green in the city

Whole Earth Discipline, 1-2

1. What's the green "whiplash moment"? What is Stewart Brand's definition of pragmatism, and how does he think it can relieve whiplash? Does he think the planet needs saving?

2. What did IPCC models fail to predict in 2007?

3. How will governments experience climate change, according to Brand's associate Nils Gilman? What change is most threatening?

4. What did James Lovelock tell Brand about the cause of his new pessimism? Does Brand agree with his bleak assessment? What are our strategic options?

5. What's "Renewistan"? Is it possible?

6. What's the common affliction of greens and conservatives?

7. Why is Gaia no savior? What is "natural-system restoration"? What can it do for Gaia? Would it be good to stop present technology? What are the auto-catalytic technologies? What's Brand's new motto?

8. Who are our role-models as "benevolent ecosystem engineers"?

9. Is Brand a romantic about village life? What's wrong with subsistence farming? How does Asia represent the new "normal"? What good things come of urban density? What's Kleiber's Law? What's the key to creating a more environmentally sustainable society?

10. What does Brand think created cities?

11. What good does it do to "unleash woman power"?