LATEST BLOG POSTS

People are asking a lot: will artificial intelligence help or hurt us more. In nearly every answer I hear, the person starts thinking of ways they can use AI to help them achieve their goals. They sometimes temper the desirable results they come up with concerns that it may take away jobs. But the biggest problems in the world aren’t lack of jobs. The biggest problems are caused by humans—things[…] Keep reading →

People tell me over and over, “You’re a single man. You can make unilateral decisions so it’s easier for you to live more sustainably. If you had a wife or kids, you’d see you couldn’t do what you do.” Yet people in marriages, with kids, or both who succeed at their dreams often tell me their spouses were their greatest sources of support and their kids motivated them. Most recently,[…] Keep reading →

I keep coming back to three images that illustrate our time. I’ll add more if new ones arise. The first is someone sitting on a beautiful beach scrolling on their phone through images of other beautiful beaches, wishing they were there instead. (Only the beaches are covered in litter too). The second is someone riding a Citibike through traffic, one hand on the handlebar, then other holding a disposable cup[…] Keep reading →

This week I finished: An Iron Wind: Europe Under Hitler, by Peter Fritzsche: This book recounted life during 1939-45, mostly in Paris, Warsaw, and Switzerland. I got it because I’m interested in learning how people and cultures rationalize and justify acting against their values. The book delivered, though people’s internal psychology wasn’t its main point. Still, it talked about how citizens of occupied countries knew what the Nazis were doing[…] Keep reading →

As one example of a graduate of the Sustainability Leadership workshop‘s implementing what she learned, Emily Wang is leading two workshops in natural building, here in New York City, in particular, in the beautiful Drew Gardens. Register here If you’re like me, you’ve heard about cob, adobe, and other natural building terms more and more. You probably haven’t done anything hands-on. This workshop is your chance to participate in the[…] Keep reading →

Regular readers know I haven’t filled a load of garbage since 2019. The most common reactions are surprise, asking me what’s in my garbage, and calling it “extreme.” Being five years into a habit, it doesn’t feel the least bit extreme any more. On the contrary, since what motivates me is alleviating suffering in the people in whom I would increase it for my lifestyle, not acting to pollute much[…] Keep reading →

I was thinking about some things I don’t know. I’m confident humanity is better off with less plastic in the ocean, litter on the ground, and PFAS in our blood, but I don’t know: When a human sperm and egg become an independent human life the law should protect The optimal number of and amount of access to guns for self-defense, to protect against government overreach, to defend a community,[…] Keep reading →