Energy solutions

COMMUNITY: The need to stem the fear of an uncertain future is great today. Racism, xenophobia, violence and authoritarianism are growing all over the world. We present here some alternatives to this.

NAMIBIA: Dependence on Russian gas, Putin's war of aggression in Ukraine and provoked supply crises have put energy at the center of European politics. But in Namibia, the plan is now to focus on 'green' electricity where seawater is desalinated and produces hydrogen through electrolysis.

BRIEFING: Here we present a unique role model in Norwegian press history.

Energy: MODERN TIMES's commentator Ole Seifert will in future regularly cover ecological technology and innovations. Various innovations in energy and power are presented here: ocean current turbines, solar power with ferroelectric crystals, hemp batteries and mechanical storage of excess power – which replaces batteries.

ECOLOGY: We need such voices as Holly Jean Buck, who criticizes wishful thinking – precisely to help bring forward a hopeful, serious and long-lasting climate fight, beyond all easy optimism.

DEMOCRACY: According to Yanis Varoufakis, his DiEM25 was the first to present a green new agreement – one that was comprehensive, radical and realistic at the same time.

EUROPE: MODERN TIMES recently visited the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and met one of the founders of the Conference on the Future of Europe – where the following topics have been discussed: democratic values, climate change, social justice and job security, human rights, European defense and digital transformation. This is the basis for ORIENTATION this time, as we have asked a number of Norwegian opinion leaders about much of the same on the following pages. And here with Daniel Freund, who is a member of the Die Grünen party in Germany, we couldn't avoid talking about climate.

THE GLOCAL: Citizens' councils can revitalize Europe. Their success depends both on their ability to strengthen the EU's participatory political processes, and on greater responsiveness to citizens' local communities. Here we look at how the first "European Commons Assembly" provided an opportunity for information-based political reforms together – based on social and ecological sustainability.

WOMEN OF CHANGE: MODERN TIMES is talking to experienced Sandrine Dixson-Declève this time about sustainable growth and green development. She is now the leader of the European Commission's Expert Group for Research and Innovation.

Lignite is the dirtiest of all power sources. Ny Tid recently visited the shrinking Jänschwalde mine in Germany. Visits to the mining landscape were previously strictly forbidden to the public.

Energy Security provides important knowledge about the interaction between energy security, economic growth, ecological sustainability and social justice. 

Two widely different Canadian documentaries both delve into the relationship between energy and the environment.

China's new Silk Road is presented as a technical investment project, but has political effects we cannot possibly overlook.