My video picture debut in my friends Band "The Dead Leaves"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0WxWaARwzg

I wish I had the guts to be in it physically but lesson learnt :/

Sustainable Development - What and How

The word Sustainability and Sustainable Development are being used more and more.  We live in a “system” where one thing is connected to another, when something interferes with one thing it has an effect on the other.  Our system, our planet is being thrown out of balance through unsustainable living.   Through intensive awareness we are now realizing that the way we live is having a dramatic effect on the environment and that we must start to find new ways in order to sustain the environment that sustains us.

The way in which sustainable development is defined can be in many different ways, and over the years has resulted in a wide range of quoted definitions.  The concept of sustainable development is discussed at a time when serious attention is needed due to environmental problems that have been caused by various human activities.  Sustainable development is not just one concept on its own, it involves various integrated areas including the environment, social capital and economic issues, therefore there should be a clear understanding of what sustainable development means in order to over come any issues that arise from these concepts. Can the terms such as “meeting human needs” and “maintaining balance” actually be possible to achieve.

Since the 1980s, sustainable development has been used to define the sustainability of humans on the planet, the definition that is frequently quoted and widely used is by the Brundland Commission, defining sustainable development as “meeting the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs” (Miller, E. and Buys, L.).  However, I would define sustainable development as resolving the conflict between human life and the integrity of nature to maintain the balance between them both for now and for future generations.   

Environmental protection and Economic development require Social development and neither Economic or Social development is possible in the long term without Environmental protection, so therefore sustainable development is an integration of all these key elements, “Those who think that sustainability is only a matter of pollution control are missing the bigger picture” (Elkington, John), therefore it is fundamental to ensure that we have integrated decision making between different departments and sectors to ensure that solutions are focused on all areas of sustainable development to try and maintain the balance between them.

So, how do we maintain the balance in order to achieve sustainable development?  In order to achieve balance, it is important that we remember where we belong and how we evolved to be here on the planet in the first place.  Evolution by natural selection is a principle of nature, but evolution is unappreciated and under assault.  Life has had the ability to maintain balance for 3.5 billion years and since humans have come along to dominate the planet this balance has been severely disrupted. The relationships between humans and nature has now changed, we have decided that the planet belongs to us and that all of its resources are ours for the taking.  In order to achieve balance, we need to reconnect with nature and this is something that we seem to be forgetting.  What is the limit of human needs, on what scale will human needs be satisfied and at what cost and will humanity always have the need for more and will we ever be satisfied.  How can we maintain any form of balance when all we do is keep taking.  Millions of people are now realizing where they belong in the world and are working together to make a difference for future generations, trying to get back the balance that we seem to have made unstable through our needs and wants.  We all have the ability to act and make a difference, by reassessing our wants and needs and reconnecting with the Earth we have the power to make significant changes.

“Only by acting, and acting ethically, can we redeem our humanity” (Hamilton, Clive).

References

Elkington, John (2001), “The ‘Triple Bottom Line’ for 21^st –century Business” in Starkey, Richard, and Welford, Richard, (eds), The Earthscan Reader in Business and Sustainable Development, London and Sterling, VA, Earthscan Publications, pp 23-24

Hamilton, Clive, 2010, “Reconstructing a future”, Requiem for a species: Why We Resist the Truth about Climate Change, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, pp 226

Miller, E. and Buys, L. (2008). The Role of Social Capital in Predicting and Promoting Feelings of Responsibility for Local Environmental Issues in an Australian Community. Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, 15(4), 232

Why is it that science cannot answer all questions and why do we question its validity when it comes to such things as Climate Change?

The threat of climate change is both a challenging and daunting one. 

Trying to comprehend the potentially threatening future scenarios that our planet and human race face can be very distressing and unsettling.  The awareness of climate change is being greatly brought to our attention either through the media or by people bringing about a lot of strong emotions.  The majority of people accepts what science is telling them and believes that climate change is real, others however deny these threats, disbelieving the science.  Now I am not saying that it is or isn’t a fact, If I have to be honest I am torn between the two.  I study Science at University, and I have also studied a unit in Climate Change – I believe that not only man made induced Climate Change is happening but also, the Earths natural geological processes are at work – we haven’t been around for that long to fully understand the dynamics of the Planet.  When we are subject to news that is seen as a threat to us and our way of life we begin to question the science, demanding answers that science cannot give us.  This is because human emotions play a significant role in the way in which we respond to such news.  

Emotions override our views, is this why we resist the possibility of potential threats such as climate change?

