Sunday, 13 July 2014
My response to a blog post named "Stop being so nice and start being more real"
This is my response to a blog I just read called "Stop being so nice and start being more real" by Eric J Romero, link at the bottom of the page. I had to blog it as LinkedIn only has a few hundred character long posts, hence why this was too long to post.
I certainly believe that you have to be 'real' in this world, and you certainly can be real and nice at the same time too. At the same time the term 'real' is a hard one to define and could take up a whole other topic to try and explain ( my other blog post http://janinemarshall.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/what-is-real-does-scientific-way-of.html). however, on the subject of happiness... I would highly recommend a documentary called 'Happy' by Roko Belic.
It takes a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy. A professor called Ed Diener has been trying to measure human happiness called 'Positive Psychology' just like one can try and measure depression or anxiety. He determined that it can be measured by what's called our 'genetic set point'. Our genes have 50% to do with it, only 10% of our happiness is contributed by our circumstances such as job/money ad 40% is from whats called 'Intentional Activity', stuff we can do daily, simple positive behaviour that creates what he called 'Flow' - an dopamine rush.
It has been long known that 'poorer' people in this world are actually a lot happier in their lives. They have a set value system with intrinsic goals - Personal growth, desire to help one another, relationships mean so much and also have a very secure community connection which was found to be key. They recognised that there is always something far more greater to care about than the 'self'. They show truly altruistic behaviour, behaviour that we all know that appears to have very few negative associations and that brings people together.
A person who donates blood, volunteers, people who even risks their own lives to save another, all are very altruistic behaviours. There are also things that we tend not to notice that are very common and that we simply take for granted, holding a door open for someone, picking up something someone has dropped, giving someone directions... these are all prosocial acts and nothing about them are fake.
For a long time now it has been debated whether any prosocial act - no matter how generous and unselfish it may appear on the surface - is truly an indication of altruistic behaviour. When people offer money to someone who is homeless is their actions motivated by a pure desire to help, or are they alleviating their own discomfort? Humans ave a natural compassion for one another, yes there are some people out there you would class as 'evil' but this negative behaviour is caused by something - the stats above!
Whether or not something is 'genuine' or 'real' is missing the point, even if other motives are operating, if a persons ultimate goal in helping someone is to benefit that other person, then the behaviour is altruistic, it is nice. I definitely agree with you by saying you have to keep it as real as you can, be genuine, be who you were born to be, be open to change, to personal growth and realise we are all different. This will make our relationships stronger, our workplaces better and our societies stronger too. Share the love my peeps :)
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140713124122-12357314-stop-being-so-nice-start-being-more-real?goback=%2Empd2_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_20140713124122*512357314*5stop*5being*5so*5nice*5start*5being*5more*5real&trk=prof-post
Saturday, 14 June 2014
It's been a while
I know its been AGES since I posted on here. My scientific mind still very much active as I am doing a new double degree in BSc Applied Geology and Environmental Biology.... I just seemed to have forgotten about my blogs.
Anyway - I will indeed be blogging a bit more now and will continue the awesomeness and sharing cool science stuff :D
I got asked the other day "So Janine, why do you study..and love, geology and biology so much?" Well.... THIS is why!
Just check out the total awesomeness of this place... a dream come true for a person such as myself, and well I hope everyone else :)
http://www.demilked.com/nordic-landscape-nature-photography-iceland/
Enjoy :)
Anyway - I will indeed be blogging a bit more now and will continue the awesomeness and sharing cool science stuff :D
I got asked the other day "So Janine, why do you study..and love, geology and biology so much?" Well.... THIS is why!
Just check out the total awesomeness of this place... a dream come true for a person such as myself, and well I hope everyone else :)
http://www.demilked.com/nordic-landscape-nature-photography-iceland/
Enjoy :)
Monday, 4 November 2013
Unlimited Life Plan
It has been a while since I blogged anything.
