is partly the fault of the system, the politicians and the media, but it is mostly the fault of indifferent and compliant citizens who have defaulted on their duty of citizenship.
Power is the purpose of the political machines we see running what passes for democracy today in our country too. The best evidence of the citizen culpability in the democratic deficit is the lack of voter participation. But the problem goes much deeper to the consequences of an uninformed and politically illiterate population that can be manipulated by language and fear.
Friedman describes this as a lack of ability for democracy in the USA (Canada and Alberta???) to >>>"generate the kind of focus, legitimacy and stick-to-it-iveness to do big things - democratically." He notes "we have done it before. But we're not doing it now because too many of our poll-driven, toxically partisan, cable-TV addicted, n=money corrupted political class are more interested in what keeps them in power than what would make America (Canada and Alberta???) powerful, more interested in defeating each other than saving the country." (Canada and Alberta???)
This is the political cultural backdrop that Reboot Alberta started to seek some sense of and solutions about. It is time for progressives to become activist again. The number of Reboot people running in the current local school board and municipal elections is a positive sign that this is starting to happen. Reboot 3.0 has to take that energy and start identifying issues that progressives feel need something done about them. That is at least informed citizen engagement, democratic reform, intergenerational equity and acting like owners of the oil sands to ensure they are developed in an integrated, open, honest, transparent, accountable way with an overarching concern for ecological stewardship.
If you are tired of being complacent, mislead and manipulated you will want to be part of the Reboot Alberta progressive citizen's movement. If you are not impressed with the serious shift to the right in the Alberta political spectrum by the two leaking parties, you will want to be part of the Reboot Alberta progressive citizen's movement. If you want to be proud to be an Albertan again as we look beyond being the best place in the world and aspire to be the best place for the world, you will want to be part of the Reboot Alberta progressive citizen's movement.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The "Slow Hunch" Process to Innovation
Here is a quick (4 min) engaging video by Steven Johnson that provides a summary of some thoughts on how creativity and innovation happens in an incubated format. Hunches need to bump into each other to become new ideas or innovation breakthroughs. The increased connectivity of the Internet - networked world provides unprecedented opportunity to combine and borrow ideas from each other.
Progressives have lots of hunches but do not have a disciplined space to take chances and share our hunches and ideas so the synergy does not happen as much as it could. This is an inspiration for me as to what RebootAlberta could become-that place for hunches and ideas to bump into each other.
Progressive live in their heads and need a place where their creative progressive thought engage with others in face-to-face and connected spaces to share hunches. I am thinking long term to convert Reboot Alberta into a space and place for Alberta progressives to come and share, learn, create and engage in defining and designing the Alberta Aspiration - something much more vibrant than the low tax mindset of the Alberta Advantage.
BTW Johnson has a wonderful closing comment that resonates with me "Chance favours the connected mind." That is a mantra worth living in this day and age.
Thanks to Mark Holmgren for the link
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
Progressives have lots of hunches but do not have a disciplined space to take chances and share our hunches and ideas so the synergy does not happen as much as it could. This is an inspiration for me as to what RebootAlberta could become-that place for hunches and ideas to bump into each other.
Progressive live in their heads and need a place where their creative progressive thought engage with others in face-to-face and connected spaces to share hunches. I am thinking long term to convert Reboot Alberta into a space and place for Alberta progressives to come and share, learn, create and engage in defining and designing the Alberta Aspiration - something much more vibrant than the low tax mindset of the Alberta Advantage.
BTW Johnson has a wonderful closing comment that resonates with me "Chance favours the connected mind." That is a mantra worth living in this day and age.
Thanks to Mark Holmgren for the link
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Here is the Real Oil Sands Message for Albertans
Cambridge Strategies joined forces this week with CAUSE, Enmax, Mountain Equipment Co-op, ConocoPhillips, Calgary Centre for Global Community, Take Action Grants, the Calgary Foundation, the UofC Students' Union, the City of Calgary, Alberta Acts of Climate Change and the Good Earth Coffeehouse and Bakery to sponsor the Hunter Lovins lectures.
Hunter spoke on "Lean and Green: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Alberta." She spoke about options for our current electrical challenges. She made the business case for climate change protection, She outlined a way for Alberta to lead the way to energy solutions. All of these themes are near and dear to my heart and my business partner Satya Das and are outlined in his book "Green Oil: Clean Energy for the 21st Century?"
She and her husband co-founded the Rocky Mountain Institute and co-authored a book called Natural Capitalism with Paul Hawken. That is one of the most dog-eared books on my shelf and was a epiphany producing read for me a few years ago.
The Calgary Herald sure captured the essence of Lovins message in this editorial "Go Green and Get Rich!".
There is a great deal of soul searching for business and Albertans around our oil sands development as a source of prosperity, pride, innovation and most of all environmental stewardship. These are integrated aspects of responsible and sustainable oil sands development not mutually exclusive issues to be managed politically or with public relations.
I went into the Lovins lecture with an aspiration the my Alberta to be not merely destined to be the best place in the world but rather to aspire to be the best place for the world.
I came out of the Lovins lecture with more resolve than ever around the implications and potential that Alberta Aspiration to become reality. Progressive thinking Albertans have to get over their compliant complacency and return to full citizenship and activist participation in the political culture of this province to make that happen.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
Hunter spoke on "Lean and Green: Sustainable Energy Solutions for Alberta." She spoke about options for our current electrical challenges. She made the business case for climate change protection, She outlined a way for Alberta to lead the way to energy solutions. All of these themes are near and dear to my heart and my business partner Satya Das and are outlined in his book "Green Oil: Clean Energy for the 21st Century?"