Emotions and their responses is human nature and is a way of protecting ourselves from outside threats for survival. When we are subjected to news that is seen as a threat to our way of life, our natural defense mechanisms set in.  As we evolved we developed patterns of emotions and we organized our culture and communities in a way that enabled us to survive. Jacques Thiroux states in his reading that it makes sense that human beings became aware of their surroundings and environment and also of each other, and worked together in order to get more things done (2009, pp. 172). The social and cultural way of thinking lead people to think, believe and perceive things in a certain way, everyone had their place.  Organized communities evolved to deal with outsiders, creating their own beliefs and cultures within their communities (Machamer, 1998).  Emotions are seen when those who argue for unlimited freedom and growth use ‘outsider’ emotions to defend their position. Their emotions are based on hostility and aggression towards opposing views, even sciences, including the threat of climate change, become enemies of this ‘free’ society. Their beliefs that hold firm is being challenged by science therefore they must do anything they can to destroy the challenge that they face. They believe that their future is determined and that there is only one outcome given the facts of the past and the laws of nature (McKenna, 2004).  The willingness to believe in climate change puts a strain on that person's worldview; people's beliefs are more strongly shaped and influenced by cultural values than the scientific evidence.

People are more likely to listen and accept things if they come from people who share the same values and beliefs. People are more willing to listen if the information is consistent with their already established point of view. Different cultures will always have apposing views and beliefs, cultural diversity is indeed a good thing but only if these views are to be respected by others (Sissela, 1995, 119).  The climate scientists are seen as a threat, the sceptics are fighting a ‘war’ because this group represents those with apposing views to their own, the ‘outsider’s’ view.  Are we responding effectively enough to threats such as climate change because we are too busy arguing and debating between ourselves about values and why science cannot give us all the answers.  In order to help us mentally cope with potential threats such threats as climate change, we go into a state of denial.  We try to explain away the facts that have been told to us as being far-fetched or that science has got it wrong and we question its validity or we simply dismiss it from our minds (Hamilton, 2010a, 97). This is a natural human instinct that we have been doing for civilizations and can be seen now with regards the skepticism that surrounds climate change.  If we accept that climate change is happening, then we have to emotionally attach ourselves to the fact that life, as we know it, will not stay the same forever.  We are a civilization that is proud of our accomplishments; we work hard to be able to live a fulfilling life.  When we hear the news that threatens the way we live and interferes with our organized communities that we have created over time, we simply deny the fact that it is happening (Hamilton, 2010b, 117), and as Hamilton also states, “when the attention has been shifted from our comfortable world to something that threatens this comfort; this makes the deniers even more un-accepting” (2010c, 17).  This behavior is linked to our natural human instincts and our defense mechanisms that allow us with a way of coping. 

Distraction is another form of denial and a coping strategy that we do in order to deal with issues from everyday concerns that surrounds us to the potential threats such as climate change.  If we switch our attention to something else and do not think about the threat, then it cannot possible be happening (Hamilton, 2010d, 122).  We do this everyday; we walk around blind to things that are happening around us, we only see what we want to see. We revolve our lives around other people, playing games, watching TV, and reading books, anything that can distract ourselves away from having to dealing with such threats.  Such emotions of climate change denial are powerful enough for people to oppose science, be blind to evidence and be thoughtless about how others can sustain themselves in the future.

Emotions override people’s views and we therefore resist believing the truth when it comes to potential threats such as climate change.  Through our natural human instincts we have evolved to organize our communities and hold firm strong beliefs that are tide to that community and it’s worldview.  When news is presented to us that threaten our way of life we begin to doubt that news and our natural human defense mechanisms set in.  Emotions lead us to action and when we are subjected to anything we see as a threat we do anything possible to destroy it.  Our values determine our beliefs and our beliefs then predict our behavior and attitude towards threats such as climate change.  People are more likely to listen to other people who share the same values and beliefs and go against the outsider such as the climate scientists, developing a ‘war’ between the two, which means that we are too busy arguing and not responding to the threat that is upon us.  We use other natural defense mechanisms as a way of mentally coping with climate change by refusing to acknowledge that such a threat is actually happening and avoid thinking about the problem, we go into a state of denial. We try to explain away the facts that have been told to us, questioning the validity of the science. Such emotions of climate change are very powerful and are enough for people to oppose what science is telling us.  If science cannot answer all our questions or solve the problem, we simply pretend that it isn’t happening, we avoid thinking about it and we distract ourselves away from it, switching our attention to other things so that we don’t feel uncomfortable.  Are we blind to the evidence that science has confronted us with? and because of this, we are interfering with any form of action in a positive way to help solve such threats.  We are too concerned about how this will affect us that we are being thoughtless about how others can sustain themselves in the future.  We as a human species we have a moral right to protect the human race, we have already ‘built in’ natural survival instincts that have gotten us where we are, but we now live in a world where we seem to have lost focus, our emotions developed through values and beliefs are getting in the way of any action to over come this threat that could potentially change the way we live and the future of the human race.  We need to stop arguing, come together and act positively.  We owe it to the planet that has created us, sustained us and made us what we are.

