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Articles from August 2009 While a recent survey showed that 3 quarters of Americans believe something should be done about climate change, getting them off their butts to do anything is entirely another story. Check out this interesting exploration of the psychology behind climate change on Solve Climate. The most interesting excerpt from the article that we found: At the heart of the challenge is reframing the issue. Frames are “mental structures that shape the way we see the world,” explains George Lakoff, a professor of cognitive linguistics at the University of California-Berkeley. Reframing an issue doesn’t just mean using a different set of terms, such as “deteriorating atmosphere” instead of “global warming” — it’s a much more comprehensive shift in perspective. When targeting a specific audience, climate change needs to be reframed according to the values and concerns of that particular group. To reach the broader public, Lakoff stresses eight concepts that need to be repeated over and over until they are part of the public’s common understanding. We are all part of nature — it is not outside of us, and the destructive exploitation of nature is evil. “Nature has been seen as a resource for people’s short term gain rather than as a nurturer for us and for future generations. But it is part of us … it is inside of us as we breathe the air, drink the water and eat our food,” Lakoff said. The economic and ecological meltdowns have the same root — the idea that unregulated greed is good. The ecological system is a global one that is affected by many different elements. Thus people need to realize that their actions might cause climate change effects in other parts of the world, and that what happens in other parts of the world can affect us as well. The right wing’s argument that it will cost too much to save Earth is faulty; if Earth goes, business goes. It is not just the polar bears that are endangered – all of human existence is threatened We all own the air, and corporations are polluting our air; they need to be stopped. Even the most effective emissions cap will not be sufficient; large corporations need to join the effort. The cost-benefit analysis is the wrong paradigm for thinking about global warming because it is only accurate when calculating short-term gain for a given purpose. It cannot calculate the long-term value of sustainable measures.
And from Grist, Adam D. Sacks argues that the solution to climate change lies not with science or carbon targets, but with changing cultural attitudes and behaviour. We tend to agree with his line of thinking: In the 20 years since we climate activists began our work in earnest, the state of the climate has become dramatically worse, and the change is accelerating—this despite all of our best efforts. Clearly something is deeply wrong with this picture. What is it that we do not yet know? What do we have to think and do differently to arrive at urgently different outcomes?[1] The answers lie not with science, but with culture. Climate activists are obsessed with greenhouse-gas emissions and concentrations. Since global climate disruption is an effect of greenhouse gases, and a disastrous one, this is understandable. But it is also a mistake.
Such is the fallacy of climate activism[2]: We insist that global warming is merely a consequence of greenhouse-gas emissions. Since it is not, we fail to tell the truth to the public. I think that there are two serious errors in our perspectives on greenhouse gases: The first error is our failure to understand that greenhouse gases are not a cause but a symptom, and addressing the symptom will do little but leave us with a devil’s sack full of many other symptoms, possibly somewhat less rapidly lethal but lethal nonetheless. ... The second error is our stubborn unwillingness to understand that the battle against greenhouse-gas emissions, as we have currently framed it, is over. From there Mr. Sacks starts getting quite contraversial. We'd highly recommend reading on. 