She and her husband co-founded the Rocky Mountain Institute and co-authored a book called Natural Capitalism with Paul Hawken. That is one of the most dog-eared books on my shelf and was a epiphany producing read for me a few years ago.
The Calgary Herald sure captured the essence of Lovins message in this editorial "Go Green and Get Rich!".
There is a great deal of soul searching for business and Albertans around our oil sands development as a source of prosperity, pride, innovation and most of all environmental stewardship. These are integrated aspects of responsible and sustainable oil sands development not mutually exclusive issues to be managed politically or with public relations.
I went into the Lovins lecture with an aspiration the my Alberta to be not merely destined to be the best place in the world but rather to aspire to be the best place for the world.
I came out of the Lovins lecture with more resolve than ever around the implications and potential that Alberta Aspiration to become reality. Progressive thinking Albertans have to get over their compliant complacency and return to full citizenship and activist participation in the political culture of this province to make that happen.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Satya Das & Ezra Levant Square Off Over Oil Sands at LitFest.
The Edmonton Litfest is all about non-fiction literature and promises to be great event this year. One of the highlights for Albertans will be a presentation of differing views about the Alberta oil sands by Satya Das the author of Green Oil-Clean Energy for the 21st Century and Ezra Levant the author of Ethical Oil.
Full disclosure I am the publisher of Green Oil and Satya is a long time friend and my business partner. I have purchased but not yet read Ezra's book...but I will soon. I have read a considerable amount of media on the Levant book and was at a dinner meeting with Danielle Smith, the leader of the right-wing Wildrose Alliance Party last Monday and she repeated the premise of Ethical Oil in her presentation. That being while we in Alberta may be dirty oil providers from the oil sands, compared to the alternative suppliers we are, on the whole, a much better ethical option for American fossil fuel needs.
I whole heartedly agree with Ezra's premise and have in fact posted a blog giving some free advice to Premier Stelmach in his recent meeting with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I suggest the American political interference in the middle east, the dishonest premise to start the Iraq for example is about US taking "blood oil" relative to our "dirty oil."
Where I think Ezra and Das (and I) would part company is while the premise is Ethical Oil is well founded it is insufficient to fix the problem of our so-called "dirty oil." I don't think the ethical arguments gets Albertans, as owners of the oil sands, off the hook...and we know it. We need to develop our oil sands with a higher ethical bar than we are the best of a bad lot. We know from our conjoint research done in conjunction with the Oil Sands Research and Information Network at the University of Alberta that environmental stewardship is the driving ethical values Albertans what to see guide and drive our oil sands development.
Creating prosperity without an integration of habitat protection, set standards for land, water and air quality, reclamation assurances to support on-going biodiversity and a focus on fixing the carbon footprint of development we are not really ethical oil. We expect more or ourselves than just being socially better and more secular than Saudi Arabia.
So come to Litfest on October 19 at the Stanley Milner Library Theatre to hear and participate in the Das-Levant discussions on the future development of the oil sands. The full Litfest program and ticket info is available at Tix on the Square:
Advance Passes and Individual Event Admission Tickets on sale now from Tix on the Square,online or by phone 780.420.1757 or Toll Free 1.877.888.1757. (Address - 9930 102 Avenue).
As a publisher let me suggest you buy the books and read them before hand. You can get them in better book stores in Edmonton. Green Oil is also available as a download from www.greenoilbook.com.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
 |
| Satya Das |
 |
| Ezra Levant |
Full disclosure I am the publisher of Green Oil and Satya is a long time friend and my business partner. I have purchased but not yet read Ezra's book...but I will soon. I have read a considerable amount of media on the Levant book and was at a dinner meeting with Danielle Smith, the leader of the right-wing Wildrose Alliance Party last Monday and she repeated the premise of Ethical Oil in her presentation. That being while we in Alberta may be dirty oil providers from the oil sands, compared to the alternative suppliers we are, on the whole, a much better ethical option for American fossil fuel needs.
I whole heartedly agree with Ezra's premise and have in fact posted a blog giving some free advice to Premier Stelmach in his recent meeting with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I suggest the American political interference in the middle east, the dishonest premise to start the Iraq for example is about US taking "blood oil" relative to our "dirty oil."
Where I think Ezra and Das (and I) would part company is while the premise is Ethical Oil is well founded it is insufficient to fix the problem of our so-called "dirty oil." I don't think the ethical arguments gets Albertans, as owners of the oil sands, off the hook...and we know it. We need to develop our oil sands with a higher ethical bar than we are the best of a bad lot. We know from our conjoint research done in conjunction with the Oil Sands Research and Information Network at the University of Alberta that environmental stewardship is the driving ethical values Albertans what to see guide and drive our oil sands development.
Creating prosperity without an integration of habitat protection, set standards for land, water and air quality, reclamation assurances to support on-going biodiversity and a focus on fixing the carbon footprint of development we are not really ethical oil. We expect more or ourselves than just being socially better and more secular than Saudi Arabia.
So come to Litfest on October 19 at the Stanley Milner Library Theatre to hear and participate in the Das-Levant discussions on the future development of the oil sands. The full Litfest program and ticket info is available at Tix on the Square:
Advance Passes and Individual Event Admission Tickets on sale now from Tix on the Square,online or by phone 780.420.1757 or Toll Free 1.877.888.1757. (Address - 9930 102 Avenue).
As a publisher let me suggest you buy the books and read them before hand. You can get them in better book stores in Edmonton. Green Oil is also available as a download from www.greenoilbook.com.
If you want a progressive political culture in the Next Alberta register now for RebootAlberta 3.0 at www.rebootalberta.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)