To be honest, I have not been particularly interested in a great deal the past months - call it the Winter blues (actually, I love winter so just call it the blues). I have been thinking a lot about the direction of my life. I had this type of period 2.5 years ago when I decided to make the transition into Uni, now I am wondering whether I need to be studying something else to create the life and career I want. Trouble is, I am not too sure what that is.
How do we create the life and career we want? Where do we start? What direction do we take? Well, in order to manifest new energy and success in my life, our lives, what's needed is a vision, a plan, a detailed image of what the next destination looks like and then formalise a map of how to get there. Life can go off course at times, but being able to rely on your vision and map can bring you back on course, and, of course, you can change it if you want to.
So, I read this book by Keri Smith called 'Living Out Loud' and there was a chapter inside called 'Determining A Destination" with 19 questions that helped you to develop your own personal map. You had to answer these questions as if YOU WERE ALREADY living your ideal life. You had to think big, dream big, get into character and imagine that the person who you wanted to be, you were!
It kinda helped put a few things into perspective, although, I did have several different maps, but a few questions were always answered the same. I think that this is a great little exercise to do if you ever feel, just like I have been feeling, slightly off track, or as I like to say, "Slightly spun off my axis". It helps clear your mind and have some idea of a direction you want to head for.
Id like to share with you these questions and you may wish to create your own map if you ever feel the same.
"
1/ Where do you live? Describe what your home looks like.
2/ What kind of people have you surrounded yourself with?
3/ Who are your best friends? What makes those relationships work?
4/ What do you do on a daily basis that fulfills your emotional, spiritual and physical needs?
5/ Look at the clothes you are wearing. What do they say about you?
6/ How would you describe your chosen profession?
7/ Describe your work setting.
8/ Whom do you work with?
9/ Describe your ideal client/work relationship.
10/ What do you enjoy most about your career?
11/ How much money do you make?
12/ What do you spend your money on?
13/ Have you acquired any awards or honors?
14/ Describe how you think your peers view you.
15/ How do you view yourself?
16/ What do your admirers say about you and your work?
17/ What would you like to contribute to your field?
18/ What would you like to contribute to your community?
19/ How do you enjoy your spare time?
"
Smith. K. 2003. Living Out Loud. Chronicle Books. CA
* REMEMBER - answer these questions as if you were ALREADY living your ideal life... your answers may surprise you. Enjoy the journey.
Friday, 30 August 2013
Environmental Education for Sustainability
Environmental education for Sustainability is an integrated process which deals with mans inter-relationship with his/her natural and man made surroundings including the relation of population growth, pollution, resource allocation and depletion, conservation, technology, and urban and rural planning to the total human environment.
Environmental education for Sustainability is a study of the factors influencing ecosystems, mental and physical health, living and working conditions, decaying Cities, and population pressures. It is intended to promote among citizens the awareness and understanding of the environment, our relationship to it, and the concern and responsible action necessary to assure our survival and to improve the quality of life.
Environmental education for Sustainability values the capacity of individuals and groups to reflect on personal experiences and world views and to challenge accepted ways of interpreting and engaging with the world. It recognises participation as critical for engaging groups and individuals in sustainability and focuses on the use of genuine partnerships to build networks and relationships, and improve communication between different sectors of society.
Environmental education of Sustainability promotes:
Understanding by going beyond awareness raising to address the underlying issues causing the unsustainable practices.
Values Clarification by creating a sense of personal relevance in and connection to, change for sustainability.
People as the key to change by promoting capacity. Building opportunities that harness the individuals to act as agents of change.
Systemic change by helping learners develop skills that influence change within a system, organisation or wider society.
Alternative futures by using positive methods such as futures thinking to create alternatives to the current situation that lead to action plans for change.
Environmental Education for Sustainability builds the capacity of the learner with the skills for sustainability. Which is why I think it is a very important key player for a more sustainable future.
I would like to share with you a comprehensive list that I was given of many WA organisations, government bodies and text that are all active in Environmental Education for Sustainability.
I think you will be surprised at just how many there are and find them very informative indeed.
