Exoteric environmentalism

Hello. This is my main blog in which I attempt to communicate my thoughts and feelings about my passion and main work interest: how environmental issues affect people, wildlife and the planet.

If viewing a single post, click on the heading above to access my full blog. You can also select the links below:

'What is my blog all about?'- for more info on this blog.

'Photography'- to see my (and other people's) photographic posts of Scotland and elsewhere.

'Interconnected nomad'- for my side blog on my cycling experiences.

'Porridge of knowledge'- for my throwaway blog about everything.

I'm on twitter as @jamesbonner82
Two interrelated weblinks caught my eye on social media this week- Time magazine’s ‘Timelapse’, which integrates Google Maps’ satellite imagery over the last 30 years- and the piece ‘When Earth is Scarred Forever’ by i09 (linked to via the ever insightful Stockholm Resilience Centre). Both highlight an array of images from our planet, in which human development and its impacts (from resource extraction, agricultural land use change, urbanisation, etc) can be seen in pretty significant, and dramatic, manifestations. Combining the two tools, and searching for some of the i09 examples using the Timelapse application, unearths (an appropriate term, considering the mining theme…) some quite remarkable examples of human generated global physical environmental impacts resulting from our recent, and ongoing, exploitation of the planet on an industrial scale in the era of the ‘anthropocene’.   Image- Mirny Mine, Russia: via aforementioned i09 article.

Two interrelated weblinks caught my eye on social media this week- Time magazine’s ‘Timelapse’, which integrates Google Maps’ satellite imagery over the last 30 years- and the piece ‘When Earth is Scarred Forever’ by i09 (linked to via the ever insightful Stockholm Resilience Centre).

Both highlight an array of images from our planet, in which human development and its impacts (from resource extraction, agricultural land use change, urbanisation, etc) can be seen in pretty significant, and dramatic, manifestations. Combining the two tools, and searching for some of the i09 examples using the Timelapse application, unearths (an appropriate term, considering the mining theme…) some quite remarkable examples of human generated global physical environmental impacts resulting from our recent, and ongoing, exploitation of the planet on an industrial scale in the era of the ‘anthropocene’.  

Image- Mirny Mine, Russia: via aforementioned i09 article.

Landscapes of colour on Earth Day

Landscapes of colour on Earth Day

interconnectednomad: thisbigcity: inrng: Infographic from Lonely Planet travel guide to the Netherlands. Basically the Dutch love bikes.  I’ve read something I quite like that demonstrates the extent to which cycling is integrated into the Dutch cultural psyche- they have 2 distinct terms for ‘cyclists’. As I understand it there are:  Fietser- which is generally the persona of the everyday cyclist who uses their bike for getting around, for fun, doesn’t wear any specialist clothing, etc. (As the graphic shows- this is vast majority of the population riding about on city bikes.) Wielrenner- (wheel runner) which is a cyclist who undertakes the activity as a sporting pursuit- road racing, track cycling, cyclo-cross, etc- and therefore probably wears adapted clothing, uses a specialist bike, undertakes specific training.  Like in the UK, where pretty much most people would probably describe themselves as a ‘pedestrian’ (at least at times)- less people might call themselves a ‘walker’ (or hiker/trekker/rambler). We acknowledge that many of us regularly perform the action of ‘walking’ to get about our environments in our everyday lives- but less of us would say we undertake the activity as a specialist recreational or sporting pursuit. It seems that as the concept of people cycling in the Netherlands is so mainstream, the Dutch understand that while pretty much everyone is a ‘fietser’, less people are ‘wielrenners’. In fact, some people might swap between these personae depending on the cycling activity they are undertaking- and is a sign of ‘focal vocabulary’ (as per the ‘Eskimo words for snow’ adage)- acknowledging the range within a common concept or issue in a culture.  

interconnectednomad:

thisbigcity:

inrng:

Infographic from Lonely Planet travel guide to the Netherlands.

Basically the Dutch love bikes. 

I’ve read something I quite like that demonstrates the extent to which cycling is integrated into the Dutch cultural psyche- they have 2 distinct terms for ‘cyclists’. As I understand it there are: 

Fietser- which is generally the persona of the everyday cyclist who uses their bike for getting around, for fun, doesn’t wear any specialist clothing, etc. (As the graphic shows- this is vast majority of the population riding about on city bikes.)

Wielrenner- (wheel runner) which is a cyclist who undertakes the activity as a sporting pursuit- road racing, track cycling, cyclo-cross, etc- and therefore probably wears adapted clothing, uses a specialist bike, undertakes specific training. 

Like in the UK, where pretty much most people would probably describe themselves as a ‘pedestrian’ (at least at times)- less people might call themselves a ‘walker’ (or hiker/trekker/rambler). We acknowledge that many of us regularly perform the action of ‘walking’ to get about our environments in our everyday lives- but less of us would say we undertake the activity as a specialist recreational or sporting pursuit.

It seems that as the concept of people cycling in the Netherlands is so mainstream, the Dutch understand that while pretty much everyone is a ‘fietser’, less people are ‘wielrenners’. In fact, some people might swap between these personae depending on the cycling activity they are undertaking- and is a sign of ‘focal vocabulary’ (as per the ‘Eskimo words for snow’ adage)- acknowledging the range within a common concept or issue in a culture.  

