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The Progress Motive

Exploring solutions to global problems

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Image: Rafael Matsunaga, That was supposed to be going up, wasn't it? São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa), Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

Feedback loops: what they are and why they matter

7th October 2018 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
If you've ever been on a swing, or triggered a deafening squeal from a speaker by putting it too close to the microphone, then you've witnessed a feedback loop in action. Here's what feedback loops are and why they are vital for understanding sustainability, the economy, and society. Read more
Image: Jonathan Miksanek, Pink doughnut, Pixabay, Creative Commons CC0

Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth: 3 lessons and 3 questions

16th April 2018 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
Economics must change to serve both people and planet, says Doughnut Economics. Here are seven principles from the book, three lessons I took from it and three questions. Read more

One flight can burn through your annual fair share of carbon

18th March 2018 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
Your "fair share" of carbon emissions is just 1.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. A single flight can use up that allowance, and average UK emissions per person are ten times higher than that. Read more

How to regrow a coral reef

2nd February 2018 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
Coral reefs could disappear by the end of the century, warns broadcaster David Attenborough. However, it might not be too late to save them. Some scientists are exploring ways to regrow damaged coral reefs. Read more

Lab-grown meat for pets could protect the planet

15th December 2017 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
Pet food can damage the planet. One company hopes to change that by growing meat in the laboratory. Read more

They pollute, you pay: why profit doesn’t equal progress

29th November 2017 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
Why can it be profitable to do things that harm others? The concept of negative externalities provides part of the answer. Read more

What’s the profit motive and how is it supposed to work?

20th November 2017 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
The profit motive makes businesses do useful things and sends resources to where they can be most valuable. It's supposed to make society better off overall, but it doesn't do this perfectly. Read more

Fifteen projects working on the top five climate solutions

20th November 2017 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
We can solve climate change in the next 30 years, according to Project Drawdown. Discover some of the businesses and charities tackling the top solutions, from food waste to reforestation. Read more

Welcome to The Progress Motive

20th November 2017 Helen Breewood Uncategorised
Hello!  I’m Helen Breewood, this blog is The Progress Motive and I’ll be writing about how we can make the world better for everyone. Follow The Progress Motive to explore the causes of global problems and discover the people, ideas and technologies that are creating solutions. Read more

About this site

I’m Helen Breewood.  Join me on The Progress Motive to explore the causes of global problems and discover the people, ideas and technologies that are solving them.

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