I knew the movie was going to be infuriating. I made a prophecy to that effect. “The Odyssey is going to make me really mad,” I said to my wife, in the car on the way to the local cinema. Not because of what’s in it. The film turned out to be a relatively faithful, … Continue reading I have Seen “The Odyssey”. I’m Furious.
Sustainable Development
Change to improve long-term, systemic conditions for humans and nature
A Thank-You Letter to ICAI, 34 Years Later. Who is ICAI?
You have (most likely) never heard of ICAI, the Institute for Cultural Affairs International. A relatively tiny outfit, but with branches all over the world, it is one of those pioneering non-profit organisations that has never gotten enough credit for its groundbreaking contributions to global sustainability practice, because we now take those contributions completely for … Continue reading A Thank-You Letter to ICAI, 34 Years Later. Who is ICAI?
The Art of Looking Away
Recently I declared a particularly pleasant, sunny day to be a “Day of Enjoyment”. I decided not to think very much about global problems: the “polycrisis” of climate, biodiversity loss, senseless wars, terrible political leaders and the like. I listened to birdsong. Messed around in the garden. Watched grebes parenting their young in the local … Continue reading The Art of Looking Away
Earth Day is So Yesterday. Or Is It?
Yesterday, April 22, was Earth Day. I forgot about it completely, until I was reminded of it by doing a word puzzle in my New York Times app, late in the evening. Of course the puzzle had some classic, now almost ancient environmental words in it, like reduce, reuse, and recycle. The whole experience was … Continue reading Earth Day is So Yesterday. Or Is It?
The Tragedy of Swedish Development Aid
It is horrible to watch something extremely important and undervalued being slowly undermined, perhaps ultimately destroyed, by people who do not understand it, and do not understand its worth. Including its worth to them. You would be forgiven for thinking the above was the introductory paragraph to an article about the United Nations. And alas, … Continue reading The Tragedy of Swedish Development Aid
“A Lifetime of Rejoicing”: Remembering Donella Meadows
On the 13th of March, 2026, Donella “Dana” Meadows might have been celebrating her 85th birthday. But Dana passed away exactly 25 years ago (plus a few weeks). Not quite 60 years old at the time, she was taken in the full flower of her career by a sudden bacterial illness. The randomness of her … Continue reading “A Lifetime of Rejoicing”: Remembering Donella Meadows
After the Shock Fades
What happens after our shock fades? That was the question asked by an old friend and colleague of mine, Robin DiAngelo, and her writing partner Delta Shelby Larkey in an opinion article published in the Minnesota Star Tribune a few weeks ago. For those of us who count as ordinary people, and who were glued … Continue reading After the Shock Fades
Keeping the Earth in the Center — Especially When That’s Extremely Difficult
We live in a living planet. Notice I wrote “in” where your mind was expecting “on”. That little word “on” can lead us astray, mentally. We do not live “on top of” but rather inside a sphere of pulsing, dynamic systems, a colorful, evolving kaleidoscope of life that is the most wonderful and visible characteristic … Continue reading Keeping the Earth in the Center — Especially When That’s Extremely Difficult
Canada is in the Center
Quick summary: Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, with inspiration from Václav Havel, has put Canada in the middle of a global discussion about the future of our world in an age of broken international trust. I just wish he were wrong. (Read the article …)
Greenland is in the Center
Last week I wrote a somewhat dispassionate (on purpose) defense of holding the center — or what used to be the center — politically. The theme of my article was resisting the current tendency towards outrage and ethical compromise that is partly driven by social media, partly by today’s dramatic and extreme political climate, and … Continue reading Greenland is in the Center
Alan AtKisson 