Exoteric environmentalism
‘Exotericenvironmentalism’ is a blog about how environmental issues affect people, wildlife and the planet. It attempts to be exoteric in the sense that it discusses, in the context of current issues and topics, how our lives are shaped by, or have an effect on, the environment- rather than presenting technical environmental theories or science in isolation. The aim is to relate, and bridge the gap, between environmentalism as a subject/philosophy (which, in my view, is too often seen/portrayed as an esoteric set of ideals held by a minority), and the issues which affect individuals, and society in general. Fundamentally it attempts to demonstrate that environmentalism is not a distinct lifestyle choice- but that life, for us all, is inextricably environmental.
This beautifully shot little video captures cycling in a different light…
If cycling is to be promoted as a key lifestyle choice, particularly in the case of young and urban populations, then attention should be given to how successful services/products are targeted as such groups. As such, the way in which a product is ‘packaged’ and marketed is vital- and, as such, developing an appealing ‘brand’ is often key to its success.
The lighting, the camera shots, the slick editing, the music score, the fit and athletic individuals, the location… this video utilises so many of the techniques that modern adverts and promotional campaigns so cleverly use to emotively engage with, and appeal to, an audience.
In a way, if you were to remove the bikes in this video, and replace them with a couple of sports cars- you would have an advert that bears resemblance to something that many of us see every day on our televisions. If cycling is to be in the mainstream, then it needs to appeal to the mainstream. If cycling is to rival the car as an urban mobility solution, then maybe it needs to match it at its own game: how it sells itself…
I’ve entered the following post, a slight revision of an earlier blog entry, into the IUCN’s Environmental Media Awards, with the potential prize on offer of a trip to the IUCN conference in South Korea later this year. The competition requires individuals to enter a short article on an issue that connects nature and human well-being- something i feel the concept of natural capital is central to.
If you’d like to vote for my article, you can do via the IUCN facebook page by accessing this link: http://s-hq.it/K6z1cr, where you can ‘like’ my entry. Furthermore, you can access other articles- or you may feel compelled to put in an entry yourself…
Give a man a fish: Nurturing natural capital
‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime’ is a familiar adage used by charities and NGOs to promote enduring international development programs, rather than simply providing short term aid and relief.
It’s an issue which relates to improving levels of ‘capital’ in society (a concept central to the IHDP’s recent ‘Inclusive Wealth Report’), achieved by investing in, and enhancing, resilient resources of built (e.g. technology and infrastructure), human (e.g. health and knowledge) and social (e.g. relationships and co-operation) resources. By ‘showing a man how to catch fish’ social and human capital in a community is increased through knowledge transfer, allowing individuals to utilise and consume available natural capital (e.g. natural resources and ecological processes) to provide for their on-going fundamental physiological needs.
However, with increasing demand for, and consumption of, such natural capital, many of our learned (and increasingly industrialised) practices of how we ‘catch fish’ (both in a literal sense, and furthermore in relation to wider resource consumption) are unsustainable. From pollution/ inefficient utilisation of our water supplies, the removal of nutrients from soil, the elimination of natural pollinators, the over farming/fishing of food stocks… we are negatively impacting the planet’s capacity to provide us the goods and services it supplies for free, and on which we rely for our survival.
This is not to say that we should stop consuming nature- I am no advocate of some kind of ‘environmental resource abstinence’. It is because I believe humanity (both currently alive, and future generations) should all be allowed the opportunity to benefit from what nature provides, that I support its protection and conservation. Our delivery of international aid, governance of economic systems, running of corporations, controlling of public services, and, fundamentally, the individual lifestyle choices we make, all contribute to the levels of natural capital available for society. Establishing levels of sustainable consumption that conserve this natural capital, as well as practices and behaviours to achieve them, are in our interests now, and for the future.
It could be said that we need to extend our understanding and application of the ‘fish adage’ to something like: ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime; implement sustainable fishing practices and he can feed himself, his family, his community, and future generations for years to come’.
Like most good maxims, this is relevant in a literal sense, and furthermore in a more universal and figurative context- in this case in relation to global economic, social and environmental development.
Lochranza, Arran, Scotland
Tighnabruaich and the Kyles of Bute, Scotland
‘Beautiful Life’ by Martin Roth
Nice tune. Nice cinematography. Nice portrayal of the aesthetic beauty and value of some of our planet’s ecosystems, and biodiversity they support.
