World Changing #5

Lauren Korany

Biomimicry is the act of transforming the successful principles of nature into successful functional design. It is referred to as Bionics in Europe (pg 99). Buckminster Fuller was the first to propose nature as an inspirational mentor to teach green design and Janine Benyus carried out the idea to the public in her book Biomimicry.

Nature has redesigned for thousands of years, even before humans have existed, and therefore has a wealth of knowledge on sustainability. The Earth has solutions that we can learn from. It is a “model, measure, and mentor”. If we look at specialized organisms, we can find specific traits that can be pulled into product design. Nature should be treated as a partner, rather than being exploited for its resources (pg 100). An example of this can be seen in NASA’s design for the spaceship antennae (pg 100-101). The idea of the final antennae as evolved, rather than designed in one process. NASA set up algorithms of code, re-coded and tested for different combinations, and tweaked each strand randomly to get the best antenna. This complicated process is much like a condensed natural selection process.

Other examples are “Gecko Tape” and “Lotusan” (pg 101). Gecko Tape was inspired by the adhesive microstructures in the feet of Geckos. They are able to walk on all surfaces and leave no residue behind. By studying their make-up, scientists were able to create a tape with the same features. For Lotusan, ISPO (a German design company) decided to study the make-up of a lotus flower petal to better design their products. The lotus flower lives in swamps but somehow remains clean. When studying the petals closely, they were able to see that they contain small ridges that make dirt slip off in the rain. ISPO designed their building exteriors, car exteriors, paints, and shingles with the same feature because the lotus flower inspired them.

Using these techniques are an instinct of human nature at a certain degree. However, it is a great idea to be mindful of what nature can teach through specialization. Evolution has “weeded-out” the specialized species that could not survive in modern environments. I want to incorporate the functional side of nature in my artwork in the future. If you think about it, all of the issues you may come up with have been solved by nature in some form.

World Changing #4

Lauren Korany

Abrams speaks of the effect of different protest groups (pg 450). Since the 1960s, protest has been a prominent part on changing the established systems of society. In modern times, the Internet has become a powerful tool to set up protest. A familiar group that uses this tool is the Culture Jammers, with Lasn being the prime representative. The Culture Jammers use the Internet and propaganda posters to mimic those of large commercial advertising. An issue with budgeting is present in the group. Do they have enough money to “saturate society” with images like commercial advertising benefits from? The answer is no, but they seem to be reaching a large number of people, and continues with the snowballing effect.

The Day after Tomorrow is a sci-fi action thriller that addresses extreme global warming. In 2004, this was a large attraction in the media. The movie was able to bring the issues of global warming to the Americans in their entertainment. Some were worried about the radical tone of the movie. However, it was effective with its message.

Artists have been able to use protest in their creations. Product designers are creating robodogs, soil testing shoes and mutant babies (pg 453). The “Feral Robotic Dogs” and “Soil Sampling Shoes” test the environment in public. Bansky, a popular graffiti artist from the UK, is known as an “art terrorist.” His work protests the issues with “Big Brother” in English society. His work plays on the roles of civilians and authority as well. Theatre of the Oppressed is a theatre group that specializes in diverse games and interactive theatre techniques. They teach the oppressed citizens how to understand their rights. By taking part in activities with the group, the citizens learn of the law-making processes, allowing them to better understand their unalienable rights. All of these groups are striving for environmental and social change that is critical for the future.

Weekly Response 12: ECOCIDE

Of the eight forms of ECOcide that Diamond talks about across examples of past failed societies, choose one to discuss in depth. Bring up as many specific examples of it both in the book as well as contemporary examples you see happening. One paragraph is acceptable as long as you're concise and coherent.

Good luck getting everything else done!

-R

World Changing #3

Lauren Korany

In my previous post, China’s impact on the environment was a major issue when considering their upcoming placement in the world market. For this post, I want to focus on Abram’s description of The Barefoot College (pg 359). The Barefoot College was established in 1972, in Tilonia, an extremely poor state in Rajasthan, India. The Social Work Research Center planned to be created in the vacant buildings of the area. Urban Professionals and graduate students in India came in assuming that they would alleviate the property. They began to work with the locals to find out the best processes to handle the environment. The oral “uneducated” knowledge that the locals shared shocked the urban professionals. The combination of book-smarts and practical knowledge created a beneficial partnership. The SWRC was converted into The Barefoot College. Education for sustainability was the primary focus of the college.

Those who attend graduate to become solar engineers, hand-pump mechanics, groundwater experts, teachers, and midwives. An important component to the college is the fact that woman and children are able to get an education. Women are not limited to graduate as caregivers or midwives, but can become engineers. However, the trained midwives and health care workers have supplied 200 village health clinics in India with basic medicine that was previously unavailable. Children are able to attend school at night. Many of the children, especially girls, are unable to receive and education during the day due to their livestock and home care chores. The children learn practical knowledge about their daily chores as well as core classes (math, language) to learn to serve the community.

