Course Endex

OK so the course ended rather abruptly for me. Work kind of took over what with the submission of a couple of proposals and all the related work with it, as well as managing exhibition space and having to nip down to the capital for briefing events.

So I didn't get a chance to submit a poster and an assignment which kind of sucks.

Nevertheless I still think I've taken a heck of a lot away from the course. It's opened my eyes as to the various approaches to and actions happening to promote sustainability and I've also learnt how I can do more to promote sustainability in both work and private life.

According to the site I did 88% of the course, so I qualify for the certificate....but to be honest I'm not paying the fee to get a certificate - I've signed up to 5 Courses, and that would be well over £100.

Call me tight fisted but that's a waste of money.

Anyway - on to Course number 2!

Check out my new blog for the next course: UNDERSTANDING MODERN BUSINESS & ORGANISATIONS

Blog can be seen here: http://nickeyley.blogspot.com/

My thoughts for the future...

It is possibly not a wise idea to ask me such an open ended question like "what are your thoughts for the future"

My mind instantly wanders off to monkey ruled planets with the Statue of Liberty buried in the beach - or alien invasions blowing up the White House.....(Hollywood inspired much!)

Talking of Hollywood - Perhaps I should be thinking of films like that one where Dennis Quaid predicts the next Ice Age and no one believes him until it's too late...and Mexico ends up saving America.

Well chaps - we've got the evidence and a big budget movie to prove it - don't get caught unprepared!

 Reigning my mind in like an unruly toddler on bungee ropes for a second - what can I see the future being for me?!

Well as long as I keep paying off my mortgage thereby keeping a roof over my head, and food on the table - I guess I'd be happy.

I mean, most of us have daydreamed about winning the lottery and indulging in the sports car / holiday / castle / personal rugby stadium in the garden / etc. but being completely honest for a second - Personally I'd be happy with being comfortable...and by being comfortable I mean having enough of everything to plod on with my time on this planet with my family and friends.

Oh...you mean future resources wise?

Well I guess the same answers apply really - I'd be happy with being comfortable.

I mean I already try to be frugal with the gas / water and electricity I use, I've got a little wood burner fire that quickly heats the whole downstairs of my Semi-Detached house if I burn enough sustainably sourced wood.

I'm the type of person who would go and put a jumper on before whacking the heating on full blast.

With the price of energy being what it is, and with it only going one way, I can see myself using the log burner more and more - thankfully I live near a wood, so worst case scenario I take my axe out on walks with me.

Longer term...

I see petrol & diesel being swapped for hydrogen in vehicles, once they get the fuel storage methods safe and cheap enough! I can see the Big 6 energy companies fighting over scraps of natural resources and pricing each other out of the market - and I can see more and more solar / wind energy generating methods springing up across the country...

...unless we're all flooded by then. (on the bright side we could use hydro power then!)

Either way I'll be alright I'm sure - I live on a hill, with a wood, a log burner, an axe....and a semi efficient guard dog.

The Sustainable Forests Partnership (SFP)

As part of the Sustainability MOOC I've been researching The Sustainable Forests Partnership (SFP).

By the time I've reached Google searches I can tell the SFP are going to be World Savers...and I'm right, they're so sustainable they don't even use computers to update the website!

http://sfp.cas.psu.edu/

"Last modified Thursday, June 2, 2011 12:48"

Anyway, back to business:

• What impact are these initiatives having? Can you cite short examples of impact?

Well, this initiative aims to raise awareness and document initatives into sustaining rests and communities and assists others to integrate this innovation into policy and practice. It generates impact by:

• Identifying key sustainable forestry issues and trends
• Designing and conducting sustainable forestry research
• Developing education and training materials and events
• Providing assistance services to organizations and individuals interested in sustainable forestry issues.

They show(ed) good intentions...but having noticed this website page was last updated in 2008 I'm starting to wonder if they've fallen by the wayside.

Their "latest" projects from 2011 give impact by raising awareness to the public on various issues regarding societal interaction with forests.

Truth be told I haven't read these in depth, but if they can't (for whatever reason) update a website in over three years or more, I can't be mithered to read their "Current" projects.

• How are they proving able to cover the three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, social equity and economic viability? Or if not, which ones don’t they cover?

The goals of the SFP are all aimed at raising awareness.

From the examples I have read, it seems they cover vaguely the pillars of sustainability. By raising awareness through project reporting they promote environmental protection and social equity.

Without going in to these in depth it doesn't seem like they really cover economic viability - and even if I did research this in depth - would the outcomes themselves be viable?

The data itself is three years out of date...Any Impact they had has now been superseded.

Learning to date...

During the course so far I have learnt the following:

a) Everyone’s opinions, however different, have an echo of wanting to do something positive regarding sustainability. I haven’t seen anyone state that they want to see the world burn. That’s also taught me that maybe we’re inherently a good bunch of people…

b) I've learnt about myself, and my attitudes to sustainability and how they’re ingrained by my culture, heritage and past growing up, and how I could potentially change my lifestyle for the benefit of myself, and my environment. 

