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Bill McKibben

Twenty years ago, author Bill McKibben issued a warning to the world in the form of his first book, The End of Nature: the world’s population was grown so big in numbers and in appetites that we were altering everything around us. Since then, the world’s population has grown from 5 billion to 6.6 billion (a 33 percent increase), and the process he was talking about—global warming—has increased in pace. But McKibben’s core message hasn’t changed: we must live more lightly on this Earth by downsizing our lifestyles, building community and investing in local economies. One of McKibben’s favorite lines in recent interviews is “We order takeout from 2,000 miles away every night of the year.” And that’s in reference to the average distance that each bite of food in America travels. Look at the stickers on the produce you buy at the grocery store; I’ve noticed asparagus and plumbs from Peru—a distance of over 3,000 miles—both of which grow here in the US (plumbs grow in WNY). Even the California produce that accounts for the majority of our winter supply travels 2,000 miles. The point is that all of this food comes (figuratively) bathed in the crude oil that was burned to get it here and contributed to global warming. His latest book, Deep Economy: the Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future, frames these points in an effort to deconstruct our flawed growth economy and promote local-scale enterprise. Perhaps in an effort to more efficiently use fossil fuels, McKibben has booked two speaking appearances this week in the Queen City.

Thursday 7pm. Flickinger Performing Arts Center

@ Nichols School, 1250 Amherst St. (875-8212) Free

Friday 11:45am. Hyatt Regency Hotel, 2 Fountain Plaza

(852-3802) $75 one-day conference registration