What would real democracy look like?
Norwegian social ecologist Camilla Hansen, a member of the New Compass publishing collective, has posted an exceptionally comprehensive overview of current models of direct democracy that are in use today around the world. Camilla offers a clear analysis of the potentialities of each model, the obstacles to their fullest realization, and the need for a […]
A French fiction on municipal direct democracy
Vincent Gerber in Geneva writes: Hadrien Delahousse, whom some of you met in Vermont last year [and at the TRISE meeting in Greece –ed.], has lent me an interesting book (in French) : “La commune libre de Saint-Martin” by Jean-François Aupetitgendre (pseudonym), edited by Les éditions libertaires in 2012. It could be called a political […]
Book Review: Gunnar Rundgren’s “Garden Earth”
Garden Earth: From Hunter and Gatherer to Global Capitalism and Thereafter by Gunnar Rundgren Reviewed by Grace Gershuny Gunnar Rundgren is well known in the international organic community as an articulate leader, consultant, theorist, and practitioner of organic agriculture world wide. A founder of the influential Swedish organic certification program KRAV, he later became President […]
Social Ecology at the annual Left Forum (NYC, June 7-9th)
For the first time in many years, the ISE is presenting a panel at the annual Left Forum, at Pace University, next to City Hall Park in New York City. Please join us! The revolutionary project of social ecology Sunday, June 9th, 12 noon, Room E307 With Brian Tokar, Dan Chodorkoff, Chaia Heller, and Eleanor […]
Mike Small: Scotland’s Local Food Revolution
ISE alum Mike Small has been working in the Fife district of Scotland to develop new models of organizing around local food. That work has now culminated in a book titled Scotland’s Local Food Revolution. Mike writes: It seems fitting in the same week that climate warming greenhouse gas reached 400 parts per million for […]
ISE alum Robert Ogman’s “Against the Nation: Anti-National Politics in Germany”
Against the Nation: Anti-National Politics in Germany By ISE alum Robert Ogman Now available from New Compass Press and AK Press Following the German reunification process in the 1990s, a new movement appeared in Germany. This movement rejected all forms of nationalism, including the desirability and legitimacy of national communities, borders, and the existence of […]
Grace Gershuny on Ecologizing the Food System
From ISE faculty member and organic pioneer, Grace Gershuny: This is a first installment of an ongoing discussion about Social Ecology and the food system – both why the one we have is so wrong, and how our understanding of the root causes of its failures can inform food system activists and practitioners. There is […]
On Boston: The Inevitability of Vulnerability
From ISE board member and outstanding singer/songwriter Ben Grosscup: Boston Tragedy Reveals Inevitability of Vulnerability By Ben Grosscup Public acts of inexplicable and horrific violence such as what we saw in Boston on Monday reveal basic vulnerabilities that are painful but necessary to face. My whole family converged in Boston to cheer on my father […]
“Apocalypse, Not?” by Brian Tokar
A review of Catastrophism: The Apocalyptic Politics of Collapse and Rebirth, by Sasha Lilley, David McNally, Eddie Yuen and James Davis (Oakland: PM Press, 2012, 178 pp.).
Eric Toensmeier’s new book project
We were hesitant to post a Kickstarter link here, but glad to make an exception for Eric Toensmeier’s new, pioneering book project. The working title is “Carbon Farming: A Global Toolkit for Stabilizing the Climate with Tree Crops and Regenerative Agriculture Practices.” If you’ve ever attended a class of Eric’s at the ISE or elsewhere, […]
