Energy Fables

Energy Fables: Challenging Ideas in the Energy Sector takes a fresh look at key terms and concepts around which energy research and policy are organised. Drawing on recent research in energy and transport studies, and combining this with concepts from sociology, economics, social theory and technology studies, the chapters in this collection review and challenge different aspects of received wisdom. Brief but critical introductions to classic notions like those of ‘energy efficiency’, ‘elasticity’, ‘energy services’ and the ‘energy trilemma’, together with discussions and analyses of well-worn phrases about ‘low hanging fruit’ and ‘keeping the lights on’, articulate aspects of the energy debate that are often taken for granted. In re-working these established themes and adding twists to familiar tales, the authors develop a repertoire of new ideas about the fundamentals of energy demand and carbon reduction. This book presents a valuable and thought-provoking resource for students, researchers and policy-makers interested in energy demand, politics and policy.

This latest offering from one of the founding figures of postmodernism is a collection of fifteen "fables" that ask, in the words of Jean-Francois Lyotard, "how to live, and why?" Here, Lyotard provides a mixture of anarchistic irreverence and sober philosophical reflection on a wide range of topics with attention to issues of justice and ethics, aesthetics, and judgment. In sections titled "Verbiages, " "System Fantasies, " "Concealments, " and "Crypts, " Lyotard unravels and reconfigures idealist notions subjects as various and fascinating as the French Revolution, the Holocaust, the reception of French theory in the Anglo-American world, the events of May 1968, the Gulf War, academic travelers as intellectual tourists, the collapse of communism, and his own work in the context of others'.

Renewable energy versus fossil fuels: the debate rages on, worldwide. At stake is nothing less than the protection of our planet from the ravages of climate change. But the costs involved in making the switch to clean energy are daunting. How do we pay for solar and wind energy? Do we scrap all our gasoline-driven autos? How do we move forward?Although the importance of this topic is hard to overstate, it nevertheless consistently fails to engage at the level that it so patently needs to. This is what has led technology expert and seasoned commentator Dennis Posadas to approach the issues in a new and intriguing way. Posadas understands that we respond best to narratives, and that is why he has written what he describes as a "green thinking fable". In this fable, we meet Daniel, a young graduate of the fictional Oriental College, who is thrust into a debate between José, an oil man, and Professor Ruiz, an advocate of clean energy. We follow the lines of argument as Daniel's awareness increases, and he experiences a paradigm shift in his thinking. We see how his short-term outlook focusing on the cost of renewable energy evolves into long-term thinking about the cost of not making the shift to renewables. Posadas's business fable puts the issues in front of the general reader in an engaging and digestible way. It covers concepts such as solar, wind, electric vehicles, waste to energy, feed-in-tariffs, carbon tax, intermittent sources, cost of fossil fuels, health impact of fossil fuel use, energy efficiency, and other relevant topics necessary for understanding this debate. The story and characters may be fictional, but the situations and the technology discussions are based on current facts. Decide for yourself where you stand on the renewables versus fossil fuels debate, and discuss this story with your friends and colleagues. Greenergized is a much-needed route into the issues surrounding the most serious debate our generation faces. And it pulls off the brilliant trick of being highly readable at the same time.

This brilliantly written book offers a unique combination of spirituality and psychological expertise to help readers deal with the challenges of today’s tumultuous world, inner turmoil and the residue of trauma. The author shows that energy, within and without, is the key to resolving trauma and moving through life with a positive stance. You’ll learn how difficult life experiences impact us and influence our attitudes, mindsets, emotions and body sensations. You’ll read intriguing stories of historical figures and current case histories that show how we can resolve trauma and successfully ride the waves of change. You’ll explore topics such as tapping the wisdom of the heart, transcending human drama, simple energy techniques that can relieve stress and anxiety, and how intuition, intention and spirituality relate to energy work and the achievement of higher consciousness. Complete with inspiring meditations and practical exercises, this book is a handbook for life in the twenty-first century.

China’s rapid economic growth in the recent decades has produced an unprecedented energy vulnerability that could threaten the sustainability of its economic development, a linchpin to social stability and ultimately the regime legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as well as the foundation for China's rising power aspirations. What is the Chinese perception of the energy security and challenges, how has the Chinese government responded to the challenges? What are the international implications of China’s search for energy security? This collection of contributions by leading scholars seeks answers to these extremely important questions. The book is divided into three parts. Part I presents an overview of China’s sense of energy security and its strategic responses. Part II examines China’s energy policy-making processes, the efforts to reform and reorganize the energy sector and reset policy priorities Part III focuses on the international implications of China’s search for energy security. This book consists of articles published in the Journal of Contemporary China.

Matter: Physical Science for Kids from the Picture Book Science series gets kids excited about science! What’s the matter? Everything is matter! Everything you can touch and hold is made up of matter—including you, your dog, and this book! Matter is stuff that you can weigh and that takes up space, which means pretty much everything in the world is made of matter. In Matter: Physical Science for Kids, kids ages 5 to 8 explore the definition of matter and the different states of matter, plus the stuff in our world that isn’t matter, such as sound and light! In this nonfiction picture book, children are introduced to physical science through detailed illustrations paired with a compelling narrative that uses fun language to convey familiar examples of real-world science connections. By recognizing the basic physics concept of matter and identifying the different ways matter appears in real life, kids develop a fundamental understanding of physical science and are impressed with the idea that science is a constant part of our lives and not limited to classrooms and laboratories. Simple vocabulary, detailed illustrations, easy science experiments, and a glossary all support exciting learning for kids ages 5 to 8. Perfect for beginner readers or as a read aloud nonfiction picture book! Part of a set of four books in a series called Picture Book Science that tackles different kinds of physical science (waves, forces, energy, and matter), Matter offers beautiful pictures and simple observations and explanations. Quick STEM activities such as weighing two balloons to test if air is matter help readers cross the bridge from conceptual to experiential learning and provide a foundation of knowledge that will prove invaluable as kids progress in their science education. Perfect for children who love to ask, “Why?” about the world around them, Matter satisfies curiosity while encouraging continual student-led learning.

Fables, in verse.