Enjoy :)
Environmental
Education & Policy Documents
Environmental
Education Providers & Programs Fostering Sustainable Behaviour
Conservation Volunteers
Australia (Australian
Trust for Conservation Volunteers)
We Are What We Do (Change
the World)
Change the World for Ten
Bucks (about the
Pilot Light Book)
Sites
and Centres
Environmental
Education Associations & Resources
NAAEE: Environmental
Education on the internet
EPA- Office of Environmental Education
UNESCO Environmental Education for Sustainable Development
EPA- Office of Environmental Education
UNESCO Environmental Education for Sustainable Development
Particularly
relevant journals accessible through the Murdoch Library include (but are not
limited to):
Environmental
Organisations and Information
Minister for the Environment (National)
Government Cabinet Ministers
in WA
Office of the Appeals
Convenor
Australian
Heritage Commission
EPA Victoria
Murray
Darling Basin Authority
United States EPA
Agriculture
Fisheries and Forestry - Australia
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Bureau
of Meteorology
United Nations Environment Programme
Australian State of the
Environment Report
This
site contains the entire contents of the Australia State of the Environment
Reports. The intent of this report is to capture and present, in as accurate
and useful a format as practicable, key information on the state of the
'environment' in terms of: its current condition; the pressures on it and the
drivers of those pressures; and management initiatives in place to address
environmental concerns, and the impacts of those initiatives. The new SoE
report (2011) is due to be tabled in parliament later this year.
WA State of the
Environment Report
This online document reports on the condition of
the State's environment, the major environmental issues facing the State, and
identifies what we are doing, and should be doing, to improve the environment.
The EPA encourages all West Australians to consider the report and to develop
appropriate actions in response.
Regional
NRM Groups
SERCUL (South
East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare)
EMRC (East
Metropolitan Regional Council)
SMRC (South
Metropolitan Regional Council)
WMRC (Western
Metropolitan Regional Council)
MWRC (Mid
West Regional Council)
Non
Government Organisations (NGOs)
Friends
of Groups
Miscellaneous
sources
Taking Action: An
environmental guide for you and your community.
Earthtrends: The Environmental Information Portal
Environmental Idea Vault
Education
& Curriculum Links
Evaluation
Environmental
Education for Sustainability
WA State of the
Environment Report
This
reports on the condition of the State's environment, the major environmental
issues facing the State, and identifies what we are doing, and should be doing,
to improve the environment.
WA State of the
Environment Report - Overview
Hope for the Future: The
WA State Sustainability Strategy
Journals:
Books:
Survival for
a small planet: the sustainable development agenda. (Bigg, 2004)
Jones , P.,
Selby, D. and Sterling, S. (eds.), (2010) Sustainability Education: Perspectives
and Practice Across Higher Education. London: Earthscan.
Environmental
Education in Action
Education
and Teaching Strategies
UNESCO Environmental Education
Teaching & Learning Strategies
Curriculum Council (for Curriculum
Framework & Progress Maps)
Education and
Curriculum links
Values
Education
United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation: Teaching and learning for a
sustainable future, Module 20, Values Education
Values Education for Australian
Schooling
Futures
Education
The Futures Foundation
New Renaissance – focused on preferred futures
The World Future Society
Futurist.com
Emergent Futures
Future Studies
Nick Bostrom is the Director of the Future of Humanity Institute
at Oxford University. “I try to think about the future in a different way
than that traditionally associated with "future studies". I don't
know how to describe what is different about my approach; I can only illustrate
it by presenting you with some of my papers.”
Sustainability
and Environmental Politics
Remember Lake Pedder
Time frame, ABC
documentary on Lake Pedder
Politics and Environmental Education
Evaluating
and Reporting
Environmental
Hope
Tim Flannery Finds Hope (ABC1 Big Ideas program)
Review of Tim
Flannerys ‘Here On Earth: An
Argument For Hope’
HOPE Australia (Householders'
Options to Protect the Environment)
Earth Hour: Aiming for hope in a darkened world
Earth Hour’s global relay
of hope and action crosses the Atlantic (Official Earth hour Blog
entry)
We are what we do (Check out the Action
Tracker!)
Pilot Light (Change the World!)
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