Hope that was somewhat interesting for you - It was interesting to me to research human emotions as its the main driver in almost everything we do.  My writing skills are somewhat limited at the moment, I am new to the art of academic writing, I generally just write from my heart so please don't hold that against me.  This blog is about my thoughts and feelings, my passions and interests.  My thoughts are my own, and if you don't agree great, thats the beauty of living in an open society and everything I have just spoke about is a contributing driver to what our opinions are :)


Janine

References

Bok, Sissela 1995. Cultural Diversity and Common Values. In Common Values. Reprinted in Tomorrow Yesterday Today (FDN109) Unit Reader 2011, 192-200.  Murdoch, WA: Murdoch University.

Hamilton, Clive. 2010a. Requiem For A Species: Why We Resist The Truth About Climate Change. First Edition. Crows Nest NSW Australia: Allen & Unwin.

Hamilton, Clive. 2010b. Requiem For A Species: Why We Resist The Truth About Climate Change. First Edition. Crows Nest NSW Australia: Allen & Unwin.

Hamilton, Clive. 2010c. Requiem For A Species: Why We Resist The Truth About Climate Change. First Edition. Crows Nest NSW Australia: Allen & Unwin.

Hamilton, Clive. 2010d. Requiem For A Species: Why We Resist The Truth About Climate Change. First Edition. Crows Nest NSW Australia: Allen & Unwin.

Machamer, Peter 1998. Excerpts from “Introduction” to The Cambridge Companion to Galileo, 1 – 25. Reprinted in Tomorrow Yesterday Today (FDN109) Unit Reader 2011, 27-36.  Murdoch, WA: Murdoch University.

McKenna, Michael 2004. Compatibilism, in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Reprinted in Tomorrow Yesterday Today (FDN109) Unit Reader 2011, 159-166.  Murdoch, WA: Murdoch University.

Thiroux, Jacques P., and Keith W. Krasemann. 2009. The Nature of Morality: Selection. In Ethics: Theory and Practice, 6-7; 13-16. Reprinted in Tomorrow Yesterday Today (FDN109) Unit Reader 2011, 167-172.  Murdoch, WA: Murdoch University.

Simple Gratitude

This short video needs no introduction - only that it will make you appreciate who you are :) http://www.wimp.com/simplegratitude/

An Introduction

So, now that you have had a taster of what I am about and what I will be blogging about, its time to say a little about myself.  It will be a little because I will really be here all day, either I will get fed up or will bore the arse off of you guys.  So lets stick to the basics shall we.
My name is Janine, I am English, actually if I were to be specific, Yorkshire, as we really are a breed of our own ;)  I moved to Australia about 8 years ago and through good times and bad, I had a realisation that my life wasn't really going where I had always intended it to go.  I mean this more in the career journey than anything else.

I had been a Sports and Beauty Therapist since leaving school, done everything I wanted to and achieved what I needed to - I was bored!  It took several life changing events to make me realise that you only have one crack at this life, and by god I'm going to make a huge crack!
I decided to follow my passion which is Science, Earth Sciences such as Geology, Environmental Science, Meteorology, Astronomy and more.  So I am now a student at Murdoch University here in Perth WA, where I am studying three majors, three 'cos Im a bit tapped lol, these are Science majors in Physics, Environmental Science and Sustainability Science.  I was never that good at school, too busy being popular lol, that I didn't try as hard as I could have done.  Now is the time to make up for that!!

I am achieving a lot in the short time I have been their - I really feel that this is where I am meant to be, my true calling.  I don't know where I will end up, and don't really have any plans at the moment either, I am just rolling with it, enjoying this journey - its changing my life in so many positive ways that sometimes It can get a bit overwhelming lol.

All I know is that I want to make a difference, no matter how big or how small, and this is my way of starting about it.  I want this blog to express my views and my interests and share with the rest of you what I feel are some of the most beautiful, fascinating, amazing and important things that we can so easily take for granted.  My love for nature and our natural environment is ever growing and I welcome you to take this journey with me.  All my opinions are my own, not everyone will agree with me, some will, but I ask of you that if you do not, then don't hold it against me and comment in any negative way, this blog isn't about that nor do I want it to be - its purely about me expressing what I am passionate about the most and sharing that passion.

I will try and keep it funny too and not so serious but sometimes I can be crude 'cos I have a dark side too lol.

Cheers guys

Janine

History of life on a 24 hour clock

Tick Tick!



http://www.geology.wisc.edu/homepages/g100s2/public_html/history_of_life.htm

Putting things into perspective part two

I have shared this link many times but not only is it an awesome animated interactive tool, it takes you on an awesome journey from the very beginning!! Really does put things into perspective! :)

http://www.scaleofuniverse.com/

What is ‘real’? Does the scientific way of understanding the world give us the true picture of reality or is the life-world perspective more accurate?