The beauty of our environment is one of the range of benefits it offers. As discussed in the posts ‘A bigger picture, and the benefits of cultural ecosystem services’ and ‘To value nature, is in our very nature’, protecting, conserving, and sustaining it doesn’t only have significant scientific, social and economic justifications- but its inherent beauty and sublimity provides/enhances human happiness and joy. Considering we celebrate, and spend so much money and effort, in trading and maintaining the material depictions of our natural environment, it seems we should do our utmost to preserve the very inspiration for these works.
Our environment’s ecosystems and biodiversity, which underpin all life on our planet, is something that we, as humanity, are inextricably linked to, part of, and dependent upon. It truly is a ‘beautiful life’, because life is, intrinsically, beautiful.
Nice little video from Conservation International, combining beautiful images with some facts about the vital ecosystem services that our oceans and seas provide us.
Give a man a fish…
The phrase ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime’ is a familiar adage used to convey the longer term benefits achieved through knowledge sharing and education- compared to the short-termism of simple alms ‘giving’.
It’s a maxim that is used by charities and NGOs to support development programs that are not simply focused on providing short term aid, such as food and medical supplies, but to seek to improve and enhance the fundamental conditions that are often at the root of the need to provide aid in the first instance. This can be done by investing in and enhancing strong and resilient resources of built (e.g. technology and infrastructure), human (e.g. health and knowledge) and social (e.g. relationships and co-operation) capital- all of which contribute to the positive functioning of societies.
As such, wide scale knowledge sharing and education is at the crux of developing the human and social capital within societies- and ‘teaching a man how to catch a fish’ (rather than simply giving him one), will, in a the context of a society, instil the knowledge required for individuals to utilise and consume available natural capital (e.g. natural resources and ecological processes) to provide a community’s on-going fundamental practical needs.
However, with increasing pressures on, demands for, and consumption of, such natural capital (both in a local, and global sense) many of our learned (and increasingly industrialised) practices of how we ‘catch fish’ (both in a literal sense, and furthermore in relation to global resource consumption in general) are unsustainable- and are degrading these sources of natural capital on which we rely. From polluting, and inefficient utilisation, of our water supply; the removal of nutrients from soil; the elimination of natural pollinators; the over farming/fishing of food stocks leading to their collapse…. we are negatively impacting the planet’s capacity to provide us these goods and services it offers us for free- and on which we fundamentally rely for our survival.
This is not to say that we should stop consuming nature- I am no advocate of some kind of ‘environmental resource abstinence’- and that humanity should not benefit from what nature provides. It is, in fact, because I believe humanity- both those alive just now, and those who are to live in the future- should be allowed the opportunity to benefit from such goods and services provided by nature, that I support the notion that we should protect and conserve it.
How we deliver aid and international development, develop our national and international economies, run our businesses and corporations, control our communities and public services, and, fundamentally, live our individual lifestyles- will all contribute to the levels of natural capital available for our use. Establishing levels of sustainable consumption, as well as practices and behaviours to meet them, are in our interests now, and in the future.
It could be said that we need extend our understanding and application of the ‘fish adage’ to something along the lines:
‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime; implement sustainable fishing practices and you will allow him to feed himself, his family, his community, and his future generations for years to come’
Like all good sayings and maxims, this is relevant in a literal sense in relation to how one man consumes a fish, but furthermore true in a wider, more universal, context in relation to global economic, social and environmental development.
Moon, Venus, and cherry blossom.
Glasgow Green, Glasgow
Fire in the sky
2012 is proving quite a year for viewing the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, with increased solar activity in the last few months resulting in more spectacular, and widespread, occurrences of the phenomenon.
There have been a number of fantastic images and videos on the net recently- each capturing the beauty of this natural spectacle. This time lapse video, taken of the lights over northern Norway in recent weeks, has been uploaded by National Geographic- and is, quite simply, stunning.
EarthSky is a website that I’ve recently started visiting- and also following through social media channels. With a focus on the natural sciences, but also touching on social sciences and the humanities, it is a fantastic resource of clear and engaging scientific information and knowledge. With contributions from experts and scientists, presented in a simple format (including excellent podcasts and visualisations)- it strikes the balance of trusted information with engaging presentation.
Through its breadth of content coverage- from the micro level, via its material discussing biodiversity on Earth, to the infinitely macro, in its information on space and astronomy- it infers and demonstrates the interdependence and interconnectivity of so many of these issues. Its objective
“To bring the ideas, strategies, and research results of scientists to people around the world, with the goal of illuminating pathways to a sustainable future”
is something that I really admire, and, in some small way, try to aspire to in the content of my blog (particularly from an environmental perspective).
I definitely recommend having a look around the site- and signing up for its facebook/ twitter/ email updates.
(Guardian datablog, while you may have been pushed into second place in my list of favourite websites, I’ll still, nonetheless, come visit you too…)