This month on Forward Thinking Thursday, we have a really special sneak peak of Celsias! www.Celsias.co.nz is a hub for professionals working in the sustainability space to share their stories, intiatives, actions, and thoughts. We're interested in helping share the stories of kiwis who are making things happen! Accompanying the website is a 6-monthly magazine put out by HB Media. All attendees to Forward Thinking Thursday will get a FREE copy of the magazine. Join us for good conversation, yummy food, fabulous wine, and highlights of a really cool project. No cost, RSVP's appreciated. See you there! What: Forward Thinking Thursdays Where: Mezze Bar and Tapas Restaurant, Durham Lane (between High St. and Queen St., behind Whitcoulls) When: 27th August, from 5:30 onward Why: Relax and mingle with a group of switched on professionals about the issues that matter. Enjoy good food and drinks, and get a FREE copy of Celsias magazine.  Our friend Peter Salmon of Moxie Design is involved both here in New Zealand and internationally in shaping “green” and “sustainable” brands. Recently, while attending the Sustainable Brands ’09 conference in Monterrey California, he became acquainted with Duke Stump of The NorthStar Manifesto. Thanks to Peter and Duke, a crowd of Auckland professionals interested in brand identity got to hear an interesting discourse on the future of companies and the products they offer. According to Duke Stump, who had worked previously with Nike and Seventh Generation in the U.S. before setting out on his own, green is (surprise) getting overused to the point of greenwash. The word sustainable has likewise lost much if any meaning it might have had previously. So how is a company interested in “doing the right thing” to market themselves? (continues) While small and land-strapped, the busy metropolis of Singapore actually has a countryside. Kranji is an area located just 30 minutes outside the city center, well outside the radar of the casual tourist. Far from the urban high rise cityscape, it hosts everything from military barracks to fish farms to wildlife parks. It is a place where people go to escape city life and experience a Singapore less ordinary. Nestled in this green corner of the country is a place known as Bollywood Veggies. If you’ve heard of the place, you know of its owner Ivy Singh-Lim. And if you’ve heard of Ivy, you know she’s a firecracker-- a local legend. A conversation with this activist will leave you inspired, challenged, perhaps a bit offended, but definitely refreshed. For a 60 year-old woman, Ivy possesses more energy than most apathetic people two generations younger. I dropped in to check out their 10 acre organic farm and bistro eatery and got more than I bargained for.  Over a glass of ice water in the sweltering heat, Ivy tells her story. “My second husband and I met and got married in 3 days. Twenty-seven years later we are still trying to decide who was drunk and who was desperate,” she laughs, her eyes engaged firmly the whole time.
“We were both running businesses. I was the child of a rich landowner family who owned large tracts of property. Whether by family background or career choice, I could have chosen to retire and not do much,” she says. (continues)  Singapore is a bustling city state at the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia. Independent from Malaysia since 1965, it has a dense population of 4.7 million people crammed into 269 sq. miles (697 sq. km)— that’s roughly 3.5x the size of Washington D.C.
In spite of its lacking land mass, the tiny country is a major economic hub in Southeast Asia and boasts one of the best standards of living of any Asian city, and even rivals many metropolis overseas. It’s a city that is well planned, tightly regulated, visually attractive, and thankfully lacking the woeful pollution that afflict other centers like Hong Kong and Shanghai. Waste and the City All the economic activity and large population of course is not without its downside: waste. In 2008 the total volume of solid waste had reached 5.97 million tons. Luckily, according to government figures, roughly 2.24 million tons (approx. 56%) of this was recycled. That still left a lot left to deal with. (continues)  The Netherlands has a reputation for being progressive, from the environment to social initiatives. About twice the size of New Jersey, a large proportion of its landmass is below sea level. Protected (at least for the moment) by an elaborate system of dikes, the country is a center of creativity, efficiency, and diversity. It’s a place that is open-minded and broad thinking on everything from social programs to wind energy. A recent trip to Amsterdam also unveiled it is equally creative with its approach to waste management and water reclamation. (continues)
This updates a previous story about the Poh Ern Shih Temple in Singapore) 
One year after opening, and about two years after construction began, the Poh Ern Shih Temple (or Temple of Thanksgiving in English) is looking great. I’m dropping by to visit the temple and check out progress on this green Buddhist sanctuary.
The place is bustling with activity, and thankfully the first phase of construction has now been completed. On the day of my visit, several different religious study groups are in session upstairs, catering to the younger members of the Buddhist congregation. I locate Boon, the temple president, just before lunch and we sit down for a chat. “The building performance has been great,” he tells me. “We’ve generated 15 megawatts of power from our first phase PV systems so far in the first year, and we’re going to install another set in our second phase of construction.” (continues)  | |