I always thought I was pretty good at being sustainable – I recycle, I reduce my gas and electric consumption by using a log burner etc.  But this course has shown me how little I’m doing compared to what is possible.

c) Sustainability is not just about halting the melting ice caps, or reducing our carbon footprint. It is those things, but it’s so much more. It’s about an attitude change to reduce the negative impact we have on the world in everything we do.

Reading the comments of some other people posting up on the MOOC, some of the answers to things people have put are pretty threadbare - they could answer in more detail. They answer the questions sure, but they could include detail on why they've answered, how they reaching that opinion and what has led them to that conclusion.

Maybe it’s because I’m nosy, but I’d like to get a bit of background, a feel behind the person posting up the answer – It would help me to understand their attitudes and why they’re saying what they do. I try to do it in my posts and certainly in this blog as it’s my space to explain my opinions and the attitudes I have, and that’s OK right?

Heritage as Propoganda

There's a black and white photo my father took in the midst of the UK miners' strike (1984–1985) of a toddler, clearly scared and unable to process the chaos around him.  There's tears welling up in his innocent eyes and running down his dirt smudged face. His knitted woolen jumper is torn and his mop of blonde hair is filthy. He's stood in the middle of the street, in front of a pile of smoking rubble - completely alone.

This image, due to the age of its subject was unable to be published in the media. Had it been, it would have been more poignant, and said ten times more than any of the arguments of that day.

I have only seen that image once, but whenever anyone talks about the Miners' strikes I can't help but think of that nameless toddler and feel the anguish and desperation in his eyes.

I've tried to write this piece from an unbiased perspective, stating only facts relevant to the message I want to convey. I have my opinions on the UK miners' strikes as I'm sure you, the reader do too.

The message I wanted to get across is how one single image, of an unknown innocent child from one part of society, taken at a time of huge divide can have such massive impact on me still, over 28 years later.

Anthropocentricity Vs Ecocentricity...and donkeys.

Ignore the title. I possibly just made up two new words. Hurrah!

Am I anthropocentric or am I eco-centric...well let's look at the evidence:

Do I think I am a dominant species in nature? -  Yes. 

I mean I've learned the knowledge and skill to light a fire, drive cars, use tin openers, and knock up a cracking spaghetti bolognese - something I'm willing to bet the average donkey can't do. BUT does that really make me the most significant species on the planet?

Am I more important to nature than a donkey? or a plant for that matter? - No, probably not. 

I don't really contribute to nature the way a plant does. I don't take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen like they do...in fact just the opposite.

Hang on, does that make us equals? And therefore am I too anthropocentric? Should I be eco-centric?

Honestly - the more I think about it the more I get confused, I think i've reached a counter-counter-counter argument in my head. So, let's make it simple. 

Every species has evolved in some method or manner. The chameleon has a massively effective method of defence, far superior to a human whose best method of camouflage so far is some form of disruptive pattern material.

HOWEVER... humans have developed rapidly in the past 200 years, creating tools to survive more easily and make our lives better: For example - Cars, Electricity, Nuclear Power,... and Rugby Union....and then if I think about donkeys, (which I am one to do)...well let's face it, what have donkeys done in the last 200 years...other than worn footpaths into the beach at Blackpool?

HOWEVER - Donkeys haven't started wars because they didn't like other religions leading to the deaths of millions of other donkeys....Donkeys don't have to pay more taxes because donkey bankers have ruined the country and donkeys don't have to visit the mother in law when the 6 Nations is on this weekend.

So really - who's the more clevererererist species?

Well played donkeys, well played. 

Quick update on the MOOC

Well blimey - Everything has gone a little turbo at work at the moment. I've not had a spare minute to give to either writing blogs or thinking about sustainability.

As my old teachers used to say - "must do better!"

So recently I've been working on a new exhibition space, which demonstrates all the impact of the research outcomes in the Faculty of Engineering. The new Technology Demonstrator showcases 13 pieces of innovative impact across a whole range of societal areas.

Out of all of these fantastic exhibition pieces (and they're all massively impressive, seriously the output of the University of Nottingham is amazing!) I have noticed myself thinking about the impact on sustainability.

For example - Drill cuttings for oil off shore - The technology demonstrator showcases new developments and procedures to remove residual oil  in this waste to under 1% (from a standard minimum of ~15%)  - Therefore meaning cleaner seas and oceans, and saving on transport costs which saves fuel and emissions etc.

On top of this we now demonstrate developments, benefits and therefore improvements in Sustainability across agricultural, architectural, road safety, nano-materials, health preservation, manufacturing and many more I'm neglecting to mention.

Writing this blog and going back over thinking about the exhibitions I've worked with recently, it's just dawned on me...

There's a hell of a lot of thought going in to sustainability across everything we're researching.

We'll have this planet fixed in no time.