I was asked to answer this question several months back and upon researching the answer, it got me thinking about a whole heap of things.  Id like to share with you guys what I found out :)

One thing that we as a human species can be sure about is that the world we live in and everything around us is ‘real’.  We can see it, touch it and smell it; it is a physical world, utterly real, solid and identifiable.  But, how do we know that everything we see and touch is real. How we perceive the world strongly depends on the individual and their own perceptions of what is real, however, Laws of nature based from scientific theories form the basic structure of the life world.  In order to get a true picture of reality we need to understand both the physical world and the scientific way of understanding the world.

What do we mean when we say something is real.  According to John L. Austin in (sense and sensibilia, 1962), the word real is not a word that has one single meaning or can specifically describe something, but yet we use it quite frequently. Real has many diverse uses but is used by many to describe an actually existing thing or an occurring fact about something.  The word real tends to be used when we are questioning the validity of something and can really be seen as a word used in a negative sense.  But how do we know that something is real.  What makes something real is through our own perception of the life-world we live in.

Our conscious experiences of the world around us are known to us to be intuitive and cannot be easily explained.  We all have a mental model of the world and how it should be, made up of all our beliefs, attitudes and values. What is real is very much how an individual perceives something to be real. Reality is something people are familiar with, it has substantiality, it needs a description and needs to have a meaning.  It is something we can touch and see with our own eyes, however to fully understand the psychological perceptions that we have that makes us decide what real means to us, goes beyond the scope of this essay.  To truly understand the life world, we need to have a certain open-mindedness to the possibility that what we see around us is only our own perception of what is real, and that a scientific understanding should also be taken into account when trying to understand the life world.

Science is regarded as a framework of conscious experiences through observations that are structured to be scientific explanations about how things work.  With the increasing focus on a scientific approach to nature came developments in science and technology and over the years has developed many scientific theories that are considered merely as just models that make predictions of reality, but don't necessarily describe reality.  Everything has to be based on something solid, something that can be tested through the scientific method. The underlying principles are sound and as Eddington wrote “science aims at constructing a world which shall be symbolic of the world of commonplace experience” (1933, pp. 13).  Scientists generalize things, they say how it is done but cannot tell you why, because they don’t know either. The more information we have the closer we get in understanding more about real thing.  We have to start looking at our world as a whole. Scientific knowledge is relative not absolute, but it’s the best we have to help us answer questions about the life world. If science cannot give us specific knowledge about reality then we can be sure no other method can.

The word real has many uses but its main use is to put the validity of a thing into question.  Through our own perceptions of the life-world and the scientific and mathematical approaches in trying to explain it, we can start to create an understanding of what the true picture of reality is. Information is the key, because this reality that we think is real, the matrix of it all is information.  Science has been important as a way to help us find out this information, but everything in the world cannot be measured. Reality is based on the expectation of the person who is actually looking at a thing, or it is a measurement from a scientist. Once we establish the reality we live in and the nature of the body we are in, a biological computer, and the nature of what is consciousness, then how the world is structured, it brings some clarity in why the world is structured the way it is.


By Janine Marshall

References

Austin, John L. 1962. VII: Selections. In Sense and Sensibilia, 62-77. London: Oxford University Press. Reprinted in Tomorrow Yesterday Today (FDN109) Unit Reader 2011, 11-15.  Murdoch, WA: Murdoch University.

Eddington, Arthur S. 1933. Introduction. In The Nature of the Physical World, xi – xix. London: Cambridge University Press. Reprinted in Tomorrow Yesterday Today (FDN109) Unit Reader 2011, 11-15.  Murdoch, WA: Murdoch University.

January 2012 guide to Five Visible Planets

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

January 2012 Guide to Five Visible Planets

Heres one I took last night just after sunset - can you guess which one ? :)

So for my second blog, I thought id share with you some of my favourite websites.  These websites are aimed at providing fantastic information for a plethora of topics and I have found out some amazing things. So, here goes:

http://www.bom.gov.au
http://www.usgs.gov/
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
http://www.earthtv.com/en/program/world-live
http://earthsky.org/earth
http://www.ouramazingplanet.com
http://waweathergroup.com/
http://www.perthweatherlive.com/
http://astrobio.net
http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au
http://web-chic.com.au/kennyheatley/
http://www.weatherchannel.com.au
http://wa2020.murdoch.edu.au/
http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/

These are to just name a few but I would strongly recommend a look :)

Janine

Putting things in perspective

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkNTzStmdJk
So guys, this is my first ever blog - yeah I know, a bit slow on the uptake, but before I continued I just wanted to put this short video up to put the Earth, Humanity, where we are in this amazing universe, into perspective.  To truly appreciate how amazing we are and how even more amazing the Universe as a whole is! Enjoy :)