From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 10:41 AM

Thom Hartmann believes political lobbying has led to a rise in the power of unelected and unaccountable figures within Western governments. Corporate lobbyists have a huge influence on government and law, particularly in the US.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 10:41 AM

Dr Vandana Shiva discusses whether humanity can end poverty and war. She says that certain ideas block our understanding of the impact that we have on the planet. First, we must realize that industrial urbanization does not reduce poverty. Industrial design often causes toxicity and pollution. I...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 10:41 AM

What is a real democracy? Dr Shiva describes the current systems of democracy worldwide as a sham. Representative democracy has been hijacked by an 'economic dictatorship', led by a handful of multinational corporations. She calls for a true democracy which recognizes the value of all ...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 10:41 AM

Dr Shiva says that biodiversity loss is a threat to the environment and also a threat to the economy and political security. She talks about the threat to biodiversity and the ecology from agricultural monoculture - the large-scale production of single crops.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 10:41 AM

To help end poverty and give economic help to the poor, Vithal Rajan says we must provide credit to the poor. Such microcredit and commercial credit schemes – small unsecured loans – can unlock great economic activity and entrepreneurship.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 10:41 AM

John Elkington reflects on the challenges that humanity can expect as the 21st century unfolds. They range from global epidemics to water scarcity, fisheries collapse and water scarcity. He is an optimist but believes that over-population and resource depletion are forces that could well unleash...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 10:41 AM

Kaarin Taipale talks about security in cities. It’s in the interests of the municipal government to create safe urban environments. Safe cities attract private investment, especially from foreign companies looking to expand their businesses.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 10:41 AM

Terry Tamminen compares consumer societies and sustainable societies in history. Reckless consumer behavior and overconsumption of resources destroyed the people of Easter Island. In contrast, the Hopi Indians lived in a sustainable society for thousands of years.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Environmentalist Bill McKibben talks about the Kyoto Protocol, before the Copenhagen climate change conference. To stop global warming, the US must reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel use. Industry in China and India must be more sustainable as their rapid economic growth increases greenhous...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Colin Campbell is a former oil executive who worked with BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco and several governments. He is a peak oil expert. He discusses energy security in the context of oil imports from the Middle East to the US and China. Oil scarcity increases the risks of oil wars; energy security re...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Dorothy Mackenzie argues that business should pay for past environmental damage - the polluter pays principle. Sustainable business will help reduce future ecological footprint, but businesses also have a remedial and restorative task. The natural resources sector in particular is working toward...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

What is ‘natural capitalism’? Dr Amory Lovins published the seminal book Natural Capitalism in 2000. He has since worked to help businesses become sustainable and environmentally friendly. Businesses working with ‘natural capitalist’ strategies value the triple bottom line – people, planet, profit.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Dr Caldicott discusses the danger of nuclear power and nuclear proliferation. She says there has been an alarming growth in new nuclear capability and weapons everywhere from Russia to China. She says the threat of nuclear disaster has never been greater.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Dumisani Nyoni asks what poverty really means, in Africa and globally. Poor people are excluded from dialogue about poverty, despite all the talk about inclusion. Even the way we define poverty is limiting. He talks about how the poor in Africa see climate change. He says climate change is on th...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Eric Schlosser says that US government policy on deregulation has resulted in multinational corporations lobbying for their own policies in the US and worldwide. Better regulation can guide corporate social responsibility and CSR policies to create more ethical and sustainable business.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Eric Schlosser says that food production is centralized and heavily industrialized, run by big corporations and agribusiness. It is bad for the environment, livestock and consumers. Just as the US energy policy is not sustainable, neither is food policy. We need new food industry regulation from...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Professor Laszlo says that the individual can make a difference. Individual action can make a more peaceful and sustainable world. It is up to each one of us to make a difference. Once we decide to live in a world that is worth passing on to our children, he says, 'then even the politicians...

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Frances Moore Lappe says that individuals can make a difference. She says people feel powerless to create change. This can be solved by what she calls ‘Living Democracy’ – a new form of democratic living and individual responsibility that is emerging globally.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Frances Moore Lappe talks about the effect of the internet and mass communications on democracy. This mass access to information and education has helped the growth of what she calls ‘Living Democracy’, a new form of democracy.

From: 5min.com on AOL on Fri, Jan 07 2011 3:17 AM

Frances Moore Lappe talks about how we can overcome fear. She says humans have been programmed to react to fear since our earliest beginnings. Fear has a new meaning in the 21st century and we must find new ways of reacting to and overcoming fear.