Juggling Dynamite

It’s been said that the wars of the 21st century may well be fought over water. The Earth’s population has more than doubled over the last 50 years and the demand for fresh water — to drink and to grow food — has surged along with it. But sources of water like rainfall, rivers, streams, reservoirs, certainly haven’t doubled. So where is all that extra water coming from? More and more, it’s being pumped out of the ground. Here is a direct video link.

The room for improvement is endless and incredibly exciting. (The sound quality in this clip improves after first few minutes.)

The stunning realization that “a building is like a flower” is revolutionizing the green building and sustainability movement world-wide.

Considered one of the most influential individuals in the green building movement today. McLennan is the recipient of the prestigious Buckminster Fuller Prize, as well as CEO of the International Living Future Institute, a leading NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that focuses on the transformation to a world that is socially just, culturally rich and ecologically restorative. He is also CEO of Cascadia Green Building Counsel. McLennan is the founder and creator of the Living Building Challenge, widely considered the world’s most progressive and stringent green building program. His vision and published works have made a pivotal impact on the shape and direction of green building in the United States and Canada. Here is a direct video link.

Good historical perspective and discussion on steps needed to restore the rule of law in finance.

Dennis Kelleher talked about the state of Wall Street banking seven years after the financial crisis. Topics include the effectiveness of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulations law that was passed in response to the crisis, and the potential impact of a recent $2.5 billion federal settlement on how banks conduct business. Here is a direct video link.

Something which is never mentioned in the discussion about ‘record’ bank fines to date…the trillions in leverage that the banks helped pump into the global finance system rocketed their profits many multiples above long term trends. The growth rate in fines has been a fraction of the growth rate in their profits.