The college is run on solar power, biomass for renewable energy, water from rainwater, and a dripping irrigation system in the trees. This is a great example of how a sustainable structure was able to support itself and benefit the environment and communities. A wonderful part of this is the way the centers spread throughout 13 states in India. If China ever looked into this kind of sustainability, it would be a neutralizer and eventually a replacement for the practices they are partaking in now.

World Changing #2

Lauren Korany

In the chapter “Understanding Trade”, Abrams addresses the role of China in our global market. China is rapidly becoming the “world’s factory” (pg 41). We have seen the same argument in Collapse, as it is a very relevant one. China creates 13? Of the global economic output, its economy is twice that of Japan’s, and Wal-Mart imports most of its inventory (70%) from China. Let’s think about Wal-Mart’s slogan, “rolling back prices”… there is a reason why the goods the company sells are so cheap. It is obvious to most of us that it is directly tied to the country of exporting goods. However, there are two specific reasons of why the goods are so cheap. The first deals with currency valuation (pg 42). China’s Yuan has been “floating” and was not at a fixed rate equivalent to the U.S. dollar or the Euro. The price of buying and making goods was inexpensive. The second reason is labor costs, one that we are more familiar with hearing. The labor costs are considered extremely low on U.S. terms. In the U.S., labor jobs receive hundreds of dollars per month, but this is not the case for Chinese workers. The other issue is the unregulated working conditions. Certain groups are not allowed to work in the city, such as rural inhabitants. So in order to work, they do it under illegal supervision and are paid as cheaply as possible. They do not complain because they technically would have no job if it weren’t for the illegal factories.

The low prices China give the world sacrifices the environment. China is a large contributor to sweatshop labor. An example of sweatshop-free sourcing is from Lesotho. The export garments to the U.S. retailers such as Levi Strauss and GAP. The country was able to improve its environment during this working change. Yet, as China becomes more prominent in the international garment market, it is expected that their contribution will swell from 20% to 40% (pg 44). Countries will buy from China because they will remain cheaper. Issues will arise with the condition that the production places on the environment. It is a frightening issue, and we must come to solutions quickly before we cannot step back from the market when it gets out of control.

WR Prompt 11: Comparing Disaster Zones

Think about an issue in your personal life/history that required a critical decision. What about that particular situation made the decision a hard one to make? How did your solution differ from another potential reaction and how different would the results have been had you chosen that other reaction?

* * *

Diamond discusses the issues of contemporary Montanan society and posits that it is a helpful example when reflecting on the pre-Collapse period of past societies faced with similar challenges. Do you agree that Montana's issues (choose at least 1 below to discuss) resemble the challenges that led to the downfall of past societies? How are they, or their surrounding circumstances, similar or different? Finally, what in your opinion are the crucial things a society must consider, admit, discuss, and ultimately take action on in order to overcome it's problems? For example, could Montanans just continue to turn a blind eye to the toxic waste from its mines or allow unsustainable logging/ agricultural practices and still survive?

1) Increasing population, 2)immigration, 3) increasing scarsity & decreasing quality of water, 4) locally & seasonally poor air quality, 5) toxic wastes, 6)increased risk of wildfires (or other human activity-induced natural disasters), 7)forest deterioration, 8) loss of soil or its nutrients, 9) loss of biodiversity/ damage from introduced pest species, 10) the effects of climate change.

Be sure to discuss Diamond's concepts of the 8 kinds of Ecocide as well as specific examples from Ch. 1 and the other chapter you choose.

WR Prompt 10: break up or make up?

For this post I want you to brainstorm 4 lists:

The first two are simply a honest, contemplative, and thorough list of the advantages and disadvantages of the role of the "corporate media" in our personal lives/ society at large. It's like when you know you have to break up with your boyfriend/ girlfriend but aren't sure why:) Minimum 10 each, maximum ??? This doesn't have to be complete sentences (unless it's necessary to explain nuances) but can be an itemized list.

A1- PROs
B1- CONs

Discuss your associations & the (direct and indirect) ramifications you see in each item of both lists.
This can be a list of various elements: associations (metaphors or more literal connections), emotional responses (rage/ indifference/ satisfaction, etc.), and a full consideration of the consequences (self-image, financial empowerment, exploitation,

A2- Associations & ramifications (direct and indirect) of the PROs
B2- Associations & ramifications (direct and indirect) of the CONs

You have plenty of ammunition supplied by Lasn and our discussions (albeit mostly on the negative side). Watching "The Corporation" will supply you with more. I want you to draw from these sources, (putting Lasn or whatever other source you reference in parentheses next to items that are direct references to his terminology- i.e. if you mention "infotoxins" or "jolts"), but ultimately these lists will reflect your take on the role of the corporate media in your lives. Write a section at the end summing up your conclusions. You might be leaning towards one bias or another, or maybe it's a mixed picture where you're split. Explain what going through this list/association made you think of; how did it solidify or destabilize your opinion of the corporation? Do you need to need to let him go or are you still in love? Or are there serious changes that need to happen to ensure trust and sustainability? enough with the relationship metaphor... go for it!

http://www.thecorporation.com/