Reacting to risk ‘Six months ago, scientists were jailed for failing to warn of the deadly earthquake that hit L’Aquila, Italy. Now evacuations are issued more readily.’- Photo and article via bbc.co.uk The (unintended) consequence of this decision last year in Italy has created a perverse situation. What has a greater detrimental impact on someone/society’s lifestyle? The actual risk of something happening, or the perception of risk that it might have an impact? Understanding, and making decisions based on this, will be an increasingly relevant issue for both wider society, and individuals, as problems of environmental degradation, climate change, resource scarcity and population growth combine in the future to create new/increased risks to humanity and the planet- with the impacts and consequences communicated through technology.Not to undermine them as issues- because they are relevant and have/will have a real impact on people’s lives- but these problems are far greater/more substantial than the ones which dominate our politics on a daily basis.  Maybe too great- to either talk about, or to make decisions on…

Reacting to risk

‘Six months ago, scientists were jailed for failing to warn of the deadly earthquake that hit L’Aquila, Italy. Now evacuations are issued more readily.’- Photo and article via bbc.co.uk

The (unintended) consequence of this decision last year in Italy has created a perverse situation. What has a greater detrimental impact on someone/society’s lifestyle? The actual risk of something happening, or the perception of risk that it might have an impact? 

Understanding, and making decisions based on this, will be an increasingly relevant issue for both wider society, and individuals, as problems of environmental degradation, climate change, resource scarcity and population growth combine in the future to create new/increased risks to humanity and the planet- with the impacts and consequences communicated through technology.

Not to undermine them as issues- because they are relevant and have/will have a real impact on people’s lives- but these problems are far greater/more substantial than the ones which dominate our politics on a daily basis. 

Maybe too great- to either talk about, or to make decisions on…

porridgeofknowledge: Beating the opposition and the traffic by bike With the city traffic making her fear she would not make it to her match on time, Serena Williams took the decision to jump on a bike to get to her tie at the Miami Masters tennis tournament- subsequently going on to win her match easily. Afterwards she said “Riding to the match was probably one of my best memories ever.” That’s from a 15 times tennis Grand Slam winner.  Any more advocacy needed for cycling as one of the most appropriate forms of personal transport in 21st century cities? Photo and story via bbc.co.uk

porridgeofknowledge:

Beating the opposition and the traffic by bike

With the city traffic making her fear she would not make it to her match on time, Serena Williams took the decision to jump on a bike to get to her tie at the Miami Masters tennis tournament- subsequently going on to win her match easily.

Afterwards she said “Riding to the match was probably one of my best memories ever.”

That’s from a 15 times tennis Grand Slam winner. 

Any more advocacy needed for cycling as one of the most appropriate forms of personal transport in 21st century cities?

Photo and story via bbc.co.uk

porridgeofknowledge: I’m sad to hear that the famous author Chinua Achebe has died- but writers, particularly ones who have such wide sociological impact as he, live on through the influence of their literature. ‘Things Fall Apart’, ‘Home and Exile’ and ‘Hope and Impediments’ are all great works that give an alternative perspective of Africa, and life generally, than the Eurocentric mindset that dominates western society. Issues which are as relevant now, including to tackle ongoing challenges we face in areas such global poverty and environmental degradation, as when they were published. Photo source and obituary via bbc.co.uk

porridgeofknowledge:

I’m sad to hear that the famous author Chinua Achebe has died- but writers, particularly ones who have such wide sociological impact as he, live on through the influence of their literature. ‘Things Fall Apart’, ‘Home and Exile’ and ‘Hope and Impediments’ are all great works that give an alternative perspective of Africa, and life generally, than the Eurocentric mindset that dominates western society.

Issues which are as relevant now, including to tackle ongoing challenges we face in areas such global poverty and environmental degradation, as when they were published.

Photo source and obituary via bbc.co.uk

Is this really progress?

What image do we want for the future of our towns and cities- cars or children?

These images, as well as some more quite emotive picture comparisons depicting how many urban streets in Wales have changed from being safe places for children to play, interact, and grow- to be dominated by cars and traffic- are contained in the article How children lost out to cars in the battle for space on our streets by Walesonline.co.uk.

Identified via Copenhagenize.com

This links to numerous other posts I’ve written on these themes- including:

Negative externalities of urban car culture

Health impacts of air pollution

Significant drops in UK children travelling to school alone

‘We need stories that replace that linear narrative of endless growth with circular narratives that remind us that what goes around comes around. That this is our only home. There is no escape hatch. Call it karma, call it physics, action and reaction, call it precaution- the principle that reminds us that life is too precious to be risked for any profit.’

Excellent TED talk from Naomi Klein, filmed in December 2010, connecting the themes of environmental degradation, our reckless approach to risk in relation to nature, and the need for us to move from an economic mindset of limitless growth and unfettered consumption to one of precaution and prudence- appreciating the interconnection between the unrelenting impacts, and inescapable dependency, of humanity on the natural environment.