Can the Occupy movement do anything for the environment?

Does the Occupy movement hold any hope for advancing environmental policies in the US? Again, the question arises: what power does our government have when corporations control the government? Is reclaiming the government from corporations a necessary first step?

Check out this recent article:

"I've been arrested four times now and I'll get arrested 1,000 times more until we see some change," said Barry Knight, a 44-year-old actor from Massachusetts. "We're fighting for nothing less than the future of our country. Do you want your kids to grow up in corptocracy' or in a democracy?"

Fossil Fuel Industry Finances Defeat of Obama

 Fossil Fuel Industry Ads Dominate TV Campaign

"Some of the mightiest players in the oil, gas and coal industries are financing an aggressive effort to defeat [Obama] or at least press him to adopt policies that are friendlier to fossil fuels. And the president’s former allies in promoting wind and solar power and caps on greenhouse gases? They are disenchanted and sitting on their wallets. "

For the full article:

New York Times article

Notes on posting in the blog

Hi group!

Just wanted to say a couple quick things about posting in the blog that should make it more functional.

First, try to title blog posts, seeing those larger "headlines" is useful if you are quickly looking through the blog.

Secondly, if you are going to post a link, you can click the "link" tab at the top of the page (in the "posting" window). This will provide a direct link. There is also a button to insert images.

Thirdly, I think it might be good if we try to "label" our posts. On the right hand side of the posting window, there is a box "labels". For instance, if you post an article about economics of climate change, include the labels "economics", "climate change", "capitalism", or whatever key words you think are appropriate. That way, if we want to look at all the posts on climate change, we can click on that label and they will all come up.

Just some thoughts, obviously you can get as involved, or not involved, at you would like to! Thanks!

-Marilyn

Eight Fallacies About Growth by Herman Daly
http://steadystate.org/eight-fallacies-about-growth/
Relevant to our discussion about GDP growth, from a website advocating a steady state economy.

- Lara

works for me.

Testing out the blog with a fascinating participatory demonstration encouraging Chinese city-dwellers to walk rather than drive. I have no idea if it made much of an impact, but it was such a creative idea!

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2012/08/green-pedestrian-crossing-in-china-creates-leaves-from-footprints/?src=footer

(the rest of the blog posts are actually really fascinating, too! Not as directly related to our seminar topic, but if you're interested in artsy things with a sciency-element, there are some very cool things highlighted here!)

This is a test.

Testing to see how this is going to work! Hopefully we have a group!